Few people believe in astrology (ie, 25%) while most people know their zodiac sign (ie, >90%). It’s probably difficult finding a bigger discrepancy between beliefs and knowledge. Early 2015, I wrote part 1 of this blog and it was fun reading it again. Back then, I failed to realize the importance of 5 natural elements, 12 western zodiac signs, and 60 Chinese personalities.
Base-60 is “a numeral system with sixty as its base [which] originated with the ancient Sumerians in the 3rd millennium BC” (my 2016 blog, Wiki). We still find the base-60 system “for measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates“.
For the ancient highly advanced Sumerian and the subsequent Babylonian civilizations “both observational astronomy and interpretive astrology were central practices not only in time keeping, but also in religious practices and the structure of ritual and ceremonial calendars.” (Ancient Origins)
It makes you wonder why these ancient civilizations put so incredibly much effort in “observational astronomy and interpretive astrology”. Why would they believe (at least 7,000 years ago) that the alignment of planets and stars is meaningful and not just random??
Today, there is not even scientific consensus whether lunar positions have an impact on human behaviour (my 2017 blog). Astronomy is a well-respected scientific field, whereas astrology is largely viewed as entertainment – or plain nonsense.
Despite this some horoscopes, like GotoHoroscope, give surprisingly accurate descriptions of human personalities. The mix between the eastern and western zodiac often gives a 80% to 90% match with someone’s character (eg, my 2014 blog and zodiac). Such high matches are impossible if astrology would indeed be entertainment or plain nonsense.
Today’s skepticism towards astrology may relate to our belief of being unique and having a free will. Astrology appears to contradict both our uniqueness and our free will. Obviously, the remaining 10% to 20% non-match may still indicate the existence of both, following (individual) nurture.
“And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge.” A quote from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s trilogy The Lord of the Rings.
Astrology may be another example of history, legends and myths (my blogs).
Hocus Pocus (1971) by Focus
artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise
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