WELCOME!

Hi! My Name is Nikki Hassan, and I am a current senior at the University of Michigan. I study business and writing, and grew up in New York. 

The concept of the Zodiac has had an immense presence in my life since I was old enough to understand religion. As a practicing Jew, mysticism is a large part of my culture, and is the source of a lot of customs my parents have practiced with me and my two sisters over the past twenty one years. Nowadays, religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism have all shown that faith in the absence of factual evidence is no new practice, so why is it that when it comes to the Zodiac a sense of its validity is virtually nonexistant?

    Through speaking with friends, family members, and researching online communities, I have reached the conclusion that the first contributor to astrology’s delegitimization in modern society to be a lack of understanding. The movement of the planets and the positioning of the solar system, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, are not simple concepts to understand. My belief in astrology is a byproduct of how I was raised, so knowing all of the details has never been crucial for me. Therefore, while I do not claim to be an expert in astrology by any means, I think it is important to provide a resource where those who did not receive the same guidance that I have to gain a foundation for their understanding. 

    I believe that the second contributor to the bad reputation that astrology has attracted in modern society is the way in which the media misconstrues the Zodiac. Rather than providing accurate insights relating to the actual science, modern publications have manipulated the zodiac into ‘daily horoscopes’ that romanticize love and prosperity, and draw unrealistic predictions. Over the years, this false representation of astrology has grown strong enough to taint the truth behind the practice throughout the United States. It is important that a clear distinction be drawn between the tabloid portrayal of horoscopes and the century old study of astrology. 

    My goal for this website is two fold. The first is to provide an easily understandable explanation of the zodiac, and how it came to be. That being said, I am far from an expert in the zodiac. Therefore, I will rely on published astrological research to explain the concept and its history. This brings me to my second goal: identifying the role modern media has played in the misrepresentation of the zodiac, and reversing its effect. 

Thank you so much for visiting, and I hope you enjoy! 

Nikki