A night sky twinkling with the soft glow of infinite stars has long attracted astrologers and astronomers alike. While astronomers have turned their sights beyond the immediate glow of the Milky Way to unearthing the cosmic mysteries in outer space, astrologers have tried to divine and interpret the movements of the planets, fixed stars, and moon to forecast earthly and human events.
With the ebb and flow of time, facilitated by the renewed interest in astrology on a broader scale, it has now emerged as an alternative of choice for tour planning.
A boom in pseudoscience
The zodiac has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity among all age groups. Over 20 million people have downloaded the app Co-Star, which bills itself as “astrology without the bullshit.” According to a 2018 Pew Research study, 29% of Americans said they believed in astrology. According to Google Trends, searches for the terms “astrology” and “birth chart” grew significantly in 2020. The Atlantic also called astrology a “meme,” adding that it was spreading in the same way that memes do.
Now that travel agencies, hotels like Sun Deck, Above It All, etc., and restaurants have begun to cater heavily to astrology enthusiasts too, it is yet another indication that the pandemic and its aftermath have left people desperate for assurance, direction and a way to make sense of the chaos. Their offerings include everything from private consultations with Buddhist monks and purported “good witches” to “composite” charts allegedly used to check a couple’s astrological alignment.
Many believe that astrology can help guide life decisions, with career and marriage counseling being the top questions in any type of astrology. It makes sense that it would enter the travel industry- choosing a destination can be difficult with constrained finances and vacation days.
Although astrologers may not be travel agents, if we are looking for travel inspiration from Instagram, TV, and the chit-chat stranger at the bar, even the sky and planets might offer some divine recommendations. While there are numerous articles on the internet that recommend destinations based on astrological signs, a consultation promises to offer a more individualized perspective.
Parameters of Divination
Astrologers take into account a variety of variables in addition to the zodiac signs that most people are familiar with, such as the position of the planets in the sky at any given moment and the impact that may have on various individuals. Some astrologers, such as New York-based astrologer John Marchesella, place more emphasis on the purpose of travel during consultation and less emphasis on the place of birth.
The one aspect of astrology even skeptics are aware of is Mercury retrograde. The planet Mercury appears to rotate in the opposite direction at different times to the untrained eye; NASA acknowledges this optical illusion as a natural phenomenon. As a result, it is said that our world appears to be turned upside down.
Although it is a significant astrological phenomenon, it has been exaggerated to the point where it is now used to describe “one of those days.” The website IsMercuryInRetrograde.com, launched by Kate Trgovac in 2009, receives about 25,000 visitors per month, but when Mercury is in retrograde, that number more than triples.
According to Hillary Richard, a New York-based travel-writer with an erratic tour schedule, Mercury retrograde is primarily to blame for flight delays, unreliable credit cards, and problematic Google Maps. “Here’s a cosmic force saying you’re not in control.”
Astrology is now an integral part of Society
Astrology is easy to dismiss, along with mood rings, healing crystals, and other gimmicks. However, those who check their charts assert that they have found readings that resonate.
Astrology has become so ingrained in some cultures that it no longer exists on the periphery but rather is accepted as part of everyday life. For instance, many people in India consult Vedic astrologers to determine whether a romantic interest would make a good spouse or to choose a wedding date. Entrepreneurs who are moving for work often seek astrological guidance on this type of relocation.
Astrology, according to Cherie Rose Martin, a travel agent employed by the New York City travel agency Embark Beyond since 2018, is a “strategic way to find the most meaningful dates to do anything”, enriching the concept of ‘international travel’.
Astrological travel advice can simply be a way for some people to break out of routines and habits – a welcome push outside of their comfort zones. Like Ms. Kamali, many people find that astrology allows them to release control in a unique and liberating way.