Myanmar mystics divine future after ill-augured election

Sign up now: Get insights on Asias fast-moving developments

Astrologer Min Thein Kyaw consulting with a client at his fortune-telling studio in Yangon on Dec 17, 2025.

PHOTO: AFP

BANGKOK - What lies ahead after Myanmar’s forthcoming elections?

The answer is hidden in the alignment of the stars, the occult flame of black magic candles and sacred geometry visible only to the third eye – if you believe the country’s spiritual soothsayers.

“The question most people ask is clear. When will Myanmar prosper?“ said astrologer Linn Nhyo Taryar.

Five years ago, Myanmar’s future seemed more certain. The country had enjoyed a decade-long democratic experiment after a history of hermetic military rule.

But a 2021 military coup toppled the government, triggering civil war and precarity – from regular internet outages to life-or-death combat zone crises.

Dec 28 presents fresh uncertainty, as voting is set to start in a phased election being rejected by rebels and criticised abroad as a ploy to rebrand military rule.

Myanmar has a rich culture of fortune-telling, and many believe the future can be discerned by mystics.

The poll’s outcome, some reckon, could even be swayed with “Yadaya” – magic rituals thought to steer fate.

“People struggling with trouble turn to fortune-telling and Yadaya, seeking the power and belief derived from it,” said Mr Linn Nhyo Taryar.

“What people really want is a safe and secure life and future,” the 30-year-old told AFP.

Mr Linn Nhyo Taryar’s