When astrology trumps pollsters

With opinion polls suffering a worldwide image meltdown, no wonder anxious people have been turning — or returning — to the tried-and-tested oracle for predictions: the stars.

A number of astrologers of all stripes consulted and polled in the US during the presidential campaign used the planets to put forth supposedly counterfactual predictions of a Trump victory. So, their prognostications would seem more reliable today. Nor is it surprising that astrology-based technology companies in India are seeing a spurt in business after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections, with queries flooding in about where the US is headed economically and otherwise. The business community in this country, after all, lays great store by astrology and assiduously follows the directions of the panchang for even daily operations. The US business community should follow suit now.

It is in this context the revelation that Saturn is in Sagittarius becomes most crucial. While some of his more superstitious acolytes may consider advising president-elect Trump to therefore immediately rescind his decision not to keep pets in the White House — and specifically adopt a black dog —others will point out that the last time stars were so aligned was during 1985-87: the Reagan-Thatcher era. Feelings of déjà vu are predictable.