Mahendra and Me

By George J. Paulos

 

As editor of the Freebuck.com website, I have been fortunate to become acquainted with many fine minds who write thoughtful and significant commentary on world financial markets. Of these commentators, perhaps the most unusual is a man called Mahendra Sharma. Mahendra is a native of Kenya who makes financial predictions based on astrological analysis. When I was first presented with the decision to publish Mahendra’s predictions, I hesitated. I am a man committed to rational analysis and the thought of publishing mystical predictions on a website devoted to serious financial commentary gave me pause. But I am also committed to an open discussion of markets from people of all persuasions and I felt that Mahendra’s ideas should be presented to the world for critical examination. So I began publishing his predictions starting in 2002.

 

Since then I have been quite amazed at the thoughtful and prescient predictions that this man has produced. He has become a favorite feature at Freebuck.com and has won over many skeptics. Mahendra does not claim that his predictions are 100% accurate, but his record is better than many well-regarded financial analysts and economists. At Freebuck.com, we specialize in presenting commentary and analysis on Gold, the Precious Metals, and alternative investing. Mahendra predicted a new bull long-term market in the precious metals back in 2001, an excellent call that he still maintains. I also predicted a bull market in the metals by using more conventional economic and technical analysis. I am often struck by how closely his predictions correspond to many of my own analyses.

 

Mahendra just published his 2004 prophecies in book form. It is quick read but an amazingly comprehensive look at global markets, politics, and religion. There are sections devoted to each of the main countries and primary global markets.  Some of his predictions are quite startling and others just confirm common market beliefs. This edition of the book is written in English and is well-presented considering the writer is not a native English speaker. In addition to his astrological predictions, Mahendra shows a keen understanding of global relations and seems to have a birds-eye perspective on the many cultures inhabiting the Earth. His sensitivity and insights are quite refreshing, particularly his thoughts on religion. He sometimes states some very strong opinions, but never seems to be confrontive to those that may disagree. In this book Mahendra has boldly stuck his neck out and made concrete predictions for us to evaluate at the year’s end. Some of his predictions I hope come true, but others I pray do not.

 

As I stated before, I do not profess to be a follower of astrology or any other mystical beliefs. But markets themselves are nothing but a formalized belief system. Stocks, bonds, and currencies hold no objective reality but represent real wealth because we collectively agree that they do. Many of the more “objective” market prediction techniques such as technical analysis can be thought of as just a sophisticated form of numerology. We do know that markets as well as whole societies wax and wane in cycles. Popular cycle theories such as Elliott Wave and Kondratieff Wave state that there are unseen cyclic influences on human affairs that causes booms, wars, and depressions. Astrology is also a study of complex cycles and some may indeed be correlated with human affairs. Anybody making in investment is in effect making a prediction of the future based on some set of beliefs. Whether his predictions come true or not, Mahendra is successfully challenging our own beliefs, whether rational or mystical, and forces us to reexamine our own basis for anticipating the future. For that alone, I commend Mahendra and recommend his writings to any with an open mind.

 

George J Paulos

Editor/Publisher

http://www.freebuck.com

 

Mahendra’s Website:

http://www.mahendraprophecy.com