Philip J. Imbrogno - Strange Heavens: The Celestial Sphere and Its Influence on Mythology, Religion, and Belief in the Paranormal

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Strange Heavens: The Celestial Sphere and Its Influence on Mythology, Religion, and Belief in the Paranormal 2019 by Philip J. Imbrogno.

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First e-book edition 2018

E-book ISBN: 9780738756110

Book design by Bob Gaul
Cover design by Shira Atakpu
Interior art by Llewellyn art department

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending)
ISBN: 978-0-7387-5604-2

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Contents

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 4:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 6:

Chapter 7:

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9:

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11:

Chapter 12:

Chapter 13:

Chapter 14:

Chapter 15:

To my mother and father,

who gave me my first telescope.

Introduction

T here is something about the infinite expanse of the starry night that has always and will forever capture the imagination of the human mind. The nights inky velvet, dappled with beautiful, colorful points of luminous effervescence, affects the human mind like no other spectacle of nature.

Throughout human existence these mysterious, beautiful, and sometimes frightening celestial spectacles of nature have influenced worldwide scientific theory, religious beliefs, mythology, history, and how we perceive and interpret paranormal events. In many cases the night sky also inspired classic literature and, in modern times, the motion picture industry.

Since the beginning of recorded time, earthly cultures have looked up to the night sky and wondered what the points of lights, which today we know to be stars and planets, could be. Ancient African and European nomadic tribes believed they were campfires of powerful beings that lived in the sky. As time progressed many ancient civilizations believed the sky was a dwelling place for powerful deities who had a direct influence on the destiny of all mortals below them.

In modern-day Christianity, the faithful still point to the sky beyond the clouds as the dwelling place of God, angels, and other powerful beings. Did the wonders of the heavens act as a catalyst to stimulate the minds of priests, mystics, and prophets, or are they based on real experiences our ancestors had with paranormal forces beyond their comprehension?

For centuries cultures in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres told stories of contact with these supernatural beings from the fires in the sky. These tales were absorbed in their mythology and became part of their religious doctrine. Many of these myths are present today and have evolved into countless forms, creating a foundation for world-wide cultural beliefs.

When people of ancient cultures looked up to the night sky, they firmly believed the gods were always watching them. It is clear the constellations and brighter stars influenced not only our mythology but also modern religious beliefs. Some of these celestial manifestations that helped shape history were the appearance of comets, phases of the moon, lunar and solar eclipses, planetary alignments, and meteorite impacts, just to name a few.

Ancient myths from China, Japan, Africa, Babylon, Greece, Persia, and the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec nations of North and South America all tell stories of how magnificent godlike beings came down from the fires in the sky and interacted with them. The legends tell how these supernatural beings were responsible for teaching humans written language and science and set the foundations for civilization.

Celestial manifestations are mentioned in such classic works of literature as The Iliad and The Odyssey and religious books including the Bible, Quran, and Torah. Its clear from modern interpretation of these passages that events on the celestial sphere were attributed to signs from a power greater than man. These ancient dogmas were then carried throughout human history with their interpretations changed by wise men, priests, and modern-day scientists to suit the age and culture of their time. Today, despite our technological advances, we still look at the sky and wonder. We are not only influenced by the stories of old, but are creating new ones for the present and future.

In modern times what we call a paranormal experience often has its origin and a connection with the brightest stars and most prominent constellations. These same stars and constellations were also identified by Bronze Age and Iron Age civilizations as being the home of their deities and are frequently mentioned in their myths, sagas, and religious prayers. Is it just a coincidence that these stellar objects and configurations of stars are the brightest as seen from Earth? Could their prominence have influenced the oracles of long ago and people of today who claim contact with aliens and supernatural beings?

Some modern researchers view these ancient myths and modern paranormal experiences as proof of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization, while others say they are merely flights of fancy or stories used by cult leaders and priests to control the population and secure their own position in society.

As a result of these alleged contacts in both ancient and modern times, the human medium channels information not only of a spiritual nature, butin rare casesprophecy, symbols, technical scientific diagrams, and other information which cannot be easily dismissed by even the most skeptical. If we take into account that only a small percentage of these people had a real experience, then this leaves a respectable number of individuals who require further investigation. Yet, modern scientists turn a deaf ear and laugh while physicians suggest these individuals take medication to control their delusions. In extreme cases some of these people are placed in mental hospitals and are give a regiment of drugs.