He ticked all her boxes: taller than her, environmentally aware, handsome. But just as Sarah was about to swipe right, she realised he was a Scorpio. She swiped left.
‘I know it sounds ridiculous,’ says the 30-year-old lawyer. ‘But I’m a Leo, and we’re just not compatible with Scorpios.
Sarah isn’t the only person applying this logic to dating. Astrology, which looks at the placing of planets and stars at the exact time of someone’s birth, is having a moment. Online searches for ‘star sign’ have more than doubled in the past five years, while face-to-face demand for astrologers is so strong that the Soho House Group has even appointed a resident one. Dating apps like OKCupid encourage users to put their signs on their profiles, while Bumble has recently introduced a filter to let people search for matches based solely on that – now its most commonly used filter. The idea behind it, the app’s chief of brand Alexandra Williamson says, is to help users create ‘deeper, more meaningful connections’.
Dr Chris French, professor of anomalistic psychology at Goldsmiths University, believes astrology is popular now because it ties into the wellness trend and self-exploration. But he also thinks it’s down to stress. ‘In uncertain times, people want to know what’s coming next to have a perceived form of control,’ he says.
For Rhootuja Chauhan, 35, astrology helps her gain insight into how she interacts with people. ‘I have my Venus in Capricorn, so I know I get on well with Cancerian men,’ says the management consultant. ‘It doesn’t mean I’ll avoid other signs, but I do have more confidence in Cancerians.’ She won’t bring up astrology on a first date but, a few dates in, she will ask men for their date of birth to get an idea of their astrological chart. ‘It isn’t the primary basis of dating for me, but it is useful.’
Dr French stresses that astrology cannot be scienti cally proven. But he acknowledges that it can be useful in encouraging people to think more deeply about their dating choices. ‘You’re thinking about what kind of a personality they have, are they extroverts, attention-seekers?’ he says. ‘It may form a psychological function in making you reflect on those things. It’s also a way to find common ground.
Vic Parsons, a 28-year-old queer writer, says astrology is so popular in the queer world that she has ‘Venus Pisces in the sheets’ on her profile (a sensual combination), and talks about star signs on most of her dates. ‘It’s a fun way to get to know someone without asking, “So, do you want kids?”’ She typically avoids air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) because she finds them ‘unreliable’, and seeks out water signs ‘who can be open with their feelings’.
To astrologer Francesca Oddie, there is a danger in such rigidity. ‘Horoscopes are generic – you wouldn’t want to base your life on them because so much other detail applies,’ she says. ‘And a “difficult” match offers opportunities for growth and self-analysis.'
This is something Sophie McDonald, 29, a nanny, recently learned. ‘I used to date only Aries men, as I’d read Aquarius and Aries were an ideal match,’ she says. But after being repeatedly cheated on, she matched with a Capricorn on Tinder. ‘I was sceptical at first,’ she says. ‘But I’m so glad I gave him a chance. We work, and it turns out I have a lot of Capricorn in my natal chart, so maybe I was looking in the wrong place.'
It’s why Oddie stresses that people should use astrology as a guide, especially if they’re only looking at star signs, rather than the more complex natal charts, which detail the position of all the planets, at the time of birth, not just the sun. ‘All astrology does is describe your nature,’ she says. ‘So if you’re already intuitive, you’re working with it anyway. It isn’t a rule book.’ In other words, maybe a Leo like Sarah shouldn’t swipe left on a Scorpio without giving him a chance.
MEET YOUR MATCH
Aries - You do well with most signs but a fiery Leo will be a true equal.
Taurus - It may seem like you have nothing in common with a Scorpio, but the chemistry will be on fire.
Gemini - Another Gemini will truly understand your complex moods.
Cancer - Stick to other water signs. A Pisces or Scorpio will give you the romantic drama you crave.
Leo - You want to be adored and a Gemini or Libra will make you the focus of their attention.
Virgo - Go for a loyal Taurean and you’ll both get the practical, stable relationship of your dreams.
Libra - A romantic Pisces will happily lap up your affection.
Scorpio - With a Cancerian you can find mutual trust and loyalty.
Sagittarius - A laid-back Aquarius will be ready for adventure with you.
Capricorn - Avoid airy signs, and go for fellow earth signs like a reliable, hard-working Virgo.
Aquarius - An independent sign like Gemini will give you space you need.
Pisces - Taureans have a sensuality you won’t be able to resist.
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