Whether in movies or books or in life, it is human nature to be curious
about “what happens next”, what the future holds in store. Because of
this curiosity divination methods were developed, some even centuries
old. There are several tools and ways to divine the future. Forms
popularized by gypsies (as related in tales) are crystal (ball) gazing,
tarot card reading, palmistry, tea leaves, bones, etc.
Divination is anything but an exact art or science. People who have the
gift of divination are often called fortune tellers. This is actual a
mislabel, because it really isn’t fortune that the diviner sees but
possibilities of a person’s future live, love, finances, etc. All these
based on decisions that a person makes now. In the Filipino language,
diviners are called manghuhula which literally translates to
“guessers”. Essentially, this means that fortune tellers are supposedly
just guessing. Amazingly, their guesses hit the mark often enough that
divination became a thriving business.
Despite its many forms, the one that appears to be most trusted is
astrology. There are different types of astrology but the ones most
popularly known are the Chinese astrology (one of the oldest divination
techniques created centuries ago) and the western astrology (created by
Babylonian astronomers).
Chinese Astrological signs change on an annual basis, based on the
cycles of the moon. Hence, their year starts with the first full moon
of the year. The Chinese zodiac is based on 12 animals. Your animal is
based on the year of your birth. The twelve animal signs are: rat, ox,
tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and
boar.
The zodiac that people are more familiar with is the one that changes
by the month. Depending on your birth date you could fall under the
sign of Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Capricorn.
Nowadays divination nuts (whether diviners or those who want to have
their future read) seem to be everywhere! From the café at the corner,
to bookstores, to the funny section in newspapers, to radio, to TV, to
websites, and even, yes, to call centers. Psychic hotlines have been
all the rage for many years now. One notable personage to get on the
band wagon is Dionne Warwick and her psychic circle of friends.
Diviners who use astronomy employ a lot of math and research before
they give their predictions. The result depends on the position of the
stars and the alignments of the planets plus the date and time of your
birth for them to feel that they can come up with a more or less
accurate prediction.
The diviners of the 21st century are more than fortune tellers. They
also act as counselors or advisers to their clients. They provide more
than advice; they also provide comfort, and an attentive ear at a very
affordable price. Your favorite diviner becomes a part of your life and
at times transforms from being a simple diviner to a good friend.
