Do you want a setup? You don’t need one, really. I did this last year and liked it, so I’m doing it again. It’s that simple. First, a legal disclaimer: I am not a practicing psychic or oracle. This is for entertainment purposes only. Side note: I’m not saying this is what I want; the following is more of an “I could see this happening” type of scenario.
OK, let’s get started.
IN THE FUTURE: GENERAL PREDICTIONS
In the future…
…The spiritual lifestyle trend will swing so far in the opposite direction that people will remove pronouns and begin tagging themselves in correspondence and profiles using their spirit animal, which they overpaid a spiritual person to figure out what that animal is.
“Shannon Laws, North American Beaver”
…Knitting and dyeing yarn with natural dyes will trend among teens and young adults.
“Mark can knit a [insert future word for wicked] sweater.”
…Teens and young adults will begin making paper and writing to each other by sending letters through the mail. The ability to create high-quality paper will be a flex, and the message will be better received.
“Abby must really love me. They pressed flowers into the fibers of their love letter to me.”
…An anti-oil social justice campaign will include the rejection of oil-based textiles. This includes polyester, nylon, fleece, spandex, and acrylic. The market will replace these with all-natural fibers such as cotton, linen, hemp, and jute.
…Fast Fashion will finally end. It will become fashionable to have a small, high-quality wardrobe—think 10 shirts, 10 pairs of pants, 10 pairs of socks, etc. Repair, not replace, will become the hot thing.
“OMG, Jennifer has like 20 shirts. She is [insert future phrase for uncool].”
“Did you see the new patch on Tyler’s jeans? He’s so [insert future word for attractive].”
…“Repair, don’t replace” will also carry over to appliances, tech, furniture, and other household items.
“Honey, did you pick up the coffee maker from the repair shop?”
ONE-YEAR PREDICTIONS
In the next 12 months, the following will occur:
-Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump will leave the planet.
-The MAGA campaign in America will meet extreme global ridicule and finally get the hint, collapsing in on itself.
“It’s just embarrassing. I get so much crap over my ‘Trump’ flag. Not worth it.”
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR PREDICTIONS
- A shift in global economic power: Europe and North America will officially be replaced by Asian markets.
- North Korea’s new leader will begin reconciliation discussions with South Korea. This will be a Berlin Wall–style (1989) moment in history, marking the end of the dictator era and encouraging other “closed” countries to slowly open to world trade.
- Fish populations—especially in the South Atlantic—will increase.
- The rise of the Electric Newspaper. This is a handheld, internet-connected device that folds and feels just like a traditional newspaper. It will be customizable, with vertical or horizontal folds, and available in sizes based on standard print formats (e.g., Sunday Times or magazine). Lightweight, reusable, and subscription-based (up-to-the-minute, daily, weekly, or monthly updates). You buy it for the aesthetic and the vibe.
- One more pandemic—just for fun.
- Expansion and growth across the African continent. Bullet trains and freeway systems will be built as countries collaborate on routes to boost trade while protecting heritage. Protecting natural regions and tribal lands will be a priority. This will mark the beginning of Africa becoming a self-driven economic powerhouse.
- Expansion and growth in Russia. Russia will fall and rebuild itself by expanding east.
- One to four alien species will finally be introduced to everyday people. Of course, there are many more species, but they will test us out on just a few. After the initial shock—wild conversations, public displays, and some folks overreaching—acceptance will follow. (See 2025 predictions for more alien content.)
++PLUS TWO-HUNDRED-YEAR PREDICTIONS
Looking far into the future, my magic ball sees these trends in society and business:
- Asteroid mining
- Moon-based businesses on the Moon
- Redesigned concepts for everyday items. Engineers and inventors will deconstruct and offer revised concepts for things like shoes, cars, and beds. Questions regarding everyday objects, experiences, and institutions will go under the microscope, searching for simplicity, efficiency, and improvement. This will be based on science, data, and need.
- Personal garden rooms inside homes
- Certain dog breeds will be phased out and will no longer be supported by Kennel Clubs. Some extreme genetic traits, such as flattened noses, breed traits that cause joint conditions, and toy-size extremes. This will be viewed as cruel and likened to Frankenstein’s monster.
- Along the same lines, keeping caged birds, reptiles, rodents, and even fish as pets will come to an end.
- Plastic and aluminum will no longer be used in household items.
- Fashion trends will include folded cloth, origami-style evening wear, and electronic clothing.
- A global war on poverty will begin, bringing a general increase in quality of life for all of Earth’s people.
- The planet will enter a kind of illuminated renaissance.
I am a romantic optimist; I can’t help myself. I’m not here to preach or get political. However, before I say my good-byes, did you hear about this Sammy Hagar song (Crack in the World lyrics © Wb Music Corp.) from 1977 that included a 2025 prediction? I’ll leave you with these lyrics, oh, and Happy New Year!
Just fifty more years, we’re all gonna know
Why, when, where, how, and who gets to go
So let’s all have a good time before the great divide
‘Cause things will start separating come 2025So look for the subtle clues
It won’t make the front-page news
That depends upon which side that you choose
shannon p. laws 