how useful is astrology? can it foretell the future?

Can it foretell the future? No; the future is open ended; things can always be changed.

Is it useful? Depends...

Astrology is about entertainment, first and foremost. There are some aspects that do help to make decisions, but they are more about the person who gets the 'forecast', rather than the forecast itself.

People do tend to fit into types, and there is a correlation between star type (the sun sign) and the personality type one is. You get a better idea when you take that Myers-Briggs test, but even that is not really a full definition of a human being and what they will do in specific situations.

Even with mythological/legendary people, their future is not defined until the situations that bring out their personality are present.

By all means, accept the archetype that a sun sign implies, modify it with time and place, and planetary/ asteroid positions. It's harmless in itself. But, don't take it seriously - it can only push you in a null direction, unless you are already in a direction that achieves what you are intended to achieve.

Your question is quite interesting. I can assure you that Mrs. Gandhi was being murdered by her body guards, She was shot by her two of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards. I think the death has more likely pertaining to sort of sectarian conflict just as what has happened in Afghanistan of the so called insider attacks a few days ago.

You should learn more about the reasons and goals of studying astrology in th university is not intenting to avoid any assassination. In contrary, it is the aims and goals of the inviduals.

http://astronuts.tribe.net/thread/2cc3b886-ae79-40...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi

Yes! Vedic Astrology can tell you about your future. It is statistical method developed by Indian sages after years of observations. As compared to Western Astrology, Vedic astrology is very elaborate and involves a lot of calculations. The deductions would depend on the astrologer's analysis of his calculations and his character itself as some divine intuition plays a part in forecasts. These deductions would vary depending on individual experience and knowledge like a doctor who would be prescribing a medicine depending on his knowledge and experience. Moreover, Hinduism declares Vedic Astrology a "Dev-Vidhya" and its origin is traced back to 'Vedas'. Therefore when it is practiced by persons of high character, like a sage, results are accurate. Commercial astrologers which you may consult or politicians would consult, may not give accurate results because they have made it a means to make money. They are not blessed with divine intuition/ loose their divine blessings after some commercial success. Many times quacks pose themselves as sadhus and offer astrological predictions. One must be careful about these pit-falls.

Astrology relies on three things: Delusion, wishful-thinking and gullibility.

If the future was fixed so that it could be foretold, how could it prevent anything? If you prevented an assassination from occurring as a result of foreseeing it, it would not occur so you could not foresee it.

The "grandfather paradox" in reverse.

It is soothing to the ears whether it will be true or not has to be experienced.

It's crap