Our readers feel that though it is fun to read the daily horoscopes in newspapers, we should not believe what is written in the stars blindly. We should apply our own effort to reap the fruits of success

I’ve seen many of my friends and colleagues interested in horoscope. They are like, “Let me see my horoscope and how my day will go.” But I don’t belong to that group. I make my plans according to my wish, and definitely my day will go as how I have planned and how I manage it.

When it comes to horoscope and luck, I always remember a Chinese story of an old farmer that I heard in childhood. The story says there is no such thing as luck, it’s you who make things — it is very inspiring. I strongly believe that if we are stuck in horoscope and luck, we will never progress. Every person has his/her own stories and they finally succeed after overcoming a lot of barriers and hindrances. So I think we have to work hard, believe in ourselves and make our own destinies.

— Lalita Dulal, Maitidevi, Kathmandu

• I believe in myself rather than some horoscope stuff. What I believe in is today. Horoscope is used to predict your day, simply your future. What are you going to do if you knew that you’re going to die tomorrow? Knowing the future doesn’t change us from what we are. We will remain the same.

Why don’t you try experimenting on yourself? Don’t look at that horoscope. Start your day believing that it will be good, better than before, and I bet it will be so. Horoscope is only a way to sow your mind with some thoughts, you are the one who gives water and care, flourish the thought, whether good or bad. It all happens in your sub-conscious mind.

Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor, once said: “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.”

Living in the NOW requires not only letting go of the past, but also a stop worrying about things we cannot change. Do not let anybody decide what to do in your life. The choices are yours.Believe in yourself, then you will find happiness.

— Rust

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• Well, that depends — in my case if something much awaited is to take place, I go for the horoscopes. This happened when I was selected for further processing of the DV lottery. I was excited about my luck to get into USA. I used to look at the horoscopes in the newspapers every day. I also bought a book that predicted the whole year. Unfortunately I was not selected for further processing of my DV and my dream of going to my Land of Dreams shattered. Nowadays I have no interest in horoscopes since I have nothing so exciting to wait for. I see no point in going after the daily horoscope as daily chores don’t deserve that much attention. It is foolish and a waste of time to stick to horoscopes superstitiously. I believe it is us who have to make the path to our destiny. But at times if horoscope helps us to relax and build patience and give hope, I don’t hesitate to consult the stars. It is not hogwash because it comes as a respite in turbulent times.

— Shyam Uprety

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• Well, horoscopes are hogwash for me, but if I have to be honest, I prefer to go through them. Why? Because the horoscope gives me positive energy for the whole day. The day gets better for me and though I know it’s not entirely because of stars, it’s just that when you hear or see something good written about yourself, that thing immediately strikes you and for the whole day you feel good. You believe that you have enough stars today, so things should go right.

I don’t really check horoscopes on a daily basis but when I find a newspaper lying by my side, the first thing I would do is check the horoscope column.  It’s so much fun to read and that fun gets doubled when you have friends with you. All of them go through the stars, even comparing each other stars and feeling proud at getting more stars than your friends’.

However, it’s also stupid to believe that horoscopes are for real. People often refer to horoscopes to get a job, have children, naming, getting married. It is so unrealistic, yet traditional. We are being used as scapegoats by old people.

Also I find it so generalised that it could relate to anyone. I remember that every Tuesday I would get one sentence on my love thing: “You get success in love”. I am single till now. I am around 25, yet still single! Where the heck is my success in love?

Things happen based on the choices we make, and the effort we put in. So horoscopes shouldn’t be taken seriously.

— Hawrry Bhattarai, Koteshwore, Kathmandu

I do not trust and/or believe in horoscope, whether western or eastern. It is one thing to read horoscope regularly as a fun habit, but to trust them seriously and make important life choices/decisions based on them is a disaster of its own. Dependence on horoscope is like depending on uncertainty for valuable and important life decisions and being childish as per predictions that have little or no value at all. Horoscope is another form of consumer fetishism and a widely accepted historical and cultural superstition around the planet that has a huge market exploiting the uncertainties, emptiness and confidence in ourselves and our actions.

— Saikat Kumar Basu

I do not believe in horoscopes. I have many friends who believe in it though. Some of them turn the pages of newspaper just to see what has been written about their zodiac sign. If there is something good about them, then they cheer up, while some get dissatisfied if otherwise. I think that it is a stupid thing to do.

I think we should be focused on what we been dreaming day in and day out — this is the main point which can lead us to success. Relying on horoscope is just blind faith. Horoscope doesn’t work unless you do something for yourself. So it would be better to listen to your heart rather than relying on horoscope.

— David Ray

Horoscope in newspaper is of no use to me although I have the habit of reading it while reading other news. I have no objection to those who love going through it because it’s their choice about what they want to do. For me, it is useless because they don’t turn out to be true at any point of our life, no matter what. Effort is what I believe in which can help us reach our goals and make our dreams come true. And luck comes to those who put in effort.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwore

I rarely miss the horoscopes column when I read newspapers though I don’t follow what’s written in the stars. But to some extent, I believe in African astrology. Knowing at the end of the day that my horoscope has best unravelled my mood of a particular day gives me joy and some reason to smile. I trust my instincts and do accordingly. But believing in horoscopes blindly is illogical and something of a hogwash.

— Sanjog Karki, Tansen-6, Basantapur, Palpa

Life is practical which blooms like a flower if we put in our effort and understand its importance. I am the one who believes in making life better, therefore I follow the horoscope with a pinch of salt. I go through the horoscopes daily and get some knowledge and tips as it can be fruitful. What’s written about my future can be the guideline for me to sustain my life.

— Kamal Mani Aryal, Pokhara

I think reading horoscope is all hogwash. Most of us read daily horoscope in the newspaper early in the morning. If something good is written about our day, we think that our day will be good and this is how our day is going to be like. But if our horoscope predicts a bad day, we will think that our day will be bad and this is exactly what will happen. This means our day will turn out to be as we think it to be. If something happens as per our horoscope, then I say it is just a coincidence. So, reading horoscope and planning our schedule according to it is like wasting our valuable time. I think it is just for having some fun. There are millions of people in the world and a horoscope might not match individually. It only provides probability or aggregate outcomes and not individual outcomes. So, believe in yourself and just schedule your day as you like and enjoy your valuable life.

— Nisha Ranabhat, Bhaktapur

When I was studying in Class VI, I used to buy a newspaper just to read the horoscope. Then I would take it to school in my backpack and read out my friends’ horoscopes to them during recess. Students used to gather in libraries, huddled up together in cold, reading out horoscopes while their teeth chattered. Six years later, I still do it whenever I come across a newspaper, may be due to my previous habit. And when my actions cannot explain some things — like when I end up being just too blunt and insensitive around people — I read my horoscope trait and put the blame on it.

I’ve developed a better idea of a newspaper as time has passed. Working in a newspaper, I’ve come to realise that a newspaper isn’t a simple compilation of fun data to meet my adolescence needs and that the inevitable occurs anyway. I’ve leant that nothing can be changed and trying to change scenarios isn’t helpful at all. Yes, we’re all defined by the alignment of stars, but relying upon astrology when a quarter billion people in the world share the same sign is utter madness.

— Shradda

For me, horoscopes have never been one of the favourite parts of a newspaper. Some years ago I used to look at the daily stars, but I never planned my day according to what was written in it. I am the kind of person who makes my own destiny. A simple combination of words can’t decide my future. I have the courage to make my day better than what’s written in it. So, for me horoscopes are just all hogwash.

— Sachita Shrestha, Jadibuti, Kathmandu

When most people go through newspapers, they unfailingly look up the horoscope section. It is always interesting to look at the prediction and start your day on it.

Earlier, I used to read my horoscope early in the morning and guess how the day might end. Sometimes it made me laugh to death when the prediction was nowhere near the truth or was just the opposite. However, when something good or bad happens, we never forget to mention that it was written in the horoscope and that we had read it. It is fascinating — we can never totally give up. But, depending on the horoscope, to start a day’s work is something one shouldn’t do.  How can 12 divisions of zodiac’s prediction match millions of peoples’ fate?

It has been ages since I stopped reading it. But having said that when, you are expecting something, or have free time at hand and the newspaper is lying next to you, then you are lured to it.

— Sushil Bogati, Lubhoo, Lalitpur

Astrology is hogwash because there isn’t a tiniest modicum of science to support it. Personally, I have never paid heed to what the cosmos supposedly says about how I should conduct myself or take decisions in my life. I lead my life plainly in the light of reason and intelligent observation, not in the darkness of ignorance and superstition — and so far, my rational philosophy has guided me remarkably well.

— Rishav Koirala, Nayabazar-16, Kathmandu

“Work hard, you will succeed at last”. I have seen many people believing in horoscopes. They even make plan according to the forecast of the stars. There are a majority of people, who are lazy and inactive in action and responsibility, but believe blindly in fate or luck, and follow the horoscopes in papers or magazines. On the other hand, those who are active and sincere in their work with an objective, they succeed. I do not believe in

horoscopes. I only believe in hard work for the betterment of everything. If I work hard, I will succeed.

— Dr Ganga Raj Aryal, Panini-8, Pali, Arghakhanchi

When I was a child,  I always used to look up the horoscope.  When good fortune was mentioned with five stars, I used to be happy as if it had made my day. But nowadays, I do not believe in horoscope blindly. I believe it is the hard work, willingness and dedication that will determine our success, not fortune.

— Subhamitta

Astronomy, to some extent, is not an erroneous belief. It consists of a number of conviction systems that clutch that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events or descriptions of personality in the human world. The majority of professional astrologers rely on performing astrology-based personality tests and they are heard making relevant predictions about the remunerator’s future.

Those who continue to have faith in astrology have been characterised as doing so in spite of the fact that there is no verified scientific basis for their beliefs, and indeed there is strong evidence to the contrary. Therefore, many people especially the youth and teenagers who don’t have much maturity, plan their days according to the stars or what has been suggested in the portion of the read. Instead of believing in horoscopes, I suggest them to believe in their hard work and not to be mindful of unpredictable things.

To believe in horoscope and plan something accordingly has been in fashion in urban areas. Those who don’t know the explanation of the horoscopes written in English language, they just count the stars and feel happy if they get odd star number. They don’t have the basic idea about the Zodiacs but they blindly plan things according to their own interpretation of the horoscopes. This is a wrong belief because I think we have to cultivate our mind and psyche instead of destinies/futures. No one can see in advance what will take place in the future, but if you do some fruitful work at present, that will definitely bear some good fruits.

— TN Bhandari, Budhanilkantha-10, Kapan

Personally I do not follow horoscopes blindly because I believe that horoscope is just a general forecast by an astrologer. Also in different countries, depending on the religion we follow, horoscope forecasts also differ. For instance, we Nepalis have two horoscopes — one in Nepali based on the time of our birth, and one in English based on our birth month and date.

In my opinion, every person is an architect of his/her own fate. In order to achieve something in life, one has to work hard and smart. It is often said that 70 per cent of hard work and 30 per cent of luck works in life, so one has to build their own destiny rather than depending on horoscopes or the stars and being superstitious in life.

There is a saying in Spanish: Que sera sera which means what is to be is to be, and life is pre-destined, so humans we should always concentrate in seeing life positively.

— Tejaswi Pahari, Jawalakhel

As a child have you looked at the sky and made animal figures out of a cloud? It is the same as trying to base your day on what is written in the horoscope. Horoscope in media is rather generic and often vague, and cannot possibly account for all persons in 12 groups. A person having a bad day may relate to horoscope and deduce what is relevant to him/her, and another person having a good day may relate to the same horoscope differently. There may be some truth to it but one has to personally consult an astrologer rather than rely on a newspaper or a website.

— Rajendra Man Singh

I don’t believe in horoscopes but still my eyes go to the horoscopes in newspapers. I also quickly read horoscopes on my cellphone. In the past I used to believe in horoscopes. But as I grew up, I found nothing that matches my daily routine. So I don’t think horoscopes are real.

— Deepa Kharel

I do not believe in horoscope blindly nor do I take it as guff.  Most of us usually consider that toiling is the only way to success. What I believe is that we receive what our fate gives, and we just need to add the flavour of labour to it. If we are directed well, there is less chance of derailing, and vice versa. So, horoscope works as a guideline for me for daily duties. I mostly go on in accordance to the horoscope.

— Kailash Sapkota, Lokanthali, Bhaktapur

Like most readers, I have my eyes on the horoscopes when I read the newspaper every morning. We know the horoscope does not make our day good or bad. Destiny and future should be created by our own self with good deeds and careful planning. It doesn’t mean that horoscope is totally hogwash. Everything should be treated from a positive perspective.

Personally, I have also some faith in horoscope and the stars. I think it gives us suggestions, directly or indirectly, to be cautious and positive in our days and tasks.

— Tribikram Ghimire, Chitwan

In urban areas, people go through the page of horoscope every day showing there is a certain fondness for horoscopes in media. It comes at the top for many. People plan for their activities according to what the stars have said.

But there is also a group of people who do not have any affection for it. I fall under this group. I feel that if I am working from the morning to night for my hand-to-mouth existence, why should I run behind horoscope? The maximum number of stars with my daily horoscope cannot change my destiny. I am the creator of my destiny, not the stars in newspapers/magazines.

— Shankar Paudel, Biratnagar

I follow what’s written in the stars with a pinch of salt. I usually prefer horoscope after the day is done, and in case it is right, then I accept it, otherwise no.

More than the horoscope the only the thing I really follow and truly believe in is the relation between think-feel-act. If you think bad, you’ll feel bad and act bad. Again if you feel bad, you’ll act wrong and have a false perception and circle. One must be change towards good, but we have to be first confident about whether we are right or wrong.

— Suzie, Nagarkot

I find it interesting to read my horoscope but I don’t blindly believe it, nor do I disbelieve.

I read it carefully and analyse in my own way. If I find something positive, I force myself to believe it, and if I find something negative, than I suggest myself to ignore that. And in any case I don’t think we have to do as it says. Although the horoscope is the same, each person has different perspectives.

— Ashmita Joshi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Roping in celebrities as ambassadors for various social and environmental campaigns has become a trend with the belief that their involvement in the cause will make an impact or bring about a marked difference to the work that is being done. Do you think involving celebrities in the various causes as goodwill ambassadors makes difference to the respective campaigns? Or is this just a marketing strategy? Why? Give reasons.

­Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, July 14, 2:00 pm to Features, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.com