Understanding how Nostradamus' methods work

When significant disasters strike, people often react in various ways. One common response is to search for prophecies about the event — forecasts that predicted it beforehand. These prophecies can offer comfort, as they imply that these tragic events were inevitable, part of a larger design. Throughout history, many have been regarded as prophets, but in modern times, one name stands out more than the rest: Nostradamus.

Nostradamus is often credited with predicting major historical events, such as Hitler's rise to power, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and, more recently, the destruction of the World Trade Center towers and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Online, both followers and skeptics of Nostradamus have created in-depth interpretations of his writings, as well as some fabricated passages.

In this article, we will explore who Nostradamus was and what his contributions were. We will also discuss the ongoing debates about Nostradamus, including the claims that he predicted the September 11 attacks in the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nostradamus' Early Life

Nostradamus is the Latinized version of Michel de Nostredame's name, a 16th-century French physician and astrologer. The specifics of his life remain unclear and are often contested by both his followers and critics.

It is widely believed that Nostradamus was born in 1503 into a well-educated and prosperous family of grain merchants. He was taught a variety of subjects from a young age, including traditional sciences, mathematics, languages (Latin, Greek, and Hebrew), and astrology.

Nostradamus also received an extensive religious education. His paternal family was originally Jewish but converted to Roman Catholicism, either during his childhood or before his birth. This background is thought to have led Nostradamus to study Jewish texts alongside the New Testament. Throughout his life, Nostradamus was said to have been fascinated by the apocalyptic predictions in the Book of Revelation, as well as by Kabbalah, a mystical tradition within Judaism.

Early Education and Career

According to numerous accounts, Nostradamus left home at the age of 14 to pursue medical studies at the University of Avignon. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave after just one year due to the outbreak of the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Plague. A few years later, in 1522, Nostradamus enrolled at the University of Montpellier, where he earned a medical degree and a license to practice. It was around this time that he adopted the Latinized version of his name, changing it from Nostradame to Nostradamus, a common academic tradition of the period.

After completing his studies, Nostradamus briefly worked as a medical professor before practicing as a physician in southern France, primarily treating patients suffering from the bubonic plague. He became renowned for his success in treating many victims, often using alternative methods that differed from the conventional treatments of the time. For example, he rejected bloodletting, mercury-based treatments, and garlic-soaked robes, instead advocating for cleanliness, fresh air, and nutritious food as part of his treatments. During this period, Nostradamus married and had two children. Tragically, his wife and children soon died, most likely due to the plague.

In the late 1540s, Nostradamus relocated to Salon-de-Provence, a town in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea, where he married a wealthy widow and fathered six children. Over the next decade, he focused on crafting prophecies, particularly concerning future battles and disasters. These ominous predictions earned him both fame and notoriety across Europe, as many believed his visions were divinely inspired. Notably, many European aristocrats sought his services, including Catherine de' Medici, wife of King Henri II of France.

Nostradamus passed away in 1566, having suffered from gout and arthritis for several years. However, he managed to publish his influential works before his death.

Nostradamus' Prophetic Writings

Nostradamus' primary collection of prophecies was originally titled "Prophecies of Michel Nostradamus" and was published in parts over several years. The work consists of roughly 1,000 quatrains, or four-line verses, grouped into sets of 100. Today, this collection is known as "The Centuries." This name, likely added after his death, refers to the structure of the work rather than to specific periods of time.

Nostradamus claimed that his ability to predict the future came from a combination of astrological study and divine guidance. He had spent years studying the connection between celestial movements and earthly events, and he asserted that an angelic presence helped him interpret how these forces would unfold. He often sought inspiration through various forms of meditation, typically focusing on fire or water, and possibly while under the influence of mild hallucinogens like nutmeg. Late at night, he said, his meditations would reveal visions of future events, both near and far.

Each quatrain, primarily composed in French with elements of Latin, Greek, and Italian, predicts a specific event or period. These writings are notoriously cryptic, filled with complex metaphors and anagrams. They lack precise dates and geographic references, and they are not presented in a sequential order.

As outlined in the preface, a letter from Nostradamus to his son Cesar (from his second marriage), the quatrains were deliberately enigmatic. Nostradamus expressed his fear of persecution and destruction of his work if the authorities of his time fully comprehended his prophecies. He believed that his obscure predictions would be understood more clearly by enlightened individuals in the future.

Many contemporary individuals assert that they possess this enlightenment. They argue that interpreting the quatrains correctly reveals that several of Nostradamus' prophecies have already materialized. The enduring popularity of Nostradamus and his predictions has ensured that his book has been almost continuously published since his death.

However, critics of Nostradamus challenge these assertions.

Nostradamus' Accuracy

Over time, many of Nostradamus' followers have identified numerous instances where "The Centuries" seems to describe contemporary events. A prominent example is Nostradamus' alleged foresight of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime and World War II.

A notable quatrain (Century 2, Quatrain 24) states:

Followers of Nostradamus assert that the term "Hister" directly refers to Hitler. Another quatrain speaks of a merciless leader born in Western Europe to humble beginnings, while another mentions Hister's struggles with Asia and Africa.

Nostradamus is also said to have predicted several significant events, including the 1789 French Revolution, Napoleon's rise to power, and the development of the atomic bomb. The prediction of the French Revolution is drawn from this quatrain (Century 1, Quatrain 14):

Napoleon is believed to be referenced in Century 8, Quatrain 1, where the names of towns in the first line can be rearranged to form "Napaulon Roy," resembling King Napoleon:

The creation and detonation of the atomic bomb can be traced back to this grim quatrain (Century 2, Quatrain 6):

Another prophecy attributed to Nostradamus was said to have predicted the Great Fire of London in 1666. It begins with these lines:

It seems to describe a fire (though the verse mentions 'lightning'). Additionally, the numbers (20x3 + 6) total to 66, and of course, there's the reference to London.

Skeptics attribute the perceived accuracy of these quatrains (and others) to two main reasons: issues with translation and mere coincidence.

Skeptical Interpretations of Nostradamus' Predictions

Many of Nostradamus' prophecies include 16th-century French words that are unclear to modern interpreters. Specific terms could be understood in various ways, and they can be easily manipulated to fit actual events. For instance, in Nostradamus' era, 'Hister' referred to a region near the Danube River. Skeptics argue that Nostradamus was most likely referring to this area, not to an individual. (Hitler, in fact, was born near the Danube River, which is why some believers support this interpretation).

The strongest argument against Nostradamus' prophetic abilities is that his apparent 'hits' are simply the result of random chance and creative interpretation. With nearly 1,000 quatrains, most containing multiple predictions, and most written in vague, ambiguous language, it’s very likely that, over hundreds of years, some events might align with some prophecies purely by chance.

In fact, Nostradamus may have crafted his prophecies with this possibility in mind. Most of his quatrains describe deaths, wars, or natural disasters — events that are bound to recur throughout history.

Nostradamus' cryptic style also amplifies the likelihood of a perceived match. His metaphorical writing focuses on broad relationships and conflicts, rather than specific details. People, or possibly nations, are portrayed as animals; key figures are described by their attributes. For instance, the quatrain about Hitler mentions 'beasts ferocious from hunger,' 'the great one,' and 'an iron cage,' all general terms filled with metaphorical imagery. This vague language invites subjective interpretation; when the meaning is unclear, it's easy to project personal experiences onto it for understanding.

This is quite similar to modern horoscopes. Horoscopes usually address common experiences, such as work-related conflicts, joy in relationships, and exciting life changes. It's likely that these predictions will resonate with your life, at least some of the time.

Did Nostradamus Predict the Events of Sept. 11, 2001?

After the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, there was a resurgence of interest in Nostradamus and his prophecies.

Much of this renewed interest was sparked by a series of email messages. One widely circulated anonymous email in the United States claimed that Nostradamus had predicted the attack in some detail. The message included this quatrain:

The 'two brothers' is supposedly a reference to the twin towers, the 'fortress' to the Pentagon, the 'great leader' to President Bush, and 'the big city' to New York. However, this quatrain is not actually written by Nostradamus — it is entirely fabricated.

According to Snopes.com, the first three lines were taken from an essay written in 1997 by Neil Marshall, a student at Brock University in Canada. Marshall included the fabricated lines to show how easily vague imagery could be used as 'evidence' that a specific event was predicted long before it occurred. Someone later added a final line and spread the quatrain across the internet.

As the message spread online, others contributed additional lines, allegedly from Nostradamus, altering its meaning. One variation mentioned 'metal birds' crashing into 'two tall statues,' an image that does not appear anywhere in 'The Centuries.' Another reference to 'the city of York' was also added, another fictional element designed to sound like something Nostradamus would write. A more popular version included the following lines:

Although this particular quatrain is not attributed to Nostradamus, it does include some of his original verses. It is a reworking of two different quatrains:

Century 10, Quatrain 72:

Century 6, Quatrain 97:

Many followers of Nostradamus believe both quatrains reference the attack on the World Trade Center. They argue that the mentions of fire and terror from the sky align with the aerial assault, and the fact that New York City is positioned around 40° 5' N latitude (close to 'forty-five degrees') supports the theory. The timing also coincides. Additionally, several other quatrains reference an Antichrist figure named Mabus, who supposedly starts a World War. The letters in Mabus can be rearranged to form Usam B, leading some to think Nostradamus foresaw the rise of Osama bin Laden.

Skeptics argue that believers focus only on elements that fit their narrative while disregarding those that don't (for instance, 'the great King of the Mongols'). They also claim that 'the great new city' is a misinterpretation of Nostradamus' original lines. In French, Nostradamus referred to 'Villeneuve,' which means 'new city' but also denotes a town near Paris, close to 45 degrees latitude. Critics suggest the similarity between Mabus and Osama bin Laden is merely coincidental, pointing out that, until recently, many followers thought Saddam Hussein was Mabus (since 'Mabus' spelled backward is 'Subam').

In 2020, a rumor spread that Nostradamus had accurately predicted the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the alleged prophecy circulating online — mentioning a plague from the East spreading to Italy — not being found anywhere in 'The Centuries.' He also did not say that a 'feeble man' would 'rule the western world with a jezebel' after the plague, a claim some Americans interpreted as referring to either Donald Trump or Joe Biden, depending on their political views. While Nostradamus' writings do refer to plagues (common in his time), they don't make the same connections with these other elements.

Stephane Gerson, a professor of French, French Studies, and History at New York University, explained to Reuters that Nostradamus' enduring fascination lies in the fact that his 'mysterious predictions are open to limitless interpretations.'