Confessions of a Zodiac Reader

I was the curious kid growing up, always questioning the ifs, buts, whys, and what's of life. One of my favorite activities was gazing up at the sky (the night sky, to be precise), as if it were a repository of information.

As a teenager, I was drawn to the American astrologer Linda Goodman’s zodiac sign book. I found great pleasure in reading about my own sign (Scorpio), almost like I needed someone to validate my identity. And when she was spot on in a few instances, the thrill had no bounds.

Gradually, I switched to palmistry, but found it far more challenging. I’ll let you in on a secret: all the good lines were missing on my palm. LOL.

Then came the young adult me, who apart from being spiritual had this obsession with starting my day by reading the astrology column. I wouldn’t leave for college without getting a heads-up on what the day might look like.

Well, it didn’t stop there. As life gets complicated, we all seek answers through different mediums. Growing up in India, we were never short of options tantric (often use specialized rituals, meditation, mantras, and energy work etc ), Kizhi jyoshyam (parrot astrology), Nadi (fingerprint readings), horoscopes, and more. I’m not doing full justice here, but let’s stick to a handful for now.

Over the years, with the ever-growing abundance of content available on the internet, I’ve been drawn deeper into the world of signs, moons, suns, planetary alignments, and everything in between.

The madness doesn’t stop here. I have a friend who shares a similar sentiment. For a few years now, it’s been our thing to “analyze” people based on their zodiac signs. We both know, logically, it’s not entirely right but hey, it’s all for giggles. What’s life if we did everything right anyway?

So here we are, self-proclaimed zodiac experts. The moment a new person enters our lives, we’re quick to check compatibility, LOL. Usually, these are just acquaintances or new friends. Being water signs ; Scorpio and Cancer, we naturally lean toward the emotional side of things. So when an air, fire, or earth sign enters the mix, it becomes a whole new level of analysis.

Learning has no limits, and this intrigue has helped me notice patterns, personalities, and behaviors in ways I never imagined before. In some strange way, it has even helped me navigate relationships better.

And of course, Facebook contributes its two cents with all the wildly accurate (or wildly dramatic) videos that show up on my feed.

Nevertheless, zodiac signs can shed light in multiple ways, but they’re not the ultimatum. We are all people with infinite flaws and imperfections. Our journeys shift, our paths change, we come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Reading zodiac signs is fun and explorative, but the underlying truth is this: we are different, yet the same in so many ways.

As for the Scorpio in me, I’ll forever remain curious, always in search of meaning and purpose. Right or wrong, I’ll keep seeking answers.