We all know those lesbians who remind you when mercury is in retrograde or warn you not to date that girl because you’re not astrologically compatible. So what is it about astrology that draws lesbians in? Is there anything inherently homosexual about our interpretations of the cosmos? Did the stars align for us alone? The first fact to note is that women lean towards belief in astrology more than men. Women are twice as likely to seek out supernatural resources such as fortunetellers according to a Pew article published in 2009.(https://www.pewforum.org/2009/12/09/many-americans-mix-multiple-faiths/). The knee jerk reaction is to claim that women rely more on emotion rather than reason, but I beg to differ. Women have always maintained and nurtured a connection to life, the universe and the land. Connection to the earth, the universe and the sky is often tied to females due to religious and spiritual constructs such as Wicca (which is also pretty gay, thanks Willow). The hysteria surrounding witches during the Salem witch trials was based in fear surrounding female power and abilities that men could not understand. Lesbianism is one of these phenomena directly tied to this supposed urge to manipulate the natural world or humanity. For instance, think of all the conservative politicians who claim that lesbians use their abilities to seduce straight women. These opinions stem from primordial fear, and a factor contributing to that fear is a disconnect from female and lesbian culture, or this inherent synchronicity women maintain with something greater. So why do lesbians feel this pull towards astrology? My primary theory is that those rejected by overarching societal mechanisms such as heteronormativity seek out answers about their identities for validation, especially if they’re accustomed to rejection from societal norms or the homophobia in their communities. Those answers can be tied to sexuality (for instance compatibility with astrological signs, passion as a characteristic of certain signs, etc), or personality traits that we want to rationalize somehow. Lesbian relationships are emotionally intense, and sometimes we interpret our emotionally charged reactions as traits attached to our signs.
Lesbian relationships are emotionally intense, and sometimes we interpret our emotionally charged reactions as traits attached to our signs.In this vein, the lesbian appeal to astrology also stems from experience with lesbian drama. When we develop complex feelings or break up with our ex for the ninth time, we search for answers from phenomena greater than ourselves and the physical world. Whether we truly believe in the tenants of astrology or its applicability to our daily lives, many lesbians rely on daily horoscopes for guidance (especially when they’re in the midst of a lesbian crisis). Some even attempt to avoid lesbian heartbreak by putting their signs in their dating profiles as well as the signs they aren’t compatible with. I’ve met many a lesbian that refuse to date Virgos in particular (I’m a Virgo so I’m intimately familiar with this issue). This mechanism is a defensive one, but how many times have we found ourselves drawn to the same people repeatedly despite toxicity? Perhaps seeking out compatibility in our astrological signs is a reassurance that we won’t fall into the same destructive patterns again.
Perhaps seeking out compatibility in our astrological signs is a reassurance that we won’t fall into the same destructive patterns again.Another theory is that lesbians analyze and research historical trajectories from various disciplines because we develop the tendency to research our own history in order to understand current legislation and homophobia. In that spirit, let’s delve into the history of astrology. When did astrology became linked to femininity and womanhood, and thus dismissed by the patriarchy? The denigration of astrology wrapped in misogyny began as early as the 2nd century in Rome, when poet Juvenal attacked female interest in astrologists: “every word uttered by the astrologer they will believe has come from Hammon’s fountain”, (Juvenal, Satire 6 “The Ways Of Women”). You might be wondering, when did lesbians adopt astrology as an interest and even lifestyle? According to renowned astrologist Sascha Cohen, the link between homosexuality and the study of the stars began in the 1960’s when the gay liberation movement and New Age spirituality overlapped. The main motivation for this was the patriarchal nature of major religious institutions.
The process of finding others like yourself astrologically mirrors the experience of discovering that other lesbians exist in the world and even your social circles!Finally, though this may be an implicit reason, lesbians find solace in astrology in order to avoid loneliness. The process of finding others like yourself astrologically mirrors the experience of discovering that other lesbians exist in the world and even your social circles! This parallel can be both comforting and a bridge to finally accepting your sexuality, another piece from the mosaic of your identity. Astrology isn’t the only outlet to avoid isolation, and I strongly urge anyone suffering from isolation to consult some of our advice based articles. I’ll end on a more positive note with a quote from astrologist Chani Nicols: “maybe it’s because we understand that our identities come in as many variations as there are stars in the night sky”. I’m interested in your theories as well, so please share!
