So are you a highly organised Virgo, a generous Leo or a Gemini with a split personality?

Or do you agree with recent research which suggests horoscopes are a load of rubbish and Russell Grant knows as much about your future as Russell Crow?

The research followed 2,000 people who shared the same star sign to see if similar things happened in their lives which could have been predicted in their horoscopes.

Unsurprisingly the volunteers had 2,000 unique experiences which was given as proof that the whole idea of one horoscope being relevant to a massive audience is rubbish.

But if horoscopes are ridiculous why are we so obsessed with them?

Like hundreds of other people I turn avidly to the horoscopes every day and I honestly can't see the harm in it.

If Mystic Meg tells me wearing red tomorrow will bring me luck who am I to argue?

It might not make any difference but the thought I could be in charge of my destiny simply by selecting carefully from my wardrobe is irresistible.

If Meg tells me I am going to meet the man of my dreams or have a great day at work it will put a spring in my step and if her predication fails to come true at least I've had a smile on my face all day.

And as for less than positive fortune-telling what's wrong with being a little bit cautious some days if your horoscope suggests you might be about to fall on your face.

Horoscopes have become a social phenomenon - crowded round the coffee machine at work everyone wants their sign read out so they can laugh off impending doom or revel in the promise of exciting news.

And it's not just horoscopes that fire my imagination - I also have a place in my heart for psychics.

On a rational level I know claiming to see into the future is nothing more than a magic trick but just like I love watching David Blane on the TV it's fascinating to watch the performance of someone who claims they have supernatural powers.

I have had readings from women using coloured hankies, jewellery and my palm to see what is going to happen me.

One even drew a picture of my 'guardian angel' and hilariously tried to pin my ancestry in Germany on the basis of my unusual surname (it's actually Swedish.)

So with my tongue firmly in my cheek I see nothing wrong with encouraging an industry that clams to predict the future but can't tell us the winning lottery numbers in advance!

In this day and age when everything is so unpredictable and stress levels are on the rise maybe we all need something so fantastical to believe in.

If we can get a daily dose of frivolity for the price of a newspaper or a click on the Internet then why should we let some unimaginative scientists stop us?

Published: 04/09/2003