Horoscopes: Myth or Magic?
Do you read your horoscope in the daily newspaper? Maybe you
call the horoscope hotline on occasion to find out what a reader
has to say about your future. You might even dabble in the
occult yourself from time to time. Why do people care about this
mysterious reading of their zodiac sign and the telling of their
futures? Is there any real truth in the predictions?
Horoscopes have been around for centuries if not millennia.
Humans have long been fascinated with the earth and its
relationship to other celestial bodies in the solar system and
even the universe. Star constellations have been particularly
interesting to stargazers, who attempt to make meaning from the
constellations themselves as well as the shift of certain stars
or planets, sometimes called heavenly bodies. The significance
of certain planetary groupings, as well as solar or lunar
eclipses, is believed to have a bearing on the chain of events
in a person's life.
Such beliefs play a key role in our culture. Even the Bible
emphasizes the importance of the Star of Bethlehem that showed
the magi, or scholars, in the East where the infant Jesus was to
be born. Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel, The Scarlet Letter,
associates various meanings with a shooting star viewed one
night by Puritans living in 17th century Salem. The star was
believed by some to stand for "A" with respect to hero Hester
Prynne, the adulteress, and by others to represent "A" for angel
regarding the dying governor.
As our species grew more civilized, we searched for answers to
life's problems among the things of the earth. When these did
not always pan out, we turned our collective gaze to the stars
of heaven, hoping for more information there. Some people
believe they can read the stars and planets to make meaning that
will illuminate other people's lives. People of every land and
civilization have attempted to read those specks of light that
can be seen above us at night to find the answers to universal
and personal questions.
If you are wondering whether a horoscope reader can help you, it
may help to ask a few questions before handing over your credit
card for processing. Ask about the reader's credentials. Where
did he or she study? How much experience does the person have?
What are his or her specialties (i.e., career, romance, health,
etc.). What happens if the person's predictions don't come true?
Can the reader provide references for you to consult?
All of us thrill to the prospect of learning more about
ourselves and the possibility of things to come. But be careful
to use discernment in choosing a guide who will provide this
information for you. Anyone can set up shop as a stargazer or
horoscope hustler, and in fact, many people do. Their
information will often sound generic, and it could apply to just
about anyone. So look for someone who seems to be a little more
authentic than just anyone who puts an ad in the newspaper or
sends you email spam.