**Episode 15: Manifesting in the End Times — Millennials, the Lion's Gate, and Why We're All Suddenly "Into" Astrology Again**
It's the 8/8 Lion's Gate, and millennial astrology culture is having a moment — but the research suggests this isn't random. We unpack why belief in astrology and "magical thinking" reliably spikes during periods of collective uncertainty, and what that says about living through a cost-of-living crisis, the climate crisis, and the AI-shaped future of work all at once.
**What we cover:**
- 🔮 Why "woo-woo" belief spikes during crisis, not calm
- 💸 The Deloitte 2025 data on Gen Z/millennial financial anxiety
- 🌍 What the largest global study on youth climate anxiety actually found
- 🤖 Where AI anxiety fits into the picture
- 🌿 The difference between a grounding ritual and outsourced avoidance
**SHOW NOTES — Sources cited:**
- Escolà-Gascón, Á., Marín, F-X., Rusiñol, J., & Gallifa, J. (2020). "Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine." *Globalization and Health*, 16, 72. — Found that reduced perceived control during crisis conditions predicts increased magical/pseudoscientific thinking as a coping mechanism.
- Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R.E., Mayall, E.E., et al. (2021). "Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey." *The Lancet Planetary Health*, 5(12), e863–e873. — Survey of 10,000 young people (16–25) across 10 countries incl. Australia; 84% at least moderately worried about climate change, 75% found the future "frightening."
- Deloitte Global (2025). *Gen Z and Millennial Survey.* — 46% of millennials and 48% of Gen Zs report not feeling financially secure in 2025 (up from ~30–32% in 2024); 80%+ cite financial future as an anxiety driver; majority expect GenAI to reshape their work within 12 months.
**Disclaimer:** This episode is personal reflection and commentary only, not medical, financial, or psychological advice.
