Gen Z and Astrology

Gen Z are astrology obsessed (me included). And while a lot of the time, Astrology is presented in a gimmicky, highly marketed way, (think Buzzfeed’s quiz ‘We can guess your Zodiac Sign based on which Poke Bowl you choose’), and capitalism is eating it up, with brands selling Zodiac themed items and dodgy wellness influencers offering Astrology courses for upwards of $2,000. However, is this radical influx of interest towards Astrology and Spirituality having a real, integral shift on the mindset of our generation? Can it help to alleviate mental health issues? Or is it simply another trend?

When times are turbulent and tough, using Astrology to navigate the world seems to be a remedy for those of the Gen Z generation. In a world full of disconnection, we are absorbed by social media and our personal devices, and it’s difficult to look at the bigger picture and see how interconnected we all really are. We live in busy cities filled with people but more than ever, we are spending time alone, and falling out of touch with the communities around us.

The rising popularity of astrology means Gen Z are reconnecting with the natural cycles of our world, the elements, and nature. For many, learning about the stars and planets has been a gateway to a more spiritual path. Astrology can be a stepping stone to self-development, and spiritual practices such as rituals, meditation and breathwork. Research shows that meditation has a direct link in improving an individual’s symptoms of depression and anxiety. And studies conducted on urban populations have shown that the higher a person rates their belief in a spiritual world, the less likely that person is to experience periods of depression. Gen Z has depression and anxiety rates higher than any generation which came before, and they are consistently rising. This can be pegged to the instability we are facing when it comes to housing and work, and the incessant use of social media which has been known to evoke feelings of hopelessness and shame in its’ users.

Astrology can be a way for people to deal with these issues, by allowing them to look deeply into why things are the way they are. For me personally, when I learnt that my moon sign was in Aquarius, known to be the least emotional sign, and that the moon governs my emotions, I figured out why I often feel withdrawn and emotionally numb. I spoke to others with an Aquarius Moon placement and I felt less alone. This inspired me to begin learning techniques on how to become less guarded and open up to people. I also stopped taking it personally when people with more emotional moon signs, such as Cancer or Scorpio, didn’t always understand my way of self expression. I wouldn’t have come to terms with that aspect of my personality if it wasn’t for learning about it in Astrology. It actually helped me to feel better about myself and to realise that humans all react to situations differently, and deal with their emotions in individual ways.

So to me, it was no secret that people who are self aware and analyse their mental states, such as low mood, and find reasoning for the way they feel, are more likely to recover from such states. Studies have shown that the people who really overcome their depression have dealt with the root of it. Usually doctors prescribe you pills and don’t begin to tackle the cause of the depression, which is can be psychological or due to a situation occurring in the external world, or both. By having an explanation for the way you feel, it’s easier to take steps to change, or to simply come to a place of self-acceptance.

Furthermore, by connecting with the moon cycles and following transits such as Mercury Retrograde, Gen Z is leaning into the cyclical patterns which govern our world. We already live our lives based upon astrology — the 12 months represent the 12 zodiac signs, and the days of the week were created to represent each significant planet in our solar system. Monday is the Moon, Tuesday is Mars, and so on. Learning about these cycles, such as the Lunar cycle, gives us a sense of stability, and allows us to learn more about nature. We delve into practices such as Earthing, which involves placing your feet in the earth below as a way to ground yourself, and we participate in rituals such as those that take place on a New Moon, which are all about setting intentions and releasing negative emotion. You might believe in it, you might not, but either way, these practices have a lot of profound teachings which are important for gaining a sense of ‘Oneness’ with the world around you. Studies show that people who practice spirituality are more likely to care about environmental policies, believe in diversity and inclusion, and deem access to universal healthcare as highly important.

This shift into spirituality will have positive effects on our planet’s future — if the citizens who are creating that future, (Gen Z) are holding values which are about the collective and compassion, rather than materialism and individualism. Connecting with others and knowing that everyone in the world is experiencing the same energy or seasonal shifts as you, can help you to find a sense of community and belonging amidst all of the chaos of our world — and its impending crises such as climate change and gentrification, which can make us feel quite alienated.

People often say that Gen Z are the ‘snowflake’ generation and are highly sensitive and reactive. From my perspective, Gen Z are creating and using tools which allow people to self explore and be vulnerable like never before. We’re talking about the issues that matter, and being more transparent about mental health and its social stigma. Astrology is one of those tools — as it allows for greater exploration of the self. It encourages us to learn about our internal world of emotions and traumas, to analyse our relationships with others, and to uncover the aspects of our personality which may have been depicted by the planets and stars. This is letting Gen Z connect with each other in new ways, and making them look at aspects of their life such as work and home environments in more depth. Apps such as CoStar have been influential in doing this, allowing users to take a glimpse into the astrological plains, and use advice and critiques in their daily life. Of course, Astrology is never going to be a quick fix to all problems. But it can be a stepping stone to discovering real ways to deal with mental health.

Overall, despite all of the oversimplification of Astrology that we see on platforms such as TikTok, and the ways it’s often marketed, it seems this new wave of spirituality is not only here to stay, but can have long lasting, positive effects on the psyche of Gen Z.