Horoscope or Horror-scope? You decide

Why intelligent and otherwise rational people, believe in fortune-tellers, tarot readers, and shamans

My birth was mystically predicted by an astrologer years before I arrived.

The story goes, that my mother visited a famous Indian Astrologer to ask if her relationship with my dad would last. They were contemplating marriage, and she was two-minded about it.

The astrologer blurted, “There’s no getting out of this relationship. In fact, you’re going to welcome a ‘girl-child’ with him in the near future.”

Sure enough. Within 2 years, I arrived and astrological predictions became the mainstay of our family life.

But our family is not unique. Most Asian cultures believe in fortune-tellers and prophecies. We’ll gladly pay astrologers generous amounts, to foresee our future — it’s an addiction.

Positive predictions bring euphoric optimism while the negative ones — can be altered by ‘astrologer-led’ prayer ceremonies to reverse the ill effects of destiny.

Astrology is a Booming Market

Mystical services are serious business. The market capped at $2.1 billion in 2019 and is backed by many venture capitalists. Recently Co-Star, an astrology app that lets people download and compare their birth charts, raised over $5m in funding from Silicon Valley venture capital firms.

The Fault in our Collective Stars

Many Asian and Middle Eastern folks cannot fathom buying a home, marrying someone, starting a business, or a new career, until it’s blessed by astrologers.

Most families have a “Go-To” astrologer at their beck and call.

Our family had one called ‘Satyavan’ — ironically his name means “truth-teller”.

He visited us once a year to spew out 5-year predictions for each family member. His forecasts were mostly negative and needed reversal therapy through special prayers, at a generous cost.

My mother fervently believed in him, by default we were expected to as well.

I was barely a teen when he warned that I be on constant vigil and safeguard myself against possible assault by a stranger. A chilling prediction that gave me sleepless nights for years. I became wary of strangers especially since my father, a public figure, was constantly surrounded by people and our home doubled as his walk-in office.

To my relief, his prediction proved false.

When I turned 16, I begged my mom not to invite this Doomsayer into our home again. Thankfully she listened.

A few years later, his place was taken over by another strange astrologer — The “Rice-Reading” tantric. He would ask us to keep a fist-full of rice under the pillow and bring it over to him the next day for a rice-reading session. A ceremony where he’d toss the rice grains into the air while mumbling predictions in a state of trance. A scary and bizarre experience.

We were introduced to him at a low point in my early life and he predicted that the worst was over, and my life’s graph would move in a positive direction from here on. He gave me hope and the will to carry on with my plans of coming to America for higher education.

When asked if my career prospects would fare better in the East Coast or the West Coast. He instantly said, “She’ll go West.” I did and have lived here ever since.

After coming to America, I encountered the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and just as the tantric had said, life took a positive turn in every aspect.

The Waning Mystical Touch

My yearly family visits to India included meeting this tantric — for our quota of yearly predictions. But it didn’t take long to realize that his once accurate fortune-telling became increasingly conflicting and confusing. He kept altering his narrative about my future every year.

In hindsight, the practice of Buddhism was changing the course of my life faster than this astrologer could predict.

With a strong spiritual path, I was writing my own fate and changing karma (through my thoughts, actions, and words). Now, I didn’t need any astrologer to predict my future. I was making my own future.

It’s been 16 years since that last visit, I have never gone back to any astrologer again. My family and I realize that astrological predictions feed a weak and gullible mind.

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

Once we understand that no one can predict the course of our life with 100% accuracy, we’re less prone to the illusionary trappings of astrology.

Plus, if astrological predictions were true, why didn’t any of these esteemed prophesiers forewarn us of this pandemic? Or this war?

So why do we still believe in astrology and any of its pseudoscience versions?

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves” — William Shakespeare