5 days ago
Would you let the stars dictate where you live?
Despite living in an age in which GPS tracks our every move and most of us have a map available at the touch of a screen, a growing number of people are turning to a different guide for directions: the cosmos. Astrocartography, a practice combining geography and astrology, claims to map the world for a person based on the moment they were born, offering guidance on where to go on holiday and even where to live.
Developed in its modern form by the American astrologer Jim Lewis in the 1970s, at the root of the concept, which is sometimes called locational astrology, is the theory that by relocating to or spending time in areas that match with favourable planetary lines, we could tap into positive energies.
• The Indian mothers paying for C-sections under 'lucky' stars
'Essentially it's a map based on the moment you took your first breath, which shows you your most powerful locations in the world,' says Helena Woods, a former actress from New York who is now an astrology influencer living in Australia. She charges $550 for an initial one-hour astrocartography reading.
The idea of celestial influence on Earthly locales isn't new. Ancient civilisations, including the Babylonians and Egyptians, relied on observing the stars to make decisions about agriculture, architecture and governance. In recent years astrocartography has experienced a resurgence, particularly on social media, carving out a niche for itself within the reportedly $2.2 billion global industry that is astrology. On platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, astrologers including Hagan Fox (280K followers on Instagram) and Chani Nicholas (630K followers on Instagram) share practical tips. The latter, who counts the singer Lizzo among her fans, also ties locational astrology to broader themes of identity and social justice. Meanwhile the podcast host and astrologist Chris Brennan invites specialists to unpack the practice in depth on The Astrology Podcast (240K subscribers on YouTube).
• Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts
The rise of remote work and digital nomadism has fuelled interest as people explore where in the world they may feel happiest. 'I've helped people completely uproot their lives and start over in far-off locations,' Woods says.
'We've all been to cities or towns that feel right [and] others that don't; Astrocartography helps explain these place-based attractions,' says Clarisse Monahan, a Goldman Sachs analyst turned professional astrologer based near Dublin, who charges €220 for an hour of astrocartography. 'It matches us to our hot spots on Earth. Deciding where to live for work or raising a family is probably one of the biggest decisions you make in life.'
On a less life-changing note, some people turn to astrocartography to decide the best place and time to take a holiday. 'For example, they might want to go to Paris on their Venus line in order to find some romance,' Monahan, who is also Soho House's resident astrologer, says.
• Tick, tick, hiss — watches for the year of the snake
Woods and Monahan offer single or multiple astrocartography sessions for clients depending on the questions they have, and Woods offers masterclasses and workshops. Both have also written or are writing books on the subject.
As for the next frontier in the astrology world? How about astroherbalism, which combines astrology and plant medicine to map planets and signs on to herbs for emotional healing? Back to the future indeed.
