I think the woo-theory is that not only do individuals have Zodiac signs according to their birth, but that all of society cycles through Zodiac-associated phases every 2000 years or so. So, the previous 2000 years had been Pisces and everyone was all about money and war and monotheism and other uncool stuff, but starting in the 60s we moved into the Age of Aquarius and now it’s gonna be 2000 years of universal peace and love, man.
Also, it was friend talk in school and watercooler talk at the office. What’s your sign? It’s easy an impersonal stuff to talk about unless you run into someone who is a devotee.
Isn’t that true for everyone? I’m neither an astrologer nor an astronomer, but the story I’ve always heard is that the zodiac cycle was established by the Babylonians (I don’t know exactly when, but I guess about 3000-4000 years ago), and that the constellations since then have moved so that by now, the old zodiac signs the astrologers still work with are all off by a month.
I remember my mother giving me and each of my siblings a dime to get our own horoscopes from a machine. I am a Libra, my little brother is a Pisces. We both received the same horoscope. Figured out then at about 12 years old that the whole horoscope thing is a bunch of hooey.
I’ve known mine since I was quite young (under ten for sure) One of my cousins a few years older than me would bang on that it was of course all nonsense that you could tell fortunes with horoscopes, but they absolutely tell you about personalities.
I remember my little brain going, everything you are saying about YOUR personality is self-serving tosh. And none of these signs have any negative traits? I didn’t realize then how euphemisms worked. Loyal to a fault = weak minded follower. Ruled by passion = hotheaded idiot. Etc.
Me too! So we were born within a month of each other, or some multiple of 12 years apart!
One aspect it it being so pervasive, is that it ends up somewhat self-fulfilling. For instance, I knew my sun sign very young and had one of those books about Taurus with general information - gemstone, flower, “planet”, etc, including traits, which included stubbornness. So that trait got reinforced over the years. I’m being stubborn? I’m supposed to be - I’m a Taurus
Cancerian. Funny thing about that. I can’t tell people I’m a cancer, because that doesn’t sound right. And when I was a little kid, I once said I was a crab. And my cousin remarked, You sure are.
BTW, I don’t believe in Astrology at all. But hey, like religion, if it gives you hope, why not? I after could still be wrong .