In William Shakespeare’s play of star-crossed lovers, Romeo navigates his fate with the help of the stars above.
Today, students read of Romeo and his quest for Juliet and think he is crazy to let the stars define his relationships and fate. In reality, millions of people around the world peep into the horoscope section of a magazine or newspaper and read their sign with a little hope that these words told will take place within their future. Horoscopes are written in a series of phone apps, newspapers and magazines as the signs follow their daily and yearly horoscope messages. Although they are regularly published, it remains a mystery as to who the creators of these predicted days, months and years really are. Sophomore Julia Walsh said, “I believe in my horoscope, it's a lot like my personality so I base myself of that. I think people like thinking there's a higher power that knows something about them.” According to Huffington post’s studies, the United States have shown that one third of women are known to check their horoscope at least once every month. Like Romeo, women put their relationships, health and traits to the test as they see if it matches their fate. Little do they know many of these published horoscopes are created by astrologers who have developed their own business or are hired to write in popular magazines and newspapers. Professional Astrologer Nikki Harper said, “Magazines and websites look for an astrology writer in the same way as they might look for any other article or freelance writer sometimes through online job sites, sometimes through word of mouth. Astrological writing requires a decent standard of English and a knack for engaging or entertaining an audience.” Hundreds of individual factors contribute to the creation of horoscopes. The sun sign is significant as it represents the astrology sign of the Zodiac that the sun was during the time of your birth. They are mostly determined with strong aspects like the shapes made between the different planets as they move. Harper said, “Horoscopes are used to provide a general forecast of astrological energy to a particular sign.” These general forecasts of energy published in newspapers and articles influence the actions of people throughout their day. Sophomore Kaylin Roberts said, “I believe in my sign because my sign hasn't been wrong about how I act and am. I can see why people wouldn't be into horoscopes because their similar to religion because there is no scientific proof or knowledge about them. It just like there's an older lady behind a computer writing your horoscope and telling you what will happen.” People around the world take their horoscopes literally by thinking that the exact things predicted will happen in their day. Harper explained horoscopes differently by saying that they are vibes and energies given to the signs. They are not to depict your fate they simply give you energy and what you do with that energy decides your fate. Harper said, “The movement of the planets does not mean to us that you will do such and such, or that something will happen to you - it just means that the energy is more or less conducive or helpful to you in a particular regard, and that therefore it would be easier, harder or more or less advisable for you to try such and such right now or in the future.“ As Harper exposes the details of horoscope writing she describes it as a process always changing, as people evaluate the way their energies have contributed to their lives. Junior Alex Broussard said, “Horoscopes give you hope throughout the day and something to look forward too. Even if people don't believe it, there's still hope that it might be true.” Or, as Shakespeare said, “It’s not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” |