The NRI Pulse survey for December is all about the stars and the planets. According to a survey, about 48% of Americans believe that astrology is valid. At least 75% of newspapers in the US carry daily horoscope columns. Over 90% of people in the US are “open-minded” about the veracity and usefulness of astrology.

How open-minded are you to astrology? Do you believe stars and planets affect your personality & behavior? Is your life molded on the confluence of stars? Do you use astrological predictions as guidance for your daily activities? Do you unfailingly scan your horoscope for the week, week after week?

Please send in your responses to editor@nripulse.com. Selected responses will be published in the current and forthcoming issues of NRIPulse.

The following are some of the responses to the survey question.

Vedic Astrology Was An Exact Science

Yes, I believe in astrology--Vedic astrology. But there are very few true Vedic astrologists, as those that existed in ancient days, in which it was a brahmanical profession (a family "trade") wherein a child was taught the science from his or her father, learning all the correlations and influences of heavenly bodies on human affairs. It was an exact science--there were rarely unfulfilled prophecies or inaccurate horoscopes. In my book ‘The Supreme Mystic’ we get an opportunity to observe such an astrologer in action, Garga acharya, when he describes the past and future of Lord Krishna perfectly. He also wrote an entire scripture, the Garga Samhita, on Krishna's life, which I used as one of my excellent reference books. 
Amal Bhakta, Los Angeles, CA

Failed Prediction

I used to think that the daily predictions given would come true. But one experience I had made me change my mind. Some 20 years ago my second level manager had said that he was going to rotate the people under him among the three divisions he managed. One day my horoscope said that I would get help from higher ups in professional matters. When I got to work, I went to see him only to be told that he was leaving the job. He was apologetic about not implementing what he promised. 
Though the time was right what I expected didn't happen. Now I read the horoscope once in a while.
Achamma Chandersekaran, Vienna, VA

Astrology Is For The Weak-Minded

No, I believe that Astrology is a kind of superstition. The basic tenets of astrology are incompatible with science - for example, that your life is determined by when you were born, a star many millions of light years away can affect you by other than gravitational means, different gemstones, some of which are basically the same, (being carbon-composed) except for minute impurities, can affect your health in unexplained ways, etc. No, I think astrology is for the weak-minded.
Rajesh, San Diego, CA 

A Family Tradition

I am a great believer in astrology. Belief was part of a family tradition and I married my husband both because my family liked him and because our horoscopes matched. Both of us believed that he would do well in business some day, and not in a job, and he eventually did well in business. However, I will not be a total believer until my daughter settles down. I know she will, but there are not enough signs yet and I am restless! I do believe there are connections between the macroscosm and our little microcosms that science has not quite explained yet.
Dr. Indrani Dutta-Gupta