It was a cold Saturday evening when, for some reason, I decided to stay home and watch a new television series that a friend had been talking about. As I focused on the show, my 20-year-old niece barged into the living room with eyes swollen and red from crying. I paused the sword-fight scene and turned to her, puzzled as to what could have possibly driven her to such tears. My first thought was that maybe a friend had passed away or, perhaps, she just wasn’t feeling well. I was wrong. I asked her what the problem was and she said with trembling lips, “My boyfriend just broke up with me.” After a 15-minute narration of what transpired, I consoled her, telling her “he didn’t deserve you and he was just another good-for-nothing guy”. “I guess it’s my fault. I believe too much in the stars,” she said. Shocked, I asked her to explain the statement. At first, I thought she meant the stars were blocking her prayers that were destined for heaven. On probing further, I found out she was talking about horoscopes, otherwise known as ‘stars’. That morning, when she read her horoscope, it said “You will find enormous happiness today and delight in it…….,” but what followed was the opposite. So, do horoscopes hold any truth or are people in denial? Are they reliable? How can one trust another source, other than God, to predict or unveil the future? It is safe to say that there are lots of people who read them, if not for guidance, to have something to hold on to or to just pass time. Take Ingrid Muhizi, for example. “I know they are just predictions and some of them don’t come true but it gives me something to believe in. For example, knowing I would be happy again after a turbulent break-up probably is all I need at the time. I read my star every day and try to create what was predicted for me. If I see an ex’s Facebook status at the top of my feeds every time I check, maybe that’s a sign that we might get back together. My star may not always be exact, but I try to make it work each and every day,” she says. Horoscopes give people a sense of meaning that they would probably not find anywhere. Stephen Ndahiro, an engineer, says that he doesn’t need proof for it to be factual. “I don’t think there’s scientific evidence for horoscopes because I think it’s an art. The whole concept of wholly believing in horoscopes is based on people’s own scientific beliefs but again not everything can be proven. Although some of the things are irrational and not exact, it doesn’t make them invaluable or wrong,” he says. For close to 18 years, Ndahiro has been reading the horoscope religiously and says that if people don’t move beyond the ordinary, how will they find answers? “Imagine a person who stands in front of you, arms akimbo and says “prove it to me”, most definitely nothing will happen because you have to participate in the act to get the lens to see what it means,” he adds. Horoscopes have become so common that some people base their decisions on them, especially if they are strong believers. Irene Uwase says that she sometimes uses it to change what it had predicated if the predication will most likely affect other people. “I read my horoscope every day and, truthfully, there are days it doesn’t make sense to me at all. But if I read something like “You will get angered by someone today,” it helps me watch my attitude or steer clear of anyone who might want to provoke me. And when a day goes well, I thank my stars,” she says. From determining attitudes to yearning for something to believe in, some people also use stars to determine how they relate with people and which people they might get along with nicely. Benon Busingye, a human resource manager for an NGO, uses the horoscope to get a better understanding of the organisation’s employees. “For example, I know that Virgos are perfectionists and well-organised, Pisces are usually sensitive people and Capricorns tend to be overly ambitious. Knowing such traits helps me to know how I communicate and handle situations they are involved in at work,” he says. However, some people think of horoscopes as just a bunch of words well organised to give people false hope to get through the day. Faridah Kayitesi says that they are basically generalized, which makes it difficult to believe that one thing can happen to everyone who falls under that star. “They are generalised and vague and I don’t understand how some people believe in them. For example, there are seven billion people in the world, assuming that maybe 20 million people were born on the same day as you and the star says, “Your finances will take a ditch,” does that mean that it happens to all those people? Of course not. Horoscopes are just for people looking for reason to wake up the next day,” she adds. Kayitesi also questions some messages carried by horoscopes which she finds rather obvious. “You will find statements like ‘working too hard and not resting enough will pile a lot of pressure on your body although your zeal is still intact’! As an adult, who is working, you know that any job can be tiring and it’s only common sense that you need a rest when tired, but then how about a student on holiday with no work with whom you share a birthday?” Kayitesi is not the only person who doesn’t believe in horoscopes. Emmanuella Niragire also thinks they are inaccurate and are just there to confuse people because they are usually not the same. She says that for each day a horoscope comes out, there are different versions. “Just check with Google for your horoscope, different sites pop up and they will usually have dissimilar information for you, most times conflicting. I believe if these horoscopes were real, then they would be similar but the fact that they are different means that whoever writes them does so for fun,” she says. Speaking of writing them for fun, Aime Nkubito actually believes horoscopes are made for entertainment which is why in most newspapers they are usually on a page that has puzzles and cartoon strips. “The funniest thing is, horoscopes are just for fun but people don’t see it. Ever wondered why they are always on a page that has puzzles and cartoon strips? It’s because that page is meant to relax people’s minds after going through serious pages of the paper. If any one does read them, they should always remember that they are just for entertainment,” Nkubito says. According to www.gotquestions.org, the purpose of a horoscope is to gain insight into a person’s character and foretell the future. It shows that the basic belief of astrology is that planets and stars exert an influence upon our lives and that those with special knowledge (astrologers) can predict events in a person’s life. This will be a debate for decades about the accuracy, or lack of it, when it comes to horoscopes. However, as some people stated, there is a real desire and craving for some kind of guidance and meaning whereas others believe it’s a gimmick to make money, entertain people and confuse them even more. Either side might be right, but like my niece who was disappointed by her star, I guess “we lose some and gain some.” Either way might be right. dean.karemera@newtimes.co.rw *************************************************** The truth about horoscopes Ever wonder if your horoscope is fact or fiction? Here, common questions about horoscopes are answered.Some people read their horoscopes for entertainment. Others glance at them briefly and keep them in the back of their mind to see if they “come true.” And some get a full chart reading and faithfully read their horoscopes daily, check compatibility reports for potential friends and lovers, and even plan major life events according to how the planets are aligned. Whichever type of person you are, you’ve probably wondered exactly how your horoscope is written, and whether or not there’s any truth to it. Read the explanations below to find out the answers to your horoscope-related questions! Q: Are the predictions in horoscopes real? A: The word “horoscope” comes from the Greek word “horoskopos,” which literally means “a look at the hours.” Early astrologers in ancient Babylonia based their predictions on the movement of the planets, which at that time were thought to represent the activity of their five gods - Marduk representing Jupiter, Ishtar representing Venus, Ninurta representing Saturn, Nabu representing Mercury, and Nergel representing Mars - in combination with the Moon-god Sin and the Sun-god Shamash, whose movements were believed to affect what was happening on Earth. As knowledge of astronomy and the world in general has evolved, the art of astrology has evolved as well, but the concept of charting the course of the planets in order to interpret potential life events is very real indeed. Q: How do you determine what you write for each sign’s horoscopes? A: To write the most in-depth horoscope possible, astrologers need the date, time, and location of your birth. When we have this information, we are able to place your Sun Sign on the first house of an astrological chart, then follow the signs in order for each house thereafter, thereby determining what types of issues may affect you at any given time. By looking at the position of the planets, we can study your chart’s aspects and determine whether or not you will have a challenging day, month, year, etc. - or if the aspects are lining up in your favor. Q: What are planetary aspects? A: The detailed theory of planetary aspects is quite complex, but in a nutshell, when there is a connection formed between planets that are associated by some degree in the Zodiac, they are referred to as “aspects.” When the planets occupy the same degree of different signs in a chart, they have a connection that is referred to as either harmonious or challenging, depending on the signs involved or the number of degrees separating the planets. The major aspects commonly referred to are the “conjunction,” which is zero degrees and is considered the strongest blend of two energies; the “opposition,” which is 180 degrees and considered a very challenging aspect; the “square,” which is 90 degrees and largely represents conflicting energies; and the “trine,” which is 120 degrees and considered to be an easy and beneficial connection. Q: Do planetary aspects affect all signs in the same way? A: When it comes to astrology, nothing affects any two individual people in the exact same way. The planetary aspects have different effects in general, and as we apply these to peoples’ Sun Signs, the aspects affect each sign differently. For example, in the Sun square Mars aspect, Mars is the planet of drive and determination, and the square aspect denotes difficulty in this area, so in general, people with this aspect in their chart may have problems with others getting in their way, so the lesson in their life may be to face challenges head-on and be willing to jump hurdles to get what they want. So, does this aspect affect a naturally headstrong Aries differently than a more introverted, sensitive Cancer? Absolutely! We can see a lot less frustration ahead for the Ram than for the Crab, as overcoming obstacles comes much more naturally to an Aries than it does a Cancer. Q: Sometimes my horoscopes don’t come true. Why? A: Horoscopes are great tools to use as general guidelines for living, not predictions to be followed to a T! In order to write the most detailed and in-depth horoscope possible, an astrologer needs to have a person’s birth date, time, and location. Because it isn’t possible to have all of that information for every person, most horoscopes are written with a more general audience in mind. Most daily horoscopes are written by using Sun Signs based on the position and effect of the Moon. The Moon changes signs every two to three days, which in turn affects our moods and emotions, so daily horoscopes are written based on where the Moon is, and how that will generally affect each Sun Sign on that day. Monthly horoscopes can add Sun Signs crossed-referenced with planets that change every month or the course of several months, namely Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Sun. Yearly horoscopes include slower moving planets such as Saturn and Jupiter, and longer-term horoscopes are based on the movements of Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus, which can take many years to move through one sign. Q: How can I use my horoscopes in my life? A: When you have a decision to make, do you only listen to one person, or consult one source? Probably not. By reading your horoscope, whether it’s daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly, you can get a glimpse into what your world will be like from a planetary perspective, and you can use this information as a tool to help guide and motivate you. Horoscopes can help you open up your mind to new possibilities, as well as options that you may not have considered, and as long as you approach reading your horoscope with an open mind, you can let the planets be your guide to all that is possible. www.horoscope.com *************************************************** YOUR VOICE: Do you believe in horoscopes? Ronald Athanase, sales person Ronald Athanase I would believe in them if what they indicated was applicable in my life, but it’s not. Most times, what they imply is so far from the truth concerning my life that I see them as any other fictional material I read. James Kabera, employee ASL James Kabera Definitely not, horoscopes are far away from reality. But still, they are good for leisure. They’re worth reading, though I don’t believe in them. The reason I don’t believe in them is because since I started reading them, I have not seen any similarity with the facts in my life. Patience Isaro, student Patience Isaro Yes, I believe in horoscopes and since I started reading them, I have seen a great connection with the happenings in my life. Horoscopes are not only exciting to read, but they also build positive feelings about one’s self, those around you and hopes for the future. Linda Black, student Linda Black Horoscopes are inspiring, fun to read and they boost one’s self-esteem, and that’s the main reason I believe in them. It might not be spot-on every time, but most of the time, it’s true. Horoscopes, at some point, can give you the inspiration you need to keep moving in life. Compiled by Dennis Agaba
