Syracuse University Interviews Rebecca Gordon
Rebecca Gordon, renowned New York City astrologer and founder of 20-year running Astrology School, thinks it speaks to a larger trend of people who are all-too-willing to believe anything today.
“I feel like there’s a distinct lack of critical thinking right now,” Gordon said. “Even when I was first introduced to astrology, I didn’t believe it right away. I said, ‘How does this work? Is it real? Let me research it,’ and I think that’s healthy.”
Gordon got her start in astrology sooner than most, finding a mentor at just 14 years old. A decade later when Gordon attended her first astrology conference, she came to a surprising realization: she was the youngest person there.
“I was 24, they all were at least 54 and I said, ‘Wow, there is a problem here,’ because no young people were aware that astrology exists,” she said.
The year was 2004, and with no platforms like Instagram or Co–star pushing astrology, most people were unaware of what it meant or how to use it.
“So credibility was incredibly hard to establish, because astrology was not yet in the fabric of culture in the way that it is right now,” Gordon said.
Over the years, as astrology became more accepted into mainstream society, Gordon noticed a shift. Now, at her own school, she encounters increasingly younger students each year, which she called an “excellent sign” for the future.
“The fact that young people are so engaged in it tells me that we live in a world that has started to see humans as cogs in a wheel, and has perhaps valued individuality less and less,” Gordon said. “And as that is happening, concurrently as humans who value our individuality and uniqueness, we’ve chosen to invest more heavily in that and discover – why are we here?”
And as an astrologer, Gordon has dedicated her life to that very question. In order to best serve her clients, Gordon’s website offers a variety of resources including workshops, webinars, moon guides, and booking options for in-depth readings, all designed to help people gain a richer understanding of themselves.
Gordon argued that astrology can be a great benefit to mental health in a number of ways – the first being that it strengthens self-confidence. Perhaps you’re particularly inquisitive, for example, and you learn that’s a trait common of Geminis. Now, as a Gemini, you have the validation to just be who you are and embrace that part of yourself.
Possibly the main benefit to astrology, however, comes from its ability to connect. Life is not always easy, but knowing you’re going through those hard times with the rest of your astrological sign can be a comfort.
“You realize, ‘Wow, all Geminis are going through this hard thing right now,’ or ‘All Pisces are having a Saturn Return now,’ and you realize whatever suffering or hardship you’re enduring, you’re not alone in that,” Gordon said. “I think that is one of the most important things that astrology does – it gives us a larger sense of community, that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves.”
The positives of astrology are not just exclusive to mental health, as studies have shown people with some kind of faith are less likely to experience maladies like depression, anxiety, and even addiction. Though a belief in astrology is not exactly synonymous with religion, spirituality of all kinds helps provide guidance and meaning that can make particularly negative life events less stressful.
Where astrology can become detrimental to mental health, however, is when it becomes an obsession that stops us from living. While changes in the alignment of the planets can bring about changes in our lives, Gordon warned not to fear this process.
“The whole school of ‘You’re in a Saturn transit, go hide from the world,’ or ‘You’re in a Mercury Retrograde, don’t do anything,’ – no, the show must go on,” she said. “I think it’s important to dance with the energies, not hide from them. Invite them into your life, they’re all here to show us something.”
Both Gordon and Kochar said that what astrology does show us is a roadmap and a timeline. No one can predict the future, but understanding more about both your chart and the universe can bring its fair share of benefits.
“You might say, ‘I really want to start this right now,’ but it’s not a time to begin things,” Gordon explained. “And sure, you can go ahead and launch that business, but astrology can tell you if you wait until after that new moon, you’ll surf the wave at just the right time and this will triple your success.”