TRADITIONAL ASTROLOGY

It was in late May 2005 that I first learned of the Russian astrologer, Marina Bai, suing NASA over Deep Impact plan to bomb a comet. Frankly, my initial, heartily reaction was: "Go Marina, go!!" Therefore it was with shock and disbelief that I read negative press this story received in the last issue of AFAN newsletter, and I feel an urge to comment upon it.

There are quite a few things that need to be addressed here, some falling under media manipulation. What I know about the story can't possibly fit in a short news clip published under, imo, very inappropriate title: "And the Raspberry Award Goes To...". What is presented there is just bits and pieces of the story, and even those are corrupted and manipulated to make Marina look silly. My question is: what is the source of this news clip? There was none quoted. Who is the author of this short story? There was no signature.

As for manipulation of the facts: the very first sentence in the published clip leaves the reader with the false impression. It reads: "NASA's mission that sent a space probe smashing into a comet raised more than cosmic dust - it also bought a lawsuit from a Russian astrologer." Based on this, one would think that Marina Bai filed a lawsuit AFTER the bombing of the comet. That is not the case. Marina filed her first court papers on February 21, not long after NASA announced its intentions in January. And, the original request was for the court to issue a ban on the plan to bomb a comet. Therefore, money was not listed as number 1 on Marina's list of priorities. Then, again - why would anyone be bothered with her request of moral damages equivalent to the amount that NASA spent on this bombing? For all I know, that might not be the usual legal practice, but makes sense and seems fair to me. And, maybe I've watched too many Ally McBeal episodes, but my impression was that in USA people have a custom of bringing each other to court over much more trivial issues. I can't forget how an American friend of mine, when we were on our way to Cirencester 2001 AAGB conference, and she suddenly faced 20 or so stairs at one British train-station, with no escalators in sight, commented: "If this was USA, I'd sue them!"

One would think that astrologers - of all the 'sky lovers' out there - would jump to support Marina in her fight against this "barbaric interfererance with the natural life" (as she put it). But - no. Her own kind is making fun of her. Why? When an earthquake kills hundreds of thousand of people - we call that a tragedy. When one nation kills hundreds of thousands of people from another nation - we call it a crime, a genocide. Or, if anyone is going to split hairs here arguing that comets are not live beings, consider then how an earthquake ruining an ancient city of Bam in Iran the other year is a great tragedy, while Taliban blowing up ancient Buddhist statues in Afghanistan is a crime. Therefore, if a cosmic rock collides with the comet and interferes with the natural life in space, that's tragedy. But, when somebody decides to bomb a comet - that must be considered a crime. Is there really any other way to look at this?

So, she says that her horoscope will be 'deformed' (though the word "corrupt" would be much more appropriate one to use in translation here). The Editor asks: does anyone use comets in horoscopes anymore? Well, Dear Editor, yes. In the mundane and national charts, considerations of any bright and notable comets was considered a must throughout the long and proud history of our craft. Not to mention the astrological practice (which was present up until just a little over 200 years ago) to draw a chart of the New or Full Moon preceding the appearance of the comet, and then chart its path in it, using that as a starting point for gaining insight of the meaning of events that comet announces. The thing is - in the second half of the 20th century, surprisingly, we didn't have many very bright and notable comets in the sky, that could be seen with the naked eye, so we are kind of not used to pay any attention to them. But, just imagine the comet of the year 1264, that was spreading 100 degrees across the sky, and tell me, just tell me that you - as an astrologer - would not take any notice of that. I bet your phone would be ringing like crazy, with all the journalists inquiring: "What does that mean?" and you'd be pouring over ancient astrology texts that explain how to make sense of the comet's symbolic meaning.

One other, very subtle manipulation you can see in the press about this NASA mission is insistence of using phrases like "space probe", "punching a crater", "smashing into a comet", "crash into a comet", "colliding with a comet", when - in fact - it should be called by it's proper name: bombing a comet. After all, news reports state that 270-kilo shell was fired into it, and my dictionary defines shell as: "Ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun".

So, we need this just in case that one day some space-rock poses a threat to Earth, you'll say, and therefore it's justifiable that NASA 'practices'. Well, there's a chance that one day I might find myself at the gun-point by somebody... or not. Does it follow that it's justifiable that I practice shooting people, just in case? Even if there's a chance I never will find myself in a situation to actually use the skill I acquired?

We need this to see how Solar system evolved, scientists say. So, if I want to see how some statue, which is considered the remarkable piece of art, came into being, I should fire a bullet at it, so that I can see what it's made of? And that will prove that all other masterpiece statues made around that period in history were made out of the same material? On the most personal level: I don't really care how Solar system evolved! It's there. That's enough for me. Curiosity does kill a cat or two, you know.

Yet another example of media manipulation is reporting on just bits and pieces of what Marina said, and not her full statements. The emphasis is on her statement about Deep Impact bombing deforming the horoscope. Here's one of Marina's statements in full, that didn't get reported: "The actions of NASA infringe upon my system of spiritual and life values, in particular on the values of every element of creation, upon the unacceptability of barbarically interfering with the natural life of the universe, and the violation of the natural balance of the Universe."

And here's another one: "Lately, Americans tend to solve all the problems, scientific ones included, with bombs. If no one says 'no' to that, the consequences will be dire. In 2011, comet Tempel 1 will return; what will it bring to the mankind, what sort of an omen it will become, no one can say yet."

In conclusion, I'd like to say that in Marina I see one brave and courageous lady that has the guts to stand up against something she considers barbaric. Think about what Nikolai Bochkarev of the Russian Academy for Natural Science has to say about the whole thing: "I think such vandalism cannot be justified even in the case of the asteroid-comet danger that people talk so much about." But he didn't have the guts to sue his fellow scientists. It took the heart of an astrologer to stand behind ones beliefs with concrete action, even if it was just to bring moral issues about the Deep Impact 'probe' into the spotlight. I doubt very much that Marina thinks she can win the case. And I doubt that money is high on her list of priorities. But, even if it was her only motive, I don't care, because she raised some very important issues, and I'm still cheering: Go, Marina, go!!

For those interested in the story: just google "Marina Bai" and you'll get 8000+ websites to explore. The knowledge of Russian language, and emphasis on original reports, vs. western reports, will help you gain even more objective picture.