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Illutration created and copyright by Drake Kim
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2025: Shamanism and Investing – Why Do the Elite Rely on Fortune Telling?
As we observe the economic trends of 2025, an unexpected scene emerges—billionaires sitting before fortune tellers, seeking guidance in an era where cutting-edge AI analyzes markets and algorithms predict stock prices. At first glance, this seems anachronistic, but in reality, it’s a historical pattern repeating itself. Every time a financial crisis looms, demand for mysticism and prophecy surges. Why do the wealthy, in times of uncertainty, trust intuition over science, and mysterious words over hard data?
The Rise of Mysticism in Uncertain Times
Throughout history, economic crises and mysticism have always gone hand in hand. After the 1929 Great Depression, interest in astrology and occult literature soared in the U.S. During the 1997 IMF crisis, South Korea saw an increase in the influence of shamans and fortune tellers. Even today, stories persist of top executives from major conglomerates secretly consulting spiritual advisors before making critical business decisions.
What’s fascinating is that the higher the level of economic uncertainty, the more prominent mysticism becomes among the social elite. This isn’t mere superstition. The wealthier someone is, the more they stand to lose. They recognize that rational analysis alone cannot explain or control all market variables. Belief in “unseen forces” is ultimately a psychological mechanism to restore a sense of control. As Nietzsche once said, “In uncertainty, people create gods.” The same applies to the financial world—when scientific analysis fails, people seek a different kind of deity.
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Illutration created and copyright by Drake Kim
The Wealthier You Are, the More You Believe
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Ironically, the richer a person is, the more likely they are to rely on superstitions. The poor focus on daily survival, but the wealthy worry about protecting and expanding their assets. A study in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) found that successful individuals, such as CEOs and politicians, place great value on ‘luck’ and often engage in non-scientific decision-making practices.
It’s no secret that hedge fund managers handling billions of dollars perform rituals or insist on wearing specific colors for luck before making major investment decisions. This underscores the deep connection between investing and psychology. In a market driven by fear and greed, pure rationality is rarely enough. Even financial strategies like momentum investing capitalize on herd psychology, and mysticism serves a similar role as a psychological safety net. As a famous Wall Street saying goes, “If you can’t overcome fear, learn to manage it.”
What Can We Learn From This?
Instead of dismissing mysticism as mere irrationality, we should analyze why and how it operates during economic uncertainty. The key insight is that people don’t seek ‘accurate predictions’—they seek psychological stability. The more uncertainty grows, the more emotions outweigh logic, influencing not only investment decisions but also consumer behavior and political choices.
Here’s how to strategically navigate this reality:
- Reduce uncertainty through a balanced approach
- Instead of relying solely on data or intuition, combine the two. Smart investors follow time-tested principles like asset allocation and long-term investing while integrating intuitive insights.
- Observe the behavior of others
- Instead of blindly believing in mysticism, analyze how believers behave in the market. The actions of those influenced by superstitions can reveal unique investment opportunities.
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Illutration created and copyright by Drake Kim
Harnessing the Power of Belief
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Mysticism isn’t disappearing—if anything, it’s becoming more prominent as technology advances and information overload increases. People crave simpler solutions, and symbols or rituals often feel more intuitive than complex algorithms. The challenge is to ensure that belief is not just about comfort but also contributes to better decision-making.
At the end of the day, markets are driven by psychology, not numbers. And in the realm of psychology, belief—whether rational or irrational—can be a powerful force. Whether in real estate, stocks, or cryptocurrency, the ability to remain calm amidst uncertainty and exploit the fears of others is what separates winners from losers.
Stay tuned for more in-depth insights and fascinating perspectives. The next article is coming soon!
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