Editorial

When the local paper carried a new advertisement, for 'Esoteric Astrology,' I had to reply to the number given. 'Esoteric,' of course, means 'intelligible only to the initiated' and the account given by its exponent laid her open to prosecution under the trades description act since it was clear that she, at least, had no idea what she was talking about. She said that her kind of astrology made no attempt to foretell the future, but that she used the predictions obtained to counsel people who were worried and perplexed. When I asked her what was the connection between the movement of the planets and the personal problems of people in New Plymouth, she replied in the pitying tones of a teacher talking to a backward five year old, "Well, you know that the moon is responsible for the tides." The following dialogue then ensued.

She: Of course you don't want astrology to be true.

Me: On the contrary, I should be delighted if it did work,

She: Why do you want it to work?

Me: I could use the predictions to make a lot of money.

She: Astrological predictions do not work for personal gain.

Me: I do not want the money for myself, but to give to a local healing centre, which badly needs the money to continue its healing work.

She: It can't be any good. If it was doing good work, it would not be short of money.

That, of course, silenced me and after I had found that she charged $20 (+ $2 GST) for a one hour session and that usually several meetings were necessary and that she also sold crystals (she had a selection available and picked the one suitable to her clients needs, quartz crystals cost $5) we concluded our talk. It was quite clear to me that she was utterly sincere, she was convinced that she had special powers to help people in distress and that she was doing first class work. It was also clear that she was not open to any form of rational criticism or comment. She was, as the advertisements say, 'Untouchable.'

I bring this case to your notice to emphasize that belief in the occult is on the increase and that every forward step that we make is against a double step back of the ground of contemporary belief. I therefore begin the year with a request for more material from members, in particular personal experiences of dealing with the purveyors of unreason. To me, the most interesting part of the Skeptic business is the thought processes of the believers in the paranormal and so I ask for more of your experiences. It is the usual practice for editors not to contribute to their papers, except editorials. (Although I understand that Bernard Shaw wrote the most of his paper, under a series of aliases.) I have included a contribution of mine because there is nothing better about. So, I conclude with my usual plea, help stamp out editorials! cut out articles by the editor! send in your material.