Speaking Out: Astrology no answer to our problems

According to the International Epidemiological Association, mental illness and depression are increasing. More people are feeling depressed and lonely and some, especially millennials, are turning to astrology. 

A millennial myself, this is concerning. As a community of believers, we seem to have difficulty addressing the simplest questions and needs of some people to the point that they leave our faith and take up practices that could cause them even more harm. 

The shift towards astrology is alarming because the reasons youth remove themselves from religion often can be addressed by simply answering their questions. Interviews done by the Washington Square News from New York University in 2018 claimed that millennials tend to question everything, even God.

 However, their questions are not answered, nor are young people guided to look for answers in the right places. Even individuals who grew up in religious households find it difficult to seek answers to questions that might help them understand their beliefs and reasons for believing. 

This generation therefore claims to be more spiritual and less religious while believing there is a higher power. 

A spike in astrology occurs at the dawn of a new year. When people are looking to make a new start, media outlets publish astrology readings that rely on birth dates and the alignment of stars to suggest what lies ahead. 

This phenomenon is not new. The skies have always been fascinating. People have been searching the heavens for thousands of years in search of answers.

But in the age of YouTube and downloadable applications, astrological materials are being propagated more widely than ever. A person can have tarots card, their palms and horoscopes all read with just one click, supposedly telling them if the coming year will be filled with blessings, love or fortune, or with tragedy and pain. 

The Catholic Church rejects astrology. “Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens… all conceal desire for power over time, history and… other human beings,” says the catechism. 

In an increasingly secular society, it is justifiably concerning to see the rise of any practice that could make religion appear antiquated, something for people who do not accept the concepts of science or logic. In this climate, some people are turning from religion and putting a mistaken belief in the skies as they search for a sense of permanence, freedom and for a control over their lives that can be hard to find in our current culture. 

Astrology is supposed to help people understand other people. For those who practise astrology, it provides a means of communication and connection with others. 

Maybe we should use this movement to help us understand what our institution has lacked. These individuals may have turned to astrology because of gaps they believe erroneously can’t be filled by religion, the Church and its individuals. Perhaps they felt abandoned in a time of need and unable to find solace in the place they once thought they could find it. 

Every spiritual discipline will try to answer questions, but not all answers can help the seeker. More often than not, the wrong answer could give more harm. It causes us to remove our trust in God as we disallow Him to control our life because of a misguided belief we can take over it ourselves. 

Using astrology “contradicts the honour, respect and loving fear that we owe to God alone,” says the catechism (CCC 2116). 

We must never try to rule ourselves. We must allow God to take hold of our hands and guide us through our lives. He has never let us down and never will. 

(Ducepec, 21, is a Bachelor of Science undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying Anthropology.)