by Ms Lee P.
Member since:
September 2, 2008

Solar Eclipse brings out the superstitious.

July 20, 2009 07:54 PM UTC (Updated: July 20, 2009 07:56 PM UTC)
views: 0 | comments: 37

 

I just read an AFP article from my Yahoo News page about the Solar Eclipse that will take place in parts of Asia Wednesday, July 22, 2009, when the moon will come between the earth and the sun completely blocking out the sun.  We will not be able to view this eclipse here in America.

The article spoke of the superstitions and religious views held by many in regards to a solar eclipse and this one is receiving the same attention by many.  

Indian astrologers (India) are predicting that violence and turmoil will result from the eclipse but astronomers and scientists are trying to play down the claims of evil happenings in connection with Wednesday’s natural phenomenon.

 

In India and other parts of Asia some of the superstitious believe that food with become inedible and water undrinkable.  They are advising pregnant women to stay indoors to avoid the possibility of a deformed child.  Praying and fasting is encouraged on this day and ritual bathing in the holy rivers is encouraged.  A rise in violence in the days following the eclipse is also predicted.  Devastating natural disasters are predicted and some say an Indian political leader could be killed.  Some are predicting that US military action will take place in Iran shortly after the eclipse. 

Such doomsday predictions are trying to be dismissed by educating the public about the eclipse.

The eclipse is coming in the middle of India’s monsoon season and viewing the eclipse is not very likely.  A travel firm has charted an aircraft at $1,600 a ticket for a chance to see the eclipse form 41,000 feet above the earth.  The experts on board will explain the eclipse to the passengers who have a sun-side seat for viewing the eclipse on this three-hour flight from New Delhi.  (The article didn’t say where the flight was going from there.)

I found this article interesting because throughout history solar eclipses have been linked to some great happening of some kind, either good or bad.  What do you think?

 

Comments: 37

Karen M. Jul 20, 2009, 8:01pm UTC
I remember an eclipse when I was in Elementary school, it was neat!
Rachel N. Jul 20, 2009, 8:03pm UTC
I think it's pretty cool but I'm not very superstitious about it.
Sandra H. Jul 20, 2009, 8:26pm UTC
I remember seeing several of them and thought they were really neat! I'm not superstitious at all about them.
David W. Jul 20, 2009, 8:39pm UTC
On the next eclipse visible to Americans I predict....it will be....just another eclipse. Beautiful, mesmerising, but just another eclipse.
penni d. Jul 21, 2009, 2:14am UTC
I have to agree with David. I saw a meteor once that was long, with a green tail. it was viewable for so long tha I wondered what the natives of uncivilized lands would think...visualized entire tribes with heads on the ground, praying for their families, their crops, their life...it was that astonishing!!!!!!!!!
JOHN BECK Jul 27, 2009, 8:05am UTC
This might have been space junk, Penni. When remnants of man-made satellites reenter Earth's atmosphere, the effect is like a meteor but often with a very bright light followed by what looks like a trail of sparks. That said, meteor showers and similar events in earlier times I'm sure had the effects which you describe.
Lisa Frost Bailey Jul 20, 2009, 8:57pm UTC
I don't worry about superstitions. Great information.
phil w. Jul 20, 2009, 9:46pm UTC
I don't worry about superstitions ,too much !! Hex !!!
Linda B. Jul 20, 2009, 9:51pm UTC
Oh, I don't know. I'm not all that superstitious, but I DO believe that there are many things that are unexplained because science hasn't caught up with it yet. Stonehenge, for example...still don't have a provable theory about its purpose or how it was built. And the pyramids--how were those blocks hewn so closely that one can't slide a piece of paper between them? And moved solely with human musclepower? And any emergency room nurse will tell you that full moon nights are busier than usual, with a much higher rate of psychiatric cases coming in than is usual.
René Allen Jul 27, 2009, 1:38am UTC
Hi Linda ~ The pyramids were not built with man's muscle power. That is evident. There have been many writings on this topic.

FULL MOONS do incite violence and strange happenings ~ it affects the water content in the body. Emergency Rooms like you've mentioned Linda, and Police Stations will all say the same thing about the number of cases during this time period.
JOHN BECK Jul 27, 2009, 8:06am UTC
But those impressions have been soundly refuted by careful studies.
Larry H. Jul 20, 2009, 9:55pm UTC
thanks for sharing..
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Jul 20, 2009, 9:58pm UTC
Good article...it's kind of like a full moon I guess. My friends who are cops say that full moons make everyone crazy!
norene t. Jul 20, 2009, 10:18pm UTC
My first solar eclipse happened when I was 11. I had my appendix out and had pneumonia and slept through it! I was soo devastated. I really wanted to see it. The next one happened when I was 34 and it was a lunar eclipse. It was facsinating. I remember bad things around the first one and good around the lunar so maybe there is some truth to the superstition.
Barbara M. Jul 20, 2009, 10:57pm UTC
I saw a solar eclipse in 1969 (I think). It was interesting but I'm not superstitious about them.
Sunaura *. Jul 20, 2009, 11:00pm UTC
I believe it relates to where your chart is astrologically. Lunar and solar eclipses occur in pairs, this total solar eclipse relates to evolution and change, some will feel it more than others.
M M. Jul 20, 2009, 11:02pm UTC
Very interesting. Thanks for all the info sugar.
Georgiana S. Jul 20, 2009, 11:06pm UTC
well, my ex husband is being cremated that day!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Jul 20, 2009, 11:54pm UTC
They are so very neat
Effervescent Mystique Jul 21, 2009, 4:05am UTC
I love them but how spooky! I am very superstitious and think that maybe it will drive some ppl mad.
Dorothy H. Jul 27, 2009, 9:04pm UTC
As if there are not already a lot of mad people around during all the other days and nights around the worold.
Effervescent Mystique Jul 28, 2009, 4:55am UTC
so true!
Sheila Deeth Jul 22, 2009, 1:23am UTC
The most I've seen is a partial eclipse, but I'd love to see a full one one day.
René Allen Jul 22, 2009, 11:43pm UTC
Lee ~ What a TIMELY ARTICLE!

Although WE do not necessarily need an ECLIPSE for people to ACT BIZZARE ~ which they are by the way, I find this Article very interesting. People are certainly acting C r A z Y, and people have been asking if it is a FULL MOON?

BIG TEN, and this is FEATURED in PROPHETIC PULSE ~ A Paradigm Shift.
regina k. Jul 23, 2009, 10:10am UTC
who knew there were so many things 'centered' around the mystery of an eclipse
William Dotani Jul 25, 2009, 12:23pm UTC
I of course was very afraid and wanted the gov't to raise the threat level and stop making people remove their shoes at airports until they find a good deoderant spray.
I look at the sky and sigh. An eclipse does not excite like a hot fudge sundae.
Ms Lee P. Jul 26, 2009, 1:24am UTC
he, he, he. You always make me laugh. I just returned from a short trip and traveled by plane to my destination. I had to take off my shoes before I could walk through the scanner. The shoes, purse and bag went on a conveyor trip through some kind of xray machine. They passed and so did I. They gave me a cookie a coke and tiny pack of peanuts on the plane for being a good girl.
William Dotani Jul 26, 2009, 12:09pm UTC
I heard they have corners on the plane where bad boys and girls wear dunce hats. It's good to know the TSA thinks you're good. I of course had my suspicions and I was going to write the TSA and tell them you watched Thelma & Louise twice. I was so afraid this movie had so influenced you that you were thinking of being Darth Vader next Halloween.
René Allen Jul 27, 2009, 1:44am UTC
Any further reports on this Lee now that the date has passed?
Ms Lee P. Jul 28, 2009, 5:41am UTC
Hi René. No I haven't read anything about any afteraffects from the Solar eclipse. People go nuts without encouragement anyway, and Mother Nature is ready to rebel at this time I think she's angry. Strange cosmic forces are affecting everyone and everything. Time seems to be on fast forward now days.
René Allen Jul 28, 2009, 11:41pm UTC
Hi Lee ~ I agree with everything you've said. Time is on fast forward while many feel like they are in a time warp ~ things are not going fast enough in their lives, and things don't seem to be moving along no matter how hard they try.

Thanks for responding!
Janet B. Jul 28, 2009, 8:51am UTC
Thanks for sharing. That is interesting.
Curt L. Jul 28, 2009, 12:51pm UTC
How wonderful it would have been to see the eclipse in person!
Thanks, Lee!
Connie L. Aug 1, 2009, 2:51am UTC
interesting article, I am not superstitious, so full moon, half moon does not bother me much, I do believe in signs and omens of future events.
Elaine D. Aug 16, 2009, 12:37am UTC
No superstitions here. Our family is interested in the sciences. The miracles Mother Nature provides are always fascinating in any way, shape or form. It's great to be alive and able to enjoy and marvel at these wonders in life.

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