Knocking on the planets’ door before investing: inside the rise of financial astrology
- 30 Mar
- 6 dakikada okunur
Some dismiss it outright; others plan their lives around every word it offers. As its popularity accelerated, financial astrology has become an increasingly visible field. Astrologer Hande Kazanova explains what it is—and what it suggests for Turkey.
When people want to invest their savings, they usually turn to familiar sources.
An economist on television.A market analyst on social media.A banker friend.A relative who insists Bitcoin will rise again.
But in recent years, another source of guidance has quietly gained followers: the planets.
Often dismissed by critics but embraced by a growing audience, financial astrology—sometimes called business astrology or astro-economics—claims to examine how planetary cycles may correspond with trends in financial markets.
The field does not offer direct investment advice, practitioners say. Instead, it interprets the movement of celestial bodies and connects their influence on human psychology with fluctuations in markets.
Despite its growing visibility on social media and television, the idea itself is far from new.
From early market cycles to planetary theories
The roots of financial astrology stretch back more than a century.
One of the most frequently cited figures is the American trader William Delbert Gann, whose market forecasts remain widely discussed among traders.
Although Gann was known to have an interest in astronomy, he insisted his methods were based primarily on mathematics.
“There is nothing mysterious about my predictions,” he once said, arguing that geometry and algebra formed the basis of his work.
For Gann, the key lay in historical patterns.
“For success, you must study past records,” he wrote. “Because in the future, markets repeat the past.”
If enough data were available, he believed it was possible to identify recurring cycles and estimate when certain events might occur.
Interest in cyclical patterns gained renewed attention after the Great Depression. One of the leading figures was Edward R. Dewey, chief analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who believed that cycles existed not only in markets but also in nature and social life.
In 1941, Dewey founded the Foundation for the Study of Cycles, an organization that continues to study recurring patterns in economics and natural phenomena. The foundation cites Dewey as saying:
“The really important aspect of comparative cycle study is the possibility that it will lead to the discovery of hitherto unknown environmental forces that affect life, weather, and many other terrestrial phenomena. The proof of the existence of such forces will push back the frontiers of knowledge as much as any single discovery that I can think of.”
Other early works in the field include Louise McWhirter’s 1937 book Astrology and Stock Market Forecasting and Donald Bradley’s Stock Market Prediction: The Planetary Barometer and How to Use It, published in 1947.
Today, practitioners still cite these early texts.
One contemporary example is Henry Weingarten, founder of the New York School of Astrology. Since 1988, he has managed the Astrologers Fund, advising institutional investors and asset managers while using astrology as a core analytical framework.
A niche field finds an audience in Turkey
In Turkey, financial astrology has gradually moved from the margins to mainstream visibility.
Dedicated television segments now appear on economic channels, while social media platforms such as YouTube and X attract large audiences for astrologers discussing financial trends.
Among the most prominent figures combining financial commentary with astrology is Hande Kazanova.
Kazanova’s fascination with the sky began in childhood.
Raised by a mother who loved nature and introduced her to constellations such as Orion, she said her early curiosity about space eventually evolved into a professional career.
After studying economics at Istanbul University, Kazanova began integrating astrology into her work in the early 2000s, specializing in financial astrology.
In 2011, she began appearing on the financial television channel Bloomberg HT, where she discussed astrology alongside economic developments.
Speaking to Independent Turkish, Kazanova said her interest in financial astrology deepened during the years she hosted a weekly program until 2013. By examining astrological cycles, she began comparing planetary alignments, full moons and new moons with periods of volatility in financial markets.
She cites astrologers such as Louise McWhirter, Georgia Anna Stathis, Raymond Merriman and Tim Bost among the figures who influenced her work.
In 2018, Kazanova attended the United Astrology Conference in Chicago, where she studied with Stathis, author of Business Astrology 101, and psychologist-astrologer Raymond Merriman. A year later, she spoke at the Second International Astrology Conference in Lisbon and later participated in an international conference in Turkey.
How financial astrology works
According to Kazanova, financial astrology is a branch of what astrologers call mundane astrology, which examines social and economic trends. It studies how planetary movements may influence daily activities, capital, and stock markets.
“Investments ultimately lead to production or consumption,” she said. “And people’s relationship with money can shape a country’s future.”
In practice, the field attempts to analyze both economic cycles and planetary cycles.
Practitioners generally divide it into two areas:
· Corporate business astrology, which applies astrological principles to companies or institutions
· Financial astrology, which examines market behaviour through astronomical data
Not an investment advice
Kazanova emphasizes that astrology should not be used as a standalone investment strategy.
“There are many people who love and respect astrology,” she said. “But it would not be right to guide someone to invest based solely on planetary principles.”
Instead, she argues that astrology should be seen as a complementary perspective, alongside fundamental and technical analysis. “In other words, we should view this system as a method of verification” she said.
Consultations may involve examining a client’s birth chart to identify potential income patterns, suitable investment areas or favourable timing.
In some cases, astrologers compare the astrological “chart” of an investment with the investor’s personal chart. The goal is to determine whether certain assets—such as gold, foreign currency, equities or bonds—may align better with the individual.
The timing of when investments begin, she added, is also considered. Still, she stresses that astrology cannot account for every variable.
“Even when you calculate everything carefully, delays or unexpected problems can arise,” she said. “Real-world events always play a role.”
Demand rises in uncertain times
Interest in financial astrology in Turkey increased significantly after the currency crisis of 2018, Kazanova says.
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the trend further.
As people spent more time at home, many began exploring astrology online.
“Astrology is not just about horoscope interpretations,” she said.
Her own schedule now includes media appearances, private consultations and a growing YouTube audience.
Critics remain unconvinced
Financial astrology continues to face strong criticism from economists, academics and investment professionals.
Sceptics argue that market movements cannot be reliably linked to planetary alignments and that astrology lacks empirical evidence.
Kazanova acknowledges the criticism but argues that astrology still contains analytical value.
“Astrology is a good data system,” she said, though she admits it cannot be considered a science because its outcomes involve probabilities rather than consistent results.
Astrologers, she adds, use mathematical and astronomical calculations to determine planetary positions, distances and angles.
“There are still many things science cannot fully explain,” she said. “That does not mean we reject science. We support its development.”
What the future may hold
As expected worldwide, the situation is not very encouraging for Turkey either.
Renowned statistician, economist, and financial astrologer Dr. Louise Mc. Whirter examined the 18-year cycles of the north and south lunar nodes. The data she presented is still very relevant today and provides us with very important information.
Asked about Turkey's economic outlook after the pandemic, Kazanova points to cyclical theories developed by financial astrologer, renowned statistician and economist Louise McWhirter.
McWhirter studied 18-year cycles linked to the lunar nodes, suggesting that certain economic downturns follow recurring patterns.
According to that interpretation, global economic pressures could intensify between 2022 and 2025, echoing earlier crises.
“Between 2022 and 2025 is the warning period, drawing parallels with 1929. We may see very significant upheavals and economic collapses all over the world during and after this period” she said.
Strains in the banking system, the balance of payments and monetary resources—combined with rising borrowing—could lead to pressures on interest rates and taxation, higher inflation and potentially recessionary conditions.
Kazanova also links planetary cycles to broader global challenges.
Taurus, a sign traditionally associated with material resources and agriculture, may correspond with concerns over food supply, climate change and water scarcity, she says.
At the same time, she views the current period as part of a larger transformation. . It represents restructuring and new steps to be taken towards digitalization in the monetary system.
The pandemic accelerated digitalisation across sectors including commerce, education, marketing and finance.
“Those who could adapt to changing conditions survived,” she said.
Searching for certainty
Whether seen as belief, alternative analysis or pseudoscience, financial astrology continues to attract attention.
In uncertain economic times, many investors are looking for patterns—any patterns—that might help them navigate the future.
And for some, that search leads not to analysts or economists, but to the sky.
(This article was first published in Independent Turkish on July 27, 2021)
Yorumlar