STARS

CAN STARS SKILLS ENABLE WEALTH? Stars tell us about crop planting , harvesting; about fishing, tides, weather. Almanacs contain such information for farmers, laymen and fishermen, others to use. Do stars tell us more than this, about human nature, events, results, daily matters or future money? Nancy Reagan, I have read, made use of a staff astrologer as First Lady, during Ronald’s last term. It worked out well enough for them. This line of inquiry comes from my reading of POLITICS by Aristotle, wherein he wrote 2500 years ago : “There is the anecdote of Thales the Milesian and his financial device, which involves a principle of universal application, but is attributable to him on account of his reputation for wisdom. He was reproached for his poverty, which was supposed to show that philosophy was of no use . According to the story, he knew by his skill in the stars while it was yet winter that there would be a great harvest of olives in the coming year ; so, having a little money he gave deposits for the use of all the olive-presses in Chios and Miletus, which he hired at a low price because no one bid against him . When the harvest-time came, and many were wanted all at once and of a sudden, he let them out at any rate that he pleased, and made a quantity of money. Thus he showed the world that philosophers can easily be rich if they like, but their ambition is of another sort.” P. 1142, Book 1 chapter 11 (1941) Incidentally learning counts too, but my inquiry was about stars’ efficacy in explicating human controversies. Thales knew stars . As did Benjamin Banneker of American black history. I do not know stars but I am here , still here, and can learn, if inclined to do so by a prospect of prosperity.