At one time or another, pretty much everybody has been asked about their zodiac sign. This question may seem somewhat dated -- "I don't even think 'What's your sign?' is a good line anymore," University Chaplain David O'Leary said - but the popularity of horoscopes among college students attests to its relevance.
There are some students on campus that do have at least some faith in the power of astrology. "I believe in astrology," sophomore Tatyana Shvayetsky said. "Maybe it's because every description I've ever encountered about my sign, Taurus, has been pretty much right on track."
Many magazine and newspaper publications, including the Daily, feature a section on astrology, often in the form of horoscopes. Horoscopes predict the personality and the path of any given individual by referring to their zodiac sign.
While some Tufts community members do believe that the stars can predict their future, most seem to view astrology -- the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary -- purely as entertainment.
"As a religious person, I see astrology as just for fun," O'Leary said. "Most religious persons would have their higher power as having more power and effect in their lives than any planets."
While some students take their horoscope at face value, others agree with O'Leary and are more skeptical towards astrology. "I enjoy reading the horoscopes in the Daily because it's a nice perspective," sophomore Jackie Stone said. "But it certainly doesn't rule my day whether I get a good number or not."
Reading horoscopes without putting particular weight on what they predict is actually a popular pastime for many Tufts students. "I like reading my horoscope, but I don't really believe in it," sophomore Marina Shaw said.
However, Shaw does admit that getting a positive horoscope can still feel somewhat rewarding. "If you get a good horoscope for the day, whether you believe in it or not, there will be a little part of you that looks forward to something good happening," she said.
Although students tend to be more familiar with astrology from newspapers or magazines, some utilize other sources to get their advice from the stars. Shaw, for example, has spoken with a professional astrologer.
"I was at a themed restaurant in New York City, and they had an astrologer come around to every table," she said. "She said some stuff that resonated a little bit, but it didn't seem that believable. I mean, 'You have a lot going on in your life right now' can apply to pretty much anybody."
While some students, like Shaw and Stone, think of reading their horoscopes as a fun way to kill some time, Junior Jeff Kerner doesn't even bother to read them.
"I tend to believe more in science than stuff like astrology," Kerner said. "There might be some factual basis to it, but I wouldn't rely in it, especially in the horoscopes that people put in the Daily or other magazines."
There is no known date that marks the foundation of astrology. However, it is known that the concepts of astrology were present even in our earliest histories and that the 12 zodiac signs in use today were created around 600 B.C.
According to associate professor of astronomy William Waller, astronomy and astrology were once similar, but developed into different entities.
"The relationship between astrology and astronomy has some interesting historic roots, when they were one and the same," said Waller, who is also affiliated with the New England Space Science Initiative in Education (NESSIE). "By 1600, with the advent of the telescope, the two endeavors parted ways."
While astrology may have had initial scientific roots, it is now viewed as a more psychological pursuit. "Today, astrology is more of a psychological therapy akin to palm reading, where one uses the observed phenomenology...for self-reflection," Waller said.
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