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Anth 206: Anthropology of the Supernatural - Divination and Astrology Notes

Anthropology of the Supernatural

  • Course focused on magical and supernatural beliefs including witches, zombies, and vampires.
  • Explore the principles of divination and astrology in depth.

Assessment Options for Final Essay

  • Option 1: Supernatural Belief or Practice

    • Research a specific story, belief, or practice in a cultural context.
    • Compare with folklore traditions and incorporate anthropological or folkloristic theories.
    • Sources: auto-ethnography (personal experiences) or digital ethnography (online sources).
  • Option 2: Literary Interpretation of the Supernatural

    • Choose a literary work depicting supernatural themes (film, novel, etc.).
    • Analyze how folklore influences the representation and the impact of transformation into popular culture.
  • Option 3: Object-Based Analysis

    • Visit UBC’s Museum of Anthropology to select a related object.
    • Contextualize the object and its significance within its original culture and its presentation in a museum setting.
  • Option 4: Systems of Magic

    • Focus on a studied system of magic (Kabbalah, Tarot, etc.).
    • Discuss historical roots, relation to Western Magic, and its operational principles.

Researching Your Topic

  • Requirement: 3-4 peer-reviewed academic sources, excluding course texts.
  • Proposal submission window: March 20 - March 28.
  • Final essay due: April 14, after exams.
  • Importance of time management emphasized.

Anthropological Philosophies

  • Phenomenology: Experience-focused understanding of human life.
  • Hermeneutics: Interpretation theories, culture as text.
  • Semiotics: The study of signs and symbols as communication.

Historical Semiotics

  • Saussurean Semiotics: Focus on signifier and signified; influential in structuralism.
  • Piercean Semiotics: Three-part sign model (object, sign, interpretant); important for semiotic anthropology.

Symbolization and Types of Signs

  • Types of Relationships:
    • Index: Direct physical relation.
    • Icon: Resembles or relates in quality.
    • Symbol: Cultural convention-based relation.
  • Combination of sign types is possible.

Divination Principles

  • Principles governing divination:
    • Interconnected universe; symbols representing forces.
    • Diviner interprets rather than causes the future.

Components of Divination Systems

  • 4 Components:
    • Symbol system, structure, randomization system, intent.

Types of Divination

  • By Sorts or Lots:
    • I Ching, Tarot, Runes.
  • Natural Phenomena Interpretation:
    • Astrology, Augury.
  • Mathematics-Based:
    • Numerology, Gematria.

Spiritual Divination

  • Internal feelings and insights: Oracles and clairvoyance techniques.

Intersubjective Nature of Divination

  • Exchange between diviner and querent; narrative construction based on symbols.

Risks of Divination

  • Manipulation by dishonest diviners.
  • Signs to watch for: Charging for divination and creating dependency.

Effective Questioning in Divination

  • Advise on question types: focusing on feelings and personal exploration rather than exact outcomes.

Questions to Avoid in Divination

  • Avoid complex political, relationship, and death-related inquiries.

Astronomy vs. Astrology

  • Astronomy: Hard science observing celestial mechanics.
  • Astrology: Symbolic interpretations of celestial influences on human affairs; historically intertwined until the 17th century.

Origins of Western Astrology

  • Originates from Mesopotamian systems, influenced by Hellenistic and Egyptian astrology, significantly shaped by historical conquests.

Impactful Components of Astrology

  • 12 Zodiac Signs forming Galliean and planetary associations.

  • Planetary Associations:

    • Seven recognized planets: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
    • Additional planets discovered post-17th century (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto).

Planetary Symbolism in Astrology

  • Astrology’s cultural hypotheses:
    • Explore how planets impact life and personal experiences in relation to astrology.

Divine Causality in Divination

  • Four types of causality discussed:
    • Efficient, material, formal, and final causes.

Conclusion

  • The complexity of the interrelationship between cultural beliefs and practices surrounding the supernatural, particularly through the lenses of divination and astrology, provides profound insights into human understanding of the universe.