You probably know someone – maybe a colleague, maybe your aunt – who won’t make a big move without “checking in” with a tarot reader or psychic first.
While that might sound irrational to you (especially if you’re neck-deep in market fundamentals and economic indicators), the fact is that belief in fortune-telling is actually influencing how many, many people handle money, including financial planning and investment decisions.
We’re not just talking about playing the lottery here. Even savvy professionals with spreadsheets and MBAs are admitting to peeking at horoscopes before a big trade or retirement decision.
Now, sure, you can call this behavior superstition, but for many people, it’s simply another data point – it’s soft and symbolic, yes, but it can be influential nonetheless.
Why People Rely on Fortune Telling in Finance
Let’s start with something research-backed. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that when people receive positive fortune-telling predictions, their risk-taking behavior increases. In financial terms, that can mean a greater willingness to invest, pursue higher-risk assets, or go from saving to wealth-generation strategies.
Psychologically, it makes sense: confidence tends to breed action. If someone hears, “You’re entering a lucky phase,” they’re more likely to take a calculated leap, which is sometimes exactly what it takes to break free from financial stagnation, especially if one is a risk-averse individual naturally.
Now, that doesn’t mean fortune-telling causes better decisions. It simply means that belief in the prediction shapes the person’s behavior in ways traditional models rarely account for.
Also, it’s wise to consider the longevity of the practice. If people have consulted spiritual readers for thousands of years, there may, in fact, be a reason it’s still around. Humans evolved with intuition long before we built financial models. Ignoring that part of how we process decisions (especially high-stakes ones) is like pretending behavioral finance doesn’t exist.
The History of Fortune-Telling Has Always Been Financially Tied
People often forget that the history of fortune-telling is deeply connected to wealth: protection of it, accumulation of it, loss avoidance, etc. For example, ancient merchants in Greece and Rome reportedly delayed shipments or signed trade deals only after checking in with oracles or astrologers. This wasn’t unusual behavior; it was baked into their decision-making infrastructure.
Whether it was palmistry, numerology, or tea leaves, people sought insight not just about love or longevity but economic security for centuries. That same impulse shows up today when someone asks a tarot reader whether they should quit their job, buy a rental property, or take out a business loan.
So when you see modern investors checking the stars, maybe don’t look at it as regression but continuity. Tech might have changed the tools, but it hasn’t rewired the instincts.
Can You Actually Use Fortune Telling to Enhance Financial Planning?
Not in the way you’d use a Monte Carlo simulation, but you can use it as a reflective tool, similar to how people use journaling, coaching, or meditation to clarify goals and reduce emotional noise.
Here’s why this is so interesting:
- People who believe in psychic predictions often gain a psychological edge. They feel guided, not lost in a sea of options. That clarity (however it’s generated) can reduce decision paralysis.
- Fortune readings often emphasize timing. While they can’t tell you what the Fed will do next quarter, they do encourage pacing, which is crucial. Most bad financial decisions come from impatience or emotional reactivity.
- If a reading nudges someone to sit tight, save more, or diversify, and that aligns with sound strategy, the “why” matters less than the outcome.
The point we’re trying to make here is that while you shouldn’t base an entire portfolio on a tarot spread, for instance, you can use various forms of fortune telling to reflect on whether you’re acting out of fear or moving in alignment with your goals. That kind of mental reframing can stabilize emotional investing patterns, which is arguably more powerful than any single technical indicator.
And this is where behavioral economics starts nodding in agreement. Your beliefs – regardless of origin – influence how you evaluate risk, time horizons, and opportunity.
In other words, if you walk into a negotiation believing you’re going to succeed, you probably will. If you see yourself as “unlucky with money,” you’ll subconsciously avoid bold but rational decisions that could shift your trajectory.
In the end, this is not about whether psychic abilities are real. This is about whether you operate more confidently when you believe they might be. In that light, fortune-telling becomes less about mysticism and more about behavioral calibration.
