Here’s Why Zodiac Signs Mean Absolutely Nothing

1. A brief history of The Zodiac

Image Source / WashingtonPost

The Zodiac dates back over 3,000 years to ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians and the Egyptians who observed the apparent path of the Sun against the fixed stars over the course of the year.  They divided the Sun's path into 12 equal sections and these later became the 12 Zodiac signs.  The concept later spread to ancient Greece where it was further developed by astrologers and then formalized during the Hellenistic period.  Over the centuries, the zodiac has continued to evolve and continues to capture the curiosity of people from across the globe.

2. What are Zodiac signs?

Image Source / Reddit.com

The 12 equal sections of the sun's path were all given a specific Zodiac sign and each sign is associated with particular dates.  So for example Aries, or the ram, is associated with the dates between March 21st to April 19th, and Leo, or the lion, runs from July 23rd to August 22nd. Astrologers believe that the position of the Sun, Moon, and planets at the time of a person's birth can influence many aspects of their lives, including their personality, behavior, and even their futures.

3. Why are we so interested in them now?

Image Source / Behance.net

Today, the enduring interest and curiosity in the zodiac across the globe can be down to a number of factors.  There's the pop culture and entertainment value, as well as people actually using them as a tool for self-discovery and reflection.  Some people even find them useful and comforting during uncertain times when they might need some reassurance.  And even though the zodiac lacks any scientific evidence, there is an appealing openness to it due to its connection with personal well-being and spirituality.

4. But wait... Where is the scientific evidence?

Image Source / Infoguidenigeria.com

Astrology is a belief system that has endured for centuries and is probably more popular than ever.  And it is really important to remember that descriptions of the zodiac, and horoscopes in magazines can bring an element of comfort and reassurance to lots of people, as well as mean a great deal to them.  But it is equally important to remember that the validity of the zodiac isn't actually supported by any scientific evidence, particularly in the ability to predict personality traits or future events.

5. The Barnum Effect

Image Source / Circusesandsideshows.com

The Barnum Effect, also known as the Forer effect, is a phenomenon whereby people believe that vague or generalized personality descriptions apply specifically to them.  They might feel like these statements, like the ones that you might find in a horoscope, have been tailored specifically to their individual traits.  However, in reality, these statements are so generalized that they could realistically be applied to absolutely anyone.  Therefore, some might argue that The Barnum Effect plays a huge role in astrology and horoscopes.

6. They contain many generalized statements

Image Source / Etsy.com

So with The Barnum Effect in mind, you might notice that a lot of the descriptions of the 12 zodiac signs tend to include lots of very vague and generalized statements.  For example, as an Aries, you would be said to be incredibly adventurous, and daring.  But as you can see, with these descriptions, you can pretty much apply them to lots of different aspects of anyone's life, for example, you can be adventurous and daring with an activity like skydiving, or you can be described as adventurous and daring with the clothes that you choose to wear and the way you do your hair.  So it's clear that these are purposely vague and open to interpretation.

7. There are multiple interpretations of the generalized descriptions

Image Source / Etsy.com

This brings us to our next reason why zodiac signs are seen as meaningless by some.  The vague comments and statements that you find in different descriptions of the zodiac signs and within horoscopes can, as you can see, have multiple interpretations, depending on who is reading them.  So as a Virgo, you might be described as well-organized, but depending on your personality, you might read this as being tidy in your home, or that you make lots of to-do lists, or that you can prioritize your time at work, or even able to organize your thoughts effectively so you can fiercely persuade and argue.  You see, each of these applies to that vague description!

8. There are so many cultural variations too

Image Source /NationalPost.com

Interestingly, there are also cultural variations in the zodiac too, and different cultures also have their own systems of astrology and their own interpretations of distinct zodiac constellations, symbols, and dates.  So for example, the Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle with each year representing an animal sign.  Then there's Vedic astrology from India which follows 27 lunar constellations, or Nakshatras.  There are lots of other examples too, including Aztec and Tibetan astrology, and the diversity of different forms of astrology is fascinating and shows how it is adaptable according to varied cultural belief systems.

9. There's no consensus among astrologers either

Image Source / Ourmindfullife.com

So it's fascinating to see that even though the practice of astrology has a long and fruitful history, There are so many diverse astrological systems across the world that have evolved over the last 3,000 years and continue to evolve today.  This means that different astrologers have varying interpretations, methodologies, and even approaches to making predictions, and these might be based on their own cultural and personal beliefs, their training and experience, as well as being influenced by commercialization in the modern age.

10. There's a 13th sign too

Image Source / EarthSky.com

There is also a 13th sign that is not officially recognized in Western astrology, though, there are many astrologers and horoscope writers that have proposed the inclusion of the 13th sign.  It is often referred to as Ophiuchus which is usually depicted as a man holding a snake, or a serpent bearer.  The sun is said to pass through this constellation between November 29th to December 17th and those born between these dates are said to be seekers of knowledge, as well as great healers and full of wisdom.  But this 13th sign isn't officially recognized in Western astrology and is another example of the different variations in astrology.

11. The Earth's axis wobbles, which shifts the dates

Image Source / Reddit.com

The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, as well as the force of the Earth's rotation, has an effect on the Earth's equatorial bulge.  According to National Geographic, if a person stands on the equator, the would be 13 miles farther from the Earth's center than a person stood on the North Pole.  And this, as well as climate change affects how the Earth spins on its axis.  In fact, it wobbles.  This means that over time, the constellations have shifted which means that someone born on what was once considered an Aries date is now technically born when the sun is in the constellation of Pisces!

12. They seem to also ignore cultural and societal change and progression

Image Source / MeisterDrucke.uk

So because the Earth tends to wobble on its axis over long periods of time, from our perspective on the Earth's surface, the constellations shift over long periods of time.  And mainstream astrology doesn't only fail to take this change into account, but cultural and societal progression is also unaccounted for.  However, despite astrology being so rooted in ancient beliefs, and cultural influences, like social media and pop culture, some of the old ideas have often been applied to more modern events and concepts.

13. There might be an element of confirmation bias

Image Source / Skyatnightmagazine.com

When somebody reads their zodiac sign description or their horoscope, there tends to be an element of confirmation bias.  Confirmation bias is when people tend to process the information that they are actually looking for or that is consistent with their own beliefs.  So they might focus on the zodiac traits that align well with their own self-perception and therefore would probably ignore or rationalize any contradicting traits, and this leads to biased interpretations.

14. Failed predictions are very common

Image Source / Shamanscrystal.co.uk

In astrology, there is a belief that a person's birth date would influence their life events.  So for example, if a person is born between June 21st and July 22nd, they would be born under the Cancer zodiac sign.  Cancers are often said to be incredibly charismatic but also possessive and moody, according to Cosmopolitan.  And for 2023, one horoscope promises "less stress as well as more calm and ease..."  Of course, these are also generalized and likely to be unreliable, with no better success rate than chance.

15. Failure to predict major life events

Image Source / Reddit.com

So as well as life not living up to the predictions found in astrological beliefs and within a magazine or social media horoscopes, they also fail to predict huge life events for people too.  So if people put their lives in huge astrological hands, they'll probably have a few surprises along the way!  There are so many factors that can influence huge life events and astrology just cannot accurately or realistically predict births, deaths, marriages, or career successes.

16. Disproportionate influence of birth date

Image Source / Reddit.com

The idea that your whole life is influenced by the day you are born might seem a little far-fetched for some.  You see, placing undue importance on your birth date completely ignores the huge complexity of a person's life and the experiences which shape their wonderful individuality.  Everyone is so incredibly unique in their own way and cannot realistically be categorized into just 12 zodiac signs.

17. Overemphasis on the Sun signs

Image Source / Reddit.com

In popular astrology, it is rather common for the sun to be a common limitation when it comes to identifying a person's personality traits.  This means that other celestial bodies like the Moon, and each planet, are not considered, despite being huge parts of astrology.  The idea and perhaps the reason for this though, is that the sun is at the center of our universe, and therefore must be at the core of our personality.  But this understanding neglects the full spectrum of their personality, which could perhaps be influenced by other celestial bodies.

18. The zodiac misses out the Moon's influence

Image Source / Reddit.com

When the zodiac misses out the Moon's influence and focuses solely on the Sun, according to astrological beliefs, it misses out on huge elements of a person's personality.  This is because the moon is said to be crucial in understanding the emotions, emotional responses, and instincts of n individual.  Likewise, missing Mercury disregards communication and thought; Venus represents love, relationships, and aesthetics; Mars governs drive; Jupiter covers opportunities and growth; Saturn is said to represent life lessons and responsibility.

19. Moon signs can be different to Sun signs

Image Source / Tribetats.com

While we are on the theme of the influences of celestial bodies and how they are believed to influence a person's personality traits, it is also important to remember that a person's Sun sign is not necessarily the same as their Moon sign.  So, for example, a person might be born under the Aries Sun sign which is said to be associated with assertiveness and strong leadership qualities, but then their Moon sign might be Pisces, which is known for compassion and empathy.

20. Thinking about astrology's historical context...

Image Source / Wikipedia

The roots of astrology lie in ancient belief systems, in fact, according to a Harvard journal entry, most pre modern cultures are said to have practiced a form of astrology.  And even back then, it was subject to cultural variations, as well as subject to change and development over time.  A complex version evolved in Mesopotamia in the first and second millennia BCE, then it developed in the Hellenistic world, later becoming central to both ancient Greek and Roman culture.  However, despite its popularity nowadays, modern science has debunked it as superstition and myth.

21. There seems to be a disregard for new planetary discoveries

Image Source / Skyatnightmagazine.com

Due to beliefs in astrology and the zodiac being around for thousands of years, in that time, there have been many new celestial discoveries, including the discovery of new planets.  For example, Uranus was discovered in 1781 and Neptune wasn't discovered until 1846.  These are both still thousands of years after the first records of the zodiac.  However, because of the sole focus on the sun, it fails to take into account the influence of new planetary discoveries.

22. Infrequent zodiac alignment

Image Source / Reddit.com

The practice in astrology of only taking into account the positions at the time of birth begs the question: are there no other celestial influences throughout a person's life?  If the celestial event at the time of birth is so powerful, why can't other celestial events influence a person's later life?  This practice seriously neglects the influence these events might have later down the line.

23. Unaccounted leap years

Image Source / Blog.balletaz.org

Every four years, there is a leap year.  This means that we get an extra day to enjoy in the month of February.  However, this means that the dates of the zodiac calendar and for each sign change slightly.  So for example, Aquarius starts on January 20th and ends on February 19th, but those dates are not completely set in stone.  In fact, according to some sources, the dates for each sign are just the average dates rather than exact!

24. Inconsistent zodiac calendar shifts

Image Source / Reddit.com

Interestingly, some astrologers propose alternative systems to the zodiac, for example, the 'sidereal zodiac' which is supposed to align the zodiac signs with the actual positions of the constellations.  But, again, these systems also differ in the exact dates the zodiac signs change.  And you could say that this creates even more confusion and undermines astrological readings with even more variation.

25. Have you noticed, there is a slight lack of animal diversity too?

Image Source / Reddit.com

The traditional Western zodiac signs consist of mainly animals.  In Western astrology, there's Aries the ram, Taurus the bull, and Scorpio the (you guessed it!) the scorpion to name a few.  Then in Chinese astrology, there are 12 animals that correspond with each year.  But why were these particular animals chosen and not, say, an aardvark or a great white shark?  Well, it is believed that many years ago, in China, the Jade Emperor was said to have decided on this way to measure time so told animals they were to compete in a race.  And so the first 12 were rewarded with a year named after them!

26. There is a lack of individualization

Image Source / Twitter 

Now think about how many people in the world must have been born on August 28th... It is impossible to know but a few famous faces including Jack Black, Shania Twain, and Armie Hammer share this birthday.  And, apparently, it is also National Red Wine Day!  Now according to the Zodiac, everyone born on this day shares the Virgo sign which means they are humble, well-organized, and practical.  But does this mean everyone born within this time period shares these traits?  There is a real lack of individualization here!

27. The influence of social media and popular culture

Image Source / NoraFinds.com

As the years have passed, although the zodiac has kept its original roots, it has certainly varied from its original form.  Especially through horoscopes in popular magazines as well as social media.  In fact, just a simple search on your chosen social media platform will show you how much influence modern culture has had on some elements of the zodiac.  Just to give you one example, someone has created a gamer's zodiac chart where each symbol has been changed to a retro gaming character like Toad from Super Mario Bros as well as a Pokeball.  And before social media, one magazine ran a Lucky Hairdo feature inspired by the zodiac!  You see, the zodiac has captured people's curiosity and creativity for a long time.

28. The Pseudoscience Label

Image Source / WondriumDaily.com

Astrology is very often categorized as a pseudoscience, which is defined as a collection of beliefs or practices that are mistakenly regarded as being based on science.  This is because it has been found to lack empirical evidence, as well as rigorous testing, control groups, and a basic adherence to scientific principles.  So there are ethical considerations when people rely on it for their important decision-making and their abdication of personal responsibility.  This categorization contributes to people's belief that it is actually meaningless.

29. Some raise the argument of psychological priming

Image Source / Reddit.com

Some people believe that reading zodiac descriptions and horoscopes may create a psychological priming effect.  This is where individuals might unconsciously align their behavior with what they have read and interpreted as their own personality traits.  And interestingly, this can even happen to those who do not consider themselves to believe in astrology!  These effects highlight the power of suggestion!

30. No harm done!

Image Source / Theholistichamper.co.uk

So despite there not being any solid empirical evidence to support the idea that your birth date influences your personality and your future, the zodiac can be an interesting and entertaining tool for self-awareness, reflection, and discovery.  It can also be really interesting to educate yourself about the different historical and cultural variations around the world and throughout time as well as being a good outlet for creativity.  However, it is important to not take them too seriously and limit your own life based on what your horoscope says.