Can Your Horoscope Influence Your Luck?
People have been looking to the skies to get hints at their future for thousands of years. The first documented use of horoscope interpretation dates all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia. The practice continued to develop in earnest under the Greeks.
Up until the 17th century, astrology was considered a serious subject of academic interest. Something to be taken seriously, not just for the superstitious but for everyone.
Its prominence as an academic discipline has waned in the intervening centuries, but millions of people all over the world still take it very seriously to this day.
Can your horoscope influence your luck?
What People Think
About twenty years ago, the Pew Research Society decided to investigate this exact question. They couldn’t determine how influential the position of stars was in determining a person’s experiences. How could one even quantify something like that?
They could examine what people thought of astrology.
The numbers were impressive. Almost one-fourth of adults living in the United States believed that the position of the stars influenced their lives. Ten years later, another survey asking similar questions revealed that that number leaped up to 35%.
Since then, additional surveys have struggled to pin down exactly what the adult public believes about astrology. In 2024, The Harris Poll suggested that the percentage of people believing in astrology could be as high as 70%. For context, a Gallup poll taken at around the same time revealed that only 47% of Americans consider themselves religious.
Thousands of years after it was first introduced, Astrology continues to be a popular way for people to interpret their lives and make sense of the unexplainable. What does it say about luck?
Understanding Luck In Astrology
Sagittarius, associated with Jupiter (the planet of luck and expansion), and Pisces are traditionally considered the luckiest signs. Leo and Taurus are also often associated with good fortune. On the flip side, Capricorn and Cancer sometimes face more challenging luck patterns.
However, having a “lucky” or “unlucky” sign doesn’t determine your fate. A Sagittarius isn’t always living life in the fast lane, and a Capricorn isn’t always having a tough go of things.
Star and planet positions fluctuate constantly. These fluctuations are what create your horoscope. Your horoscope takes into account your sun sign’s basic traits along with current planetary positions and aspects to make predictions about potential energetic influences in your life.
However, I should note that while I can discuss traditional astrological beliefs, the accuracy of horoscopes and luck predictions should be verified through other sources.
People who ascribe to astrology generally don’t believe that the story ends there. Individual choices and external factors also play their part. No person is an island.
We interact with people constantly every day, and those interactions, along with our own talents and abilities, are at least just as influential in determining the trajectory of our lives as the circumstances of our birth.
Astrological influence is one thread in a complex tapestry. Personal effort, environmental factors, life experiences, individual skills, and relationships with others all weave together to shape our path. Your sun sign might indicate certain tendencies or potentials, but it doesn’t override the impact of your choices and circumstances.
How Should You Use This Information
“Influence,” is the operative word. While individual beliefs concerning astrology vary, most people do not believe that the position of the stars will determine your future. They do believe that astrological workings can tilt the scale one way or the other.
You don’t need to hide out in your house on a day when the signs aren’t in your favor. You might drive a little more carefully if you are worried.
And on a day when luck is on your side? You shouldn’t bet the mortgage on online pokies. You probably shouldn’t make a special point of gambling at all if that isn’t something that you normally do.
That said, if you do like to play online casino games and you have a choice between playing one day with a negative outlook, versus one where the odds might be more in your favor? That’s a choice that pretty much makes itself, right?
For believers, horoscopes can be a handy tool. They provide a touch of guidance for otherwise difficult choices. Perhaps they allow you to feel a bit more confident in situations where you otherwise would not.
In no situation should your horoscope dictate your life. If you are concerned with star alignment, it might be best to begin with a choice and then use your horoscope to interpret how you should engage with that decision.
Remember that there are so many things that shape a person’s experience. Horoscope interpretation can be an important part of your routine but make sure you balance it with other considerations.