Tarot reading, new therapy for ‘lost’ millennials

TAROT readers have long been met with scepticism, dismissed as promoting an idle pastime for the superstitious. Yet their enigmatic prophesies appear to be offering direction to a new “lost” generation.

A growing number of young people, who claim to feel daunted by the pressures of social media and uncertainty over Brexit, are putting their faith in the cards, say professionals.

Michelle Chaso, who has been reading tarot for more than 20 years, said that for millennials the art had “become just as mainstream as seeing a therapist” as many clients now visit her with concerns over Brexit.

“Millennials can feel lost and influenced amid the noise of 24/7 technology,” she said. “Questions often relate to difficulty finding love, challenges with loneliness, internet dating, getting on the property ladder and the pressures of career and work-life balances.”

Tarot is one of the oldest forms of fortune telling, usually using a deck of 78 cards.

The idea that tarot reading is becoming more popular is supported by a number of celebrities sharing their own experiences on social media.

Millennial favourites such as Kim Kardashian West and Paris Jackson have posted about their positive experiences with tarot cards and clairvoyants.

Jayne Wallace, one half of The Psychic Sisters who are based at Selfridges in London, have given singer and presenter Rochelle Humes readings and appeared on the popular reality television show The Only Way Is Essex. A 30-minute session with the Psychic Sisters could set you back £120.

Tarot readers also claim that young professionals are coming to them seeking advice on how to better succeed at work.

Suzanne Corbie, who has worked with the tarot for 40 years, said millennials are becoming “concerned about choices with their career and want to fulfil their potential so they are searching for ways to guide them how to get there.”

Jill Urwin, founder of the lifestyle store She’s Lost Control, added: “There’s a new awakened generation who want to delve deeper within. Tarot and oracle cards are their accessible tool for self-healing and personal growth.”