Astrology and Happiness

My 21-year-old son told me recently he wasn't feeling happy and had considered going to the doctor to talk about medication. He broached the topic somewhat reluctantly, knowing my feelings about pills that plaster over deeper causes without addressing the root of the problem. His question stayed with me: what is happiness, and how do we find it?

The pursuit of happiness confounds philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers alike. But as far as I can tell, it's a modern phenomenon, this idea that we should be happy, and if we're not, something's wrong with us. We're told to do what makes us happy, be with who makes us happy, focus on what makes us happy. But do we even know what that is? Is what we're sold as happiness actually happiness at all?

I watched a film recently called Hector and the Search for Happiness, which follows one man's journey to find that elusive thing. What he learns is mostly what happiness isn't, which rather emphasises how confusing this arena proves to be when you start looking for answers. The film stayed with me as I considered my son's question, circling around something I couldn't quite get a handle on.

But this is an essay about astrology. So what of it? How does it relate to happiness?

Our birth chart can tell us something about happiness and how good we may be (or not be) at being happy. There are certainly some signs who are inherently happier than others, and Gods who bestow happiness (or not) depending on how they're placed in the chart. What's more interesting, though, is whether astrology and an understanding of astrology can assist in us being happy.

I studied traditional astrology, which aligned with the nature of thought at the time it was being practised. The time of the Stoics, who believed we should accept what is and trust that all that is, is meant and fated. We can't change our fate, but we can change how we respond to it. And how we respond to our fate has a lot to do with how happy we feel.

Astrologers have a saying: something can be 'astrology good' even if the experience itself is actually quite difficult. When we observe how perfectly an experience mirrors the movements of the Gods and the conversations they're having, it reminds us how perfect everything is. How perfectly planned. How majestic and wondrous this world of ours is, how intricate the design must be for things to play out as they do.

Let me give you a small example.

I was out walking the dog the other day and it was dark, cold, and wet. As walks go, it wasn't the kind to lift the spirits and revitalise the joy of life. It was more like a dampener. As I approached the path that would take me back to my house, I was already feeling a bit sorry for myself, edging towards a shitty mood and berating myself for not getting out earlier in the day when it wouldn't have been nearly so miserable.

Then something happened that could have made me feel a lot worse.

As I walked down the narrow path that leads into the estate where my house resides, a cyclist approached. Since I was already on the path, I presumed he'd stop (he shouldn't really be on the path in the first place) but instead he came straight at me (and my little dog) at speed, causing me to launch myself out of the way. As he passed he spat, "Get out of the fucking way."

We were lucky. Neither I nor my little dog were hurt. But we could have been, and I flashed with indignant anger at the thought that I could have been an elderly person incapable of launching myself out of the way of this horrible, inconsiderate man. How dare he!

It was in this moment that astrology came to the rescue.

I immediately pictured the chart of the moment and remembered that Mars, God of aggression and conflict, and Mercury, God of short journeys and motion (I could argue that Mercury is actually God of bicycles - jump to that little ponder below), were together in Sagittarius. When these Gods get together, their energies are amplified. Sagittarius can be a bit self-righteous, justice is a topic associated with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, and I'm pretty sure we both felt justified in that moment. The horrible man's reaction certainly didn't suggest he felt he was in the wrong.

Then I recalled that Sagittarius is my 3rd house, the place in my chart which speaks to my local neighbourhood. So this incident was a perfect reflection of the astrology at hand and how it could manifest for me.

Whilst the moment itself may have been difficult, it was an 'astrology good' moment.

And immediately I chuckled. All of a sudden my miserable, sodden walk felt better. I felt better. Ridiculously cheered, actually. Because I'd just learned something else about the nature of the Gods, and The Universe had demonstrated it to me wonderfully.

Now I appreciate this was a little moment. Would I have reacted with cheer if I'd been injured, or if my dog had been harmed? Probably not in the moment. But perhaps in time, when we'd both healed and it had become a story to recount, if I happened to look at that difficult moment and what was happening in the sky at the time, I'd have found the same appreciation for the majesty of the design. How perfectly everything is planned. Perhaps that incident would have meant I got to know the handsome vet who looked after my poor injured dog, and we'd have fallen in love over the X-rays. I'd look back on that moment with gratitude because it had brought me to him and a love I hadn't known was possible...

But astrology doesn't just offer comfort when things go awry. It can also invite us to dance with the available energies, to actively embrace what The Gods are offering and bring more beauty into our lives.

Yesterday, Venus in Scorpio formed a trine with Jupiter in Cancer. This is the signature of expansive love, of luck, of miracles. Universal truth (Jupiter) meeting love (Venus) in harmonious conversation. It's the perfect energy for romancing yourself, and for seeking out experiences that remind you what's possible when you lift your gaze.

With this in mind, I woke earlier than usual to a frosty morning. When I opened the door to let the dog out, the stars were still shining bright. Rather than my usual stroll around the park, I decided to walk a few minutes further to the beach, to take in the morning sea and sky.

The scene was stunning. The sun was coming up, casting an orange glow across the sky and water, and there was mist rising from the sea, making everything look dreamy and romantic.

Exmouth Beach at Sunrise on the 26th of November 2025 - Venus Trine Jupiter

Breathtaking.

And if I hadn't had the astrology in mind, if I hadn't decided to embrace what was being offered, I wouldn't have been there. I'd have stayed in bed, pulled the covers over my head, waited for a more civilised hour. I'd have missed it entirely, that pocket of wonder, that gift of beauty, available to anyone willing to meet it.

Life is full of moments. Pockets of time. Some are "good" and some are "bad". Our days are filled with "good" and "bad" experiences which we live through, which make up our grander stories and arcs. The soundtrack to our life is a myriad of happy and sad songs. Lots of it is dull. Time passes us by with alarming speed.

But astrology gives us the gift of perspective, a way to view the moments that pattern our days with meaning and purpose.

There's lots of recent evidence to suggest that the more we focus on what's good and joyful in our lives, the more grateful we are for those moments, the more of them we notice and experience. Our happiness increases. There's always both, you see. We live in a world of contrast. Our chart has good and bad planets and points to good and bad experiences. But what if we took the perspective that nothing is either good or bad? It's just life. And we're here to live it. To walk through our own unique story with the highs and lows that it offers.

We can't control what's happening to us, but we can control how we respond to it.

Which brings me back to the film. At the end, a psychologist maps Hector's brain and calls him a master when he's able to feel the joy and the pain, the happiness and the sadness, in a singular moment. True happiness isn't just one emotion; it's all of them.

Can we feel happy without the sad? Can we find the joy in all the small moments and notice them when they arrive, each time they arrive, and be grateful for them?

Astrology can help with that. It teaches us that all our experiences are needed, all are wanted. I'd even go as far as to say all are desired and can be welcomed. They make up the story of our life. And all of life is a gift. Time is short. Life is short.

Aren't we fortunate to be able to experience it?

Fancy more of a ponder?

Mercury: God of Bicycles

Thesis: If Mercury isn’t officially the God of bicycles, He is certainly their patron; the quiet force behind every moment you hop on two wheels and trust your body to balance, move, and think on its feet. And there is a good reason for that.

Mercury is The God of motion. Swift feet, swift mind; messenger of The Gods; patron of travellers, thinkers, merchants, and anyone who needs to get somewhere quickly without losing their head. Mercury governs pathways and crossroads; the places where decisions are made; the places where it’s easy to veer off if you aren’t paying attention. A bicycle is simply one of the modern expressions of Mercury's favourite thing: movement that requires presence.

There’s also something deliciously mischievous about bicycles; they rely on balance, but only once you’re actually going somewhere. If you sit still, you topple. If you move, you stabilise. It’s very Mercury; the reminder that clarity comes through motion, not before it. When life feels stuck, you pedal; when your mind spirals, you pedal; when something needs unknotting, you take a ride and let the wind do half the work. Mercury understands this; Mercury speaks through it.

And then there is the playfulness. The freedom. The way a bicycle returns you, even briefly, to your childhood self. That version of you who zig-zagged down the street without worrying who was watching. Lightness is Mercury’s favourite language; bicycles speak it fluently.

So is Mercury The God of bicycles? Not by ancient decree; but by lived experience, absolutely. Because every time you trust your balance; every time your thoughts untangle on a gentle ride; every time a quiet idea drops in while the world passes by under your wheels; you’re speaking with Mercury.

Mercury is the whisper in your ear saying:

Keep moving. The path reveals itself as you go.

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A note on AI & my writing:

I use ChatGPT as a writing assistant—not as a writer. These are my thoughts, ideas, and words, shaped by my lived experience and deep love for self-work, self-awareness, the spiritual journey, and astrology. AI helps me refine, structure, and nudge me toward better phrasing, but the voice you’re reading is mine. I use it as a tool to help me put into words everything I believe is valuable in sharing my insights. Honesty matters to me, and this is simply one way I bring my thoughts to life.