Consumer Warning

[degringolade]

 
A pod I found this morning

 

---

 

Apophenia, or the tendency to make patterns out of unconnected things, originating in the fear of a random and disorderly universe.

Despite much hand waving by everyone on this side of the hippie/science divide (which I am trying to straddle), I think that when you approach divination you have to be very careful that you aren’t displaying symptoms.

Comments

Apophenia

[(Anonymous)]

Question, seriously, is this the same as looking at clouds and seeing pictures? Or looking at trees and seeing faces in the bark?
valeris

[claire_58]

Unfortunately neither "Everything is connected" nor "The universe is random and disorderly" are true hypotheses since neither can be tested in any meaningful way.

One wouldn't think it possible to believe two conflicting things at the same time, but a surprising number of people manage it with ease.

Re: Apophenia

[degringolade]

I suppose that I am pointing out that any attempt at divination is a search for patterns. The hard part is keeping the patterns in mind and reminding yourself constantly that the map is not the territory.

I worry about folks who practice divination and don't routinely go back and grade their work. They seem to have decided that the pattern that comes from their methods of divination are the true world.

I am working toward setting out an experimental system for tarot built roughly on the lines of Mundane Astrology. I want to have it done and documented by the time the summer solstice comes along, but the real test will be at the autumnal equinox when I compare my divination to how the real world plays out.

I am worried you might have to believe two things at once.

[degringolade]

Case in point. Is light a particle or a wave? The slit experiment is a good way to question.

A lot of the time people believe two things at once because both explain part of what they see.

I know that I am guilty and it annoys me to no end.