A History of Divination and Prophecy: From Fortune Tellers and Yuletide Songs to Astrology and Tarot Cards

Since ancient times, people have tried to unravel the secrets of the future and take control of their lives. To do so, they turned to spirits, honored gods, relied on natural forces, sought signs in the movements of the stars and in numbers. This book offers a thrilling overview of the many ways of divination and fortune-telling that existed across different cultures and eras—from ancient biblical prophets and shamanic rites to modern practices of astrology, numerology, and interpreting Tarot cards. Considerable attention is given to traditional Russian methods of divination.