NEW ORLEANS – Will President Obama win re-election? Will the world end on Dec. 21, as some say the Mayan calendar predicts? Will the economy ever improve?
If you ask the 1,500 astrologers contemplating planetary alignments this week in New Orleans, the answers are yes, no and yes.
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The astrologers, representing 30 countries, are in the city’s famed French Quarter for the United Astrology conference held every four years. They say their work goes beyond the entertainment of horoscopes, tarot cards and palm readings, instead relying on in-depth study of the solar system.
This year, there is no shortage of predictions.
“If you thought that the election of 2000 race was crazy, that’s nothing compared to what’s going to happen in November of 2012,” said Michael Lutin, an astrology columnist for Vanity Fair magazine for 25 years. “Don’t count on anything being smooth.”
That’s because Mercury — the planet of communication, tabulation and transportation — goes into what’s known as retrograde on Nov. 6, Election Day. Retrograde in astrology refers to the optical illusion of a planet moving backward, causing changes or disturbances in areas of life represented by that planet.
In 2000, Mercury was in retrograde when controversy swirled in Florida over the recount that took center stage in the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Florida was a swing state, and the outcome of the election wasn’t known for more than a month after balloting.
“There could be tabulation problems, problems with the polling machines. Vote absentee to make sure your vote is counted,” said New York City astrologer Shelley Ackerman.
Astrologer Kim Allen of Brooklyn, N.Y., said she’s got a “strong feeling” Obama will be re-elected for a second term, and she’s not alone.
Another hot issue is the economy: Several astrologers say the next few years will be tough, regardless of who wins the election.
“The first two decades of this century are the difficult ones, and we’re going through it no matter who’s president,” said Raymond Merriman, a financial astrologer. “We’ll come out of it by I would say no later than 2020. The next decade will be good.”
Many astrologers also are quick to debunk predictions that the world will end Dec. 21, in conjunction with the ending of one of the Mayan calendars.
“Keep making your car payments and your mortgage, because there’s going to be a 2013,” Lutin said. “It’s not going to be doomsday. It’s not going to be an asteroid. It’s not going to happen.”
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