ASTROLOGY can actually change your life, but not because the planets and stars have willed it.
Speaking to The Sun, an astrologer and a psychologist have revealed exactly how the belief that celestial bodies have sway over the natural world can make people healthier and more successful.
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Astrologer Steve Judd says just the belief that the planets and stars govern our lives can have a huge impact on our state of mind and can even give humans an “evolutionary advantage”.
For example, a horoscope that suggests your finances could see big changes might encourage us to focus on that pay rise we’ve been waiting for – making us richer.
He explained: “If people are aware of planetary influences in their lives at any given time, they can consciously use them to improve themselves,” astrologer Steve Judd explained.
“If they are not aware of the influences, they will still work, but to a lesser degree.”
While the planets and stars might not really be dictating your life, they can have a powerful effect, say experts.
Max Blumberg of the University of London, who specialises in research on paranormal beliefs and is a member of the British Psychological Society, said astrology can offer an evolutionary advantage in the face of tough odds.
“If you believe that you have no chance, you’re just going to roll over and die and be killed,” he said.
“Whereas if you believe that astrology, God, mystical things, are on your side – you’re going to fight like hell and maybe that is what gives you the edge to win.
“We are the descendants of people who had a sense of hope and that’s how they survived. And astrology falls uniquely into that.”
Healthy habits
Several studies have found that positive expectations strongly influence our experiences – and even our health.
A greater sense of hope is often associated with better physical health, reduced risk of death, fewer chronic conditions and sleep problems, more life satisfaction, lower psychological distress and a sense of purpose in life.
You could call it a placebo, according to Blumberg, which is when a person’s physical or mental health appears to improve after taking a “dummy” treatment.
“So I’m feeling depressed and my stars tell me that the love of my life is around the corner – that’s going to lift my depression,” Blumberg explained. “Whether or not the love of my life is around the corner.”
He continued: “The belief that the love of my life is around the corner gives me hope, and my depression lifts for a bit.”
One of the oldest dictums in astrology is that the planets impel, not compel.
Steve Judd
But Judd believes that the idea of giving hope was always the original purpose of astrology.
The belief system is steeped in ancient tradition and has served humans as a tool for self-reflection for millennia.
“People who are consciously aware of their astrological influences at any given time will gain significantly from using them, whilst those unaware will hardly notice them.”, says Judd, who holds one of the world’s few master’s degrees in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.
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Cutting through the noise
With apps that deliver daily horoscopes to The Sun’s very own Mystic Meg – an increasing number of people are turning to the stars to guide them.
Judd believes this is because people are becoming progressively disillusioned with society, and are searching for “something more significant in their lives”.
In the increasingly complex world that we live in… you need models to explain what’s going on.
Max Blumberg
According to Blumberg, astrology helps people cut through some of the chaos they might be seeing on TV, the internet and the papers.
“In the increasingly complex world that we live in… you need models to explain what’s going on,” he said.
“And people who don’t have scientific training, they’ll grab onto any model that explains things – and the more complicated the model, the better it sounds.”
More and more people are expected to turn to astrology to make sense of their lives, and use it to guide them, Blumberg added, as global politics grow ever more fragile and local economies worsen.
“When the world stops and everything goes nuts, you’re going to need frameworks that explain what’s going on,” he said.
“If astrology can say it’s because Venus is in the ascendant, that sounds good. We’ll get nuked tonight, but it’s okay – Venus is in the ascendant.”
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.