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Astrology set for $23 bn business by 2031, one in three Americans consulting experts
Astrology set for $23 bn business by 2031, one in three Americans consulting experts

First Post

time23-05-2025

  • Business
  • First Post

Astrology set for $23 bn business by 2031, one in three Americans consulting experts

The practice is popular among young adults – especially younger women – who are most likely to believe in astrology and to consult astrology or horoscopes. A survey found that 43 per cent of women ages 18 to 49 say they believe in astrology, compared to 27 per cent of women ages 50 and older read more What do the stars have in store for you today? More and more Americans are turning to their astrologers for spiritual guidance, so much so that the industry is witnessing a boom in business. A Pew Research has found that at least 30 per cent of people in the US believe in astrology or horoscopes and consult fortune tellers and astrologers once a year. The practice is popular among young adults – especially younger women – who are most likely to believe in astrology and to consult astrology or horoscopes. The survey found that 43 per cent of women ages 18 to 49 say they believe in astrology, compared to 27 per cent of women ages 50 and older, 20 per cent of men ages 18 to 49, and 16 per cent of men who are 50 and older. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Astrology startups see an uptick in users According to a report by The Economist, organisations working in this field of business, like the American firm Co-Star and the Indian firm AstroTalk, are registering an increased number of users. While Co-Star is reported to have more than 30 million users, AstroTalk connects more than 40,000 astrologers to 80 million customers remotely. While technological advancements often undermine pseudoscience, they have amplified astrology's influence. In the early 20th century, astrology gained popularity through newspaper horoscope columns; with the rise of the internet and smartphones, its appeal has extended to a new generation of stargazers. 'Just for fun' However, most of the Americans said that they are interested in knowing how their stars and planets are aligned 'just for fun', rather that depending on them for making major life decisions. Overall, 20 per cent of US adults say they participate in at least one of these activities primarily 'just for fun,' while 10 per cent do so mainly because they believe the practices offer valuable insights. 'Relatively few Americans make major life decisions based on what they learn from astrology, tarot cards or fortune tellers. Just 1 per cent of US adults say they rely a lot on what they have learned from these practices when making major life decisions. An additional 5 per cent say they rely a little on what they have learned,' the Pew survey said.

Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics
Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics

Yahoo

time20-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Learning about astrology can feel like discovering an iceberg. What you thought was just sun signs and casually checking Co-Star is actually an entire system involving houses, planets, modalities, birth charts, and more. That being said, it's a good idea to get a grasp of the basics before you start to descend into the deep. For example, what exactly is astrology anyway? And how has it changed over the years? Below, Tali Edut, one half of The AstroTwins, ELLE's resident astrologers, answers all those introductory questions. If after reading, you're looking to learn even more, Edut recommends analyzing your own birth chart and in turn, learning about how planets, signs, and houses can all be pieced together. Astrology is where math meets myth. It is the calculation of the planets in their orbit combined with thousands and thousands of years of storytelling and watching patterns. You could also say astrology is kind of the cosmic code to our personalities and also the energies that are happening outside of us in the world. It's a system that's been developing since the Babylonians and then the Egyptians, the Greeks, and then in modern days, too. It was once considered something that people studied at universities, too. So there's something about it that has lasted through the ages. A number of people are now going back and learning Hellenistic astrology, which was the astrology that existed back in antiquity in Greece. But I'm not a fan of it, because it stops with the planet Saturn, and Saturn is the patriarchy planet. I'm like, come on, Uranus comes after that, the planet of revolution. Then comes Neptune, the planet of dreams and subconscious, and Pluto, which is shadow work. They deserve to be part of this. I consider myself an evolutionary astrologer. I really do believe that we're always evolving, and the interpretation of our sun signs and moon signs will evolve as we do through our lives. Like my Scorpio moon might've made me jealous and possessive and insecure when I was a teenager, but now I use it to be empathetic and understand people and get compassionate with them. A personal love of astrology is primarily a tool for self-love and self-acceptance. I think when you understand that the birth chart is the cosmic blueprint to the person you are, why you are the way you are, and what potential there is to tap, it's like the gold mine, the treasure map to who you are. You're not stuck with, oh, I'm a Capricorn, I must work hard, or I'm a Virgo, I am a neat freak. Not at all. It's a treasure map to the energies you have to tap into, based on where the stars were when you were born. You can also use astrology for predictive purposes. Depending on where the planets are at any moment in time, you can look ahead and prepare for those energies that are coming in. A lot of astrologers, including myself, are self-taught, but there are certification programs. People are learning astrology faster and faster now, because there are so many great tools for it out there. Sometimes things just click into place collectively. But to actually become a great astrologer, it's not just about knowing how to regurgitate stuff, and I see that happening a lot, and I did that a lot in my early days as an astrologer. There's a lot of nuance. I think it's a lifelong practice of learning, studying human behavior. Notice all the people who are Aquarians in your life. What do you see? Look at all the celebrities who are Aries: Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Jill Scott, Aretha Franklin, all these divas. Why is that? It's observing, learning, doing your own personal development work, and then bringing that together with the principles and rules of astrology can make you a great astrologer. Our role as astrologers isn't to scare people, freak them out. I've heard people say, 'Oh, an astrologer told me I'd never get married. I'd never get pregnant.' That's just cruel. The role of astrologers is to support people in self-discovery and empowerment, and, of course, let them know if there's something they need to look out for. But to do it in a way that's empowering, it takes practice. When we started doing it, I would talk to people about their moon sign, and they'd be like, what are you talking about? Before it went wild on the internet and social media, there weren't a bunch of tools or calculators or apps. But over the last 15 years, astrology became more accessible, because you could do a free chart online. And then I think Trump coming into office [in 2016] and all the breakdowns from that did wonders for astrology, because people started to go, 'Why is this happening?' When something happens in the world that doesn't make sense, we want to come home to our souls. We want to come home to the one place of security that is self-knowledge. So people's interests in trauma, attachment styles, astrology, I think it's all part of somewhat of a coping mechanism. It's also a knowing that we all have that truth that resides inside of us. It's kind of an anchor and a centering. If I can learn my own tendencies by understanding my astrology chart, I can navigate this world even when the world seems to be going bonkers. Yeah, but I still think there's a lot of diminishing ways that people think about [astrology]. They try to wrap it up with a pretty bow like, all Geminis are like this or that. I think a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing, too. I've heard of people writing other people off, because they didn't like their sign or saying, 'I don't date Geminis,' and that's silly. Everybody is different. The idea that there's a fixed way to interpret anything. There are also a lot of people who are learning the rules of astrology, which I think is important, but then they get really, really serious about the rules, and they forget that astrology is meant as a tool for understanding, not interpreting so literally. That's what's so interesting about astrology is it's at once this very defined mathematical system, and also nowadays, something that's subject for enlightened interpretation rather than rigid, by-the-books interpretation. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)

Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics
Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics

Elle

time20-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Elle

Astrology 101: Breaking Down the Basics

Learning about astrology can feel like discovering an iceberg. What you thought was just sun signs and casually checking Co-Star is actually an entire system involving houses, planets, modalities, birth charts, and more. That being said, it's a good idea to get a grasp of the basics before you start to descend into the deep. For example, what exactly is astrology anyway? And how has it changed over the years? Below, Tali Edut, one half of The AstroTwins, ELLE's resident astrologers, answers all those introductory questions. If after reading, you're looking to learn even more, Edut recommends analyzing your own birth chart and in turn, learning about how planets, signs, and houses can all be pieced together. Astrology is where math meets myth. It is the calculation of the planets in their orbit combined with thousands and thousands of years of storytelling and watching patterns. You could also say astrology is kind of the cosmic code to our personalities and also the energies that are happening outside of us in the world. It's a system that's been developing since the Babylonians and then the Egyptians, the Greeks, and then in modern days, too. It was once considered something that people studied at universities, too. So there's something about it that has lasted through the ages. A number of people are now going back and learning Hellenistic astrology, which was the astrology that existed back in antiquity in Greece. But I'm not a fan of it, because it stops with the planet Saturn, and Saturn is the patriarchy planet. I'm like, come on, Uranus comes after that, the planet of revolution. Then comes Neptune, the planet of dreams and subconscious, and Pluto, which is shadow work. They deserve to be part of this. I consider myself an evolutionary astrologer. I really do believe that we're always evolving, and the interpretation of our sun signs and moon signs will evolve as we do through our lives. Like my Scorpio moon might've made me jealous and possessive and insecure when I was a teenager, but now I use it to be empathetic and understand people and get compassionate with them. A personal love of astrology is primarily a tool for self-love and self-acceptance. I think when you understand that the birth chart is the cosmic blueprint to the person you are, why you are the way you are, and what potential there is to tap, it's like the gold mine, the treasure map to who you are. You're not stuck with, oh, I'm a Capricorn, I must work hard, or I'm a Virgo, I am a neat freak. Not at all. It's a treasure map to the energies you have to tap into, based on where the stars were when you were born. You can also use astrology for predictive purposes. Depending on where the planets are at any moment in time, you can look ahead and prepare for those energies that are coming in. A lot of astrologers, including myself, are self-taught, but there are certification programs. People are learning astrology faster and faster now, because there are so many great tools for it out there. Sometimes things just click into place collectively. But to actually become a great astrologer, it's not just about knowing how to regurgitate stuff, and I see that happening a lot, and I did that a lot in my early days as an astrologer. There's a lot of nuance. I think it's a lifelong practice of learning, studying human behavior. Notice all the people who are Aquarians in your life. What do you see? Look at all the celebrities who are Aries: Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Jill Scott, Aretha Franklin, all these divas. Why is that? It's observing, learning, doing your own personal development work, and then bringing that together with the principles and rules of astrology can make you a great astrologer. Our role as astrologers isn't to scare people, freak them out. I've heard people say, 'Oh, an astrologer told me I'd never get married. I'd never get pregnant.' That's just cruel. The role of astrologers is to support people in self-discovery and empowerment, and, of course, let them know if there's something they need to look out for. But to do it in a way that's empowering, it takes practice. When we started doing it, I would talk to people about their moon sign, and they'd be like, what are you talking about? Before it went wild on the internet and social media, there weren't a bunch of tools or calculators or apps. But over the last 15 years, astrology became more accessible, because you could do a free chart online. And then I think Trump coming into office [in 2016] and all the breakdowns from that did wonders for astrology, because people started to go, 'Why is this happening?' When something happens in the world that doesn't make sense, we want to come home to our souls. We want to come home to the one place of security that is self-knowledge. So people's interests in trauma, attachment styles, astrology, I think it's all part of somewhat of a coping mechanism. It's also a knowing that we all have that truth that resides inside of us. It's kind of an anchor and a centering. If I can learn my own tendencies by understanding my astrology chart, I can navigate this world even when the world seems to be going bonkers. Yeah, but I still think there's a lot of diminishing ways that people think about [astrology]. They try to wrap it up with a pretty bow like, all Geminis are like this or that. I think a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing, too. I've heard of people writing other people off, because they didn't like their sign or saying, 'I don't date Geminis,' and that's silly. Everybody is different. The idea that there's a fixed way to interpret anything. There are also a lot of people who are learning the rules of astrology, which I think is important, but then they get really, really serious about the rules, and they forget that astrology is meant as a tool for understanding, not interpreting so literally. That's what's so interesting about astrology is it's at once this very defined mathematical system, and also nowadays, something that's subject for enlightened interpretation rather than rigid, by-the-books interpretation. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I learned from letting horoscopes guide my week
Bernard O'Shea: Five things I learned from letting horoscopes guide my week

Irish Examiner

time24-04-2025

  • General
  • Irish Examiner

Bernard O'Shea: Five things I learned from letting horoscopes guide my week

As all questionable decisions do, it started with a biscuit and a scroll. I was halfway through a pack of fig rolls, casually flicking through my phone, when I saw it: 'Pisces, this is your week to finally let go of that toxic situation.' I'm an Aries, but I kept reading for some reason. Maybe it was the fig rolls talking. Or I wanted to believe that some celestial body 93m miles away gave a toss about whether I emailed my mobile phone provider back. But the more I read, the more I realised: this wasn't advice. This was a vibe (I couldn't think of a better word, OK … dude?) I don't know when horoscopes became part of my daily inner monologue, but I've realised I treat them the same way I treat voice notes from friends (I'm trying to start a 'no voice notes' movement — more on that next week): I may roll my eyes at them, but I absolutely listen to every word. They've become little micro-coaches. Pocket-sized philosophies. Emotional Google Maps. And they've been doing it for decades — long before 'wellness influencers' told us to hydrate, journal, and build a vision board shaped like our higher self. It got me thinking: are horoscopes just the original influencers? Did the stars walk so the affirmations on Instagram could run? So, in the name of science — or at least column-writing — I decided to live by my horoscope for a week. We like to think of astrology as a modern indulgence. The Babylonians were at it 2,400 years ago, tracking planetary movements to predict the rise and fall of kings. Then the Greeks got involved, giving us the zodiac signs we now know and use to justify our worst behaviour. 'I'm not being difficult; I'm just an Aries with boundaries.' But it wasn't until the 1930s that horoscopes really got their glossy breakout role. The Sunday Express published a star chart for Princess Margaret's birth, and boom — the British public was hooked. Soon, every paper had a daily astrology column, written with just enough vagueness to cover everything from heartbreak to bunions. Fast forward to now, and we've just… rebranded it. Today's horoscopes are Co-Star apps, TikTok astro girls, and Instagram tarot pulls set to lo-fi music. They've gone from newspaper margins to full-blown lifestyle branding. If the moon is in Leo, you'll hear about it. At their core, horoscopes have always done what modern influencers claim to do: Offer bite-sized wisdom. Give people something to believe in and suggest you buy a candle. And like all great influencers, horoscopes don't tell you what to do — they mean, hint, and gently nudge. 'It's a good day to reflect.' 'Don't overcommit today.' 'Your energy is low — be kind to yourself.' I know what you're thinking: horoscopes aren't science. And you're right. But here's the thing — they don't have to be. Because the effect they have on us is real. A 2020 study from the University of Toronto found that people who read daily horoscopes reported feeling more 'in control' of their emotions — even if they didn't believe in astrology. No matter how cosmic, just checking in with a message grounded them. Horoscopes work not because the planets know your mood, but because they give you a moment to reflect. And in a world constantly screaming for your attention, anything that encourages you to take 60 seconds to ask: 'How am I actually doing?' can't be all bad. So, with that said, here are … Five things I learned from letting horoscopes guide my week 1. Vague advice can be weirdly helpful Yes, 'something unexpected may happen today' is basically life. But once you start your day with that kind of warning, you find yourself more tuned in. You're watching out. You're more aware of your mood, reactions, and the potential chaos of accidentally leaving your phone in a Dunnes Stores trolley (yep, did that!) 2. Horoscopes give you permission to feel things you're already feeling Most days, my horoscope told me to 'slow down', 'reflect', or 'give myself grace'. Which, frankly, is the same thing my body's been shouting at me since 2019. But there's something about seeing it 'written in the stars' that makes it feel official. 3. Modern wellness is just astrology in designer tracksuits Today's influencers — with their palo santo sticks and sunrise journaling — are doing what the Babylonians were doing, just with better lighting and discount codes. 'Tap into your feminine energy' and 'Mars is in Gemini' are two sides of the same vague coin. 4. It's All About Micro-Moments of Pause Reading your stars makes you pause. They interrupt the scroll. They create a beat between thought and action. And in a week where I followed my horoscope religiously, I noticed I was slightly — just slightly — less reactive. 5. I now blame mercury retrograde for everything Lost my keys? Mercury retrograde. Emotional for no reason? Mercury retrograde. Did something awkward in a WhatsApp group? Definitely Mercury's fault. Do I believe horoscopes are real? No. But can they be useful? Yes. Sometimes, we just need a gentle narrative to carry us through the day. Something to make us feel like we're part of a bigger pattern — even if the pattern is mostly nonsense. So, if you see me sitting in the car, quietly muttering: 'It's a day for rest and self-compassion', I'm not being lazy; I'm just taking advice from the planetary system. Read More

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