Written by: Emma Pierce, Staff Writer
HOROSCOPES: Astrology is both cosmic and personal, along as way of bringing us together.
“Mercury retrograde is the worst”, “But what’s your rising?”, and “Not all geminis…” are all things you have probably heard before. The zodiac family of constellations was first used by ancient cultures to determine the time of year. Today in the Western world, we use astrology to determine our personality traits. By observing which constellation the Sun was in on our birthdays, we discover which of the twelve zodiac signs we are – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces.
Astrology has experienced a monumental surge in popularity, spreading like wildfire throughout Gen Z. It is very often you will hear banter over how characteristic a person is of their zodiac. With just a few clicks on the internet, you could even figure out what fast-food chain your sign is categorized as (I’m Dairy Queen). Being both personalized and digestible, astrological content provides a comforting meaning behind the unprecedented, which appeals greatly to a generation facing enough uncertainty.
Simply put, zodiac signs are fun. They can be a productive way to initiate conversations and understand others. If you’re at all like me, “What’s your sign?” is one of the first tests of character to administer somebody (any answer but Scorpio is a passing grade). I asked some of Poly’s teachers and staff what sign they are to hopefully create an understanding of their astrological profiles.
Ceramics teacher, Mrs. Williams, is a Libra. Those born during the Libra period are driven by artistic impulses and are drawn towards creativity. Geminis, like Mr. Ermert, Poly’s baseball coach and literature teacher, are symbolized by “the twins” which represent multifacetedness (not two faces, a common misconception). Mr. Emaguna is an Aquarius as well as a Poly guidance counselor. Aquarius’ are known as the empaths of the zodiac, who can understand emotions and energies through intuition. Finally, Poly’s principle, Mr. Hansen, is a Taurus. This sign characterizes natural-born leaders who will overcome any obstacles in order to get things done. While astrology does not yet have scientific evidence to prove its legitimacy, it is still a way of our culture to understand traits while relating to others.