With a horoscope in the morning and a prayer in the evening, Ukrainians are an odd mix when it comes to believing in things supernatural.
You’d be surprised how many of them actually consume astrological forecasts together with their coffee – instead of news – in the morning.
As the Chinese around the world prepare for the Lunar New Year, which starts on Feb. 3, many Ukrainians have already stocked up on its symbol – the rabbit.
From simple desk calendars to toy bunnies, business has been going well for astrological entrepreneurs. Glossy magazines give generous chunks of space to the 2011 listings of ups and downs as told by the stars. The trend is so ubiquitous – you can read your forecast on flat screens in the metro. Many Christian Orthodox believers partake in the custom, hardly questioning the clash. Some argue that this cultural trait actually helps to explain why Ukrainians lack initiative and are often complacent with the political order.
However, for Olena Afanasenkova, the chief designer at the small toy factory Anna, Ukrainian addiction to astrology means business. “For half a year we barely make ends meet. But in winter, we catch up thanks to all the [astrology-related] toys,” said Afanasenkova. From October to December, orders tripled, she said, while rabbits made up 70 percent of all toys produced at the factory based in the Kyiv suburbs.
We had a professional astrologist, but he often failed to submit his work on time. We didn’t want to look for anyone new, so I had to use my imagination”
– A journalist from a major Ukrainian daily, used to write a horoscope page.
Purchasing images or toys is one way to warm up to a rabbit. But if you are really serious, astrologists can draft a life plan for the year ahead. Chemical engineer-turned-astrologist Pavlo Mikhlin from Kyiv said he charges $50 per hour of forecasting depending on how complex your request is. For an individual horoscope, prices start from $100. Ukrainians are most curious “about career first, followed by personal life, business partners, and real estate,” said Mikhlin who’s been in business for over a decade.
For a daily free portion of unearthly matters, it’s enough to go online or pick up a newspaper. But professional star-readers, in the words of Mikhlin, think that those blurbs spoil “the respectable science of astrology.” And they have a reason to believe so.
A journalist from a major Ukrainian daily, who asked to remain anonymous in fear of losing his job, said he used to write a horoscope page by himself. “We had a professional astrologist, but he often failed to submit his work on time. We didn’t want to look for anyone new, so I had to use my imagination,” he explained. The impersonator said that the easiest way to write them was by asking his colleagues what they wanted in the future. “Some asked for more love, while others needed money. My horoscopes did not always come true, but nobody complained,” he said laughing.
A worker makes toy rabbits on the factory Anna in Kyiv’s suburbs. (Joseph Sywenkyj)
From paganism to Christianity with a flavor of communism in between, Ukrainians find it hard to let go of the supernatural. “They tend to believe that there are many things beyond their control so they look for clues to avoid danger in any way they can. It is mostly a self-fulfilling prophesy, though,” said psychologist Nataliya Lysenko, admitting that she also believes in horoscopes to an extent.
This blind addiction was explored by 1948 by an American psychologist Bertram Forer. He conducted a study, during which he first asked his students to fill out personality tests but then handed out identical results to them saying they were individually tailored. Students reported that his evaluations were 85 percent correct on average. Forer’s statements, however, were mishmash collected from various horoscopes featuring statements like: “At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision,” or “Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.” The phenomenon was named a Forer effect and is now used as an explanation why we are more vulnerable to suggestions when the subject matter is us.
They [Ukrainians] tend to believe that there are many things beyond their control so they look for clues to avoid danger in any way they can.”
– Nataliya Lysenko, psychologist.
Another scientific attack on astrology occurred in January when reputable American astronomer Parke Kunkle said that the zodiac signs have long changed due to the Earth’s wobbly orbit. The sun and the earth are constantly moving, so the stars, which determine one’s sign, are no longer where they were 3,000 years ago. In addition, the Earth moves through 13 constellations, not 12, so there should be an additional sign added, Ophiuchus, which falls on Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, shifting all the zodiac dates.
But this is old news. Ancient astrologists are believed to have talked about this since 500 B.C. but no one changed the zodiac signs. Ukrainian astrologist Mikhlin, however, strongly opposes this theory together with other star-readers. “There is a fundamental base to any science and astrology is not an exception,” he said.
Talking about Ukraine’s fate for 2011, Mikhlin advised to lower expectations. “Both politics and the economy will be getting worse. But you don’t need to be an astrologist to see this,” he concurred.
Kyiv Post staff writer Nataliya Horban can be reached at [email protected]
Читайте статью на русском языке.
