Even primitive people noticed that a strong cry, noise and knocking on a tree can make even a large predator flee. And a smug story about his successes can ruin a braggart. Hence the custom that has survived to this day to knock on a piece of wood "so as not to jinx it." This is the oldest and most widespread superstition. Besides him, we have a lot of prejudices.
The most common superstitions and beliefs
According to a recent sociological survey, only 5% of Ukrainian citizens do not believe in any omens. The rest are sure: to accidentally break the dishes - for good luck, going back is not good (like tapping on a piece of wood, the oldest and very common sign), the hand itches - for money, the nose itches - for drunkenness, the fall of the cutlery - to the guests, sprinkle salt - expect trouble or quarrels. In addition, it is considered a bad omen to sew up clothes on oneself ("losing memory"), take out the garbage in the evening, walk in the same sneaker, boot or walk in the same socks. It is considered a bad omen to meet a woman with an empty bucket (there was once even such a wish for an enemy: “make you empty”), as well as a funeral procession, not to mention a black cat crossing the road. Rain at the start of the journey is considered a good omen. The bad thing is to start sailing on Friday. In addition, it is widely believed to be a bad omen: to be photographed on the eve of a flight in an airplane or to photograph an airplane shortly before its takeoff.
It is believed that whistling in the house (“offending the brownie”) means a lack of money (“whistling in his pocket”). Some superstitious people argue that lack of money portends an empty bottle on the table. Hence, by the way, the custom of using glass bottles as money boxes for change. In addition, there is a superstition that if a noisy company fell silent at once ("a quiet angel flew by"), then a policeman was born.
It is interesting that even people who consider themselves unconditionally to be atheists believe in prophetic dreams. Moreover, neither age nor education plays a role here. Moreover, the most famous interpreter of dreams, the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, was a terribly superstitious man. Well, the superstitions of the father of psychoanalysis, his panic fear of fatal dates and numbers is a separate conversation. Although women are more inclined to believe in prophetic dreams than men.
In general, women are twice as superstitious as men. It is women who buy dream books, they are also the clients of fortune-tellers and astrologers.
According to statistics, 9% of those who consider themselves atheists believe in astrology. Astrology is carried away by 16% who consider themselves to be Orthodox. Probably it is difficult to find a person who has not looked through the astrological forecast at least once. Astrological forecasts are published in almost all newspapers. Well, a quarter of the inhabitants of small towns and villages are fond of fortune telling. Among the elderly, only 5% are superstitious, Promotional video:
It is interesting that people born in the last years of the Soviet Union and in the period of independence are more superstitious than previous generations. So 24% of respondents under the age of 24 believe in omens and fortune-telling.
However, the ancient Romans were much more superstitious not only "barbarians", but also Kievans.
Superstitions of the rulers of Rome
The Roman emperor Guy Octavian Augustus was one of the most superstitious despots. So, if in the morning, when getting up from the bed, he kicked into the wrong shoe, then then all day he was looking forward to trouble. Guy Augustus not only carefully followed his dreams, but also the dreams of his loved ones, questioning them almost daily. As one wise Roman said about this: "The narrated dream ceases to be a dream." In general, Augustus believed in dreams so seriously that under the influence of one dream on a certain day of the year he secretly went out onto the streets of Rome and asked for alms from passers-by. In addition, it was the duty of his slaves to make sure that their master got up from that (right) foot, went in and out, while not stepping on the threshold. The slaves were supposed to do the same with the guests of Augustus. This imperial custom was adopted by the noble Romans and was observed for several centuries. In addition, Augustus believed that breaking the rope on a sea voyage portends good luck.
It is interesting that the emperor Gaius Augustus, Caesar's successor, was a highly educated person who managed to solve many problems that were not given to his predecessor: “I received brick Rome from Julius, but left it marble” and much more. However, at the same time, Augustus was very suspicious and cruel. It was under Augustus that the Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, began to be cruelly persecuted.
Even more superstitious were the cruel Roman despots Nero and Caracalla: during their reign there was a hunt for sorcerers. And although the names of these emperors became common nouns, Constantine the Great was even more cruel: for the purpose of rejuvenation, he took baths from the fresh blood of babies. It is interesting that Christians venerate Emperor Constantine the Great as a saint.
It is believed that the founder of the ancient Roman empire, Gaius Julius Caesar, died because he neglected the signs and predictions. So climbing the steps to the Senate, where the conspirators were waiting for him, Julius Caesar slipped and fell. Passers-by who raised him advised the emperor to postpone the visit, they say, a bad omen. To which he smiled and continued on his way towards death.
And before that, Julius Caesar met a fortuneteller, who predicted mortal danger to him on that day (March 15, Ides of March). Caesar greeted the fortuneteller and jokingly said: "But the Ides of March have come?" to which he replied: "Yes, they did, but they haven't passed yet!"
A similar story happened with John Vasilyevich, the cruel Moscow tsar. By the way, the title of king comes from the name Caesar.
Prophecy of Fierce John
Foreigners testify to the boundless superstition of Grozny, especially in the last years of his life.
When a comet appeared over the Mother See in 1584, the tsar, who was very ill at that time, went out onto the porch of the palace. For a long time he looked at the comet and uttered: "This is a sign of my death." Tormented by this thought, the king resorted to witchcraft. He ordered that the earliest witches be delivered to him. They began to actively search for and grab the specialists needed by the tsar. They caught 60 witches and brought them to Moscow. There they were all “isolated” and sent to guard. One of the tsar's confidants, the boyar Velsky, visited and questioned the prisoners every day. And then he reported their forecast to the king. And then one day the sorceresses unanimously announced that on March 18 the king would die. John the Tormentor was furious and ordered to wait until March 18, to burn all these "prophetesses" alive. On the morning of this day, Velsky came to them to give orders, but the witches reasonably stated that the day was not over yet. Okay, wait. Indeed, the tsar felt great that day, sat down to play chess, fell and died on the spot.
During his lifetime, Tsar the Terrible respected the holy fools. One of these madmen admonished his father Vasily III not to enter into an incestuous union: “Don't you dare! For a son born from this marriage will horrify the world with his fierceness! After all, John the Terrible, like Adolf Hitler, is the fruit of incest: the son of his uncle and his niece.
Tsar John Vasilyevich was very much revered by J. V. Stalin. He got acquainted with the creative heritage of the creator of the oprichnina: Ivan the Terrible was not only a great sadist, but also a great writer. Reading John the Tormentor, Joseph Vissarionovich made a note in the margins of the book several times: “Teacher”. It is interesting that J. V. Stalin, like his idol, resorted to the services of a witch.
Witch for Stalin
It is generally accepted that Stalin was a materialist. However, he graduated with honors from the theological school, and after 5 years he studied at the theological seminary. So I. V. Stalin was introduced to mysticism and esotericism, and not only Christian. Eyewitnesses who communicated with Stalin testify: until his death, the leader continued to be interested in esoteric literature: he read translations, made notes on the margins of books banned in his country.
Being a fairly well-read person, Stalin, of course, knew that there are practices in magic, supposedly allowing to influence a person from a distance. To counter this, you need a powerful and experienced sorcerer.
There is evidence of how Stalin talked on this topic with the leader of the Leningrad communists, Sergei Mironovich Kirov. It should be noted that Kirov considered Comrade Stalin his friend and, as it turned out, in vain. These "comrades" even rested together more than once.
Once on vacation, Stalin told Kirov an interesting story.
In the autumn night of 1590, the Berwick witches of Scotland decided to kill King Edward, who was on the ship that unfortunate night. To this end, the witches tried to send a hurricane to the royal frigate. Indeed, a squall struck Edward's ship that very night. It died. Many people, including the king, then drowned …
Although there is no evidence that during this conversation Stalin asked Kirov to find him a magician, this conversation continued. Returning from vacation to Leningrad, Kirov gave the assignment to find the person Stalin needed. The head of the Leningrad OGPU Medved performed this task (after Kirov's murder, he will be shot).
The Bear didn't have to look long. All Leningrad knew the "hereditary witch" Natalya Lvovna, who really possessed extraordinary abilities: “Natalya Lvovna, in my presence, gnawed out a hernia in a four-month-old child. It was a real operation, plus a lot of spells and some kind of complicated ceremony. The child recovered”is from the memoirs of her friend, Anna Akhmatova. By the way, A. Akhmatova is the only celebrity who talks in detail about Natalia Lvovna in her memoirs.
In 1930, Natalia Lvova was summoned from Leningrad to Moscow by Stalin's personal order. In the capital, she was immediately allocated a separate apartment in the center. It is clear that this witch provided secret services to the leader. Which ones? Author: I. Belostotsky
Source: “Interesting newspaper. Oracle №10 2012
