From TikTok celebrity birth chart analysis to constant fear of Mercury in retrograde, Astrology has positioned itself as an important aspect of our social identity, especially among Gen Z. Figuring out your sign and everything it means can be tricky. With the help of modern-day astrology apps and charts, it’s easier than ever to uncover the personality, future and dos and don’ts the stars wrote out for you.
Throughout campus you may hear the words “rising sign”, “retrograde” or “birth chart” tossed among a group of friends. While you may have a passing familiarity with your own Greek or Chinese zodiac sign, it can be confusing to keep track of all these terms. So how does anyone become well-versed in astrology?
Lauren Wynn, a sophomore studying biology, has been persuading her inner circle to download the astrology app Co-Star. “I just recently downloaded Co-Star because my friend Julia told me to, and now I check it like every day,” she said.
Wynn isn’t the only student on campus hooked on apps like Co-Star. These apps algorithmically generate nuggets of wisdom and affirmations based on your star chart. They’re simply the newest modern iteration of a millennia-old tradition, passed down from papyrus scrolls to iPhones.
Ancient influences are still present in the modern understanding of astrology. This way of using the stars to interpret everyday life goes back a lot further than you may think.
History
Today it’s common to hear the question, “What’s your zodiac sign?” referring to the 12 Hellenistic zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. These are derived from ancient Mesopotamian astrology. In the 400s B.C.E., the Babylonians divided the zodiac into 12 distinct signs based on the path of the sun.
In Ancient Greek culture, zodiac signs were interwoven with ideas surrounding the philosophical, social and metaphysical. Some believed the stars were direct dictators of each person’s path in life. Some people still believe this, just on a more modernized scale. People look to their astrology apps and books to see what they should have for breakfast or whether or not to text their crush.
While the practice of modern horoscope reading can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks, it has since taken on a completely different meaning to each person. In the modern era, we have inherited some of the Greek beliefs that the cosmos can control nature.
Astrology
When asked about her horoscope reading, sophomore Alejandra Rodriguez said, “Can I speak bad? They said I was never gonna be rich,” referring to her Co-Star app reading of her birth chart. “[Astrology] is very different from my spirituality, but I would say there are some things that I think coincide with my spirituality,” she added.
There are more signs than you may realize. So let me give you some astrology terms to keep in your back pocket:
Sun Sign – This is the sign you are probably most used to hearing. This is your “core sign” that is based on your birth month and day. It represents your qualities, strengths, weaknesses and what makes you who you are as a person.
Moon Sign – This is based on where and what exact time you were born. This sign is said to control your emotions and moods while explaining why you express your feelings in certain ways.
Rising Sign – The first impression people have of you is thanks to this sign. You have to get ultra specific with your location and time of your birth to find out what rising sign you are. It shows the face you put on for others and how you present yourself.
Top Three Astrology Apps
1. Co-Star
2. The Pattern
3. Nebula
Today, young people looking at their birth chart for projections of wealth, love and happiness directly mirror the practices of Ancient Greek society. In both cases, asking if our lives are carved out by the stars, or if we each dictate our own destinies.
Animals
I’m sure you’ve been referred to as a specific animal based on the year you were born. I promise this isn’t random. In the Chinese zodiac, the symbols are represented by 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each of these animals are associated with a year. The year someone is born determines the animal they are represented by. The animal a person has as their zodiac is said to have a set of characteristics and fortunes that correlates to them.
That’s not the only time animals come up in astrology. The actual word ‘zodiac’ comes from a Greek word that can be translated to “little animals.” The term is representative of the mythological characteristics that the zodiac took on during the Hellenistic period.
Modernized Society
According to a study conducted by The Harris Poll in 2024, 95% of Americans know their zodiac signs, and 28% of Americans consult their astrology annually. In another study conducted by Dr. Bryan Robinson in 2024, it was found that 80% of Gen Z and Millennials who participated believe in cosmic guidance. So, it’s safe to say you aren’t the only one checking out your horoscope every day.
Astrology has meshed into a modern form while still honoring some of the traditions of the Greeks. Yet, it has still taken on an identity of its own. On TikTok, the hashtag “astrology” has over 5 million posts, and the hashtag “tarot” has 16 million posts. Whether or not the exact same mythological beliefs have carried over into modern times, the desire to seek guidance through stars remains embedded in a part of our human nature.
Across the top of Wynn’s Co-Star app read her message for the day: “You are ready to take a break from romantic love.” She read the message and sighed, “See, the funny thing is, I’m not in a relationship.” At the bottom of her phone were two lists labelled “do” and “don’t.” Do: heavy sighs, chaise lounge, dirges. Don’t: pedestals, begging, numbness. “I feel like you’re not supposed to fully understand your spiritual side, maybe, you’re supposed to go on this whole journey,” she said.
Maybe, in 2025, we’re still on the same journey as the Greeks, the Ancient Chinese, and the Mayans, looking to the metaphysical for answers. No matter your moon, sun or rising sign, there is always a chart or app waiting for you to read it. You may just find that your sign explains more about you than you realized.
words_ rafael jennings. illustration_jay moyer. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Fall 2025 print issue.
Follow our Social Media:
