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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 33

Going back to the issue of prompted his search for the Truth. becoming founders of new schools
modernity, I think it is important In a way, the Buddha’s entire of divination. The ability to travel
to understand that magic, so path confirms the plausibility of and to acquire books and materials
to speak, is not disappearing divination. from abroad makes this search for
from societies worldwide. Quite the exotic much easier these days,
the opposite, in fact. Neoliberal It is believed that divination in resulting in a divination scene that
economic policies have brought Thailand is a unique blend of Hindu is extraordinarily dynamic.
about both financial uncertainty and Chinese astrological traditions,
and material aspirations that many as well as local beliefs dating back The reason why divination is
seek to manage also by making to ancient times. Can you explain thought to work—the secret of
recourse to religious experts. this statement? its allure—is precisely that it
At the same time, technological supposedly comes from distant
advancement produces new kinds I think that you must be referring to places. This makes it mysterious,
of magic. Think for example about a specific oracular discipline known sexy, captivating, powerful. I think
the awe we experience when we in Thai as “horasat thai”, normally that this is the case for practitioners
go to the cinema to watch the translated into English as “Thai in Thailand and beyond.
Harry Potter saga or superhero astrology”. This is a unique form of
stories. The kind of spectacle we astrology developed in Thailand, On a personal note, do you believe
witness via modern technology is which blends notions from the in the efficacy of divination in one’s
not in contradiction—and indeed Siamese tradition with Vedic everyday life?
continues to support—the idea of astrology, Chinese astrology, and
a world inhabited by more than- “western,” so to speak, astrology. I have not really been persuaded by
human forces. Divination and Thailand has been cosmopolitan the efficacy of divination, but do not
related practices thrive in this for centuries, the ancient Siamese discriminate masters or clients, and
context, also among the youngest. polity of Ayutthaya (fourteenth to indeed openly advocate their right
eighteenth century), for example, to engage in whatever religious
I think that the ability of divination hosting communities of settlers that practice they deem useful, also in
to fit within a Buddhist framework came from China, India, elsewhere interviews with Thai media. When
helps to make it palatable to Thai in Southeast Asia and even I was doing ethnographic research
people. We should also not forget Europe. Thai astrology is a very in Bangkok, I realized that diviners
that the story of the life of the cosmopolitan discipline that reflects were always there, at any time of
Buddha begins with the prophecy the reality of a cosmopolitan society. the night or the day, ready to give
of a diviner. King Suddhodana, the advice and to listen to people in
father of Siddhartha, consulted Beyond Thai astrology, the current distress. They are an important
astrologers after his son was born. divination scene is characterized by presence for many. Some of them
Most of them said that Siddhartha an even greater number of oracular have become friends. When, in the
would become a great king, but disciplines that come from the most course of our conversations, they
one warned that he might become disparate places worldwide. There tell me something about my future,
a renouncer. He urged King are multiple Asian and European I listen. Even if I find it hard to
Suddhodana to shield Siddhartha traditions of astrology, palmistry believe, from time to time I allow
from the outside world should he (palm reading), cartomancy (tarot myself to step out of my rational
wish to prevent him from becoming cards and the like), geomancy self and be suggested and inspired
an ascetic. Of course, the king went (fengshui), and so on. Some by them. Divination, as I see it, is
ahead, and Siddhartha famously masters actively look for foreign a fundamental part of the human
managed to leave the palace and disciplines and seek to import experience. EH
encounter the four sights that them into Thailand themselves,