Anastasia Paruntseva, Founder & CEO of Visionary Partners Ltd. Global expansion expert, book author, with 15+ years in tech, AI & robotics.
I never thought I’d write this. Honestly, I believed magical thinking died along with DVDs, dial-up internet and the last episode of Charmed. I was absolutely certain that tarot cards, numerology and astrology had been safely retired to the same dusty attic where we keep Beanie Babies and MySpace profiles.
And yet, here we are, in 2025: People are making business decisions based on star signs, energy readings and something called a “soul matrix calculation.” I’m not sure what that is, but I’m 99% certain it’s not covered in Harvard Business Review.
Magic Is For Parties, Not Boardrooms
As a CEO with over 15 years of experience in IT and innovation tech, scaling companies in 50+ markets, leading teams of 100+ professionals and now running my own consultancy firm, I thought I’d seen it all. Apparently not. Because last week, I stumbled on a post in a women’s business group promoting the use of tarot, astrology and manifestation for strategic planning.
Even worse? 80+ people had left enthusiastic comments. I thought I needed coffee. Turns out, I needed a reality check—and now I’m writing one.
When business leaders start asking, “What does Mercury in retrograde mean for our Q4 goals?” we’ve gone too far. This isn’t a harmless quirk; it’s a full-on leadership crisis disguised as “intuition.”
The Illusion Of Control—And Why It Sells
Researchers have long noted that people will reach for anything that provides a sense of control. Sometimes that’s a plan. Sometimes it’s … pulling a tarot card called “The Moon” and deciding to delay product launch because it “feels risky.”
A UCLA study found that people often label leaders as “visionary” simply because they act mysteriously or unpredictably, even if there’s zero logical basis for success. Translation: Your “genius” boss might just be winging it and hiding behind a zodiac meme.
Psychologists call this the illusion of control: the belief that thoughts or rituals can change outcomes. It’s comforting. Like believing that wearing lucky socks will boost quarterly earnings. Newsflash: It won’t.
In times of stress, people are even more likely to turn to astrology, crystals and even TikTok witches to “feel grounded.” I’d prefer they turn to profit & loss statements—but hey, that’s just me.
Real Consequences: When Spreadsheets Meet Spells
Let’s be clear: Magical thinking has real-world costs. Case in point? The Silicon Valley Bank collapse. Confidence replaced strategy. Risk was ignored. And while no one blamed Mercury in retrograde, blind faith in the tech world’s infallibility played a major role.
When financial models become vision boards, things implode. Not magically. Just logically.
From ‘Manifestation’ To Mayhem: The Success Industry’s Dark Side
Let’s talk about the “become-a-CEO-in-30-days”-type courses. Spoiler: You can’t. I spent over 15 years mastering strategy before I even considered launching my consultancy company. Founding a company isn’t a weekend retreat; it’s a brutal climb with Excel sheets, sleepless nights and, yes, actual knowledge.
Now add manifestation culture to this mix, where magical thinking is monetized through MLM schemes, fake coaches and promises of abundance if you just “align your energy.”
Recent studies show that business students can be alarmingly prone to pseudoscience, a worrying trend for future leadership.
In short:
• Magical thinking persists because it feels good, not because it works.
• It’s a convenient excuse to avoid responsibility—and reality.
• Your moon sign isn’t responsible for low sales. Bad strategy is.
So, what now?
1. Don’t consult the stars. Consult your data.
2. Stop outsourcing decisions to mystics. Find a mentor, not a magician.
3. Respect the process. Success isn’t instant, especially not via “CEO manifestation bootcamp.”
4. Invest in real skills. Evidence-based thinking scales. Tarot cards don’t.
Business is hard. That’s the point.
I get it. The idea that a numerologist can reveal your perfect business partner or “abundance day” is tempting. But leadership isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about owning decisions, not deflecting them onto moon phases.
Let’s keep magic where it belongs: in fantasy novels, Halloween parties and your aunt’s crystal collection. In business, there’s no substitute for strategy, logic and execution.
And if you’re still not convinced, pull a card. Just don’t bet your revenue on it.
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