Forecasting future

This is about astrology, predicting future on the basis of horoscope and palmistry. Most often the predictions have been off the mark. All of us know this. It is only rarely that predictions have come true. But that is bound to be so based on mathematical equations. Hardly ever bus, rail or plane accidents have been predicted and happened. Long marital life is predicted but then divorce happens or one of the spouses die much earlier than predicted.

Yet there is always temptation to show the hand the moment somebody says that he is a palmist. Similarly rarely do we look into our horoscopes or that of written for the children. Yes, the horoscopes of children are dusted when the time comes for their marriages, for, then the other parties would ask for horoscopes.

The belief on predicting future has been passed on from generation to generation that it has become part of the psyche of many people. But it is only a nebulous belief like the Hindu belief that one will be punished in the next birth for the sins committed in this life. Had the belief been strong then fewer sins would be committed by those who believe in this thesis in their current birth. This nebulous belief extends to other matters, such as, auspicious time and day for marriage, launching a business venture, etc., But the fact is that even those who strongly believe in astrology seldom purchase air or rail tickets based on astrological predictions. Otherwise, considering the large number of believers, the train or plane which meets with an accident should have only very few passengers. Or people would have fled from areas which have been affected by earth quakes much before the happening of the same.

Many a person would say that on this or that matter, the predictions have come true in his case. But he is not going say how many predictions in his case have gone wrong.

There are a number of systems predicting future: Horoscope reading, palmistry, face reading, numerology, crystal gazing, tarot cards, etc., Belief on this front is much less in western countries. India tops the list with having a very large number of believers. And that is why the interest in TV shows where predictions are trotted out by those who claim to be knowledgeable on the subject. And newspaper predictions are avidly read by many.

But things are changing. Most of the youngsters of today have no belief in these sciences. Let me end this by pointing out that it has never been reported that any of the experts in reading the future have been able to predict correctly his time of death.