Astrology: Why Your Gestures Don’t Align with Mercury Retrograde
Gestures According to Astrology
Astrology attributes specific traits and behaviors to each of the twelve zodiac signs, suggesting that these influence a person’s personality, preferences, and even their body language. So, is gesturing linked to your zodiac sign?
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that directly links astrology with nonverbal communication. Knowing a person’s birth chart does not provide any information about their gestural dominance, assertiveness, or charisma. The position of the planets at the time of birth does not explain anyone’s gestures, although the idea may be appealing; at least, according to the scientific evidence available today.
In fact, muscle pain influences gestures more than any planet. Being born in February or August has less impact on an individual’s gestures than the ambient temperature or a TV show. As of now, it is not even known whether astrology has any real impact on gesturing.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that directly links astrology with nonverbal communication
Therefore, the following statements should raise your skepticism:
- Cancer: What you keep silent about shows in your attitudes, gestures, and body language. Don’t avoid communication; sometimes, it’s good to express anger.
- Aries: Your face is not friendly at all, your posture shows discomfort, and you can’t help but make gestures with your eyes.
- Aquarius: You express your thoughts and feelings through tumultuous gestures.
Okay, but, what possibilities are there out there to percieve relationships beween stars and gestures?
An online search offers no scientific evidence supporting the notion that gestures are related to the stars. However, there is an indirect possibility: gestures and body language are shaped by cultural factors, which can include astrological traditions. People who strongly identify with their astrological sign might adopt behaviors and gestures they believe are characteristic of their sign, such as a Leo displaying bold and confident body language often as a way to align with the perceived traits of their sign and reinforce their identity.
stars themselves have no relation to gesturing. Instead, believing in astrology might predispose people to behave according to expectations.
Imagine astrology as a movie script suggesting which postures and facial expressions match the acting role (i.e., each zodiac sign). While there is no scientific proof that stars and planets control how we gesture or smile, some people believe it. For example, and allow me to invent, if someone is told that their sign, like Aries, makes them a good leader, they might act with more assertiveness, using expansive and dominant movements.
What’s happening here is that the stars themselves have no relation to gesturing. Instead, believing in astrology might predispose people to behave according to expectations. The cause is a self-fulfilling prophecy: believing that the relationship exists leads to behaving in a way that confirms that belief. Added to this is the confirmation bias: the human tendency to seek evidence in favor of our beliefs and ignore what refutes them. This is similar to how an astrology believer might focus on traits of Libra in a friend while disregarding any behaviors that contradict that sign.
It would be fascinating if we found even a single solid piece of evidence that a planet millions of kilometers away influenced the gestures of humans born on a specific date; however, evidence exists only against this claim (Mayo et al., 1978; Eysenck and Nias, 1982; Roberts & Greengrass, 1994; Dean, Mather and Kelly, 1996), and none in favor.
To conclude, I want to share the following reflection: “The possibility that astrology could be relevant to consciousness and [psychology] is not denied, but such influences, if they exist in astrology, would seem to be very weak or very rare” (Dean & Kelly, 2003).
Personally, I find no scientific reason to believe that the position of the stars at birth shapes a person’s nonverbal communication. What about you?
References:
Dean, G., & Kelly, I. W. (2001). Does astrology work? Astrology and skepticism 1975–2000. Skeptical Odysseys, 191-207.
Dean, G. and Mather, A. (1996), ‘Sun sign columns: an armchair invitation’, Astrological Journal, 38,
pp. 143–55.
Eysenck, H. J., & Nias, D. (1982). Astrology: Science or superstition?. Temple Smith.
Mayo, J., White, O., & Eysenck, H. (1978) An empirical study of the relation between astrological factors and personality. Journal of Social Psychology, 105, 229-236.
Roberts, P., & Greengrass, H. (1994). The astrology of time twins. Pentland.
