Fortune-Telling

Fortune-Telling, practice of predicting the future through psychic means, such as the interpretation of signs or communication with supernatural forces. Many people use astrology as a method of fortune-telling. Other methods include palmistry, the practice of interpreting the lines in hands; cartomancy, the prediction of the future using special cards such as tarot cards; and necromancy, in which people predict the future through communication with the spirits of dead people. Some methods of fortune-telling involve clairvoyance, the ability to perceive events or objects beyond the range of the senses. Although fortune-telling has little support in science, it remains popular in many countries, including the United States.

People have practiced various forms of fortune-telling for thousands of years. It became a widespread practice in many ancient societies, particularly among rulers, who often sought advice from fortune-tellers. In ancient China, for example, emperors had court astrologers and special diviners, who predicted the future using a set of sticks called the I Ching. In ancient Rome, special priests called augurs predicted the future by interpreting certain signs in nature. The ancient Greeks consulted oracles, who supposedly learned of future events by speaking directly with the gods. See also Divination.