What is astrocartography? Here's why your next trip may be written in the stars.

For centuries, travelers have relied on guidebooks and word of mouth to decide where to go next. Now, some are turning to the stars. Astrocartography is a niche branch of astrology that maps planetary positions on to the globe based on a person’s birth chart. It is increasingly shaping how people choose destinations, from weekend getaways to life-changing relocations. The practice suggests that certain places amplify specific energies: Venus lines for love, Jupiter for growth and opportunity, Saturn for discipline and challenge. Once confined to astrology enthusiasts, astrocartography has entered the mainstream as travelers search for meaning-driven experiences. 

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Why astrocartography is on the rise

According to Royal Caribbean, astrocartography has surged by 53 percent in popularity in the last year and is how a growing number of people use to decide their travel destinations and experiences. Travelers can get their astrocartography map from professional practitioners, many of whom offer readings online or in person. One of the most visible examples of this trend is Royal Caribbean's partnership with Soho House’s resident astrologer Clarisse Monahan. Monahan also regularly delivers talks and workshops at Soho House that explore how planetary mapping intersects with life choices. 

Monahan thinks this surge in interest in astrocartography has to do with the rise of remote work during and especially after the Covid pandemic. “I personally began to notice more people asking about astrocartography five years ago, when paradoxically, we were all in lock-down. Being able to work from anywhere opened up the world for many,” she says. “Those who believe in astrology have increasingly wanted to know where they might best thrive according to planetary alignments.”

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Astrocartography is a branch of astrology that helps people find locations that resonate with them, based on their natal chart (which is a snapshot of the sky the moment they're born). It moreover determines their cosmic identity by way of the placements of planets in certain zodiac signs. “Etymologically, we can break astrocartography into two parts: astro, which is relating to stars, plus cartography which is relating to maps,” explains Monahan. Taken together, this gives us something like the study of people’s star maps.

When astrology meets mass travel

Astrology’s shift from niche curiosity to mainstream travel tool is most visible in how major brands are beginning to integrate it into trip planning. In December 2023, Delta teamed up with astrologer Lisa Stardust to release an official list of best destinations for 2024 based on each zodiac sign. “We’ve seen the trend of astrocartography really take off recently, so it’s clear that more [travelers] are looking to astrology to guide where they should go,” says Gerald Nolan, a vice president with Royal Caribbean Group, about their partnership with Monahan. “People want trips that feel meaningful and aligned with who they are.” 

Rather than replace traditional planning, astrocartography is positioned as an added layer. “We encourage [holiday makers] to use astrocartography as part of their pre-trip planning to select destinations that they connect with,” says Nolan. “The reading itself is simple. You can get one by visiting astrocartography websites or booking a personalized reading with an astrocartographer.”

Royal Caribbean offers a vast range of cruises and itineraries which can cross multiple planetary lines with one sailing. “Whether they’re called to the Caribbean Icon of the Seas—the largest cruise ship—with stops at Roatan in Honduras, Cozumel in Mexico and the blissful Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private water park exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests or are Europe bound with a Western Mediterranean cruise on Allure of the Seas—the award-winning cruise ship—visiting Naples, Barcelona and Provence, astrocartography helps holiday makers visit locations based on their astrological destiny, something uniquely personal to them.”

Why people are turning to astrocartography

Grace Gorman always found astrology fascinating and only recently discovered the location and map side of it. “I travel a lot both personally and for work, so I knew it would be something I would find genuinely interesting,” she explains her reasons for getting a reading. “I was mainly hoping it would confirm that I was in the right place or at least on the right path.” Gorman was shocked to see two lines running directly through Prague, where she currently lives for work. “It made my last minute decision to leave the UK with two days' notice feel strangely aligned. I also noticed lines running through the parts of Ireland my family is from. I have always lived in London but never felt it was truly home, so it was interesting that nothing significant ran through it for me.” 

For some travelers, astrocartography actively shapes future relocations. Krisha Kotak discovered astrocartography while feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of places she could move to. “I had been planning to leave London and try out the nomad life for years but the options were overwhelming so I ended up using my reading as a tool to help me narrow down places to try out,” she says. 

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What surprised her the most was how closely her map aligned with places she already felt aligned with. “I had spent a chunk of time in Miami for work shortly before my reading and remembered coming back and telling everyone how wonderful I felt over there—infinitely more confident, energized, and magnetic—and was feeling drawn to go back and spend more time there,” she explains. When the reading revealed that both her Jupiter and Venus lines ran directly through Miami, “everything made so much sense.”