Ah, the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. That just about holds true for everything.
Well, everything but astrology.
Here’s the thing: if I tell someone, “OMG, you’re so flaky,” we can agree that’s rude, right? It’s rude. But, for some reason, if I tell that same person, “OMG, you’re such a Gemini. You’re so flaky,” it’s inherently light-hearted and impersonal. When I bring in astrology, it always elicits a chuckle and a sheepish, I know!
I’ve gotten away with straight-up insulting friends and even strangers. From poking at people’s emotional reactivity, to their boundary issues, to their fear of commitment, I’ve quite literally said it all. And I’ve been thanked for it.
That’s like me punching you in the face, and you giving me five dollars after. It feels wrong.
What is it about astrology that gives us the platform to move aside our fragile egos? Clearly, there’s something, since I went viral on Instagram for making an astrology-themed Spotify wrapped meme and dragging all 12 zodiac signs
MEET THE FOUNDER FOR A HOT SEC
Before we examine this phenomenon (and I turn this into a full-on roast), let me first introduce myself: my name’s Daniela, and I’m the Founder of The Cosmic Latte I’m a 24-year-old, Chicago-based astrologer, whose party trick is guessing people’s zodiac signs and giving unsolicited birth chart readings to everyone I meet.
The Cosmic Latte—named after the average color of the universe—is a brand space for the spiritually curious and creatively driven. We’re currently experiencing a wave of spirituality like never before. I built The Cosmic Latte so we could ride the wave together.
Above anything, my vision is to approach astrology from a fresh, inclusive lens (sans spiritual jargon) in a way that empowers self-discovery. My website (thecosmiclatte.com) launches in early 2022, and my mission is to share digestible, out-of-this-world content that feels approachable both to newcomers and seasoned astrology lovers.
ASTROLOGY AS A FORM OF CONNECTION
Everyone wants to feel—and be—understood. Sometimes that desire outweighs the painful vulnerability of honest self-On the Instagram posts that went viral, there were hundreds of variations of pretty much the same two comments:
(1) “I feel so seen.”
(2) “The accuracy scares me.”
Most of the time, these two sentiments were relayed in combination. Sort of like, I’m freaked out at the accuracy, but also feeling so validated and affirmed. Quite a few people wrote that they felt “personally attacked,” and yet they shared their own zodiac wrapped to their Instagram story for others to see.
It’s the thrill of being truly seen and known. The recognition is both incredibly scary and profoundly comforting.
In the words of my genius co-worker, Erin
Millennials and Gen Zers are misunderstood: our urge to share our zodiac wrapped does not stem from shallow self-obsession. In fact, quite the opposite: it stems from our desperate desire for genuine human connection. Sharing your zodiac wrapped is a way of saying, “I’m here, I exist, and this is something you should know about me.”
In most social interactions, aspects of ourselves remain hidden, out of view, just below the surface. Who we are when we’re alone. How we think. What makes us tick.
“What can you know about a person? They shift in the light. You can’t light up all sides at once. Add a second light and you get a second darkness, it’s only fair.” — Richard Silken, War of the Foxes.
Astrology cuts through the surface. Otherwise out-of-the-social-norm oddball questions are suddenly given context. How do you process emotions? Are you more or less sensitive than people around you? How would you describe the way you think? There’s an energetic shift. With it, the conversation becomes more organic; the recipient softens, opens up. They become chattier. From my experience, the shared energy between two people is truly not the same before and after an astrology reading.
When interpreting a birth chart, I can tell someone, I see you. I understand you. And it has made me realize that my love for astrology comes from that very same raw human desire—to understand myself and be understood.
ASTROLOGY AS A LANGUAGE FOR SELF-REFLECTION
Astrology has a lexicon of its own. It’s truly its own language. If you’ve ever held a conversation with an astrology-obsessed person, you know exactly what I’m talking about. (I could just say “I’m such a Leo” right now, and you might know exactly what I mean.) (And wouldn’t you agree that it’s easier to call someone a “typical Virgo” than the longer synonym: a neurotic, over-thinker?).
Because astrology is something outside of ourselves, it feels like a neutral grounds for discussion. The nonjudgmental language of astrology lowers our walls and encourages us to address our “shadow side” just as much as our light. And yet, we can admit that astrology is not just outside of ourselves but also deeply ingrained in the fiber of our beings.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous author Ocean Vuong summed it up perfectly in his interview with GQ when he said:
“You know, I love astrology because it gives you a framework to demystify and un-shame certain parts of yourself, even things you think are flaws, even things that the world might pathologize you for. Astrology deems it as part of your makeup, and then you can deal with it with a language that isn’t shameful, which is why it has been so important for queer folks. Instead of saying you’re emotional, you’re terrible, you’re deceitful, you’re wrong, you say, Well, you’re a Libra. [laughs] And now there’s a home for it. We create these homes for ourselves.”
Astrology supports self-awareness, self-reflection, and, ultimately, self-mastery. When recognized as a tool, it really has the capacity to ignite profound healing and self-discovery.
Astrology is a conversation between who you are and who you came to be, who you wish you were and who you’ve always been.
It takes a magnifying lens to our souls, and empowers us with the tools to grow and expand during our time on Earth. Not to just grow alone, but to build connections and grow in tandem with our peers.
With every insult, every self-deprecating joke, we’re inching one step closer to the terrifyingly cathartic experience of being truly known.
That, my friends, is the art of the astrology roast.
Stay Cosmic,
Daniela
If you would like to see more of Daniela’s posts or learn more about astrology, visit her highly informative Instagram!
Keep an eye out for her website as well in early 2022.
This Newsletter is Brought to You By:
Coffee (with my latest purchase: a cute little coffee bean grinder)
Palo santo cleanse of my writing space
My Virgo Rising, Mercury, Venus, and North Node that makes it possible to somehow over-analyze everything
My Tumblr fame (100k followers) as an itty bitty high schooler—I discovered the term "cosmic latte" on there
The universe sign I got in February to not just talk the talk but walk the walk with Cosmic Latte. I got an Instagram ad that said: "Your future self is talking sh*t about you. It's asking why you wasted your creativity?"
And with that, I say farewell until 2022. May all who celebrate have a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you all a happy New Year. Some people find the New Year sad, I find it quite exciting. The prospect for new projects, new art, new ideas always seems to linger in the wake of the change in calendar. I hope if you are caught up in all the things you did not do this year, you don’t punish yourself. Instead, I hope you use the momentum of the New Year to figure out where to go from the unexpected spot you currently hold. Let the New Year inspire you instead of tire you. No one does it all in a year, that’s what makes the New Year so full of life. A whole year ahead of us, what are we to do with all that time?
Happy Holidays.
Merci, Grazie, Thank you!
Ava