Ok so I never thought I’d be writing about zodiac signs AND recycling in the same breath, but here we are.
Last year when my sister (the family astrology nut) told me I was failing at going green because I wasn’t “honoring my Taurus energy,” I nearly spit out my coffee. Then I realized she might actually be onto something?
It started when I kept failing at all those zero-waste challenges. You know the ones – mason jars everywhere, making your own deodorant, the works.
I was trying SO hard to follow all these Instagram-perfect sustainability routines, but nothing stuck longer than a week. Turns out I was doing everything that worked for some random influencer but nothing that worked for, well, me.
Finding My Own Brand of Green (With a Little Help from the Stars)
So there I was, surrounded by reusable bags I always forgot to bring to the store and half-empty bottles of eco-friendly cleaners I hated the smell of.
My sister took one look at my sad collection and said, “This is such an air sign approach, but you’re an earth sign. No wonder you’re miserable.”
For the record, I’m a Taurus. Apparently that means I’m:
- Stubborn as hell (accurate)
- Need things to feel good and look nice (also accurate)
- Hate change unless it was my idea (ouch)
Instead of trying to be that zero-waste warrior who brings their own container to restaurants (respect to those people, but that’s not me), my sister suggested focusing on what Taurus energy likes: quality, comfort, and things that last.
So I bought ONE really nice water bottle that I actually enjoy drinking from instead of the three ugly but eco-friendly ones gathering dust in my cabinet. And guess what? I actually use it. Every. Single. Day.
That was my first clue that maybe this zodiac stuff wasn’t complete BS when it came to building sustainable habits.
How I Actually Started Giving a Damn (Without Hating My Life)
Turns out my biggest sustainability problem wasn’t lack of motivation – it was trying to copy someone else’s version of “green living” instead of finding my own. My coworker Mark can live with like 20 items total and be happy as a clam. Meanwhile, I like my stuff. Sue me.
What’s working for me now:
- Morning routine: I make coffee in a French press that I actually ENJOY using. No more guilt about K-cups, and the ritual feels nice. My sister says this satisfies my Taurus need for sensory pleasure. Whatever, the coffee tastes better.
- Shopping habits: Instead of trying to quit shopping cold turkey (impossible), I started a “one in, one out” rule and focus on buying things that’ll last forever. Turns out my Taurus stubbornness makes me research products for WEEKS before buying, which means fewer impulse purchases of junk.
- Food waste: I was trying to compost and failing miserably until my neighbor (a fellow Taurus) showed me her system. Now I have this ceramic countertop bin that actually looks nice, and emptying it has become part of my weekend garden routine. It’s been 8 months and I’m still doing it!
My Leo friend approaches sustainability completely differently – she started an entire neighborhood solar panel initiative because of course she did.
My Gemini brother cycles through eco-hobbies like he changes socks, but he’s amazing at spreading information and getting people interested.
The Projects That Actually Stuck (And Some That Didn’t)
Remember when everyone was making their own cleaning products during the pandemic? Yeah, I tried that. Made a huge mess, hated the results, gave up after two attempts. Not everything is for everyone!
What DID work:
My mini garden: Started with just basil and mint, now I’ve got this whole herb situation on my balcony. Turns out playing in dirt makes my Taurus heart happy. My Scorpio boyfriend thinks it’s hilarious how protective I get about my plants (“Did you TOUCH my rosemary?!”).
Mending clothes: Found this amazing tailor in my neighborhood who’s teaching me to repair my own clothes. It’s satisfying in a way I never expected. Expensive jeans lasting 7 years instead of 2? Yes please.
Community composting: After my solo composting failures, I found a local group where we take turns handling the compost pile. I only have to deal with it once every six weeks, and I get amazing soil for my herbs. Win-win.
Projects I abandoned because they made me miserable:
- Making my own yogurt (so much work, so much mess)
- Biking to work (I tried for 3 months and hated every sweaty minute)
- Plastic-free July (lasted 9 days before having a meltdown in Trader Joe’s)
And that’s OKAY. Sustainability shouldn’t feel like punishment.
When I Fall Off the Green Wagon (Which Happens A Lot)
Last month I had a crazy work deadline and ordered takeout for like 10 days straight. The amount of plastic containers made me want to cry. My first instinct was to beat myself up about it, but instead I:
- Reminded myself that perfection isn’t the goal
- Reused some of the containers for plant seedlings
- Got back to my normal routine when work calmed down
My sister says Taurus energy is good at getting back on track after disruptions. I just know that treating sustainability like an all-or-nothing game was making me want to quit entirely.
Some tricks that help me stay somewhat consistent:
- I keep my reusable bags IN MY CAR, not by the door where I’ll forget them
- I schedule my farmer’s market visit as a calendar appointment so I don’t “accidentally” sleep through it
- I follow exactly THREE sustainability accounts on Instagram instead of 20 that make me feel inadequate
My Pisces friend has a completely different system involving mood boards and visualization. My Capricorn mother has a literal spreadsheet tracking her carbon footprint. We’re all weird in our own ways.
Finding Your Own Green Path (Without Losing Your Mind)
So here’s what I’ve learned after a year of trying to match my sustainability efforts to my zodiac energy: it sounds woo-woo as hell, but there’s something to it.
The key isn’t following some strict definition of what your sign “should” do. It’s about being honest about:
- What you actually enjoy (I like cooking but hate DIY crafts)
- Where you naturally excel (I’m patient with growing things but get frustrated with technology)
- What matters most to you (I care about food waste and fast fashion more than I care about plastic straws)
Maybe you’re a fire sign who needs excitement and challenge in your sustainability journey. Or an air sign who needs to understand the “why” behind everything. Or a water sign who’s motivated by emotional connection to causes.
Or maybe you think astrology is complete nonsense but you still can’t figure out why some green habits stick while others fall apart after a week.
Either way, the point is finding YOUR version of sustainability. Mine involves nice-looking storage containers and expensive-but-worth-it kitchen tools.
It involves accepting that I’ll never be that person making homemade oat milk but I CAN be the person who avoids Zara like the plague.
What’s your version? I’m genuinely curious because I’m still figuring this out day by day. Drop a comment if you’ve found your own weird path to being kinder to the planet.
And if my sister is reading this: fine, you were right about the Taurus thing. Don’t let it go to your head.