Who actually writes horoscopes - and do you believe them?

But what about another much-loved and much-debated form of divination: the horoscope column?

From teen magazines to newspaper broadsheets, horoscope columns are the most regular contact the average Joe has with astrology.

Yet, could the humble horoscope be in decline? As Neil Spencer, expert astrologer and former horoscope writer for The Observer, jokes: “Horoscopes aren’t in vogue… literally, they aren’t in Vogue. You can check!”

We spoke to some experts to suss out who’s behind the horoscopes we love, and whether they really could be on the way out…

As common as horoscopes seem to be, it turns out not everyone actually believes in the zodiac’s ability to signpost our future paths. Currently just 8% of British people believe that horoscopes can predict the future, with 10% unsure. That leaves a whopping 82% of people who are certain that they can’t.

On other hand, 96% of people know their star sign. So while not many seem to believe what they’re reading, people are still taking the time to sort their Pisces from their Aries.

Admittedly, there’s currently no accepted scientific evidence to explain how horoscopes are supposed to work, and many astrologers themselves admit this isn’t an argument anyone’s ever going to be able to prove.

But Catherine Tennant, expert astrologer and former columnist at The Telegraph, remains confident: “Tell me a belief system that’s got more proof – there’s as much proof as most belief systems! In a sense you can say, if it seems to be accurate, it doesn’t matter who knows why. No one claims to know!”

Roy Gillett, President of the Astrological Association, offers a more cautious explanation: “I don’t think any intelligent astrologer is saying that planets have an influence on us – it’s more a question of looking at where they are and where the Earth is in terms of gravitational forces that the solar system imposes.”

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Faith in astrology aside, the more cynical among us might harbour a sneaking suspicion that many horoscope columns are just knocked out by someone on work experience at the newspaper.

There’s no denying that horoscope columns have occasionally been dumped on junior journalists, but papers and magazines increasingly employ actual bona-fide astrologers. “Most [horoscope writers] are qualified in astrology,” explains Frank Clifford, astrological expert and Principal of the London School of Astrology. “Twenty to 30 years ago, that wasn’t the case.”

“The editor of the Observer magazine discovered that I knew about astrology and talked me into writing about it,” Neil remembers. “She twisted my arm… so I started doing sun sign forecasts.” The reaction from his colleagues was mixed. “People think you’re bonkers, if you’re interested in astrology – they’re probably right,” he laughed.

Astrologers study for years in order to achieve an expert level of skill and understanding. There's a range of qualifications in everything from Astrology to Tarot to Palmistry at schools like Frank’s. “You have to do your homework, you have to swot up,” Neil explains.

That doesn’t stop critics arguing astrology has no basis in science at all. But Neil is reserved about what a horoscope actually offers. “People who are antagonistic to astrology think you’re laying down what’s going to happen and this is your fate. It’s a weather forecast, okay, it’s not a prediction.”

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“Astrology’s all about seasons; it’s not saying there’s something you have to do, or that was written in the stars!” Frank agrees. “It’s all about using it for timing and seasons. So it’s never predicting something for somebody - ‘oh, you’re going to get married in October’. It’s much better to say, ‘October is a good time to get married if you wish to do so.’”

But even among astrologers, there’s disagreement over the value of horoscopes - which are actually just one small, populist part of the study of astrological charts.

Roy explains the controversy: “What [horoscopes do] is forget about everything in the charts and just focus on the sun… then try to make a comment that might apply to a 12th of the world’s population. You could argue it’s too generalised.”

“When I first got invited to write a horoscope column, I was a bit snooty about it,” Frank admits, “and thought ‘well do I really want anyone to do something that’s just pop astrology?’”

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Aside from astrological disagreement, there’s also the internet to contend with. As the decline of print media has forced newspapers online, horoscopes have followed.

Though, as Catherine explains, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing – she now even runs her own astrological website, Interactive Stars: “The internet has actually made it possible to produce daily horoscopes that are specific to you and not just your zodiac sign. Most astrologers on the internet haven’t taken advantage of what’s possible at all.”

Neil also regularly updates his site: “The internet age has seen a huge boom in astrological interest. People who are interested in it can learn about it… if you just go on the web and start surfing around you can pick it up.”

Even Tumblr remains enthusiastic about the zodiac, albeit with a tongue firmly in its cheek. So what is it about horoscopes that keeps us coming back? Well, from the Ancient Greeks to today’s online age, we’re captivated by the idea of finding out about our future.

“It’s sort of intriguing to see whether the message seems relevant to you,” Catherine reckons, “and if it does, then that can also indicate the cosmos is listening to you, there’s something there that’s beyond the normal that suggests there’s more to life than meets the eye…”

So, whether you’re a Taurus who trusts in the stars, or a rather more sceptical Scorpio, there’s no sign that the star signs will be going anywhere. In the meantime, please send any tall dark strangers our way!