Astrology is an Eastern spiritual practice that has become popularized in the West.
Since the West is a culture that has had a history of harboring a hefty dose of skepticism towards foreign spiritualities, this is a nice example of having an open mind. Astrology is very appealing because it gives you answers and insight into the structure of who you are. Your natural inclinations, your habits, the outline of your personality and behavior.
Like many, I have been sucked up and basted into the spiritual realm of astrology. I’ve surrounded myself with charts, planets, and signs. I’ve swum in the pool of planetary alignments and explored the different houses. I’ve become an expert in my own sign and familiarized myself with my friends’ signs. I get it. I’ve been there. Perhaps it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I’m only human, after all.
Many people find substantial truth in astrology. I, myself, admit that there can be a lot of truth to it. I began to understand myself better with meaningful zodiac-centered conversations and detailed charts. However, there is one thing surrounding astrology that deeply troubles me. It has nothing to do with astrology itself, but everything to do with how people perceive it.
Astrology becomes an issue when people use it to justify their bad behavior.
I was once desperately approached by a friend who was directing a play. One of the actors had dropped out three days before the show was supposed to premiere and he needed someone to fill her spot. I agreed, despite the severe time constraint, and immediately got to work.
I showed up to rehearsal the next day with around three quarters of the script memorized. About thirty seconds into the rehearsal, I realized that I was the only one who had committed that much of the script to memory – and, even worse, they barely could even get through the first page. This was despite the fact that not only had they had been working on the play for two months, but that they themselves had actually written the script.
So, here’s the thing about geminis….
What drove me nuts was that every single person in the cast who was having trouble with the lines blamed it on the fact that they were a gemini. Yes, seven people out of an eleven person cast were geminis and they did not let us forget it. Over the next couple of days, every single one of the geminis would show up to rehearsals late, refuse to learn their lines, and decline to pay attention, choosing instead to have side conversations, play on their phones, and snack onstage. But, they’d eschew responsibility over their misconduct to their zodiac sign.
For some background on geminis:
Yes, they have many good qualities. They are known to be independent, extroverted, friendly, and smart. However, they are also known to be unreliable, impulsive, and a bit self-centered. So, although they are fun to be around, you typically can’t rely too much on a gemini, according to astrological definition.
Instead of taking responsibility for the thing to which they committed themselves, they let everyone, including themselves, down when the show opened and they still didn’t know their lines. Needless to say, it was a disaster.
This is just one small example of the point I’m trying to make.
Your zodiac sign does not define you. You are so much more than what an astrology blog tells you that you are. Just because you may have a natural inclination towards a certain behavior doesn’t mean that you can’t control it. Don’t bow down to your negative qualities just because it’s easier to blame them on the stars than hold yourself to a higher standard.
Remember that people may be relying on you. Remember that your actions have consequences. And remember that you deserve what’s best, and you can’t get what’s best if you don’t work to improve yourself.
Think of your signs as blueprints for your house. They are part of your foundation, influences on who you are. But they are not everything; they are not a total definition. Choose to fill your house with integrity. Be the best version of you.
Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash
My name is Andrea and I live in Los Angeles, California. By day, I am an actor and by night I am working towards a degree in nutritional science.
Love this! People blaming their astrological sign for their poor behavior is one of my biggest pet peeves. Own your behavior.
I think blaming your whole chart is way more accurate personally – as someone who loves astrology – it can open up your mind to how much your whole chart is at play.