Syracuse University Interviews Rebecca Gordon
“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.”