SAN JOSE, Calif. – In the end, it could come down to President George W. Bush’s ears versus John Kerry’s eyebrows and long face.

Pollsters at Gallup, Zogby’s and Harris have their survey methods. But some political analysts prefer gold coins and a turtle shell, Indian astrological charts and the 3,000-year-old Chinese divination manual known as the I-Ching.

“Your future, your fate depends on what date you are born,” said Dr. K. Kishor Sharma, a priest at Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, where the faithful consult him to name their children and learn about their own fates. “The planets in your chart inform you what happens but you can’t stop it.”

Yet, like the public opinion polls, the predictions of four Asian fortune-tellers well known in their respective communities call for a close finish. And surprise, surprise, the seers are evenly divided as to whom the heavens will smile upon on Tuesday.

In many Asian countries, divination is a respected calling. Important financial and personal decisions are often made in consultation with soothsayers, who are addressed as “masters” and “teachers.” Unlike Western fortune-tellers who read tarot cards and palms, many Asian prognosticators specialize in reading faces.

Without a doubt, George W. Bush has auspicious ears. According to the augers, ideal ears are like those of the Buddha: big and long, nicely curved with hanging earlobes at the end. “Bush has big ears in proportion to his face – very lucky ears,” proclaimed Huyen Linh Tu, a Vietnamese fortune-teller who dispenses advice to call-in listeners of Little Saigon Radio every Sunday. “Those ears can hear very far. He knows when people are talking ill of him.”

The fortune-tellers also pointed out that John Kerry’s eyebrows droop downward across his eyes (bad) while Bush’s are even and sometimes arch skyward when he’s animated (good). Eyebrows that arch downward reveal the person is prone to backing down when pushed hard enough, they said. “He’s willing to negotiate and isn’t as resolute about things,” said YC Sun, who advises tech executives and learned the art of feng shui – placement of objects to best channel positive energy – and fortune telling fXrom his father in Hong Kong. “That’s why he flip-flops on issues.”

There’s hardly any space between Kerry’s eyebrows and his eyes, which is a sign that “he sees issues only from one side and can’t see or strategize far ahead into the future,” said Doan Van Thong, a Vietnamese fortune-teller and feng shui master.

But Bush’s eyebrows aren’t all good. His brows reveal a person who is very determined but also has a quick temper, said two of the seers.

Bush also has thin lips, which is a sign that he is very critical and is sometimes not truthful, said the fortune-tellers.

Kerry’s face, meanwhile, is a liability. “If your face is long, your fortune is very, very bad,” said Thong.

“It’s a face that’s hard to like,” said Tu. “People don’t connect with him. He’s very lonely and isolated.”

Sun, meanwhile, likes Kerry’s nose, which isn’t pointy like Bush’s. Long and graceful, “it has a good tip,” he said. “It means he’s very creative,” said Sun. He can easily sniff out “the key to a problem or to a success.”

But other factors matter as well. Sun takes issue with Kerry’s choice of a running mate. Both John Edwards (born June 10, 1953) and Kerry (born Dec. 11, 1943) are represented by water signs in the Chinese zodiac. The I-Ching teaches that the earth is governed by four elements: metal, earth, water and wood – and they need to be balanced to achieve harmony.

Since Kerry’s is governed by water, he should have chosen someone who is governed by fire for balance.

Bush and Cheney, however, are a perfect match. Bush (born July 6, 1946) is metal and Cheney (born Jan. 30, 1941), earth. The two work extremely well together because earth nurtures metal. “Earth provides the strategy, wisdom, an excellent fatherly or motherly shield,” said Sun.

And then there are the stars to consult. Bush was born under the sign of Cancer and three planets are in his first house (which stands for the self), said Sharma. “He has the signs to be a king.”

However, Bush doesn’t have the leadership abilities that Kerry has. Kerry was born under the sign of Scorpio, which is governed by Mars – the mark of the leader. What’s more, Mars and the moon is propitiously sitting in the house that represents Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. She is the key to whether Kerry beats Bush Tuesday, said Sharma. “If she whole-heartedly, 100 percent supports him, there’s no way Bush can win,” said Sharma.

Other predictions made by the four seers, who say it will be a neck-to-neck finish:

• Sun shuffled cards and slammed them on the table. Bush drew the ace of spades, the best card in the deck. “Bush will come from behind to win,” said Sun.

• Thong said Bush will win because his “ying and yang” will be balanced on Nov. 2, unlike Kerry. Also, Bush is a dog in the Vietnamese zodiac and the stars closest to him reveal a sword. “He will have the strength to beat his enemies.”

• Sharma says Kerry will win; among the reasons: calculations show that 2 is Kerry’s lucky number – so a Nov. 2 election will give him the edge.

• Tu lit incense and prayed to the gods for guidance. He then shook a turtle shell and out tumbled gold coins onto a ceramic plate adorned with a Chinese letter. “Kerry will have the advantage,” he declared.

And taking a lesson from the politicians, Thong gave himself an out: “If Bush doesn’t win, it means that the heavens don’t love him anymore.”

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