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We often assume that wealthy individuals make their financial choices through careful, logical analysis, weighing the pros and cons. However, the future remains an unpredictable enigma, and we are mere primates in tailored suits. Many turn to mystical guidance in times of uncertainty. When corporate giants collide with irrationality, some choose to blend profit with prophecy.
10. Arch Crawford
In the early 1960s, while at Merrill Lynch, Arch Crawford shifted from analyzing past corporate performance to forecasting future market outcomes using astrology. A pivotal article in The Wall Street Journal about astrological cycles sparked this transformation in his approach.
Crawford has reinvented himself as a financial astrologer, publishing the Crawford Perspectives newsletter, where he examines the influence of planetary movements on major stock and commodity indices, bonds, individual commodities, and the US dollar.
Although Crawford cannot explain why astrology seems to work, he firmly believes in its validity, pointing to a possible connection between planetary alignments and radio interference triggered by sunspots.
He holds that ancient mystical practices remain relevant in modern times. As evidence, he highlights the fact that the International Monetary Fund announced plans to sell large amounts of gold on the very day that Saturn entered Leo's right ascension. Leo is governed by the Sun, which in turn, rules gold.
In a 2014 interview, Crawford voiced his concerns about the approaching cardinal grand cross, which he described as ‘transiting Jupiter conjoining the natal Sun and transiting Mars conjoining natal Saturn.’ He noted that this configuration mirrored the astrological chart for July 4, 1776, a date some astro-economists consider the United States' astrological birth. Crawford viewed this alignment as a signal of impending difficulties in the equity markets.
Crawford Perspectives proudly claims that his forecasting accuracy is “second to none,” with his predictions featured in esteemed financial outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. A review of his advice over the years reveals that, at times, he has achieved notable success.
However, between 2001 and 2004, his predictions fell short when compared to a simple buy-and-hold strategy. According to the CXO Advisory Group, the average daily return from Crawford's forecasts was -0.04 percent, while the S&P 500 Index yielded 0.00 percent during that same period. CXO acknowledges that the sample size of Crawford's trades in their analysis is too small to make definitive judgments about his long-term performance.
9. Cao Yongzheng
Regarded as the Xinjiang sage, Cao Yongzheng is a fortune-teller, mystic, and qigong master who forged influential connections within the Chinese government and state-run industries throughout the 1990s. Rumors swirled that Cao possessed extraordinary abilities, including healing, future prediction, and even making infertile women fertile—skills that drew the attention of China’s elite.
One factor contributing to Cao's success may have been the unique situation of Communist Party members, who are prohibited from joining traditional religious organizations. Instead, they often turn to spiritual guides—self-proclaimed gurus whom the government tolerates.
It was said that Cao could reveal a person's past, present, and future within a minute of meeting them, simply by focusing on a person's business card, photograph, or frequently used personal object.
It is said that Cao used a branch from a mulberry tree to treat a curved spine and accurately predicted Beijing’s loss to Sydney in its bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. His growing reputation attracted many Chinese officials, business leaders, and celebrities seeking his counsel or healing.
As reported by Caixin newspaper, Cao utilized his influence with China’s elite in 2005 to form a partnership with former China National Petroleum Corporation official Wang Guoju. Together, they established the Niandai Energy Investment Company.
Niandai Energy entered into several contracts for oil exploration in Xinjiang and Jilin. Meanwhile, Wang and Cao ventured into the realms of film production and real estate development. The company was even granted special land development rights in high-tech zones of Chengdu.
Rumors of corruption led to a police raid that resulted in Wang’s arrest and Cao fleeing to Taiwan. This marked the beginning of an in-depth government investigation into Cao’s questionable associations.
In 2015, former security chief Zhou Yongkang was charged with leaking classified government information to Cao. Numerous other officials connected to both Cao and Zhou were arrested for corruption, part of Xi Jinping’s crackdown on the so-called “corrupt tigers.”
8. Kim Won Hong
Not to be confused with the North Korean general of the same name, Kim Won Hong, an analyst and shaman, began his career at a securities firm in the 1990s. He gradually built a reputation for applying ancient shamanistic fortune-telling techniques to make astute, profitable investment decisions.
An anonymous analyst remarked, “[Kim Won Hong] was a legendary figure. People believed he could foresee the future, and he had a reputation as a fortune-teller even in his youth.”
In 1998, Kim formed a connection with Chey Tae Won, the chairman of South Korea’s powerful SK Group, advising him on strategic investments using his shamanic insight. Kim is said to have tripled the value of Chey’s initial investments.
This early success led Chey to place an excessive amount of trust in Kim’s prophetic abilities. However, subsequent investments proved disastrous. Despite Kim losing hundreds of billions of won in failed ventures, Chey continued to place his confidence in him.
Kim fled to Taiwan after the South Korean government launched an investigation into SK’s slush fund operations. Since there was no extradition agreement between South Korea and Taiwan, Kim was able to avoid immediate capture.
Meanwhile, Chey was accused of siphoning 50 billion won from company funds to support his personal investments with the assistance of his brother. However, Chey claimed that Kim had taken nearly 600 billion won from Chey’s personal accounts for his own purposes.
Ultimately, Kim was apprehended for immigration irregularities and returned to South Korea. Unfortunately for the Chey brothers, the South Korean Supreme Court found enough evidence to conclude that they had committed the crime on their own, without Kim’s involvement.
7. Jonathan Cahn
Jonathan Cahn, a Jewish mystic and author, believes that many financial disasters align with a biblical cycle of 'cleansing' known as the Shemitah. The Shemitah is said to occur every seven years, following God’s command to Moses to let the land rest, cease agricultural work, and allow all debts to be forgiven.
Cahn connected the Shemitah cycle with stock market crashes in 1973, 1980, 1987, 2001, and 2008. He forecasted a major financial collapse for December 2015. He also linked the Shemitah to America’s rise as a global superpower, both World Wars, the return of the Jews to Israel, the Six-Day War, and the creation of the World Trade Center.
In February 2015, Cahn spoke to the far-right WND website about unusual signs that seemed to suggest the Shemitah’s conclusion:
Quite unusual. As the Shemitah ended, two significant signs emerged. A storm caused destruction at Islam’s central mosque in Mecca (on September 11). Simultaneously, a rainbow appeared (September 10) over the tower at Ground Zero. Many took this as an encouraging sign. However, not long ago, America had desecrated the symbol of the rainbow by using it to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the biblical definition of marriage.
Initially, Cahn expected the Shemitah-triggered collapse to occur in September 2015. When that didn’t happen, he adjusted his prophecy to extend it to September 2016. Later, he claimed that news reports describing 2015 as the worst financial year since 2008 validated his original predictions.
6. Rajiv Karekar
Rajiv Karekar, a general surgeon from Thane, Maharashtra, India, has developed a software that predicts the fluctuations of the National Stock Exchange’s Nifty Index by analyzing the birth charts of both the country and the index itself.
Karekar claims an accuracy rate of 80 percent for predicting intraday movements and 85 percent for longer periods of two to three months. He states, “What sets my graphs apart is that there’s no room for interpretation. Investors are provided with a clear graph on which they can base their trading decisions.”
He determines the national birth chart using the date and time of India’s independence from Britain, and the index’s birth chart based on when it started trading. His program, Astro-Kundali, is capable of processing both major forms of Hindu astrology and is marketed as “an advanced Hindu Vedic and an advanced Krishnamurti Paddhati Astrology Software, with Tajak and Jaimini support.”
Another Indian astrologer who is known for providing valuable stock tips is Satish Gupta, who seems to follow a version of the Western zodiac tradition. For example, he points to September 2004 when Lord Saturn shifted signs, which coincided with a surge in the stock prices of liquor companies.
5. Larry Ford
Larry Ford, once a relatively successful financial consultant, should have been content with his achievements. However, instead of feeling fulfilled, he found himself questioning the authenticity of his life.
One day, after a long series of handshakes, Larry noticed red spots on his hands, which eventually turned into blisters over the next few days. He felt these injuries were not caused by any medical condition but something else entirely.
A few weeks later, Ford unexpectedly grabbed an associate’s thumb during a conference and immediately felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. To his associate’s astonishment, the long-standing pain in his thumb disappeared.
Ford went on to help more people and decided to enroll in a natural healing institute, where he studied subjects like physiology, psychology, energy medicine, and tai chi. In 2003, he relocated his family to St. John’s in the Virgin Islands, but his marriage and consulting business began to crumble. His former financial consulting mentor remarked, “I have seen self-destructive behavior in my time, but this one takes the cake.”
In 2005, Ford traveled to Nepal, where he learned how to perform flower sacrifices and invoke divine powers. While there, shaman Aama Bombo performed a ritual over a girl who was vomiting green bile and exorcised demons from an elderly man. After hearing Ford’s story, the shaman declared him a shaman and a devotee of Kali.
During his initiation under a full Moon, Ford donned a peacock headdress and white robes. He danced through narrow alleys and around temples before being anointed with holy water and blessed with a string of gnarled seeds. Upon returning to Connecticut, he started a shamanic consulting business, charging clients up to $250 per session.
Ford’s services gained popularity during the 2008 financial crisis, but he stopped accepting payments for his shamanic healing services. In an interview with The Washington Post, Ford explained, “I make it very clear to my clients: I’m either going to be managing your finances or your spirit.” However, he also confessed, “Now and then, my wrist bead pops out from underneath my cufflinks.”
4. Reverend Joey Talley
Reverend Joey Talley, a witch based in Silicon Valley, has garnered attention for her unique ability to exorcise evil spirits from computers and office spaces, charging tech firms $200 per hour for her expertise.
To protect against viruses and hacking, she relies on plants, but she also uses a black stone called Jet to create spiritual barriers around office buildings. In addition, she offers tarot readings over the phone, providing investment guidance to her clients.
Talley recalled a case where a start-up’s alarm system went off unpredictably, and despite multiple technicians being unable to pinpoint the issue, Talley identified it as an infestation of an ‘invasive species’ and successfully removed it.
In another case, a techie couple was haunted by the sudden appearance of bloody handprints and crude messages on their windows and walls. Talley determined the disturbance was likely caused by the nearby spirits of murdered children, so she created a ‘psychic seawall’ to block their influence.
According to California state records, Talley is an ordained Wiccan minister. She stands out for using witchcraft in the tech world, claiming that stones can eliminate computer infestations caused by troublesome or malicious spirits. Since every computer and situation is different, she spends time tuning into the energy to decide whether to chant or burn sage.
In a 2016 interview with Vice, Talley shared a story about one of her jobs:
A small business owner in Marin County contacted me about several viruses infecting her systems. I began by casting a circle, invoking the elements—earth, air, fire, and water—and then I called upon Mercury, the communicator. Once in a trance, I let the energy flow through me. I could feel it in my body, identifying the smooth currents and the spots where the energy snagged—indicating where the virus had entered.
I performed a banishing ritual using a black bowl with a magnet and water to draw out the virus. Afterward, I saged the entire computer to push the negativity into the bowl and flushed it away. Then I conducted a purification ceremony and crafted a protective spell using chloride, amethyst, and jet, leaving these crystals on the computer at the place where the client works.
3. Real Estate Exorcists
Few things can harm a property’s market value more than an intrusive and hostile spirit haunting its premises. In Australia, getting rid of these unwanted ghosts has grown into a profitable business, with costs reaching as much as $350 for clients seeking relief.
One real estate agent shared that some clients have paid up to $3,000 to rid their properties of negative energy before putting them on the market. For sellers looking for a more affordable option, some companies sell DIY kits that include oils, incense, candles, sage, and step-by-step instructions.
Hally Rhiannon-Nammu, a shaman and spiritual guide based in Melbourne, recounted how a real estate agent hired her to clear a modern office that had been vacant for too long. Once the ghost was banished, a lease was signed within weeks. Now, Rhiannon-Nammu specializes in removing “unwanted spirits.”
She claims to have cleansed a house that had a history of drug abuse, where the spirits were physically attacking the inhabitants. She also performed a tough exorcism in an office, where a ghost was haunting the workers. “Sage doesn’t do crap,” she told Domain, an Australian real estate website. “The ghost just stared at me and laughed.”
Sydney-based psychic Rob Tilley also claims to regularly conduct house clearings. He shared, “I’ll visit a house and if it’s haunted, I’ll convince the ghosts to leave. I’ll tell them, ‘Stop being a bloody nuisance,’ but it’s all done telepathically.”
One client allegedly hired Tilley to cleanse a $4 million mansion after potential buyers were scared off by the resident spirits. However, Tilley explained, “It turned out not to be haunted, but there’s no way to predict which homes will need clearing. There’s no pattern to it.”
2. Laura Day
In the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, corporate psychic Laura Day remarked, “I love crisis. I love turning it around. I’m going to brag—over the last few weeks, I’ve become a hero. My clients were all prepared for this. They got out of the market a year ago, and now they’re calling me saying, ‘The world’s freaking out and I’m just sitting here calm.’”
Her clients, including corporations and high-profile individuals like Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston, and Rosanna Arquette, paid her $10,000 per session. By then, Day had already earned over $10 million.
Although she adheres to the corporate dress code and behaviors, she takes pride in having little genuine understanding of how the system operates, claiming that her abilities work best when she is an “information desert.”
She prefers to describe her powers as an exceptionally strong form of intuition, one that is seldom wrong unless misinterpreted. Despite her profession, she has said, “I hate the word ‘psychic.’ It makes me think of tea leaves and crystal balls and a six-floor walk-up to a place that smells like cat’s piss.”
In the early 1990s, she embarked on a career as a psychic after her marriage ended and she asked a friend if he would pay her for her stock tips, which she intuited. She later published a best-selling book titled Practical Intuition.
However, Adam Robinson, an award-winning author and cofounder of Princeton Review, claimed in 2010 that he had supported his ex-girlfriend Day for years and had actually written most of her books. According to Robinson, Practical Intuition was based on his own work, derived from her largely unusable notes.
Robinson also accused Day of conning him out of millions and manipulating him emotionally, particularly by using his concern for her young son. He alleged that Day even convinced him to transfer the royalties of his books to her.
Day refuted the accusations, stating that they were motivated by revenge and spite rather than any factual basis. The judge found no evidence to support claims that Day had committed any crimes, but still granted Robinson’s peculiar request to have a legal guardian appointed to assist him in managing his income.
1. Mahendra Sharma
Starting from modest origins as a stockbroker in India, Mahendra Sharma created a unique astrological forecasting system called the Wave of Nature System. According to Sharma's writings, his insights into planetary movements influenced his predictions of major global events, such as the fall of the Soviet Union, the Gulf War, and the surge in banking stocks after the 1987 market crash.
He then spent 12 years in Kenya, where he began offering advice to financial leaders globally. It is said that he predicted the dot-com bubble and its subsequent collapse, the September 11 attacks, and the commodities bull market that followed in 2001.
During that time, his predictions leaned more towards social and political matters than financial forecasts. However, as he shared with Forbes: “I stopped making those kinds of predictions in late 1995 because I didn’t think they were beneficial and not really helping anyone. I chose to focus on financial forecasting instead and invested $17,000 in American dot-com companies. I held that investment for four years, making significant profits before the bubble burst.”
Since 2001, Sharma has been based in the US, where he has authored nine books on his methods. He contends that all living things, including financial markets, operate in cycles that align with the wave of nature. He believes that defying this wave leads to inevitable failure.
Sharma asserts that the wave of nature can be quantified and measured through the universal planetary movements. He claims this wave is a fundamental building block of the universe, and the oldest science of humankind, which has unfortunately been overshadowed by the dominance of Western culture worldwide.
