Different Types of Prediction - Astrology

Martin van Creveld is Professor Emeritus of History at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and one of the world’s most renowned experts on military history and strategy. He wrote a blog post on all of the various forms of prediction. What he has to say about astrology specifically is pretty interesting:

Astrology.

Along with shamanism, astrology is probably the oldest method for trying to look into the future. Its roots go as far back as Babylon around 3,000 BCE. That is why, in Imperial Rome, it was known as the “Chaldean” science. At the heart of astrology is the proposition, so obvious as to be self-evident, that the sun and moon (which, before Copernicus, were classified as planets) have a great and even decisive impact on life here on earth. Building on this, its students try to make that impact more specific by also taking into account the movements of the remaining planets, the fixed stars, and the relationships among all of these.

Even today, almost one third of Americans are said to believe in astrology. True or false, that does not change the fact that, unlike any of the above-mentioned methods, it is based not on any kind of altered state of consciousness but on observation and calculation. Of the kind that is practiced, and can only be practiced, by perfectly sober people in full possession of their faculties. So mathematically-rooted was astrology that it acted as the midwife of astronomy, helping the latter become the queen of the sciences. This position it retained right until the onset of the scientific revolution during the seventeenth century.

Horoscope for the Week of February 26, 2018

If you are feeling a bit more feisty and energetic nowadays, don’t be surprised. The cosmos provides a happy and lucky oomph to everything we do. Jolly Jupiter in Scorpio redirects and a bunch of planets enter Aries. How high and far can you go? Prepare for launch!

(Melissa McCarthy has Jupiter in Scorpio)

Never miss your horoscope again -- free sign up here. Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2018 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 10th printing and available as an eBook

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
Get your projects lined up and ready to launch as a barrage of energy enters your life. Aries become inspired and fired up. Don’t waste this hot energy on radioactive things. Meet and greet the most important deal makers, make your connections and, with their help, leap forward into a productive future. Then you can plot to rule the world. Heh. Heh.

TAURUS (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
There will be more activity than you can easily handle going on behind the scenes. It’s time to center yourself, Taurus, meditate and find your inner core of strength. Then you can lift the world on your shoulders and carry it around town. Become the master of your universe and do it through good karma, charitable works and a bit of ESP. You have the ticket. Now travel.

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
Friends get you to where you want to go, Gemini. You only have to give them the chance to take over and navigate your ship for a while. It may be to a new hot club or exclusive membership association. But is that what you really want? Be alert, be awake and be sure you know where you want to go. Then let your pals expertly guide you there.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
Cancers are poised for greatness now and why not? You have been working very hard and are expecting some positive pay off. The big bosses are taking notice. Watch carefully as opportunities present themselves and take advantage when you can. Before you know it you will be on top of the heap. But the question becomes, which heap?

LEO (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
Leos have itchy paws that need to be scratched by exotic and interesting travel. You may be feeling bored and in a rut. But the solution is right in front of you. If time and money are tight, find ways to get out of your old routines with off-the-beaten path neighborhood venues, a new restaurant or bar and some plucky new company to share your plonk.

VIRGO (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
Sexy Virgos are seeking love and affirmation for the next few weeks wherever they can find it. You simmer and sizzle and can attract anyone of your choosing. But try to be a bit choosey yourself in your love pursuits and don’t settle for second best. The relationships you make now can lead to something for than just a quick flash.... if you want.

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
Libras seeking a meaningful connection, whether in business or in love relationships, can find (or craft) perfect ones now. The secret to your success is to get out of your comfort zone and try something or someone totally new. You then get a good idea of how you appear to others and what you need to do to close the sale. Maybe offer two for one?

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
Reappraise and re-design your health and exercise regime, Scorpio, with an eye towards overall toning and buffing. Not only do you find that you have reserves of energy but you also have inspiring help to get you to your personal goals. See what is on your to-do list and do it. Spring is almost here and it is perfect for a personal spring cleaning. Rubadub.

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
Sagittarians just want to have fun. And why not? You become the life of the party and can command the group dynamic. There might also be a temptation to gamble and take a risk on something fun and creative. Follow your temptation with your eyes open to the risk. Where you might want to break the bank is in the romance department. That might be a good risk.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
If you find that you are enjoying staying home around this time of year, feed your domestic instincts and cocoon, Capricorn. There may be some home based projects that could use your attention or there may be a few invitations that could be reciprocated. Whatever gives you domestic bliss, pursue it. Soon you will want to be on the road.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
Aquarians are especially eloquent and wise now. If you have been cultivating some great ideas, it’s time to share them with a wider audience. So plan ahead, formulate your best arguments, find new ways of reaching out and present your best and provocative ideas to those who can help you push them one giant step forward. It is no time for baby steps.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
If money is on your agenda, find time to focus on your investments. Pisces may not always be the most fiscally prudent but now you can amass your fortune and make it work for you. Find the right advisor and do the necessary research. Before you know it you will move and shake with the oligarch powerbrokers. Be kind when you reach the pinnacle of success.

(c) 2018 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Lichtenstein’s blog www.thestarryeye.typepad.comcovers everything new age. Her astrology book HerScopes is the best in sun sign astrology.

Lucky Numbers for the Week of February 23, 2018

Lottery ads tell us you only need a dollar and a dream. But it is also helpful to have a list of lucky numbers to help spur the good fortune ... or fortunes. So with that in mind, here are some lucky numbers that can be used in any helpful way. I gazed into a pool of water, Nostradamus-like, and contemplated the cosmos. Then I mixed the tarot cards and allowed the spirits to guide me to the cards that represent the lucky numbers for this week. Nothing is guaranteed but who knows ....?

I choose eight numbers because 8 is the number of wealth.

Here are the lucky numbers for the week of February 23-March 1, 2018:

5, 10, 11, 19, 21, 48, 51, 52

There are many ways to delve into your own consciousness to find luck and intuition. Try reading Dream Power/Improve Your Luck (Super Strength Series) and see if your dreams give you any clues and premonitions. Here's a guide to the best books available this month

Astrology is Soothing Millennial Souls!

According to Refinery 29, Millennials are discovering that astrology is a way to connect to the cosmos and to find insights into themselves. The article is fascinating and brings in a lot of history into the evolution of astrology. Here is a short excerpt: 

Since the dawn of time, humans have looked to the sky for guidance — and today is apparently no different. Millennials especially, seem to be flocking to the stars to soothe themselves even as they increasingly eschew organized religion.

 

A full quarter of Americans now identify as “spiritual but not religious,” according to an analysis of Pew Research Center data from September. Church attendance continues to decline, with millennials being the least traditionally religious of all living generations. The majority of Americans now agree it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral. Meanwhile, the psychic services industry — which includes astrology, as well as tarot-card reading, palmistry, and other metaphysical services — is growing. Between 2011 and 2016 it shot up 2%, according to industry analysis firm IBIS World. If that doesn’t sound like a big jump, think about it like this: It is now worth $2 billion annually, and it was one of the few industries to weather the crash in 2008 with “minimal declines.”

 

Not only is astrology recession-proof, it proved to be a calming balm for the uniquely turbulent spiritual desert known as 2017. While horoscopes have long been a fun staple in magazines and newspapers, mostly useful just for giggling over, young women are returning astrology to its former glory by placing it at the center of their spiritual lives.

 

Many young women today are also looking to it because it’s a lived faith. It requires routine practice, and that brings a level of mindfulness that is “calming,” says Garlia Cornelia, a 34-year-old mom of two and a playwright in the suburbs of New York. She uses astrology, and the related practice of studying moon cycles in relation to her menstrual cycle, as a way to carve out a space for self-care and planning ahead. “You can plan your time upon your cycle and the stars,” she says. “There are times where you may need more downtime, and there are times where you will more creative and when you pay attention to those cycles, you’ll start to see patterns and learn to listen.”

 

 

 

 

Horoscope for the Week of February 19, 2018

The Sun enters romantic Pisces and sets us on a course of mystery and creativity. Take a dreamy journey but try to stay alert for all those cliff hanger experiences.

(Albert Einstein had Sun in Pisces)

Never miss your horoscope again -- free sign up here. Here is my favorite book on astrology and a "must" for anyone interested in learning more: Secrets from a Stargazer's Notebook: Making Astrology Work for You and here's a guide to the best books available this month. This column is (c) 2018 MADAM LICHTENSTEIN, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Madam Lichtenstein is the author of the best selling astrology book “HerScopes ” now in its 10th printing and available as an eBook

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 20)
Let your intuition run free, Aries. Your finely attuned sense of destiny is on the mark. Even if you find yourself traipsing down deadends and going on wild detours, all roads seem to lead to a life lesson. We can often find the most interesting people on a tangent or some lost corner. Maximize every opportunity and maintain your good sense of humor.

TAURUS (APRIL 21 - MAY 21)
Taureans can find themselves in the epicenter of the glitterati crowd now. You may find yourself dancing in various social circles with a wide variety of luscious partners. Take a look at the dynamics of the crowd and see if you can blend in. Will you show up to a formal affair dressed in a mummu? Maybe no one will notice your lack of underwear.

GEMINI (MAY 22 - JUNE 21)
You have worked too hard and too long without reward... until now. Implement your corporate plans with an eye towards great success. Use your sixth sense to guage the best time to make your big move. The powerbrokers may not know what to make of your unusually careful and creative manners. Geminis move and groove. Percolate while you are hot and savory.

CANCER (JUNE 22 - JULY 23)
If you are hankering to travel, be sure to pack extra patience and an acute sense of adventure. Cancers test new waters and can have a boatload of fun if they include a few friends in their travel itinerary. If time and money are tight, find ways to spice up your life closer to home. Try a new course of study. Take a walk on the wild side. Meet someone totally new.

LEO (JULY 24 - AUGUST 23)
Leos are offered a range of romantic possibilities. Will your steamy affair go the distance or run out of gas at the next corner? Let’s just see... The fates now make any fleeting fling a rocky and momentous thing. Try to hold on to your heart before it floats away. In the meantime, enjoy the mad passion for what it is worth. Sizzle your steak.

VIRGO (AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23)
Partners have a few tricks up their sleeves. Things are not what they seem, or maybe you are just not seeing things clearly. Continue the pillow talk and don’t promise anything monumental at this time, Virgo. You may not be able to fulfill any big promises. There may be some unrealistic expectations. But at least it keeps life interesting and dreamy!

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23)
Libras like to feel in charge of process but you might be easily distracted. No sooner do you set upon a task when various forms of detours take over. Don’t sweat it. Why stress out? Let old boring projects do their assorted ebbs and flow in your mind and wait until it inspires you. In the long run it is less work to let things marinate a little bit. At least that is what I think.

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22)
Fun has a way of getting totally out of control. Be careful that some jokester doesn’t lead you on and then leave you high and dry by the end of the evening. Scorpios could find themselves overdoing it. But there is no glory sitting on the sidelines wishing for a chance. Go forth with a sense of adventure - but also with your eyes wide open.

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22)
Don’t be surprised if your home life fills with surprises and activity now. You may inadvertently create havoc in your island of tranquility by inviting too many guests or taking on a very (or too) creative home project. Try to tend to all mundane domestic chores first, Sagittarius. Then relax and enjoy nurturing your creative juices. Fluorescent shag carpet anyone??

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20)
You believe that you are seer-like and erudite but in fact you may come off as more woolly and otherworldly. Capricorns prefer to be thought of as logical but now your imagination is sparked with brilliant illumination. At least you think so. Don’t worry - The world will eventually catch up to you. But for now you may find that you are talking to the wall.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19)
Aquarians could waste their money on speculative investments. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So be thrifty and cheap. Stay close to your dough and save rather than spend or even invest. You don’t have all the facts and tend to gloss over the important fine print. There will be plenty of time to break the bank later. For now, simmer and stir.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20)
Pisces are too glorious for words now ... at least in their own minds! As you mingle, you can make some interesting first impressions on certain well-positioned folks. Check yourself out in the mirror and see if you are actually everything you think you are. If so, take your plans to the outer limit. If not, gather your buddies and do a reality check.

(c) 2018 THE STARRY EYE, LLC., All Rights Reserved. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Lichtenstein’s blog www.thestarryeye.typepad.comcovers everything new age. Her astrology book HerScopes is the best in sun sign astrology.