Mantic
Fortune-telling is the attempt to obtain information about the future, hidden connections, or hidden things (e.g., thoughts, fates, past events) through supernatural or intuitive means. It is an esoteric practice and has played a role in many cultures for thousands of years.
Here are a few typical forms of fortune-telling:
Card reading – e.g., with Tarot cards or Lenormand cards
Astrology – interpreting the future based on star constellations and the birth chart
Palm reading (chiromancy) – interpreting the lines and shapes on the hand
Crystal ball – meditative gazing into a sphere to receive visions
Runes or I Ching – oracles with traditional symbols
Pendulum dowsing – questions are answered through the movement of a pendulum
Dream interpretation – interpreting dreams as messages or clues about the future
Important: From a scientific perspective, fortune-telling is considered unprovable, and therefore pseudoscientific. Nevertheless, it has a firm place in many cultures, in pop culture – and sometimes simply as a ritual or life guide.
Fortune-telling encompasses a whole range of methods – essentially anything that attempts to reveal information about the future, fate, hidden things, or even spiritual connections – usually through symbolic, intuitive, or "psychic" techniques.
Here is an overview of the most popular forms of fortune-telling:
🔮 Card Reading
Tarot Cards
Lenormand Cards
Skat Cards (in German-speaking countries)
➡️ Cards are laid out and their images/symbols are interpreted.
🌌 Astrology
Interpretation of zodiac signs, planetary constellations, horoscopes
➡️ Birth charts are said to provide insight into personality and the future.
✋ Palmistry (palm reading)
Interpretation of lines on the hand (e.g., life line, love line, fate line)
➡️ Conclusions about life path, health, love, etc.
🔮 Crystal ball reading (crystallomancy)
Gazing into the ball is said to provide inner images or visions.
➡️ Often associated with a trance-like state.
🪐 Numerology
Meanings of numbers, e.g., from the date of birth or name
➡️ Each number represents specific characteristics or vibrations.
🧿 Casting runes
Ancient Germanic characters are drawn or cast.
➡️ Their symbolic meaning is interpreted.
🧘 I Ching (Chinese Oracle Book)
Coins or sticks are tossed, resulting in symbols (hexagrams)
➡️ The I Ching provides life advice and "answers" to questions.
🌀 Dowsing / Radiesthesia
A pendulum is held over questions, and its movement is interpreted as "yes" or "no."
➡️ Also used to locate water or energies.
🌙 Dream Interpretation
Dreams are interpreted as messages from the subconscious or fate.
➡️ Especially popular for recurring dreams.
👁️🗨️ Clairvoyance / Mediumship
Direct "seeing" of images, symbols, events (e.g., visions, inspirations)
➡️ Often considered a special gift.