Living With Manufacturing Defects
58The concept of free will is a myth propagated by those who
haven’t heard of invidious things like astrology and numerology and birth order
and star-crossed planets. You think you have control over your life? That you
make choices after rational thought and carefully weighing the consequences of
your actions? You couldn’t be more wrong!
There are stronger forces at play apparently, and all the affirmative
thoughts you can muster won’t help if your birth order has determined that you
are a wimp! How does one get through life with manufacturing defects that range
from what time of day you were born, to which planet was cruising which part of
the universe at the time? The date makes as much of a difference as the month;
as for the year, you could be a goner if it totals to some inauspicious digit.
If you’re traipsing through life under the delusion that
things are going the way you want them to, it’s time to wake up. You aren’t
willing anything to happen that hasn’t been decided already by some crafty
placement of the stars, or because your name has five letters instead of four. In
India
most of us are exposed to this fatalistic dependence on the stars as soon as we
are born. Almost as soon as a baby makes a noisy appearance, a birth chart is
drawn up by the family astrologer or the computer equivalent these days. Babies
aren’t even named till the chart indicates a propitious first letter for the
name!
Smart parents today take numbers into account before bestowing
on their child a name that may or not bring him luck in later years depending
on how often it is misspelled. Back in our time parents weren’t so in tune with
things and they saddled us with names that they thought sounded nice or meant
something edifying, bless them. By the time we realised that the jumble of
letters added up to a number that bode no good, it was too late. Everything
from the birth certificate to the university degree and failed scholarship
application had that name on it. Darn it!
Years ago I interviewed India’s favourite astrologer for a
magazine, and before I set out to meet him I promised myself I wouldn’t slip in
any questions about my own uncertain future. Not because I wasn’t dying to
know, but because I was vaguely aware that it wasn’t good form or something. So
there we were, getting along swimmingly. He was waxing eloquent on the state of
the country and I was listening wide eyed, mesmerised as much by his animated
multi-chinned face as by his dire predictions, when suddenly he stopped. “What is
your birth date,” he demanded, and good form or not, I blurted it out.
“Number four,” he exclaimed, shaking his head sadly and
making some ominous tut-tutting sounds. “Full date,” he asked next and when he
did the calculations, his face fell comically. “Eight!” I was beginning to get
alarmed, not least because time was running out and I still had a host of
questions to ask. That was the end of my official interview however. For
the remainder of the scheduled time he clucked sympathetically while he assured
me that four and eight were the worst possible combination anyone could ever
hope to live with. I might have burst into tears had he not hastily added, just
before sweeping off to meet another star-struck journalist, “Only special
people choose to live out their karma this way.”
Yeah, right! All these years I had been labouring under the
misconception that it was my efforts that were getting me through life, and all
the hiccups were par for the course. Turns out the four and eight were
responsible for all the hitches! I could have popped out into the world on the
third of the month but there’s no free will anywhere, leave alone back in the
womb. And if the great man were to be believed, I had a staggering pile of
karma to live through. Had I even made a dent in it so far? The mind boggled.
Fortunately for me my natural placidity kicked in pretty soon
after I heard the devastating news. I could have turned into a gibbering wreck
thinking of the hard times in store for me. Instead, I shrugged fatalistically
and decided to get on with life, making a mental note to blame everything on
manufacturing defects. Not my fault, you see. It’s the wretched four and eight
combo.
Unfortunately, not only are these convenient manufacturing
defects plentiful, they are completely contradictory too. While my zodiac sign
indicates that I’m a lively, social being, my birth number warns that I’m
incapable of making more than a few friends. The stars point to one thing, the
numbers proclaim something completely different. What’s a confused soul to do?
Not much. But you can foil the attempts of the planets to get your life horribly off track by rearranging the furniture in your home or wearing pink the rest of your days. Apparently the way to outwit the compounded effects of all the manufacturing defects is to change the way you spell your name, or change your name altogether. I wonder if Feline Prophet adds up to eight?
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Comments
Haha ... Thanks FP. Now I know from where all my problems originate!! And that it is not my fault.
But wait, my birth date is 7 .... is 7 better or worse than 4? Wonder what the whole birth date would add up to?
Never mind the 4 and 8 - you do sail through life with a smile - are you sure, absolutely sure that he didn't tell you it was disastrous not for you but for anyone who got in your way? :D
I once was having a problem with a program director at a radio station, we just could not get along. So one day I had it figured out and went into his office and said, "I know what is wrong". He looked and me and said "what?" I said, " it's all in the stars, astrology", he looked at me like I was crazy . I said sure, " the problem is, my Pluto is aligned with Uranus."
FP, I'm sorry to laugh, but this is very funny stuff. LOL It was, is a great hub and explains so much. That explains all my mistakes and foilbes to me. They were ordained by my name, and birthdate numbers. How old are you? 48 come yet? if not look out.
Dan, yer bad. LOL Thanks for a good read FP
No, Feline Prophet does not add up to eight, but does add up to four (13, 1+3=4) :-P
Eight? Yikes!
Oh FP!!!!!.....You ROCK!:-)....That was absolutely hilarious!!!!.....and if your number predicts that you will only have small quota of friends, I hope I make it to that pool!!:-)
Hail the numbers 4 and 8!!! I know they are Powerful.....:-)
You made my day!.......
LOL FP. I know that the combo of 4 and 8 makes you a hilarious writer who can take a poke at life. I remember meeting a famous astrologer a few years ago and he told me that I had two children. When I said, I had just one and she was 19, he insisted that the stars and my palm said I would have 2 children. Since I am inching close to 50 now...I shudder at the very thought of his stars coming true. ;)
Laugh all ye wicked folk at my fate! :P
Ritu, I think I'm a mix...usually I don't react but sometimes I'm moved out of my complacency to break extablished norms!
Jaspal, 7 is one of the good numbers...relax!
Shal, you have a point - maybe I did misunderstand him. I mean would such a sad soul be dancing on tables? :P
TheSandman, remember to always blame it on the planets, and why stop at Pluto...they're still discovering new ones! :)
CC, you were meant to laugh! :P And I haven't reached 48 yet - wonder what else is in store - watch this space for when that happens!
Ravin! Did you have to do the math?!!!
quicksand, tell me quickly...what do you know about the number eight?
Rashmi, you know what I'm talking about, right? :P
Di, don't shudder...blame it on the manufacturing defects, remember? :P
Well I am not sure about any of this..but years ago my daughter went to a reader (of some kind) and she told my daughter she would be wealthy and have 3 boys and meet a foreigner that would become her husband...It all has come about...I believe in a lot of this myself...G-Ma :O) Hugs
In playing the game of life we may get a hand over which we have no immeddiate control, but we certainly choose how we play it! Great hub as always FPR.. keep it rolling!! :)
G-Ma, while I jest, it can't be denied that a huge number of people don't take a step forward till they've consulted their astrologer or numerologist or tarot card reader or whoever. It's a matter of belief. Great to see you here as always! :)
Uma, you can choose if you like but if you've got a four or eight lurking somewhere it's a hopeless case! :P Thanks for reading!
i dont know what i addup too i just know i don't count for much.i hope i am still reading ur hubs on the 4th august of the year you turn 48
I hope I'm still writing them! :P
lol - this is awesome. I think I have it worse because I was named after a horse. Right before I was born, my dad had some good gains in the racetrack, so poof - horse name! But at least I *know* who to blame for all my life problems. :)
Competing systems...numerology vs astrology. Then, there's religion. Then there's family tradition and the attending superstitions based on cultural beliefs. However, there's also the big soup, the web (not the WWW, but the spider's web), the thing that we are all a part of the magic of, the magic that we can't fathom.
Beyond all that, there are those who have insight, no matter their system. I put my money on those with insight.
Another wonderful one from you, FP. Especially since you got me with the manufacturing defects. Who ever thought that might be me????
Glad to see at this point that the AdSense ads are about numerology. When I read your Hub two days ago, they were all about baby diapers! LOL.
shibashake, you're in good company - the first half of my real name also means horse! :P What was I thinking changing it to cat? Hehe...
ST, while I'm joking about these systems here I know there are many who swear by them,and also that there are some genuine practitioners out there. The sad thing is how many people are taken in by fraudsters. And you must be one of the few people who notice the ads...baby diapers? You don't say! :P
Thanks for dropping by, both of you. :)
Clairvoyants have been known to make a few mistakes from time to time. A couple predicted on a talk show that Obama would not be elected, but I guess they were wrong lol. Fun hub to read by the way.
They were very wrong! :P Thanks for reading, SP.
I used to get spam messages from some psychic website offering a free reading, but you know there is always a catch. Not that I was going to take them up on their offer, but when I went to the site they noted you had to pay fifty dollars for their service. There was a small note at the bottom stating they did not do psychic readings regarding pregnancies, finances, and health conditions, and the reading were purely for entertainment value. That is some pretty expensive entertainment!
Not much left after excluding pregnancies finance and health! :P It's true though that there are a lot of scamsters out there trying to dupe gullible people.
Feline Prophet ...this is very interesting. Everything in my life that seems to go well for me including friends, family and I just can't begin to tell you the things has the number 4 in it.
When I read that you have the number 4 in you stats ...I was truly amazed although I have to say it does not surprise me.
My children would call me from college and say mom ...I am on the 4th floor and room 404 ..that was for addresses and phone numbers and I never picked them.
So I see why we connected so well. And I see why you have the Garfield now and it relates to my son. I know this sounds mixed up ..but very interesting.
And as far as you are concerned ...I think as I have said in my articles ..you can do anything you want ...all you have to do is go the extra mile. I believe you can do it. Also remember when something is put into your subconscious mind ..it can guide you and I believe you are taking what someone says and letting that guide you. Be stronger ...as I said ..go the extra mile.
My best to your success!
Now you've intrigued me gj! Do tell more about your son and Garfield! :)
And this hub was meant in a light hearted vein. I haven't really taken what the astrologer said to heart. While there may be some truth in what he says, I don't obsess about numbers or their significance in my life. Thanks for your comments, as always!
Feline Prophet...I once said that my son loved Garfield. When he went to college, we would send him cartoons in his money card. He related to Garfield. Then there is the number 4 ...it is in all of the things that I associate with.
I don't make it happen ..it just does. My friends and family all have birthdays with this number. My phone numbers ...my addresses and I could go on. I don't pick the numbers ...they just happen.
Now you come along and I have found you to be like a good friend here in HubPages. Someone that I can rely on to be here. I have tried to make relationships with others and it is hard to keep it going. Not sure why ...but with you it has been easy ...thanks for that! And you come up with the number 4 and Garfield.
And as for you obsessing ...I am glad ...Keep up the good work! My best to you!
Silly question gj, but does your birth date add up to four as well? People connect for odd reasons - I guess perhaps there is something in the numbers game too! Thanks again - I do look forward to hearing from you. :)
I knew there was something special about you, we are soul sisters. I am a 4 and an 8 also. I have known for a several years now. I love study numerology. I once picked an ex-boyfriends winning lottery ticket by doing his numerology chart (he won over 5000 dollars, and that was only a $1 ticket and first time he ever played) No, he did not share his winnings, hence the ex in front of boyfriend :-) Anyways just wanted to say if you are a 4 and an 8 let the fun begin! :-)
How interesting is that! I should take the numbers game more seriously I think! :)
Thanks for stopping by Whikat...but I guess it was inevitable! :P
No, it does not. I know that they say to ad the numbers ...but I am not sure how that can add up to 4 ...but there are fours in it. I seem to relate to that.
Taking only the title into consideration, I would say that "we" and stuff with manufacturer defects make a great pair, don't we? :)----------------:) (wide grin!)
Hehe quicksand, are you being brave just because there are no dogs in sight? :P
Hey Prophet Feline, how did you guess that I have woofophobia? !!!
LOL...yeah, I wonder how I guessed?!!
Maybe because you and I are pro feline and anti canine! Cannot be pro both, can ya? :)
Hey, I like the occasional canine too! :)
Occasional canine is all right, but watch out for the professional canine!
LOL, bites for a living, does it?
Not really ... but ... you know what I mean, don't you? :)--------:) (wide grin)
Phoenixritu says:
9 months ago
LOL! Send a link of this hub to the astrologer.
4 and 8, hmmmm, makes for a revolution actually. *Whipping out my magnifying glass and peering at you sagely* ... Tell me my dear, do you like to get all het up and break established norms or you like to belie expectations by simply refusing to react?"