For Tarot Readers, Most Answers Can Be Found in the Cards

Imagine that you secretly admire someone. What would you do if you found yourself unable to speak in front of that person because you were too afraid to bare your feelings?

A young Korean woman, In Dan-bi, 23, can help you out in a way that is far better and most of all more fun than spending innumerable nights losing sleep over your aching heart. She reads tarot cards. "Indeed, I succeeded in winning the heart of my current boyfriend thanks to tarot cards," Ms. In said.

Before she turned to tarot, she said she did not have much luck with her boyfriend. But because the tarot enabled her to get the guy she wanted, she said one of her most important daily activities now is to read her fortune in tarot cards. Ms. In also likes to predict her friends' fortunes, making her quite popular. "Some say that if you know your fortune, you make your life shorter. But I don't care, it's up to every individual whether or not to have their fortune read," Ms. In said.

In fact, Ms. In is not the only one who receives inspiration about how to handle life or gets guidance from this magical deck of cards. There are more than 50 online tarot clubs in Korea, and the one Ms. In belongs to has more than 250 active participants. Ms. In said, "In our club, there are various programs about the history of tarot cards or how to be a more lively reader. There are also beginner and intermediate classes."

The secrets of these cards are more than 500 years old. There are a variety of tarot art styles, but all decks have certain features in common. A deck of tarot cards consists of 78 illustrated cards, 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. The deck is further divided according to the kinds of illustrations. The major cards symbolize the spiritual journey of man. Minor cards, on the other hand, depict the basic human relationships. They are divided into four suits, breaking the world down into the four alchemical elements － fire, water, wind and earth. The first 14 cards, called "wands," symbolize fire, meaning the flame of creativity. The second 14 cards are called "cups," which symbolize water, and refer to the emotions. The third set is wind, and is shown by "swords," a symbol of intelligence. The last 14 cards designate earth, and use the symbol of the pentagram, meaning material.

The card reader lays out the cards, randomly selected by a questioner, according to established patterns. The position of the cards in the spread reveals the fortune. For example, a card like the a queen of swords lying second from the right side could indicate that you will get a good grade on your final exam. There are more than 25 kinds of spreads, each for different sorts of readings. "To get a reliable reader is very important," Ms. In added.

To those who think young Korean girls are merely superstitious, Ms. In said that tarot cards are more related to psychology than magic.

Tarot cards are best for revealing things that cannot be dealt with only through logic, such as relationships and negotiations. Though they are unlikely to be of much help in guessing the winners on tomorrow's stock market, at least tarot cards are a fun way to guess about how your love interest feels about you. The 78 tarot cards can give you a hint, but in the end, it is your heart that has to make its own decisions.

by Chun Su-jin