Press

Official Bio

MaKayla McRae (she/her) is the Managing Editor at Parade Magazine’s Astrology vertical, where she oversees and contributes to coverage of major planetary shifts, weekly horoscopes, Tarot, and zodiac-based insights. She is a professional astrologer, Tarot reader, content creator, and the author of The Celestial Handbook, a guide to working with daily planetary energy to support personal growth and intentional living.

Often known to her clients and longtime followers as The Starry-Eyed Mystic, MaKayla has built a highly engaged audience of 60K+ followers on Instagram. Her work sits at the intersection of astrology, wellness, and modern self-care, and she is recognized for translating complex astrological systems into grounded, accessible guidance. She previously served as a Resident Astrologer for the astrology dating app Oromoon, where her work explored astrology through the lens of relationships, compatibility, and contemporary dating culture.

In addition to her editorial leadership at Parade, MaKayla has written horoscopes for Astrology.com and has contributed for Thought Catalog and Collective World. Her writing and insights have been featured in Vogue, Teen Vogue, Vogue India, Bustle, Hypebae, PopSugar, The New York Post, and more. British Vogue has described her work as “a mix of modern, psychology-based astrology—focused on free will—with ancient, fate-based Hellenistic astrology,” noting that she is “better known to her celebrity clients as The Starry-Eyed Mystic.”

She also consults on creative projects, including editorial consulting and astrological storytelling for film, where she develops character birth charts and Tarot symbolism to support narrative development.

Born into an intuitive and spiritually gifted family, MaKayla began studying astrology and spiritual practices at an early age. She started offering readings in Salem, Massachusetts—often called Witch City—before expanding her work online and building an international client base. Today, she works with people around the world, including creatives, public figures, and members of the general public seeking practical, grounded spiritual insight.

MaKayla is a certified professional astrologer with formal training in Hellenistic Astrology, completed through the Hellenistic Astrology Course taught by Chris Brennan, and holds a Reiki II certification through Jeanette Coleman, LICSW.

The Celestial Handbook

Published by Michael O’Mara Books, this guide explores how to work with daily planetary energy to plan your week and align with natural cycles.

The Celestial Handbook was endorsed by British Vogue’s resident astrologer, Alice Bell, and best-selling author James McCrae.