Ideal for those who love to ponder life’s biggest questions
Ever wondered what your date of birth says about you? Do you spend longer than you should staring into the middle distance enigmatically, contemplating what the future holds? You’re not alone.
Human’s have been trying to predict the future for millennia, using a wide variety of methods, some reliant on fact and some on a fair bit of fiction, fluke, and felicity, too.
With recent reports revealing that millennials are obsessed with astrology, it seems that one thing is for certain; that prophecy and prediction are here to stay. If you’re interested in expanding your horizons on this most fascinating of subjects, then read on; here are 5 methods of divination and fortune telling, IDEAL for those who love to ponder life’s biggest questions.
TAROT
Originating in Europe in the 15th century, Tarot is a hugely popular form of Cartomancy (card divination). Though suits vary by country and region, the deck is similar to that of standard playing cards, with four suits of fourteen cards (including four faces), though Tarot differs in that it has a single card, the ‘fool’, and a trump suit made up of 21 unique cards.
That’s 78 cards in total, which are, contrary to popular belief and representation in the media, not used to predict the future, per se, but rather as a guide for ‘manifesting’ future outcomes. Some enthusiasts believe that certain representations on the cards (after being shuffled by the person receiving the reading – thus transferring their energy onto the cards) provide an insight and access into the subconscious mind. Others simply view it as a mystical, enjoyable pastime.
Either way, Tarot is most beneficial when considering the deeper, broader questions relating to your psyche, rather than more precise enquiries about your future finances or how many great, great, great grandchildren you’ll have, for instance.
You don’t necessarily have to enlist the services of a professional tarot reader, either.
HOROSCOPES
The astrological zodiac is one of the oldest continually believed in systems on earth, even predating most of the world’s religions. The system breaks people down into twelve different personality types based on the constellation the sun was in when they were born.
Your date of birth is a pretty profound thing. Not only is that the day you joined us all in this wacky world, but some believe that it also says a lot about you and what sort of person you’re more likely to become.
That said, it might all be down to the concept of self-fulfilling prophecies. All the way back in the 1970s, one study said certain star signs can correlate with certain personality traits.
However, as the BBC states, scientists concluded that this was because of the “power of expectation”. Say a Libra is told that they are cool, cerebral and charming, that they are idealist perfectionists with a razor-sharp sense humour, chances are they will act this way.
Or, if a Sagittarian is told that they are optimistic, progressive and adventurous, then chances are they will try and behave according to these attributes, particularly if they’re firm believers in star signs!
Whether it’s just a bit of fun or a binding set of characteristics, it’s up for you to decide. Though if you’re prone to the suggestibility of a Leo, perhaps you’re more likely to be a believer.
NUMEROLOGY
Numerology is an esoteric study of numbers and how they connect to energetic influences in the world. There are several important numbers when reading someone’s numerology, with perhaps the most important being the ‘life path number(s)’. When it comes to calculating this important number, first be aware that there are actually eleven life path numbers. One through nine, plus eleven, and twenty-two.
It is believed these numbers can give you a hint as to your purpose here on Earth. You can find this number yourself by adding up all the digits of your birthdate (Y+Y+Y+Y+M+M+D+D). If you get a multi-digit number other than eleven or twenty-two, add up all of the digits. Still with us? Good. Keep doing this until you have a single number, and then look up what that means; you might be surprised just how prescient this path number can be! For instance, IDEAL’s path number turned out to be 5, which is suggestive of inquisitiveness, intelligence and communication skills…hey, they might be on to something here you know.
Alternatively, if you’re finding the sums a little hard to follow, you can seek out numerology numbers, readings, and calculators online. There are far more calculations that can be done using your birth date, and a deep dive is the only type of plunge to really do this thing justice!
THE MAGIC 8 BALL
Invented in 1950, the Magic 8 Ball boasts a less rich, deep connection to the past, but its powers of fortune telling are no less revered by devotees. Originally designed to be roughly the size of a snooker ball, the Magic 8 Ball now comes in a whole host of sizes, from minute to massive and everything in between. You can now simply access an online version of the prediction device, but that kind of defeats the fun, don’t you think?
The Magic 8 Ball is flipped to reveal the answer to any question the holder poses via a small window in the toy. These answers cover 10 affirmative answers, 5 which sit somewhat on the fence, and 5 negatives, though of course, these are open to interpretation. Questions must follow a yes/no structure…ask the Magic 8 Ball who will win the Premier League this season, and you won’t get anything useful. But ask the ball if Liverpool will win the league, and answers will range from ‘’It is certain’’ all the way to ‘’my reply is no’’.
Retro game, a bit of fun or a useful way of removing any autonomy from your daily decision making…what do you think Magic 8 Ball?
Sorry, that should be ‘’are you a useful way of removing any autonomy from my daily decision making?’’. That’s better.
TEA LEAF READING
Ideal for Brits looking for an excuse to put the kettle on again, tea leaf reading involves the seeking of signs and omens in the streaks of loose leaf tea left on the sides and base of a finished cuppa. These streaks are formed as the drinker holds the mug, transferring their unique energy into the brew. It’s said that as you finish your cup of loose leaf tea, you should gently swirl the mug in your hand to manifest certain signs from the beloved drink.
Enthusiasts believe that shapes left on the rim indicate something about the present day, whilst the side is representative of the past, and the bottom sheds some light on the future. After that, a complex set of tasseography rules need to be consulted, with extra room left for intuition and ambiguity. And if all you’re left with at the end is a sense of feeling refreshed from all that tea, well, that’s a good enough outcome anyway!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Perhaps we’ll bump into each other at the Tarot Card Collecting Convention next year? We can’t wait!