We are a nation of fatalists. Anything that happens to us is our fate. Which actually is not a bad belief because it allows us to accept the tragedies and obstacles faced in life and move on. Unlike our American counterparts we do not require shrinks to set us straight. It's our karma. But on the other hand we also believe in astrology. Horoscopes are drawn at birth and are regularly checked so that we can accordingly make our life's decisions. We rely on horoscopes to help us circumvent, maybe prevent, unfortunate happenings in our lives.

There has been a lot of talk about astrology in the recent regicide in Nepal. Apparently the Queen refused her son's choice of marriage partner citing that astrologers had predicted the death of the King if the Crown Prince married before he was thirty-five. Well, the King did die and as did the rest of the royal family including the Crown Prince. Maybe the prophecies came true but it was not their very interpretation. The prince was not married and the astrologers seemed to have missed predicting everyone else's tragic deaths.

These days horoscopes can be drawn and interpreted to suit one's preference. Doctors perform C sections to deliver babies at the most auspicious time selected by the parents. Does this silly manipulation guarantee that nothing can go wrong in the lives of these children? One can draw parallels with the Nazis trying to create a genetically superior race. People with perfect futures! Wonder what the parents were smoking when making such decisions.

If we are fatalists why do we believe in horoscopes? What will be, will be. So why try prevent it. Really, how can anyone or anything save you from your own life?