The World Beyond

The World Beyond

Does everything happen for a reason?

With a rise in astrology and manifestation, students examine how these ancient practices do or don’t play a role in their lives

Sitting down at his desk, an array of crystals in his palm, junior Siddhant Amberkar dreads his upcoming math test. Amberkar believes the crystals aren’t magic, but that they essentially magnify the energy you place into your life.

“You cannot carelessly ask for [what you want], it has to be a conscious effort and then it’s reciprocated,” Amberkar said. “[Crystals] amplify the energy you put in. You put in what you [want to] get out, it’s not like a wish.”

Everyone has different ways they cope with stress and different things they believe in. Whether it be crystals, manifesting, religion, astrology or your community, many people believe that somewhere to turn for guidance is fundamental to their wellness.

Fire Sign (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius): known to be passionate, spontaneous, competitive, confident and enthusiastic

Earth Sign (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn): known to be grounded, dependable, loyal, reliable and practical Water Sign (Pieces, Cancer and Virgo): known to be intuitive, nurturesous, refreshing, mysterious and sensitive

Air Sign (Aquarius, Gemini and Libra): known to be powerful, creative, understanding, friendly and adventurous

Amberkar was born into a family that imagining they already have something Saints, commonly known as Mormons, practiced Hinduism, so both astrology desirable will attract the item or objective and believes praying is a similar practice and spirituality have always been pres- to them. that can achieve the same goal. ent in his life. “Before a few years ago, I Especially during this pandemic, man- “When people are manifesting, it’s wouldn’t have given more thought to how ifestation has made frequent appearances like praying and asking the Holy Spirit,” I could be an active follower of Hindu- on social media platforms such as TikTok Lochhead said. “I believe the Holy Spirit ism,” Amberkar said. “I followed what my and Instagram. These posts explain how is what guides our spirit and consciousparents would do and all of those prac- to use journals and affirmations to man- ness to do the right things.” tices.” ifest anything. While Lochhead is guided by her re It wasn’t until recently when Amber- The practice of manifesting and crys- ligion, other teens find solace in astrolkar decided to learn more about these tals seem to promise anything you ask for, ogy. Memes about how ‘Mercury is in practices on his own. “The past two years, which is likely why teens are so interest- retrograde’ and other references to the I’ve thought actively ed in the practices. alignment of the stars and planets have about how I can be a Hindu,” Amber- “What appeals to me in Sophomore Melody Xu accredits this become more popular on social media, spiking Gen Z’s interest in astrological kar said. “This has particular about astrology rise in popularity alignment. helped guide me into meditation practices with crystals.” is its individualistic approach to a higher of manifesting to “a sense of control or understanding According to a Pew Research Center study conducted in 2017, around 29% of Americans believe in astrology. Among

For Amberkar, power/state of being.” of your life.” the other 71% is junior Damon Schultz. holding his crystals The idea of Despite having experienced an accuduring school pro- manifesting things rate astrological prediction, Schultz has vides energy that im- Mathew Signorello-Katz, junior such as wealth never believed in astrology. The predicproves his academic and happiness has tion said that Schultz would have somelife. “I believe that you get energy from roots that go as far back into history as thing lucky happen to him that day and the Earth, but [crystals] definitely have ancient civilizations and religions such as he did have a lucky day. “The correct radiating energy,” Amberkar said. “If you Buddhism and Vedic Hinduism. Buddha prediction didn’t change my beliefs about focus and give the crystals attention, you said in the Dhammapada scriptures that, astrology because it could just be a coincirealize they influence and help you.” “All that we are is a result of what we have dence,” Schultz said.

Amberkar uses crystals to practice thought. The mind is everything. What Schultz is an atheist and doesn’t bemanifestation, but manifestation is prac- we think, we become.” lieve in any higher powers. In times of ticed in many different forms. Manifesta- There are many people who do not uncertainty, he relies on friends and famition is the concept that a person can speak believe in using crystals or manifesting, ly for guidance. “If it doesn’t really matter or write something into existence. People among those is junior Lily Lochhead. She which way to go, I flip a coin,” Schultz who believe in manifestation believe that is a member of the Church of Latter-day said.

27-year-old Elena Sakopoulos used to agree with Schultz and did not believe in astrology. After research and conversations with astrology believers, she changed her mind and recently turned her interest in astrology into her full-time profession. “I’ve been a part of this new generation of people who were looking for answers and just not able to find them through traditional sources,” Sakopoulos said.

While teens who are recently finding astrology may only look at birth charts or sun signs, there is a lot more to explore.

Sakopoulous examines astrological occurrences with the lens of current events to make sense of the world around her.

“We’re going through really big shifts, astrologically,” Sakopoulous said. “At the very end of last year, we had a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which is setting up a new 200-year cycle of being more individualized to more collective-oriented.” She hopes that as a world we grow to be more collective as opposed to selfish, and she believes that the conjunction can help to achieve unity.

Astrology has roots in Ancient Hinduism and is mentioned in “The Vedas,” a collection of religious texts that form the foundation of Hindu theology. Belief in karma is a large part of Vedic belief, and Vedas say that a person’s karma is directly related to the position of the planets and stars. In Ancient India, rulers would often employ astrologers to provide them better insight as to how they could best run their kingdoms.

While some people believe that some of the tenets of modern religion clash with the practice of astrology, others have discovered a state of coexistence, combining their exploration and love for their faith with a vivid sense of curiosity for astrology. Mathew Signorello-Katz grew up in a home with Catholic and Jewish influences and believes that astrology and religion fall into two separate categories.

“Personally, I see the relationship between astrology and modern religion to be extraordinarily complicated,” Signorello-Katz said. “What appeals to me in particular about astrology is its individualistic approach to a higher power or state of being.”

Signorello-Katz notices the framework in a religious context is very different from astrological practice. “From my personal

experience, modern religion often seems to operate upon the principles of broad, theoretical dogma, which doesn’t always provide specific answers to questions or decisions I may have to make,” Signorello-Katz said. “Occasionally I find that consulting astrology can make a decision-making process slightly easier, even if it may be solely a placebo effect.”

Similar to Signorello-Katz’s concept of astrology aiding decision-making, junior Izzy Ramirez has grown up believing in astrology but recently has become more invested in the practice of it.

“Astrology has made me more selfaware and it has made me understand people more,” Ramirez said. “It feels better to know just why someone could be a certain way.”

Although she may not believe all the nuances of astrology, it has provided positive stability for her. “Even if astrology is completely made up, it is something I can depend on to make things make sense and that is a huge relief and it puts my mind at ease.”

29%

of Americans believe in astrology

according to a study by the Pew Research Center