From finance to futurology – this journey was clearly ‘written in her stars’
Ms Sukanya Chabbra, who spoke at the last meeting on “The science of futurology”, has made a fascinating journey “from finance to futurology” – a journey that was “written in her stars”.
After doing her MMS from the well-known Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, she started working as a professional and dabbled in business. But today she is a consultant in astrology, tarot card reading, feng-shui and so on.
PP Vithal Palekar, who introduced her, said that she had also been a compere on All India Radio and Doordarshan and excelled in classical dance, music, art, photography, nursing and public speaking. Her interests made her a multifaceted, multitalented personality.
True to his assessment, Ms Chabbra delivered an interesting talk and made several points that challenged the “progressive” aversion to astrological and other predictions.
At the outset, Ms Chabbra asked those who did not believe in predictions to raise their hands. When she saw a large number of hands raised, she confessed that she, too, used to be “a complete non-believer”. But a few incidents made her turn into a believer.
It happened soon after she took up her first job in management. A colleague who was an astrologer walked up to congratulate her and to tell her that she would be resigning in a few days and that she would get another job soon after that. She was stunned and chose to ignore the prediction.
But within two to three days she had to resign due to family reasons; and she got another job in just two to three days (again as predicted). However, she looked at these developments as a coincidence.
After some months when her parents started worrying about her marriage, her astrologer friend told her that she would have an inter-caste marriage and that she would marry a boy who would propose to her between the 10th and the 15th of the following month .
Further, he asserted that the man would propose to her between 1 and 4 in the afternoon!
She was amazed by the precision inherent in these predictions. And true enough, in the following month a male friend from another community invited her to lunch on the 13th and, while they were having their meals, between 2 and 2.30 in the afternoon, he proposed to her.
“The astrologer’s words kept echoing in my mind. This was too much of a coincidence and I started believing in the science of futurology. I believe that there definitely is a science which can guide us.
“In fact, the renowned scientist Varahamihir has said that ‘Astrology is the only boat that helps a man sail through the turbulent sea of life’. Thus began a journey from finance to futurology.”
Ms Chabbra divided her presentation into several parts. After her introduction to the world of futurology, she touched on Indian and Chinese astrology, spoke on the practice of feng-shui and other methods of predictions, and then gave some examples of how her clients and friends had benefited from predictions.
As far as the Indian system of astrology was concerned, she said, it dealt mainly with horoscopes which depicted the exact position of the planets at the time of a subject’s birth.
It dealt with almost all aspects of human life – personality, physical characteristics, family, parents, siblings, spouse, children, finances, houses, vehicles, academics, one’s love life, work and even spiritualism and death. Thus, most areas of human life were incorporated in the astrological analysis.
In China, astrology was called “the four pillars of destiny” or zivedaushu. But while Indian astrology dealt with planets and constellations, Chinese astrology dealt with “celestial animals” such as the dragon, the ox, the rat, the snake, the rooster and so on.
These animals depicted an element of nature and an analysis of these elements gave the reply that was being sought.
Feng-shui, on the other hand, was the Chinese science of wind and water, dealing with the balance of the various elements of nature, such as wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
“In feng-shui, we don’t promise health, wealth and happiness; what we promise is only harmony. And health, wealth and happiness are all by-products of harmony.”
Ms Chabbra said that of all the schools of feng-shui, the most popular and effective one was the flying stars method which took into account the date of birth of the person owning the place, the energy coming in, the year of construction of the roof and the year of renovation. The kundali or horoscope of the house was plotted with the help of these details.
Next, the eight directions were plotted along with the numbers, that is, planets from 1 to 9. An analysis of these numbers gave an insight into the events happening in that place, with reference to finance, liquidity, health, organs likely to be affected, accidents, relationships and so on.
After harmonising the elements, the proper harmony of a place was achieved and the desired results were seen.
Ms Chabbra narrated the case of a man who had a successful professional career abroad but came to India to start a big business in partnership. But it was not taking off.
An astrological analysis showed that he was not cut out to live in India. He would be better off if he lived
abroad. Further, he would do well in a professional set-up and not in business (and definitely not in partnership).
It was difficult for the man to change the scenario immediately. So she decided to look at the feng-shui of his office. After this helped to create some harmony, the man’s business improved but the problems persisted. He returned for a consultation, this time to ask whether he could expand.
The tarot cards said no, telling him to wait as there was a change coming up in six months’ time.
The man waited. A few months later, his application for foreign residency came through and he decided to move abroad. Getting rid of his business was a loss-making proposition, but he succeeded in migrating.
Unfortunately, even after migrating he went into business – and fared miserably.
When he returned for yet another consultation, the tarot cards suggested that he appear for an examination before looking for a job.
“A few months back, I heard that he had cleared the exams and had got a job in a government organisation which was not only highly remunerative but also gave him a good status and a comfortable life style to his family.
“This was an inter-disciplinary approach involving astrology, feng-shui and tarot card reading which had helped a man to find the right direction in life.”
Ms Chabbra then turned to tarot cards. Although known for centuries, tarots had become extremely popular only now.
They not only helped understand and analyse problems, but also answered all kinds of questions dealing with even minor issues such as how to handle an angry boss, how to deal with a jealous and competitive colleague, how to tackle an arrogant and stubborn child, issues regarding family, spouse, work, investments and so on.
One of the unique features of tarot cards was their ability to bring the subconscious to conscious levels and to make people aware of their true inner being. They also spoke of a person’s spiritual journey at every level.
When the head of a large business house in north India visited her for a consultation about two and a half years ago, the tarots suggested that several problems were likely to crop up and his business likely to decline; therefore, it would be best if he divided his business among his family members.
The man returned dispirited and did nothing. He died three months later, his family started feuding over shares and divisions
– and the business went in decline.
In this case, although the tarot cards could give him a direction, they could not solve the problem.
From this, Ms Chabbra said, arose the question, “If futurology is so important and plays a key role in our life, does it govern our life completely? The answer is no, futurology only speaks of probabilities which may become events if no action is taken either way”.
Further, if futurology was so important and effective, then what happened to one’s karma? One’s efforts? Were they meaningless?
“What futurology gives are a few guidelines, limitations within which you can perform. It is like a weaver’s frame that is given to you with threads hanging from it; it is up to you to weave a cloth, whether plain, chequered, designed or even distorted.
“It is up to you to make the picture as beautiful as you want, but within the framework of the given limitations.”
Ms Chabbra also referred to sceptics who said that they had everything that they wanted, that they were comfortable and had no complaints in life.
But even the most settled and comfortable people in the world were often wracked by doubts about their future, about retirement, post-retirement blues, migration, children’s marriage and so on. Futurology had an answer to all such questions.
Finding the right person to consult was another challenge in a city teeming with futurologists. But it was best to go by references provided by family and friends and to find out more about the education, experience and knowledge of the consultant.
As for the consultant, he/she had to be intuitive, possess a good, analytical mind and, above all, be a good counsellor.
Of all these qualities, intuition was the most important skill.
“Man’s desire to know the future has been there for centuries. The film 2012 speaks of the Mayan calendar and the world ending in 2012. Nostradamus’s theory, the Nadishastra and so on have always intrigued man because they concern the future.
“We have academicians looking at aptitude tests of children, stock brokers looking at technical analyses of shares, doctors looking at medical reports, businessmen looking at economic forecasts. All this in order to get a glimpse of the future so that there is better planning for a better quality of life. After all, the basic purpose of every human activity is a better life tomorrow. That is where futurology comes into play.
“From the roadside card-pulling parrots to tarot cards, angel cards, even futuristic time machines, all these are man’s efforts at getting a glimpse of tomorrow… Let us accept that mystical sciences or futurology are a beautiful, universal gift to mankind to live with greater enthusiasm and to think with greater awareness. Let us welcome the blessings of the universe to guide us, to protect us and to take us from darkness to light, from untruth to truth and from death to eternal life,” Ms Chabbra added.
Answering questions, she told Rotaractor Nihareika Chawla that whether or not to believe a reading depended on the consultant one visited. But it was necessary to have faith in the consultant. “It’s only when you go with faith that the reading is going to be correct.”
One of the “rules” in futurology was to avoid asking the same question to several futurologists. It was best to ask a question only once in six months because “the more you ask, the more confused you are going to be. So better not ask the same question, unless it is an emergency”.
Ms Chabbra then made a personalised tarot card reading for Sabira Merchant who, President Nandan Damani noted, was among the first to raise her hand when the speaker (at the outset) asked those who did not believe in predictions to do so. Sabira said at the end of the brief session that she was satisfied with the “reading”.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Programme Chairman Nanik Rupani.