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Happy birthday Nostradamus

New Age (Old Silliness)

PEMBROKE, England (Wireless Flash) -- Sunday (Dec. 14) is the 500th anniversary of the birth of the French prophet Nostradamus and, predictably, it's getting lots of attention from his fans in the 21st century.

One of those who plans to celebrate is British linguist Peter Lemesurier, one of the world's most knowledgeable Nostradamus experts.

He appreciates Nostradamus more as a poet than a prophet but says that only recently have translators made his predictions rhyme.

While Lemesurier is impressed with Nostradamus' notes, he warns people not to read into them too deeply because "much of it is based on pre-existing events, and Nostradamus wrote them up with the idea that history repeats itself."

Nostradamus Turns 500 On Sunday (Dec. 14)

From Peter Lemesurier's Nostradamus 500:

How often has Nostradamus been proved right in the past?

Certainly such of his Presages as were specific seem to have turned out to be largely wrong at the time -their success-rate seems to have been about 5.73%!

From Common misconceptions about Nostradamus:

Well, in his Epistle to King Henri II he did claim that, when divinely inspired (whether directly, via the planets, or via his guiding spirit or claimed Guardian Angel [Michael, naturally!]), he was capable of not erring, failing or being deceived. But then, in his letter to the Canons of Orange of 4th February 1562, he pointed out that, as a human being, he could quite easily do all three. Which of course poses the interesting question...how, as a human being, could he be absolutely sure of when he was being divinely inspired?!

Comments

The whole thing about the nonsensical quatrains is, with the benefit of hindsight, you can make them fit anything. For instance, in last week's cricket match, Sourav Ganguly scored 144. You wouldn't believe that Nostradamus predicted this, would you? Not only that, he got his method of dismissal exactly correct too. The quatrain concerned was : "A great King taken by the hands of a young man, Not far from Easter confusion knife thrust: Everlasting captive times what lightning on the top, When three brothers will wound each other and murder." The full explanation lies here : http://www.cricketweb.net/articles/EpZEEZZyyZdVgtYzqb.shtml Yes, I am a genius.
3. #94 For five hundred years more one will keep count of him Who was the ornament of his time: Then suddenly great light will he give, He who for this century will render them very satisfied.

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My thanks,
Richard