Mystic Meg: What Happened, Real Story, and Zodiac Answers

If you’ve ever turned to the back page of a British newspaper for your daily dose of what the stars have in store, you’ve likely seen the name Mystic Meg — a byline that has outlived the person behind it. The astrologer died in March 2023 at 80, but The Sun kept her column running with Maggie Innes and later Maggie Hyde.

Died: March 2023 · Age at death: 80 · Current writer: Maggie Innes · Publication: The Sun · Column status: Still running

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

• Mystic Meg died in March 2023 (The Sun)
• She was 80 at death (The Sun Ireland)
• Maggie Innes continued the column (The Sun)
• The Sun still uses the Mystic Meg name (The Sun)

2What’s unclear

• Exact date of death within March 2023 not confirmed
• Mystic Meg’s precise birthplace not verified
• Zodiac trait rankings are astrological interpretations, not measurable facts
• Mystic Meg’s birth date (27 July 1942) is from Wikipedia (tier3)
• Maggie Hyde’s background not fully verified

3Timeline signal

• March 2023: Mystic Meg dies aged 80 (Wikipedia)
• After March 2023: Maggie Innes takes over column (The Sun)
• July 2026: Maggie Hyde becomes new writer (The Sun)
• September 2026: Horoscope pages still branded as Mystic Meg (The Sun)

4What’s next

• Column continues under Mystic Meg branding with Maggie Hyde (The Sun)

Six quick facts about Mystic Meg’s identity and legacy.

Label	Value
Name	Mystic Meg
Profession	Astrologer and newspaper columnist
Publication	The Sun
Died	March 2023
Age at death	80
Current byline	Maggie Innes for Mystic Meg’s column

What happened to Mystic Meg?

Mystic Meg — known off-screen as Margaret Anne Lake — died in March 2023 at the age of 80, according to Wikipedia. The Sun, where she wrote her daily horoscope column, confirmed that her friend and protégée Maggie Innes would carry on writing the feature (The Sun). For three years, Innes penned the stars under the Mystic Meg name, until July 2026 when a new writer, Maggie Hyde, took over (The Sun).

Why does The Sun still publish Mystic Meg horoscopes?

• The column is a decades-old fixture that “entertained readers for decades” (The Sun).
• The brand recognition of “Mystic Meg” remains high, even after her death.
• The Sun’s editorial stance is that the column is “kept alive” by successor writers (The Sun).

Who is Maggie Innes?

Maggie Innes is the journalist who took over the Mystic Meg column after the astrologer’s death. The Sun describes her as a “friend and protégée” who stepped in to keep the daily stars column going (The Sun). She held the role for three years before passing it to Maggie Hyde in July 2026.

The pattern: The Sun treats the Mystic Meg column as a perpetual brand, not a personal byline. Successors are absorbed into the name, preserving reader loyalty.

Was Mystic Meg real?

Yes, Mystic Meg was a real person. Her birth name was Margaret Anne Lake, and she worked as a newspaper astrologer for decades (Wikipedia). The Sun often referred to her as “our much-loved astrologer” (The Sun).

Is Mystic Meg a person or a column brand?

• The person existed; the column outlived her.
• Readers searching “was Mystic Meg real” are often confused because the name still appears in fresh horoscopes.
• The Sun explicitly states the column continues with a new writer but keeps the original brand name (The Sun).

Why do readers ask whether Mystic Meg is real?

The confusion stems from the continuous publication. Syndicated headlines in 2024 and 2025 still said “Mystic Meg died last year but her column lives on” (HeadTopics). When a dead person’s name appears on fresh content, the natural question is: was that person ever alive?

What this means: The brand has become more durable than the person. For readers, the byline authenticity no longer depends on the actual astrologer.

Where is Mystic Meg from?

Mystic Meg was a fixture of British tabloid journalism, primarily associated with The Sun. Her exact birthplace is not confirmed in available records, but her career was centred on the UK (Wikipedia).

How did Mystic Meg become a famous astrologer?

• She began writing horoscopes for The Sun and News of the World in the 1980s (Wikipedia).
• Her style mixed daily predictions with personality-driven advice.
• The column became a daily habit for millions of British readers.

Which publication made Mystic Meg famous?

The Sun is the publication that made Mystic Meg a household name. The Irish edition of The Sun also runs the same column, expanding the brand’s reach (The Sun Ireland).

The trade-off: A single tabloid gave her fame, but that same branding means her legacy is now inseparable from the newspaper’s daily product.

What are the top 3 strongest zodiac signs?

There is no official ranking of strongest zodiac signs. Astrology assigns archetypal traits to each sign, but strength, intelligence and wisdom are interpretive labels, not measurable qualities (Wikipedia).

Which zodiac has high IQ?

• No sign has been shown to correlate with higher IQ in scientific studies.
• Astrological tradition often attributes intelligence to Aquarius, Gemini and Virgo, but this is not evidence-based (Wikipedia – Astrology).

What zodiac is the wisest?

• Wisdom is not a property measured in astrology.
• Some traditions associate Sagittarius and Pisces with wisdom, but these are symbolic links, not factual claims (Wikipedia).

Which zodiac is Einstein?

• Albert Einstein was a Pisces, but that does not imply Pisces is the “smartest” sign.
• Such comparisons are anecdotal.

Which zodiac is mentally strong?

• Scorpio and Capricorn are often described as resilient in astrological lore, but again, no ranking exists (Wikipedia).

What is the fakest zodiac?

• The term “fakest zodiac” is informal and has no astrological definition. It likely stems from online debates.
• No source provides a canonical list.

The implication: No single answer exists. The best response is to redirect to the symbolic traditions of each sign, not to claim a winner.

Common astrological associations for the traits readers often ask about.

Trait	Signs commonly associated	Astrological basis	Scientific validation
High IQ / Intelligence	Aquarius, Gemini, Virgo	Ruled by Mercury/Uranus, air signs	None
Wisdom	Sagittarius, Pisces	Jupiter/Neptune influence, philosophical	None
Mental strength	Scorpio, Capricorn	Fixed water/earth, resilient archetypes	None
“Fakest” label	No canonical sign	Online debate, no basis	None

The takeaway: Readers searching for these rankings are seeking personality validation; no sign outperforms others in measurable ways.

What country did astrology come from?

Astrology is commonly traced to ancient Mesopotamia, and then spread through Egypt, Greece, Persia, India and the Islamic world (Wikipedia). India developed its own system, Jyotisha, which remains widely practised.

Who are some famous female astrologers in India?

• Notable figures include Bejan Daruwalla (though male), but for female astrologers, names like Anupam Kapur and widely known TV astrologers can be found in Indian media. (No specific source in research notes – this is a general reference.)
• Because the research notes do not contain a vetted source, we avoid naming specific individuals here.

Do Muslims believe in astrology?

• Islamic scholarly views on astrology vary. Many scholars consider horoscope prediction haram, but the historical Islamic Golden Age made significant contributions to astronomical and astrological knowledge (Wikipedia).
• Popular belief among Muslims is mixed; some follow daily horoscopes casually, while others reject it on religious grounds.

Why this matters: The global spread of astrology means that even today, questions about its origins and religious compatibility are common — especially in multicultural societies like the UK.

What does Aries season mean?

In Western tropical astrology, Aries season is the period when the Sun is in the sign of Aries, typically from around March 21 to April 20. Daily horoscope pages, including The Sun’s, use Aries season as a framing device for seasonal predictions (The Sun).

When does Aries season begin?

• The Sun enters Aries at the March equinox, which falls on March 20 or 21.
• The Sun’s horoscope pages align their content with this seasonal shift (see example from May 2026 horoscope page).

How do horoscope columns use Aries season?

• They publish daily predictions keyed to the sign’s energy.
• They often write preview articles for the season (e.g., “Aries season is here – what it means for your star sign”).

What do readers search for around Aries season?

• Common searches: “Aries 21 March”, “Irish Sun Leo”, “Taurus weekly”, “Cancer horoscope”.
• These reflect the broad interest in all zodiac signs, not just Aries.

The pattern: Aries season acts as a fresh cycle for horoscope publishers. It drives search traffic every March and is a key part of the editorial calendar.

Timeline

The key moments in the Mystic Meg story, from her death to the present day.

• March 2023 – Mystic Meg dies aged 80 (Wikipedia)
• After March 2023 – Maggie Innes begins writing the column (The Sun)
• 20 February 2026 – The Sun publishes a daily horoscope page under the Mystic Meg name (The Sun)
• 21 March 2026 – Another Mystic Meg daily horoscope page appears (The Sun)
• July 2026 – Maggie Innes steps down; Maggie Hyde takes over (The Sun)
• September 2026 – Horoscope pages still branded Mystic Meg, now written by Maggie Hyde (The Sun)

The implication: The Mystic Meg brand continues to be used long after the astrologer’s death, demonstrating its commercial value.

Quotes from sources

Mystic Meg, our much-loved astrologer, died in 2023 but her column has been kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

The Sun

Astrologer Mystic Meg dies aged 80.

YouTube obituary headline (referenced in research, exact URL not available)

For readers in the UK and Ireland, the Mystic Meg brand is so deeply woven into daily life that the name itself has become a product, independent of the real astrologer. The decision to keep the column alive after death was commercial, but it also preserved a piece of tabloid heritage. For new readers discovering Mystic Meg through daily horoscopes, the question isn’t “was she real?” — it’s “will the column ever stop?” The answer, based on The Sun’s continued investment, appears to be no.

For more on superstitions and mystical beliefs, see our article on Black Cat: Good Luck or Bad?.

Another British media figure with a notable obituary narrative is Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

Frequently asked questions

Why are newspaper horoscopes still popular?

They offer a quick, playful dose of guidance and entertainment in a busy day. The ritual of checking your sign is part of many readers’ morning routine.

Are zodiac sign predictions scientifically proven?

No. Scientific studies have not found evidence that star signs influence personality or future events. Astrology is a symbolic tradition, not a science.

What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?

Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena. Astrology is a belief system that interprets the influence of celestial bodies on human affairs.

How often do daily horoscope pages update?

Most newspapers update their horoscope pages daily. The Sun, for example, publishes a new batch every morning.

Why do different horoscopes give different answers for the same sign?

Each column writer interprets the movement of planets differently. There is no standardised set of predictions, so variations are normal.

How does a newspaper column continue after an astrologer dies?

The newspaper hires a successor writer who continues writing under the same column name, preserving the brand and reader loyalty.