I've been flying a lot this month. In total, I took something like 20 flights, mostly to speak for skeptic groups around the country. (Hello Boston, Syracuse, Houston, Atlanta, New Hampshire and Phoenix!) I stare at things during that uncomfortable time when I'm separated from life-giving electronics (such as this Mac), and a thought occurred to me... this plane is woo-free.
There are any number of strange (to me) objects on a plane, and over time I've learned to identify a few of them. There's a tiny vertical strip of metal on the wing that's used for safety lines so maintenance workers don't fall off. The fins at the tips of the wings are there to reduce drag and thus increase fuel efficiency. And yes, the arm rests on the aisle-side of the seats go up if you can find the latch-a handy trick for getting out of your seat without putting the tray up.
But I don't see anything that I could find in a New Age shop. No crystals, amulets, sigils, or red string. Heck, we didn't even start with a prayer service.Flying is serious business. If something goes wrong, everyone dies. As such, each and every part of the plane is chosen carefully, and to the credit of our species, flying is the 2nd safest mode of transportation. (Cruise ships are the first when measuring passengers per mile.) Given that there is so much at risk, why isn't there a Jesus on the dashboard, or a Pennsylvania Dutch hex symbol pasted on the side of the plane? Where are the (not so) lucky rabbits' feet and four-leaf clovers? (three-leafed ones are here) Why not have all the help we can get up there?
Simple. These totems of good fortune have no effect on anything except the human psyche. Planes fly because some very clever people figured out the laws of physics well enough to utilize them, and over the past 100 years we've advanced enough that flying is now an annoyance rather than a wonder. I haven't seen too many advances in good luck charms lately, though they continue to be sold.
In the real world where money and lives are on the line, things that work get used. They get modified, they evolve, and we reap the benefits. Things that don't work get left behind, though sadly, it is common today to dredge them up as "ancient wisdom," somehow forgotten by a careless civilization.
Ancient wisdom holds that the only way to fly involves doing obscene things with Satan and applying belladonna salves to your nether regions. THAT is ancient wisdom. Here's some more - one attempted cure for the plague involved crushing the testicles. Oh, and if you want to keep a bridge intact over running water, be sure to bury a female virgin at its base.
Checking the seat back pocket, I see no salve. I guess we'll be ignoring ancient wisdom in favor of physics on this flight. Sorry Satan, not this time.