Why we look for answers in horoscopes and tarot cards in times of war or crisis
4 November 14:25
When the world around us is falling apart-literally or metaphorically-people instinctively seek support.
The desire to understand what will happen next, to find at least some logic in the chaos, becomes almost a physical need. This is when interest in astrology, tarot, numerology, and other occult practices increases dramatically.
In times of war, pandemics, economic upheaval, or personal loss, people turn to symbolic systems, hoping to find answers that neither politicians nor science, nor even their closest ones, can provide.
The psychology of prediction: the desire for control
From a scientific point of view, this is a natural reaction of the psyche to uncertainty. The human brain does not tolerate the state of “unknown” well. When events seem uncontrollable, we look for ways to regain at least the illusion of control.
A horoscope, coffee grounds, or tarot reading offers exactly that – the feeling that the future can be predicted or at least understood.
Even if the predictions are subjective, the ritual of consulting them reduces anxiety. It is similar to psychological “placebo therapy”-we calm down because we have at least some structure to explain what is happening, and thus we get the illusion that we can influence it.
Magical thinking as a survival mechanism
Psychologists call this magical thinking – when a person believes that certain actions, symbols, or rituals can influence reality and change it at will.
In peaceful or emotionally stable times, we rely more on logic, education, and facts. But in extreme conditions – when missiles are overhead, when it is impossible to plan for tomorrow – logic gives way to instincts.
Magical thinking helps the psyche maintain its integrity. It turns powerlessness into action: we cannot stop the war, but we can pull out a card, read a horoscope, or make a talisman. This gives us an inner sense of participation – we are doing something, not just waiting for trouble to happen.
A card as a mirror of the subconscious
Another reason for the popularity of tarot or astrology is that they work as tools for self-reflection.
Psychologists know that when a person cannot express their emotions directly, they look for symbols, which is why some specialists use art therapy and metaphorical cards. Maps, images, archetypes are the language of the unconscious. That’s why a consultation with a tarot reader often resembles psychotherapy: a person talks about his or her life, sees confirmation of his or her fears or hopes in the cards, and this helps him or her to comprehend his or her own state.
In fact, tarot and horoscopes act as a mirror in which we see not the future, but ourselves, with our anxieties, choices, and needs.
When science is silent, the symbol speaks
In times of crisis, society is looking for meaning rather than accurate predictions. And meaning is the main thing that occult practices offer. They don’t give guarantees, but they do give a narrative-a story in which our suffering has a reason, and therefore is not in vain.
It is important for people to know that their difficulties are part of a larger plan, that after a “dark streak” there will definitely be light. That is why even educated, rational people in times of upheaval begin to believe in fate or cosmic laws, because it makes life easier.
Not about predictions, but about hope
Psychologically, turning to tarot or horoscopes is not an escape from reality, but an attempt to cope with it. Each person has their own way of self-soothing: some people read the Bible, others read astrological forecasts. And if this method does not harm, but helps to hold on, it has the right to exist.
Because in times when it is impossible to plan even tomorrow, any ray of hope is already valuable. And perhaps foresight is just a metaphor for our deep desire to understand the world and ourselves in it. And the search for meaning is, after all, what makes us human.
Proportion, criticality, and an inner compass
But even in the search for meaning, it is important to maintain proportion and sobriety of perception.
Where there is faith and emotion, there are always those who want to take advantage of it. Fraudsters and manipulators often disguise themselves as “seers” or “energy healers” promising easy answers to difficult questions. Therefore, the most valuable thing is not to lose critical thinking and not to give your choice to someone else’s hands.
The real answers are always born not in a deck of cards, at the bottom of a cup of coffee, or in a magic book of predictions, but within us.
You can find them in a conversation with a psychologist, in a book, in your own reflections or prayer. The main thing is to listen to yourself, with respect, honesty, and intelligence.
