Co-Star is one of the most popular astrology apps available. Published in 2017 and recently acquired by MidJourney, it is a three-time APP OF THE DAY on Apple’s App Store. Co-Star makes many claims, including: “real-time insights as the planets move,” “know exactly what to expect,” and “understand why you do what you do.” All very attractive to young people learning to navigate the world.

Here are 5 Facts every parent must know about Co-Star:

#1 Astrology 101

It’s important to understand what astrology is and to define some terms…

There is a key distinction between astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is the scientific study of the stars, planets, galaxies, and the physical universe. Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, planets, and stars to reveal information about a person’s identity, personality, relationships, circumstances, and sometimes future events.

Astrology at its most basic level is horoscopes and zodiac signs. Modern astrology, however, goes much deeper than simply knowing your “sign” (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.).

A popular modern astrology tool (used by Co-Star) is called a birth chart, or natal chart. This is created using a person’s birth date, exact time, and place of birth to construct a map showing where the sun, moon, and planets were supposedly at the time of birth. Astrologers then interpret that chart to reveal aspects of personality, emotions, relationships, strengths, weaknesses, and life circumstances.

And as a final point of clarification, astrologers have no formal training or education. It is an unregulated field with no licenses required or standards of practice enforced. As one popular astrologer says, “astrology isn’t a major that you can choose in college; it’s also not a profession that you can apply for. You can’t look for astrologer jobs on LinkedIn or Indeed. How you practice will be up to your powers of self-creation.”

 

#2 Personalized Astrology

Upon downloading the Co-Star app and providing precise details of one’s birth, the app uses NASA data to chart the stars in real time. Then human astrologers “collaborate with AI technology to produce the birth chart and daily horoscopes.”

The daily horoscope appears on the app’s home page and is called “YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE.” Through broad and obscure verbiage, the app offers daily insight with “Do’s” and “Don’ts,” World updates, Friends updates, and “long read” articles to learn more about astrology.

A personalized Year Ahead Report about a user’s next 12 months can be unlocked for $12.

 

#3 Socialized Astrology

Co-Star aims to be a social app. It specifically invites users to add friends, keep up with them astrologically (i.e., see if they’re having a bad day), and compare birth charts. Essentially, using astrology to evaluate and understand relationships and compatibility.

Subscribers to their Premium services can receive readings on “you in love,”  describing relationship patterns based on your birth chart ($9/reading).

If a user and their partner subscribe to Eros together ($9/mo), they can receive daily updates and activities about their relationship (date ideas/communication exercises) and compatibility.

Even if a friend isn’t on Co-Star, users can manually add them to access their birth chart and see compatibility ($2.99/chart).

 

#4 Enter the Void and Ask the Stars

Co-Star wants to give you answers to your deepest, darkest questions. In the app, this section is called Void. Users can choose from commonly asked questions in the categories of SELF, LOVE, WORK, and SOCIAL, or they can “Ask Anything” by typing their question into the manual field.

Three free questions are offered; after those, you can purchase 5 Questions for $3, 10 Questions for $5, or 25 Questions for $7

 

Example questions supplied by Co-Star include:

• Should I quit my job?
• What is my gender, metaphysically speaking?
• Are people talking about me?
• Am I in love with my best friend?

The generated answers are powered by its “collaboration with AI technologies.” To state this more explicitly, this is a Large Language Model trained on astrological concepts, counseling users on existential, relational, and other consequential life questions. All while charging for it.

 

#5 Age Rating, Recommendation, & Biblical Perspective

App Store: 4+
Google Play: T for Teen
Co-Star: 16+
Brave Parenting: Not Recommended – for any age or any circumstance

If we set aside the spiritual and biblical objection (below), we must still ask ourselves:  Is this app a healthy tool in the hands of adolescents? After all, this is a time of life when young people are trying to understand both existential and identity-formation questions: Who am I? Why do I feel/act this way? Where do I belong? Who understands me? Who am I compatible with?

Co-Star steps in to these questions with highly personalized answers. Answers that are derived from personal data and given cosmological support and, therefore, assigned validity and certainty.

To a teenager, it can feel like the app sees them and understands them in intimate ways that no other does.  But teens don’t need fast answers from astrology-informed AI; they need time and real-life experience to develop character, identity, right judgment, and healthy relationships. That happens in the friction of real-life relationships. An app cannot tell them who they are.

Feeling seen and known by the stars and an algorithm is not the same as actually being known by other humans.

Biblical Perspective

Christian parents cannot categorize astrological apps and online content as “harmless entertainment.” Astrology alone, but especially through this app, offers unbiblical sources of identity, wisdom, discernment, and relational guidance.

Because this area of New Age spirituality is rising in popularity, it’s necessary to address several points of conflict for the Christian.

1. Who defines your worth?

Co-Star’s premise is that the arrangement of the sun, moon, and planets at the time of your birth reveals details of your personality, emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies.  By this framework, the stars and planets have the authority to tell you who you are and your value in the world.

Scripture begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth, but then assigns humanity’s identity in the Creator. Man is made in God’s image (Gen 1:26-27); God formed us and knew us before birth (Ps 139:13-16); God calls us His own and says, “You are mine” (Isa 43:1);  Our identity is in Christ (Col 3:1-4).

 

2. Who determines your days?

Co-Star’s daily readings provide users a celestial movement framework to understand their day-to-day lives.

Scripture explicitly warns God’s people against interpreting the heavens this way.

And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Deut 4:19

God created the stars for His divine purposes (i.e., mark days and seasons), none of which are authoritative. Man observes the stars and gives glory to God, but Scripture is clear that man is not to consult them for interpretation.

 

3. Where do you go for wisdom and guidance?

Co-Star invites users to ask “the void” questions about themselves, the future, love, work, and relationships.

Scripture repeatedly tells God’s people where wisdom and guidance is found.

For the Lord gives wisdom. Prov 2:6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6
Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path. Ps 119:105
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Isaiah 8:19
If anyone lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all. James 1:5

Not only does Co-Star displace the wisdom and guidance offered by parents, grandparents, mentors, and elders, but the app also displaces God.

 

4. Is astrology a form of divination?

Co-Star’s app description may not formally classify itself as divination, but the founder has called it such in interviews.

Scripture explicitly forbids divination, which is the practice of uncovering hidden knowledge by supernatural means. Therefore, astrology is likewise forbidden.

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead….The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. Deut 18:9-14

This wasn’t just an Old Testament prohibition. The New Testament describes it as actually interacting with real spiritual forces apart from God. Paul cast out a demon that gave a young slave girl the spirit of divination  (Acts 16:16). Paul also described divination and sorcery alongside the acts of the flesh that occur when apart from the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:20).

 

5. How do I make sense of relationships?

Co-Star encourages users not just to understand themselves but also others through this astrological framework. Consulting a friend’s birth chart can easily influence how a young person befriends another or how they act/respond within a relationship. Rather than trusting their own integrity and efforts to maintain the relationship, they rely on unchanging astrological categories that predetermine whether conflict or peace prevails.

Scripture provides a much different relational framework: Jesus says we recognize people by their fruit (Matt 7:16-20); godly character is described as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:2-23); Love is about character and conduct (1 Cor 13).  The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as you love yourself, not as the stars dictate.

 

The theological problem of astrology is ancient. Co-Star simply provides modern and entertaining access to this forbidden practice. By making it social, hyper-personalized, and addictive, the app targets young people desperate to be seen and known, hungry for identity and understanding. But rather than them seeking their Creator, the app pushes them to worship and serve created things (Rom 1:25).