Why Spirituality Is A Meme That Refuses To Die

Like the folk tales that came before them, some memes give themselves a purpose beyond amusement. Dubious life guidance has been a feature in many a meme from the advent of Advice Animals and beyond. While concepts might have become more sophisticated, even subtle, the urge to inform is intertwined with the goal to entertain.

Lately, this has been used to identify another red flag in the dating pool. It’s not the suggestion that "men eating dessert is gay" or that the woman you’ve gone home with has a suspicious picture on her dresser. Instead, it deals with a side of life more cosmic.

What this entails can vary. Some advise texting at times that are repeating numbers – known to some as angel numbers – so the other person will think you are a fated sign from the universe. Others warn against someone asking for your birth time as they’re about to judge you on your natal chart, aka, where a bunch of planets were in the sky when you were born.

Although their decontextualized use in memes has prompted a confused response from some, there has been enough combined recognition to keep the trend going. While it may be considered a niche interest, the attraction of spiritual pursuits has enjoyed a higher profile in recent years. It’s little surprise that the mainstream has put it in its firing line. Topics as varied as astrology, manifestation (the law of attraction made mystical) and witchcraft have gained a huge social media presence over the last half a decade. Many platforms are home to communities dedicated to not only learning about these practices but also creating a lot of memes on the topic themselves.

It’s hard to overstate the impact of this communal memeification, which has given a boost to the astrology renaissance in particular. While its pseudoscientific leanings may not give it legitimacy elsewhere, its strict adherence to lists of planets, signs and archetypes bonds well with the rigid structures of more traditionalist meme formats — these opposing sets of rules paradoxically allow for a diverse expression of creativity when combined. Due to this, formats like object labeling memes have always featured heavily in astrology content.

Another similarity it shares with popular memes is that it is based on making things relatable. Much of astrology promises to help you learn more about yourself and other people, and memes are often a reflection of what we’ve learned about the two. For believers then, the combination is a logical next step.

The merging of these two worlds can be seen across many platforms. Subreddits like /r/astrologymemes manipulate popular formats to reflect on astrological placements, and numerous Instagram accounts like astrowonders produce zodiac-related OC that in the most high-profile cases attract hundreds of thousands of followers. TikTok, meanwhile, occasionally takes a break from dragging each star sign to make surprisingly accurate predictions on current events.

Despite all this, the worlds of astrology or general mysticism have not had a lot of attention from the wider internet in the past. When they do receive exposure, it is usually for reasons on the more ridiculous end of the scale: a notable example being the Witchtok moon hexing debacle, What's Going On With The Moon, as detailed by a viral Twitter thread in July.

Now though, it’s a different story. Those memes that roast your moon sign might still be an acquired taste, but the kind of person who’s into them has become increasingly common and therefore fair game for content. Some of the more predictable reasons for pursuing spirituality – like figuring out you and your crush’s compatibility or looking for a "sign" – are also great meme inspiration. They are a universal subject matter that offers the potential for edgy, reaction-inciting takes.

This is the baseline for the low-key yet steady popularity of this topical genre that focuses on the precarious exchange between romance and the otherworldly. They bring out the dark side of these practices, showing that despite their supposed implausibility, they can be used as instruments of manipulation and control, whether you believe in them or not. There is the implication that anyone with an investment in such things is, at best, easily led and, at worst, unstable. Of course, this makes for a great meme protagonist. This "show don’t tell" approach is at its strongest when it draws upon a cultural touchstone such as this, bringing out a sensitive spot in just enough to people to give it credibility.

As for those inspiring these memes, it’s unlikely a few entertaining detractors will stop girls asking potential dates to call their moms any time soon. Indeed, decided skeptics attract a backlash of their own (hello, “I Don’t Believe In That Nonsense” Wojak). However, the animosity on both sides makes this a slow-burn topic with plenty to give — as well as revealing that many of us are closer to the spiritual world than we might like to think.

Meme Insider is a Know Your Meme publication and the world's leading internet culture magazine. Find out how to get your first print copy for free, and check out the Meme Insider website for more info.