How Each Zodiac Sign Deals With An Existential Crisis
You have to look at your life through your own lens.
getty Are you questioning your place in the world, whether your life has meaning, or what the purpose of your life is? Is so, you may be having an existential crisis. What is an existential crisis? Well, it isn't reserved for middle-age and can happen at any point in your life.
And when it comes to how the zodiac signs handle an existential crisis, each has their own way of coping. What it looks like for you might be entirely different for someone else. And that's the lesson astrology and horoscopes teach us: we all have different reactions.
The world is constantly changing as do the humans who inhabit it, so it makes sense that the need to examine your life might occur all the time and for various lengths of time. Existential crises follow no set schedule — they can happen when you're completely stressed out or going through a difficult time in your life where you feel overwhelmed and lost.
There are different types of focuses on an existential crisis: freedom and responsibility, death and limitation, isolation and connectedness, and meaning and meaninglessness.
Some people endeavor to come to an understanding regarding whether to focus on the meaning of life or the meaningless of life. Can you live a healthy and satisfying life if it's meaningless, or is there more room for you to discover meaning if you don't limit yourself to one kind of meaning for the entirety of your life?
An existential crisis is coming to a turning point in your life where you question what you thought before and try to come up with a new way of looking at your life.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
When an Aries is having an existential crisis, as much as they may want to just sit and brood about what they're thinking and feeling, they know that the best thing for them is to start the process of exploring and making changes. They'll engage in hobbies or activities that give their minds a break.
Aries do things that challenge the physical body without taking up too much brain power. During times of existential crises, what Aries needs above all is a little fun.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus go inward when having an existential crisis and it's not unlike them to shut everyone out for a bit while they try to figure out the big questions of why they're here on earth and the meaning of their lives. Most importantly, Taurus wants to find out what the root cause of their anxiety and what caused them to feel overwhelmed and confused by their own life.
This kind of crisis isn't something that Taurus can just brush off, so they're willing to do the hard inner-work to find the answers that they need.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
When Gemini is going through an existential crisis, they find that building and maintaining their connections with others is extremely helpful. Geminis like to examine all the aspects of what they're feeling and talk about them with people who have felt in a similar way.
If there was a support group for people grappling with the meaning of life, Gemini would be all over that, but since there isn't, they find their own support. By creating and solidifying connections with people, Gemini can resolve their crisis and are able to get through negative situations.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Rather than stagnate Cancer, an existential crisis propels them into actively doing what they can to create joy and peace. They do good deeds, they pay it forward, and they do whatever they can to bring happiness and light into the world.
Cancers know that focusing on positivity won't prevent all the negative things going on in the world, but it helps them to feel better, especially when they're doing good for other people.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
When dealing with an existential crisis, Leos try to be a better person rather than comparing themselves to others. If they look at someone else's life and find their own lacking, that will only cause them to feel worse.
Leos will remind themselves that having an existential crisis happens to everyone at some point in their life, and they're not alone or strange for going through it. Leos will look honestly at their own life, giving equal attention to both the good and the bad things, celebrate the good, and work on improving the bad.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
When Virgo is going through an existential crisis, they will do what they do with most problems: search out the answers. Virgos will research and try to find opinions of other people who have faced the same kind of issues they are facing.
They read, search the internet, watch videos, take classes, go on a spiritual pilgrimage, or find a mentor or expert that can help them with their questions. By increasing their knowledge, Virgo is able to find more ways and methods to resolve their crisis.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
When Libra is going through an existential crisis, they tend to think about what their role models would do in their position and what advice would they give. Then Libra would think about what they say to someone who asked them advice about handling an existential crisis.
Sometimes Libras are much better helping other people than they are about helping themselves, so if they try to look at their situation from someone else's perspective, they may be able to come up with answers.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
The best thing that Scorpio can do when going through an existential crisis is to do a mental cleanse and get rid of as much negativity as possible. They don't want any bad thoughts to have access to their inner self, so they must put up a blockade to the negativity and prevent them from affecting them in adverse ways.
Scorpio keeps the negativity out by meditating and practicing mindfulness — anything positive that helps to anchor their confidence and feelings of self.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius love to examine every part of their existential crisis through discussions with other people. Once they've figured out the source of their crisis, they'll set about making changes. They know better than to change everything single thing about their life at the same time, but they will do some major changes.
One thing that always seems to work for Sagittarius is a change of scenery. Being away from their regular life gives perspective and helps them to sort out their feelings about life.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
When Capricorn is going through an existential crisis, they need to slow down and look at their personal way of existing and if that way is working. Are they growing, and do they find meaning through their actions, thoughts, responses, and experiences?
Do their beliefs and choices add to building a better life for themselves or are they actually dismantling it? Capricorns need to identify what was off in their life that brought this crisis to light and figure out how to prevent it from happening again.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
When Aquarius is having an existential crisis, they often go somewhere in nature to where they can think in solitude. They contemplate their life and ultimately realize that they are responsible for their own rules of how they want their life to be.
They need to be the person they want to be and do whatever they want to do (as long as it doesn't harm anyone) with nothing preventing them. They know that new memories and challenging themselves affect their lives positively and that the only thing holding them back is them.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
When Pisces is having an existential crisis, they try to identify, accept, and express the things that they fear the most. The best thing they can do is to channel that energy into a creative expression.
Whatever form their expression takes — whether it's in words, art, music, or movement — is helpful. If Pisces gets too overwhelmed by their crisis, they might shut down and try to internalize it. It's much better for Pisces to get it out in a positive form so it helps them and other people.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website, her Facebook writer's page, and her Instagram.