Author Archive | Mark Flaherty

How Does Astrology Work?

By on August 7, 2012 in News 34
Astrology Chart

Astrology Chart for London, 6th August 2012

This is a newspaper horoscope today for Scorpio:

“Venus enters your zone of adventure and breaking new ground. If you are single, the first time you visit a new club or bar love will appear.”

So , according to Mystic Meg, one in twelve of the available population who find themselves in a bar today will meet a new partner. We all know this is complete garbage. And therefore astrology must be a load of old superstitious nonsense, with those who believe in it seriously deluded and out of touch with the real world, right?

This, however, is not astrology. In truth, newspaper horoscopes are nothing more than a bit of light entertainment containing generalized astrological information which has little or no practical use. Newspaper horoscopes are based solely on the sign that the Sun was in when you were born and so apply to 1/12 of the populace.… Read the rest

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How Ayahuasca Saved More Than My Skin

By on July 31, 2012 in News 8

“The face looking back at me in the mirror is a snarl of bloody, cracked skin, oozing a foul-smelling yellow liquid that trickles unchecked down its cheeks. The eyes are lifeless and defeated after months of agony. All features are frozen in place by the knowledge that the slightest twitch of the mouth or arch of an eyebrow is enough to split the skin open once more.

I consider the daunting tasks ahead of me: putting on clothes, walking downstairs, eating breakfast and returning to my room for another session of mindless daytime TV. I sigh and look down at the floor, littered with layers of dead skin. No matter how much I vacuum it’s impossible to keep it clean.

As I do every morning, I inspect my body, hoping to find any evidence that this torture will end. My neck and chest are as diseased as my face. My arms and hands, also throbbing and bruised-purple like my face, are getting worse.

… Read the rest

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