PASADENA, CALIFORNIA- It’s 9:00 am on a Saturday morning. Relieved that the weekend has finally arrived, I sit in my usual spot in the living room and enjoy my morning coffee. I know the latest crossword puzzle is waiting for someone to solve the clues but when I open up the paper I notice the horoscopes column next to the crossword. 

My Zodiac sign (Virgo because my birthday is August 31st), reads, “You could come to a realization that a business partner or integral work relationship has reached its expiration date. While this is a change, it’s one for the better… The decision is up to you, do what feels right for you regarding who you work with.”   

I can’t help but think, What have I done? Are any of my teachers, friends, or classmates upset with me? How could this “change” be for the better?

Not all people follow the rule of reading their horoscopes for entertainment.  People look at horoscopes to see if it contains answers about their day; they even try to pick out the parts that relate to their own lives looking to support or confirm their beliefs, and ignoring the rest. Some are likely to read their horoscope for guidance on what type of choices they should make or for new information about themselves.  

People use horoscopes to be more aware of what is going on around them, particularly in times of turmoil. People even trust their horoscopes for making financial decisions; for example, if it says to be mindful of their spending for a couple of days, then they will do it.  

When people feel that they do not have a sense of control, they will engage in activities that will give them a false sense of control, also known as an illusion of control.  It may be fun to make random decisions based on your horoscope, but the line needs to be drawn at one point.  Although horoscope readers consider reading their horoscope to have a sense of meaning to their life as something positive, there is no actual verification to the horoscope, so it is best to not act on it.

Horoscopes often consist of vague statements and generalizations. Astrologers do not have solid evidence for your horoscope, rather, they believe that changes in the motion of the planets will have a change in your personality.  It is never a good idea to make decisions based on your horoscope. This will deteriorate your ability to make wise choices based on what you want to do. If you submit to your horoscope too often by allowing it to control your decision-making, you will become absent from reality and be worried about what is going to happen next. We all have the ability to improve ourselves, break bad habits, and establish good ones. Instead of reading horoscopes, find something that can actually help you improve your life, such as stress-management techniques.

As I reflected on the day’s horoscope that morning, I looked back on my actions towards those around me and continued to wonder what possibly I could have done wrong. I turned in all my assignments, never cheated, and, as far as I knew, was respectful to my peers. After rereading Virgo’s horoscope several more times, I realized that my horoscope could have been auto-generated and was completely analog clickbait. It had as much truth as the wrapper inside a fortune cookie. I tossed the article aside, reminding myself that I had done no wrong, and the only one who knew what was coming for me was God.