I’m a libra. So that means my favorite color is pink, i’m indecisive, will carry a grudge, my luck number is four and I live in harmony. But none of that is actually true. The only thing being a  libra really means is that I was born between Sept. 23 and Oct.22. Nothing else. All horoscopes do is give unrealistic life expectations that never end up happening. Or, by complete chance, these predictions come true, creating a false sense of reliability.

Horoscopes have the potential to cause a person to change their beliefs simply so they can align with their horoscope. People will purposefully alter their lives because of what their horoscope says therefore continually causing problems as the horoscopes have no real science behind them.

By believing in these predictions, people put themselves in a vulnerable spot. They entrust so much in these horoscorpes that they put aside their better judgment and do their best to make sure their life matches what their horoscope says. This also means they put themselves out transparently, leaving them  to be easily hurt, or scared. It causes unrealistic expectations which result in a person questioning themselves or their lives when, in reality, they should be questioning the value of these predictions. If their predictions don’t happen they can be left feeling confused and start to blame other things. However, if their horoscopes predict something bad, that also means they take the risk of living in fear of the future, simply because some horoscope told them.

According to Terence Sandbek, PhD in mental health and an avid opposer of zodiac signs, reading your horoscope can become a dangerous habit.  

“One of the hallmarks of mental and emotional maturity is being able to run your own life and make your own decisions,” Sandbek said.

The only sign horoscopes give off is that the person is so emotionally decrepit they are incapable of dealing with their own issues. Horoscopes reinforce a false sense of control in one’s life causing their problems to not disappear, but simply be pushed down inside them to deal with later.

Furthermore, anyone can create a horoscope. As long as you understand the language of zodiac signs you can start writing them. Most of these people are not experts. They do not have a degree in horoscopes. They are merely tired reporters writing the first thing that sounds half believable.  

Even if you dare to believe that the stars in the sky have magical powers to control your future, your horoscope is wrong.  Anyone who has taken an elementary level science class knows that the Earth spins around on its axis. When it does this it wobbles, scientifically known as precession, which is caused by gravity. Since 600 B.C., when astrology was first invented, the wobble has caused the intersection point between the celestial equator and the ecliptic to move west along the ecliptic by 36 degrees, along the border of Pisces and Aquarius. In simpler terms, this means the Earth moved around the stars and your zodiac sign is actually off by about a month. So, as it turns out, i’m not really a Libra  For hundreds of years people have been looking at the wrong horoscope and because they are so generic people believe them.

Horoscopes are a double edged sword. They can either cause a person to change their previous thoughts and beliefs, or let them down because what they were promised did not come true.