Astrology: A Path to Self-Discovery and Community
Astrology has long fascinated people, offering a lens through which many explore identity and destiny. Despite skepticism, a significant portion of Americans express belief in astrology, with notable engagement from the LGBTQ+ community. This curiosity was explored in a recent conversation with Deon Brown, an editor and astrology columnist for ION Arizona.
Sam Dingman: Do you know your astrological sign?
Mark Brodie: I do. I’m an Aquarius.
Dingman: OK, OK. I myself am a Taurus. I’m told that means I love food and comfortable chairs, which I have to say tracks. Do you put much stock in being an Aquarius?
Brodie: I can’t say that I do. No.
Brown, who writes “homoscopes” for the magazine, has been engaged in this work for over a decade. While not a formally trained astrologer, he draws from a variety of online sources to craft his columns, blending them with local culture references.
Brown’s Approach to Astrology
Deon Brown: It is probably one of the most read parts of the magazine, actually. And I’ve been doing them for 10 years, anyways.
Sam Dingman: Oh wow, OK. And how do you know that they are as popular as they are? Do you hear from readers about them?
Brown: Yes, they said, you know, “Whoever your astrologer is is spot on. That is absolutely me.” People frequently comment on it. We have done informal polls with our readers before about what they like best about the magazine, what they don’t care as much about the magazine, and a lot of the readers will comment homoscopes are their favorite.
These “homoscopes” often serve as prompts for personal reflection, encouraging readers to interpret broad predictions like, “Expect a surprise this month,” through their own experiences. Brown emphasizes a playful tone while ensuring that the content remains hopeful.
Dingman: So when you’re writing these, is it a tongue-in-cheek thing, or are you sort of earnestly trying to offer folks some advice without — you know, actually knowing who they are?
Brown: It’s a little bit of both. I try to make it kind of cheeky. The homoscopes are not going to change in two sentences — they’re not going to change anybody’s life.
The appeal of astrology, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, is linked to its inclusivity. A survey highlighted that 43% of LGBTQ+ individuals believe in astrology, suggesting its role in facilitating self-discovery.
Dingman: Well, so let me ask you a little bit more about this, because one of the reasons we got interested in talking to you is because our producer Amber noticed this really amazing survey that came out recently. This was a survey of more than 9,500 adults last fall, and it said that 27% of the respondents believe in astrology. Which is already a pretty significant number. But the numbers were really high amongst LGBTQ folks. What do you make of those numbers?
Brown: I think it’s about self-discovery. Like, people will say, “When did you come out?” It’s like, well, I think that coming out is always kind of a lifelong process, in many ways. You know, with everyone you meet. It’s also, I think astrology is non-binary. Venus was always a woman and Mars was always a man. A lot of that is being erased by astrologists.
Astrology’s inclusive nature provides a sense of belonging that some may not find in traditional structures. It offers a reminder that everyone has a place in the cosmos, irrespective of identity or orientation.
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