Meaning, Spiritual Significance, and Superstitions Surrounding Shooting Stars

In times when the world wasn't so interconnected—long before the internet, 24-hour news channels, telephones, and radio—people turned to the natural world for guidance and insight into their decisions.

While science explains the phenomenon of a shooting star as a meteor burning upon entering Earth's atmosphere, many cultures ascribe profound spiritual meanings to these falling lights.

What Exactly Is a Shooting Star?

The term “star” in “shooting star” or “falling star” is somewhat misleading. In reality, it’s not a “star” that “shoots,” but rather a burning fragment of rock and dust (space debris) that illuminates the dark sky. As meteors fall, they burn and speed toward Earth, which is why we call them shooting stars.

Is Seeing a Shooting Star a Sign of Good Luck?

Shooting stars, also known as falling stars, streak across the night sky before vanishing into a dark void. It’s long been believed that witnessing a falling space rock brings good luck, although the reasoning behind this belief can vary depending on who’s telling the tale.

For many, the breathtaking sight of a shooting star symbolizes a link between the material world and the spiritual realm, often seen as a sign of divine direction or a message from the universe.

Shooting Stars as Wandering Souls

In numerous cultures, stars are seen as representations of souls. Thus, a shooting star is interpreted as a soul embarking on a journey. Various cultures offer different spiritual interpretations, such as souls leaving purgatory for heaven (France, Germany, Poland, and the United States), lost souls searching for their path (Chile), the souls of newborn babies (Britain), or the end of life for ancient souls (Lithuania).

Making a Wish on a Star

In both North America and Eurasia, it's a common belief that a wish made upon a falling star will be granted. Experts propose that the tradition of wishing on shooting stars stems from the ancient notion that shooting stars occurred when the gods looked down from the heavens to observe Earth. If you make a wish before the star vanishes, the gods might just grant it [source: Burke].

Are Shooting Stars Considered Unlucky?

Not everyone views a shooting star as a positive omen. In ancient Mesopotamian cultures, a shooting star was often seen as a bad sign. According to Greek mythology, shooting stars were caused by Zeus hurling stones from the heavens to Earth when he was angered [source: Burke].

To avoid misfortune, don't point at a shooting star. In Seneca Native American culture, it was believed that pointing at a meteor could reveal your hidden location [source: Burke].

The luck you experience could even depend on the position of the evening star in the sky. A shooting star on your right is considered a sign of good fortune, while one on your left signals impending misfortune. If you're fast enough, you might be able to shift your position as the star moves to alter your luck [source: Dillon].

How Rare Is It to See a Shooting Star?

Although catching sight of a shooting star feels extraordinary, they're not actually as rare as they seem. NASA estimates that around 48.5 tons of meteor debris enter Earth's atmosphere each day, most of which burns up and forms shooting stars. With this much activity occurring daily, you could witness multiple shooting stars in one evening — unless light pollution interferes [source: NASA].

Your chances of spotting a falling star increase significantly during meteor showers. During annual events like the Leonids in November and the Perseids in August, it's possible to witness hundreds of meteors per hour as small space rocks break off a larger comet [source: National Geographic].

What Colors Do Meteorites Display?

Have you ever spotted a blue or green shooting star? Meteor colors vary depending on the metals they contain. Magnesium gives them a blue-green glow, iron causes a yellowish tint, sodium produces an orange-yellow hue, and ionized calcium results in a violet color. Atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen surrounding the meteor can make it appear red [source: Nasa].