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Astrology is booming: the young generation in particular is interested in the stars, and they are taught by astrologers like Lori Haberkorn.
Katja RichardEditor society
As teenagers, we would turn to the back of magazines to see what the stars had to say about us. Of course, the most interesting thing was love, i.e. which zodiac sign suits whom. Nobody took it that seriously, but it was funny. Humbug or not – the interest in horoscopes is unbroken and is currently experiencing a hype. And not just for the new year.
Because in the meantime, the interpretation of the stars has made the leap into the big, wide digital world. Countless astro influencers are bustling about on social media, including Alexandra Kruse (42) in this country, 10,000 people follow her talks when the self-proclaimed “Magic Mama” is pondering the Capricorn season, as she is right now: “Do your game, do it your borders strong and your heart soft. unabashed. Moon in Pisces wants you to feel everything. The good, the bad, the bad. And never forget: there are energy vampires!»
Astro influencer: Alexandra Kruse as “Magic Mama” has over 10,000 followers on Instagram.
Astro apps in high
The advice from the popular astro app “Co-Star” sounds a little more subtle. With over eight million users worldwide, it is one of the most successful of its kind. Tips like: “Use this time to think about what you really want” or “Control your impulses” will pop up on your mobile phone every day. Also popular are “Sanctuary” or “Astrology Zone” by the US star astrologer Susan Miller. To generate a personal horoscope based on the exact date, time and place of birth, the apps use data from Nasa for the star constellations and artificial intelligence – from which they spit out millions of astro wisdom.
The well-known German actress Palina Rojinski (37) is also present on social media as an astro influencer. In her podcast “Podkinski” she discusses the topic with prominent guests and recently published her book “Folge dein Sternen”. She wants to make astrology accessible to everyone, especially the younger generation: “I think the genre needs a little refreshment. What is happening in the sky right now, I want to translate into real life.» Also known: astrologer Lori Haberkorn (32), who also advises stars.
Actress and astro influencer: Palina Rojinski wants to bring the stars to the new generation.
cult of the stars
In fact, the interest is particularly great among the younger generation, confirms Monica Kissling (65), President of the Swiss Association of Astrologers. The federal government recorded a record number of new members this year, with an increase of 25 percent. «Astrology cannot predict specific events. Rather, it is about self-knowledge, personality development and finding meaning. You can use this to develop your own personal vision of the future,” says Kissling. She became famous throughout Switzerland as “Madame Etoile”. Instead of individual zodiac signs, as was previously known, she made a forecast for the general position of the stars, a kind of weather report that became a cult on Radio SRF for 25 years. Until she was brought down by a petition by freethinkers because public radio is financed by license fees.
Made famous as “Madame Etoile”: astrologer Monica Kissling.
The classic at the turn of the year is still the forecast by Elizabeth Teissier (84) in the “Schweizer Illustrierte” – in the 111-year history of the magazine, the star astrologer has graced most of the front pages. She is proud of that “as an ambitious Capricorn”. Her customers include crowned heads and politicians, and according to Teissier, Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) also had her star read indirectly.
Stars don’t need magic
Headwind always comes from science. Because astrology cannot be proven according to its standards. According to astrophysicist Ben Moore (54), the star interpretation proved to be wrong in double-blind tests. “All early cultures recognized patterns in the stars, but they are all different.” For him, stars are nothing but distant balls of gas. “But they are beautiful and I love looking at them through a telescope. That’s magic enough for me.” He is convinced that there is no power from the stars acting on us. It’s a bit like in religion, where people are the focus. “But we’re not the center of attention and we’re not really anything special.”
For scientists, stars are just distant balls of gas.
Rafael Walthert sees it less strictly. The professor of religious studies can understand the interest of the younger generations in astrology in times of pandemic, war and climate crisis: “The often playful approach also reflects a deep need for orientation in an uncertain world.” For him, astrology is one of many ways to deal with himself and his environment. This is not a measurable science. He compares it to the rain dance in tribal societies. “It used to be made fun of because dancing doesn’t immediately lead to precipitation.” Today it is clear that something else is at stake: “It usually doesn’t rain after the dance, and despite the horoscope, the future remains uncertain, but you have found a way of dealing with the problem.”
Adele all in Saturn
The stars are also hip in the world of stars. One of the most famous star worshipers is Adele (34). She showed that on her stage comeback a year ago with her jewelry: Two Saturns dangled from her ears. The singer has a deep connection to the planet and astro symbol, and there is also a Saturn tattoo on her forearm. «After the return of Saturn, my life changed. It shook my life and I questioned a lot,” she said in an interview with American Vogue. She is addressing an important astrological moment: it takes Saturn 30 years to orbit the sun and return to the exact position it was when you were born. For Adele it was the phase in which she wrote her new album “30”.
Adele in the sign of Saturn: The singer even had the astro symbol tattooed.
Getty Image
The stars are also hip in the world of stars. One of the most famous star worshipers is Adele (34). She showed that on her stage comeback a year ago with her jewelry: Two Saturns dangled from her ears. The singer has a deep connection to the planet and astro symbol, and there is also a Saturn tattoo on her forearm. «After the return of Saturn, my life changed. It shook my life and I questioned a lot,” she said in an interview with American Vogue. She is addressing an important astrological moment: it takes Saturn 30 years to orbit the sun and return to the exact position it was when you were born. For Adele it was the phase in which she wrote her new album “30”.
look at the new year
Finally, a quick look at the stars for 2023 from “Madame Etoile”: “Pluto is changing into Aquarius, which stands for a turning point with fundamental social innovations and major challenges. There is no going back to what you are used to, you have to completely reorient yourself.” Positive: “Lucky planet Jupiter runs through Aries until mid-May and strengthens the thirst for action, then he goes into Taurus, which can open up new sources of income.” Negative: «Saturn enters the soul sign Pisces in March, which indicates an increase in psychological problems such as anxiety or depression. The refugee crisis is also likely to worsen.”