In 2003, events resembling those of early October 1993 could unfold. They would be accompanied by natural disasters and man-made calamities. The aim would not be mere survival, but resilience. By 2008, a strong leadership in Russia could emerge for a decade or more, potentially forging partnerships with Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, and Greece. The United States might face a period of deep crisis. The practical advice given at the time urged converting dollars to German Marks or Euros as a hedge against instability.
This forecast came from a well-known astrologer, first articulated in 2000. A year earlier, he predicted that the first half of 2023 would witness severe epidemics triggered by natural disasters in Russia. For over three decades, despite occasional missteps, his following has grown. People are drawn not by naivety but by a reluctance to take full responsibility for their own futures and a tendency to defer accountability to the stars.
Russia has shown weariness toward esotericism. Data gathered by the World Health Organization, the Russian public opinion center VTsIOM, and various Big Data firms indicate that roughly 1.5 million of Russia’s 140 million people identify as magicians, fortune-tellers, or practitioners of other so‑called exterior sciences. A notable share of the population has paid for predictions, and a sizable group believes in their accuracy for personal or family fortune. Since 2020, demand for talismans and similar items has surged, with continued growth through 2022, reflecting a broader cultural appetite for mysticism even as education and critical thinking rise in parallel.
The phenomenon reads as a quiet, unsettling trend. Some Russians place more trust in foreign prophecies than in personal responsibility, and new roles tied to esoteric practices have appeared, including rhodology and astropsychology, as well as tarot reading and human design. Many of these specialists combine traditional psychology with elements of magic, creating a hybrid field with limited scientific support.
What if such tendencies had developed in the mid-19th century in a Latin American setting, where traditional beliefs mingled with colonial influences and early modern magic? The explanation would lean on education gaps. Yet Russia in the 21st century presents a different picture: a society continually exposed to propaganda about fate and destiny via media and social networks. The appeal of astrologers, tarologists, and political analysts who blend belief systems with policy has become a psychological force, often producing attitudes marked by fear, anxiety, and disappointment. This drift has shaped public sentiment across generations, with esoteric currents influencing everyday choices and expectations.
By 2017, the tension around esoteric practices had grown to the point where several lawmakers considered criminalizing commercial fortune-telling, aligning divination with deceit. Six years later, after the stress of a global pandemic and a major political turning point in February 2022, the likelihood of rapid change diminished. The suggestion stands that individuals should build their own lives with intentional actions—cultivating relationships, seeking partners, and structuring daily routines rather than relying on prophetic forecasts.
When criticisms of psychic practices surface publicly, there is often a pushback from segments of the population, given the long history of charismatic influence. The public has become accustomed to a certain degree of guidance from figures perceived as spiritual leaders, a dynamic that echoes the era when official rhetoric aimed to shape personal destinies. Understanding this history helps explain current debates about personal choice and accountability, showing how state and society sometimes mirror each other in managing risk and hope.
Across Western Europe and North America, interest in mysticism persists, propelled in part by youth exposed to mythic narratives like those in popular fantasy. Yet this interest remains modest in scale because for many Western observers, magic serves as a ritual complement to established faiths and secular life. Capitalist societies, with their focus on individual initiative, have not eliminated spiritual curiosity, but they have preserved a robust framework of personal responsibility and practical ambition that often overrides magical solutions in everyday decision-making.
Major world religions teach that individuals are free yet accountable—an ethic that encourages reflection and responsibility for choices. While one may be drawn to forecasts or fortune-telling, the prevailing moral framework emphasizes consequences and personal agency. Even when a belief in extraordinary foresight persists, it rarely overrides the imperative to act independently and thoughtfully in daily life. This combination of spiritual search and practical autonomy shapes how people in many countries approach destiny and decision-making.
Esoteric beliefs, while seductive to some, rarely remove the need for genuine self-reliance. They may offer comforting narratives, but true well-being tends to arise from practical steps, clear goals, and steady effort. The idea that happiness and success hinge on inner resilience and deliberate action remains a powerful counterpoint to prophecy and magical thinking.
There is a well-worn joke about a person seeking guidance in a church and asking which tram to take to reach a long-awaited partner. One line runs through the city: a slow, empty tram that arrives late, and a crowded, punctual one. The point is simple—map out a path you can actually control, rather than waiting for a perfect forecast to direct every move.
In the end, people may devise intricate systems or follow external tides, but the real question remains: who is steering the course of one’s life? The balance lies in recognizing influence, yet choosing responsibility for personal growth and the future one wants to inhabit. The text ends with a reminder that the writer’s views are personal and not necessarily shared by others involved in the discussion.