Astrologer or Astrologist? The Great Terminology Debate
Here's the thing about calling yourself by the wrong professional title: it's like showing up to a black-tie event in trainers. Technically possible, but everyone knows you didn't get the memo.
The astrology world has been wrestling with this exact problem for decades. Should practitioners call themselves "astrologers" or "astrologists"? The answer might seem obvious to insiders, but for newcomers navigating this celestial landscape, the distinction matters more than you'd think.
The Short Answer (For Those in a Hurry)
**Astrologer** is the correct and overwhelmingly preferred term. Full stop.
If you're a practitioner, call yourself an astrologer. If you're seeking services, look for an astrologer. If you're writing about the field, use astrologer. Professional practitioners prefer this designation by an overwhelming margin, and there's solid historical reasoning behind it.
But like most things involving ancient practices and modern language, the full story's more interesting than the cliff notes version.
A Tale of Two Suffixes
To understand why "astrologer" won the linguistic battle, we need to dig into etymology. And fair warning – this gets gloriously nerdy.
The word "astrologer" comes from Middle English, formed from "astrologie" plus the suffix "-er". It displaced the Old English "tungolwītga," which literally meant "star prophet" – rather poetic, really.
Meanwhile, "astrologist" didn't appear until 1683, formed by adding the "-ist" suffix to "astrology." It's the new kid on the block, etymologically speaking.
The "-er" suffix typically denotes someone who does something – a baker bakes, a writer writes, an astrologer practices astrology. As one linguistic anthropologist notes, "astrologers will say they're doing astrology, and this can mean a myriad of activities: consultations, astro research, translations of old texts, and observing transits".
The "-ist" suffix, conversely, suggests someone who follows a particular doctrine or ideology. Think: psychologist, biologist, sociologist. These professions involve systematic research and academic study within established scientific frameworks.
Spot the problem?
When Language Becomes Identity
For working astrologers, this isn't just semantic hairsplitting. The term "astrologer" functions as an in-group identifier, signalling genuine membership in the astrological community. Using "astrologist" often suggests unfamiliarity with the field – rather like calling a tattooer a "tattooist" or a sommelier a "wine-ologist."
Professional astrologer Chris Brennan puts it bluntly: "Usually the only people that I typically see using the term 'astrologist' are those who simply don't know any better".
The numbers back this up. Google searches for "astrologer" generate approximately 3.2 million results, whilst "astrologist" manages only 755,000. Google Trends data shows "astrologer" consistently outperforming "astrologist" in search volume since 2004.
Mind you, this creates practical headaches. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram only offer "astrologist" as a professional designation, forcing practitioners to use terminology their own community doesn't recognise. It's rather like LinkedIn insisting all solicitors list themselves as "law-ists."
The Science-y Problem
"Astrologist comes off as science-y," observes one practitioner. "Biologist, sociologist, psychologist are all titles that denote someone is an expert in a field that involves research."
This creates an awkward tension. Astrology occupies a unique space – rejected by the scientific community as pseudoscience since the 18th century, yet increasingly popular among those seeking meaning beyond material explanations.
Using "astrologist" might seem like claiming scientific legitimacy that mainstream science doesn't recognise. It's a bit like insisting homeopathy practitioners call themselves "water-ologists" – technically possible, but potentially misleading about the nature of the practice.
Clever.
Historical Perspective: When Astronomers Were Astrologers
The terminology confusion partly stems from astrology's complex relationship with astronomy. During the early Modern English period, "the relation between them was at first the converse of the present usage," notes the Oxford English Dictionary. Shakespeare used "astronomer" where we'd write "astrologer."
Until the 17th and 18th centuries, astrology and astronomy weren't clearly distinguished. Famous figures like Kepler and Copernicus made livings as court astrologers whilst developing what we now call modern astronomy.
The separation happened gradually. During the Enlightenment, astrology lost its status as legitimate scholarly pursuit, whilst astronomy emerged as a rigorous empirical science. Yet the linguistic legacy remains – we inherited "astrologer" from the era when star-studying was a unified field.
Regional Variations and Cultural Context
Interestingly, this isn't just an English language phenomenon. In French, practitioners are called "astrologue," not "astrologiste." In Italian, "astrologo," not "astrologista". The pattern holds across languages that inherited Latin terminology.
This suggests the preference for "-er" endings (or their linguistic equivalents) over "-ist" endings reflects something deeper than mere convention. Perhaps it acknowledges astrology's practical, service-oriented nature rather than claiming academic authority.
Companies like Wilfred Hazelwood understand this nuance when working with clients interested in astrological services. Using proper terminology demonstrates respect for the field and helps establish credibility with practitioners and enthusiasts alike.
The Professional Standards Question
The terminology debate intersects with ongoing efforts to establish professional standards in astrology. Organisations like the American Federation of Astrologers offer certification programmes for "astrologers" – note the terminology choice.
Professional development resources consistently use "astrologer" in their titles and content, reinforcing the term's status within practitioner communities.
This matters because astrology is experiencing unprecedented growth. The global astrology app market is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2021 to nearly $20 billion by 2031. As the field professionalises and expands, terminology becomes increasingly important for establishing credibility and clear communication.
When "Astrologist" Appears
So who actually uses "astrologist"? Several patterns emerge:
**Newcomers to the field** often default to "astrologist" because it follows familiar professional naming conventions. After all, we have psychologists and biologists, so surely we have astrologists?
**Sceptics discussing astrology** sometimes use "astrologist," perhaps unconsciously distancing themselves from practitioner terminology. This can signal the speaker isn't particularly knowledgeable about or engaged with the astrological community.
**Tech platforms and automated systems** often default to "astrologist" because their algorithms favour "-ist" endings for professional categories. Hence Facebook's professional designation options.
**Academic contexts** occasionally use "astrologist" when discussing astrology as a cultural phenomenon, perhaps to maintain scholarly distance from the practice itself.
The Exception That Proves the Rule
Some sources suggest "astrologist" refers specifically to academic researchers studying astrology's history, cultural impact, or theoretical frameworks, whilst "astrologer" designates actual practitioners. This distinction exists more in theory than practice – most people studying astrology academically still call themselves researchers or historians, not astrologists.
Practical Guidance for Modern Usage
**If you're a practitioner:** Call yourself an astrologer. It's what your colleagues prefer, what clients expect, and what professional organisations recognise.
**If you're seeking services:** Look for an "astrologer." Anyone advertising as an "astrologist" might be unfamiliar with field conventions, though this isn't automatically disqualifying.
**If you're writing about astrology:** Use "astrologer" throughout. It demonstrates familiarity with the subject and respect for practitioner preferences.
**If you're building tech platforms:** Consider offering both options, but make "astrologer" the default. Your users will appreciate the accuracy.
The Broader Pattern
This terminology debate reflects a broader trend in how professions establish and maintain identity. As one anthropologist notes, "It's kind of like being called the wrong name... Your name is a part of your identity".
Professional communities develop linguistic markers that signal insider knowledge and genuine engagement. Getting these markers wrong suggests unfamiliarity with the field – potentially harmless in casual conversation, but problematic when building trust with clients or colleagues.
The astrologer/astrologist distinction serves as a gentle gatekeeping mechanism, separating those who've taken time to understand the field from those operating from the outside.
Future Implications
As astrology continues its cultural renaissance, expect the terminology to become more standardised. The current generation of astrology enthusiasts is highly connected through social media, making community standards more visible and enforceable.
Tech platforms will likely adjust their professional categories to reflect actual usage patterns. Social media companies that currently force practitioners to use "astrologist" may eventually recognise this creates unnecessary friction.
Academic institutions beginning to offer courses in astrology's cultural significance will probably settle on "astrologer" as the standard term, following practitioner preferences rather than inventing new academic designations.
The stars have spoken: "astrologer" has won the linguistic battle. Whether you're consulting the cosmos professionally or simply curious about celestial wisdom, knowing the proper terminology helps you navigate this ancient art with modern confidence.
After all, getting someone's professional title right is the first step toward getting their wisdom.
