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10 Different Kinds of Fortune Telling Methods

Head and shoulders photograph of Rozalia Kieliszkiewicz
A fortune teller seated next to a glowing crystal ball, with her hands hovering over a sprawled out deck of tarot cards.
Fortune telling has been used throughout history by gods, prophets, and shamans. It is an ancient practice used to know the future through a combination of psychic abilities, magic, and leaving it up to faith. Although it could help you understand where you are headed in the future, keep in mind that no future is set in stone and can be influenced by every choice or action made in the present.

A psychic reading using one of the methods below can help you determine your potential future and if you are on the wrong path in life. Remember that it is not necessary to use every method. You can find what works best for you. If you're seeking guidance from the comfort of your home, consider exploring the top online psychic reading sites to connect with experienced psychics.

1. Cleromancy

Cleromancy is a divination game that involves throwing dice or casting lots to reveal the answer to yes/no questions. Popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, cleromancy was used by the kings to predict whether a person would live or die.

Cleromancy is still used today but in different forms. In fact, some scholars believe that gambling stemmed from divination.

2. Astrology

Before Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman empire and started the era of peace and prosperity, he consulted an astrologer named Theogenes. This astrologer told Caesar that he would be the greatest ruler that Rome had ever known.

To this day, astrology is used to predict the future by reading the celestial bodies of the planets and zodiac signs. A snapshot of the sky taken at the time of a person's birth (also known as forecasting) can be used to predict their future. By understanding the planet's rotation around the sun and the time they spend in each zodiac sign, you can map out your complete destiny and understand which choices you need to make to stay on the right path.

Astrologer drawing a birth chart

3. Scrying Using a Crystal Ball

Reading a crystal ball forms part of a technique called scrying and is the most common method fortune tellers use to predict the future. Scrying involves focusing on a smooth reflective surface to receive clairvoyant images and visions. This is a powerful method usually used by an experienced fortune teller.

4. Oneiromancy

Oneiromancy is a form of divination in which dreams are used to predict the future. The ancient Babylonians wrote about using their dreams to fight mythical creatures, avoid floods, and go on great adventures. They often used their dreams to find direction.

When you dream, you communicate with the unconscious part of your mind. Prophetic dreams can take you into a time or place that feels familiar, but you know it has not happened yet. When you wake, you may feel that you were shown something in advance or redirected towards a set destiny.

5. Palmistry

Also known as chiromancy or palm reading, palmistry interprets the shape, lines, and curves on a person's palms to predict their future. Aristotle believed that the lines on your palms are not random and inspired by divine influence and nature.

The head, life, and heart lines are usually interpreted during a palm reading. However, other lines, such as the fate and marriage lines, can also be interpreted.

6. Tea Leaf Reading

Tea leaf reading is a standard method used by fortune tellers in ancient and modern times. It involves interpreting patterns seen in the placement of tea leaves at the bottom of a teacup.

Different areas inside the cup indicate celestial symbols and archetypes, usually referencing astrology, planets, and zodiac signs. Therefore, the placement of your tea leaves can be used to predict the future.

Person holding teacup containing leftover tea leaves

7. Cartomancy

Dorman Newman first designed the original cards to be used for cartomancy in 1690. These 52 playing cards contained four suits, astrological symbols, and numbers from I-XIII. Only kings held them, and those that wished to know their fortune would go to their kingdom.

Modern decks are made of simple playing cards and sometimes have specific designs to enhance their fortune-telling ability.

Cartomancy focuses on four suits:

  • Hearts: Represents love, relationships, home, family, and feelings
  • Spades: Represents obstacles and challenges that could trigger events in the future
  • Clubs: Represents incoming happiness, joy, and other positive feelings or events
  • Diamonds: Represents money, career, luck, and fortune

8. Necromancy

Witches and wizards used this ancient practice to summon and communicate with the dead to receive wisdom, insight into the future, and knowledge beyond the grave. It is similar to mediumship, but necromancy focuses on magic. Usually in the form of a ritual, magic is summoned using incantations, magic circles, candles, talismans, symbols, and wands.

This method of fortune telling is not commonly used and is forbidden in some religions and cultures. The magic can be dark, and you are forcing the dead to speak to you. They might not always tell you the truth or what you want to hear. Therefore, this method is not recommended.

9. Chinese Fortune Sticks

This practice originated in China and stems from a form of I Ching. For this method, 78 numbered bamboo sticks are placed in a box. The fortune teller shakes the box; whatever stick falls out is your set fortune. The fortune teller can read your luck, future, and wishes based on this number.

10. Seven of Cups Tarot Card Spread

The Seven of Cups in tarot divination is about a man facing seven different cups or options in front of him. Each course is a desire in which his heart has manifested. It means that our future is not set in stone and is often determined by the choices we make in the present.

Place the Seven of Cups in the center of a table and ask the spirit to provide you with seven potential paths that you could take moving forward. Shuffle and cut the deck. When ready, place seven cards around the Seven of Cups. This method can help you determine which path is most beneficial and which you should avoid.

Person doing a tarot reading

What Does Your Future Hold?

It is human nature to be curious about what lies ahead. There are many different kinds of fortune-telling methods that can help you predict the future, so it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. If you need a little extra guidance, an online fortune teller on Psychic Source or PsychicCenter can help you when faced with the uncertainty of the unknown.

Head and shoulders photograph of Rozalia Kieliszkiewicz
Rozalia is a Holistic Health and Spiritual Writer who writes for Top10.com. In addition, she is a professional Spiritual advisor trained in Tarot Divination, Astrology, Reiki Healing, and Dream Analysis. Her background as a Nutritionist and Fitness Trainer allows her to look at the whole Body, Mind and Spiritual Connection.