{"id":589585,"date":"2026-05-23T12:24:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T09:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/05\/589585\/astrologers-tarot-readers-and-the-secret-management-how-esotericism-made-its-way-into-politics\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T12:24:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T09:24:42","slug":"astrologers-tarot-readers-and-the-secret-management-how-esotericism-made-its-way-into-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/05\/589585\/astrologers-tarot-readers-and-the-secret-management-how-esotericism-made-its-way-into-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Astrologers, tarot readers and the \"secret management\": how esotericism made its way into politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

The publication \u00abUkrayinska Pravda\u00bb published<\/a> a piece about the influence of esotericism, astrology and occult practices on society and Ukraine’s political elite, prompted by the resonance around former Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, whose consultation with astrologer Veronika Anikiyovych (\u201cVeronika Feng Shui Office\u201d in his phone) became known during a court hearing.<\/p>\n

The authors cite results of a KMIS survey for 2024<\/strong>: 35%<\/strong> of Ukrainians admit belief in astrology, 25%<\/strong> in extrasensory abilities, 15%<\/strong> in tarot reading, and overall at least one of these practices is believed in by 43%<\/strong> of respondents.<\/p>\n

After the surge of attention to the Yermak story, the theme of \u201csecret governance\u201d of Ukraine was quickly picked up by Russian propagandists: in just 3<\/strong> days pro-Russian accounts generated more than 1.2<\/strong> thousand posts, which together collected over 21<\/strong> million views, accusing the Ukrainian authorities of participating in rituals, satanism and moral decay.<\/p>\n

The publication also reminds that turning to astrologers and magicians is not a purely Ukrainian phenomenon: French President Fran\u00e7ois Mitterrand consulted astrologer Elisabeth Teissier and even considered the \u201ccompatibility\u201d of ministers’ horoscopes when making appointments; the Reagans in the USA used Joan Quigley\u2019s advice to choose favorable dates for political events; in Argentina occultist L\u00f3pez Rega had influence over state governance through President Isabel Per\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

In Ukraine one of the first proponents of astrology in politics is named as Leonid Kravchuk, who cooperated with Russian astrologer Pavlo Globa; later others also turned to forecasts \u2014 in particular Viktor Medvedchuk publicly inquired about his own horoscope on Radio Svoboda, and Yulia Tymoshenko, the piece claims, maintained long contacts with the \u201cmedia fortune-teller\u201d Maria Tycha.<\/p>\n

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\u201cShe will never be as lucky as she will be in the period from 2010<\/strong> to 2015<\/strong>,\u201d \u2014 said astrologer Pavlo Globa.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Events went differently: Tymoshenko lost the election to Viktor Yanukovych in 2010<\/strong> and later ended up in prison.<\/p>\n

Why officials turn to esotericism despite education and experience is explained by the publication through expert assessments. \u201cThey go to fortune-tellers not for control, but precisely for assurance that their decision is the right one,\u201d believes political consultant Oleksii Kovzhun. He adds that some make a \u201cquantum leap\u201d into high politics without proper preparation and try to compensate for internal insecurity by searching for \u201chigher knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

A separate section is devoted to Veronika Anikiyovych, about whom there is no consensus in the esoteric community: some colleagues call her little-known or even a fraud, others \u2014 a full member of the professional community. \u201cA normal, open person who is passionate about astrology and actively develops professionally,\u201d noted astrologer Zoya Kopchynska.<\/p>\n

The esoteric community in general has long become a noticeable part of the Ukrainian media landscape: magicians, tarologists and psychics run popular blogs, appear on air and influence audience moods. \u201cPractitioners of magic participate in internal and external information campaigns. That is, they are part of the information space,\u201d believes media expert Oksana Moroz.<\/p>\n

Demand for such \u201copinion leaders\u201d is also evidenced by accounts from participants in TV production: former producer of the \u201cBattle of the Psychics\u201d Oleksii Udovytsky recalled that at the start of the full-scale war creators of Ukrainian propaganda content approached him with proposals to involve psychics as speakers. \u201cWe need these people because they are opinion leaders, people believe them,\u201d recalled former producer of the \u201cBattle of the Psychics\u201d Oleksii Udovytsky.<\/p>\n

In Ukraine during the war experts warn about the danger of widespread esoteric practices that affect citizens’ psyches, the behavior of military personnel and can substitute rational decisions with myths; this is pointed out, in particular, by psychoanalyst Yurii Prokhasko and strategic communications expert Liubov Tsybulska.<\/p>\n

A 24-year-old Ukrainian serviceman, amid panic attacks, turned to Maria Tycha and paid 12,500<\/strong> hryvnias for a consultation; after a prediction about possible death he left his unit without authorization.<\/p>\n

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\u201cDuring personal or societal crises people feel disorientation and anxiety,\u201d \u2014 noted psychoanalyst Yurii Prokhasko.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to the specialist, in such periods people seek the illusion of control and turn to esotericism precisely as a way to reduce anxiety, and belief in \u201call-powerful\u201d bearers of secret knowledge is often accompanied by a desire to shift responsibility for one\u2019s own decisions onto others.<\/p>\n

Liubov Tsybulska emphasizes that Russian structures use esoteric practitioners to influence Ukrainian servicemen and their families; in particular, during private consultations people may disclose sensitive information and be subjected to psychological pressure.<\/p>\n

Experts view the fascination with astrology and occultism as a manifestation of general anxiety, political loneliness and a low level of trust in state institutions, which increases the readiness to seek simple answers to complex questions.<\/p>\n

The greatest risks arise when such practices begin to influence political decision-making, the management of social processes, or become a tool of information manipulation.<\/p>\n

Previously we wrote:<\/h3>\n