The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn has been in the news of late. Where I live it's been overcast so I'm grateful for the pictures that were sent my way (see attached). Did any of you see it? Many were calling it the 'Christmas Star' as if there was some magic attached to it. The real magic if you want to call it that, is that we humans are able to precisely calculate such events through physics.
In his book, 'The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark', Carl Sagan talks about the allure of magic and the ways we are seduced into it's realm and the toll it takes on civilization. Here are a few quotes from his book:
“For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring".
”Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”
If you've never read the book I hope you will consider doing so ... it is regarded to be one of the most important books ever written.
[straight.com]