Connection with the Stars

It sounds crazy to base the whole outcome of your week based on what you read in the stars, but many people fervently believe in how the alignment of the planets will determine the fate of their week, month, and year. In fact, astrology has been a common method to predict people's futures and serve as a source of cosmic guidance since ancient times. 

Astrology dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans who wanted to understand the meaning of the stars and cosmos, and how it affected life on Earth. Early records can be found dating back to ancient Mesopotamia where religious or authoritative figures would use the movement of the planets and stars to predict various weather patterns and make beneficial decisions during ruling and leadership. Astrology was originally not used as something to determine personal fate and future, but instead was used as a tool to promote a fruitful harvest and rulership. Overtime, astrology became more distinctive to different cultures and backgrounds. The astrology we know today is "Western Astrology" that derived from Greek culture. However, astrology has also become a critical part of religion. Hinduism uses astrology to connect with a higher version of ourselves, and Islamic civilizations practiced and developed astrological beliefs during the Middle Ages. 

Today, we think of astrology as the twelve zodiac signs, and astrology mainly focuses on our birth charts. It is believed that if you are born during a certain period of the year, you have certain personality traits. However, there is more than that. According to what your zodiac sign is, astrology will predict your emotions throughout the year based on where the planets are. My zodiac sign is Libra. According to what the internet says about me, I am all about balance, love, and harmony in my life. It also says that I can be indecisive and two-faced. I remember when I first read about my zodiac sign, I thought that it sounded like the furthest thing from me. However, everytime I would see a post on Instagram about what my week would be like according to the stars or what my love life would look like, I couldn't help but read it. Astrology has become increasingly popular among my generation, and I know some people who truly do follow these practices. For my 18th birthday, my mom gave me a gold necklace with my zodiac pendant on it, as she has one of her own that she has had for over a decade, and wanted me to match. There is a certain popularity and appeal to it today. 

Astrology and witchcraft often have an intersection in that many practicing witches believe that they will be more powerful or spells will be more effective during certain times of the year. Additionally, the phases of the moon are believed to be especially powerful for certain emotions to be more prevalent and come to the surface. There is also a role in the tools and herbs used in witchcraft. For example, certain plants, crystals, colors, and days of the week are associated with specific planets or zodiac signs and are used in spellwork to enhance the energy being worked with. A practitioner might choose to work with a rose quartz crystal that is associated with the planet Venus for love spells or perform a ritual during a Venus-ruled day to amplify the influence of love and beauty in their life.

I think that personalities are fluid and open to change. While one thing might align from one's personality with a zodiac prediction, it does not mean that all people can be boxed in to all the traits of their zodiac sign. Out of all the witchcraft practices, however, I have found astrology to be one of the most interesting and alluring.