Text is AI Generated (Grok), but I stand behind it.
My rewards are set to decline
Introduction
In a world full of uncertainty, where people desperately seek clues about the future, fortune tellers and clairvoyants have offered their services for centuries. Tarot cards, crystal balls, online tarot readings, or spiritualist sessions—all of these are meant to help uncover what tomorrow will bring. But if they can truly predict fates, why don't we see them at the top of the lists of the world's richest people? Why don't they win the jackpot in the lottery, trade stocks on the exchange, or build financial empires based on "divine" intuition? This question has intrigued skeptics and enthusiasts of the esoteric for years. In this essay, we will examine this paradox, analyzing the psychological, ethical, and practical reasons why these prophetic "seers" avoid gambling and financial speculation. Is it a matter of morality, limitations of their gift, or simply... the absence of any gift? Let's find out.
Limitations of the "Gift" – Visions Are Not as Precise as They Seem
The first and most obvious argument is the nature of the "gift" of clairvoyance itself. Fortune-telling predictions are rarely as precise as a weather forecast from a satellite. Instead of specific numbers for a lottery ticket or the exact stock price of Apple next Tuesday, the visions of fortune tellers are typically hazy images, symbols, and metaphors. Imagine a fortune teller looking at the cards and saying, "I see green dollars raining from the sky, but beware of false friends." It sounds promising, but how do you translate that into a concrete bet? Lotteries require six numbers out of 49, and the stock market demands analysis of hundreds of economic variables. Even if a clairvoyant "sees" a win, how do you choose the right numbers out of millions of combinations?
Psychology confirms this phenomenon. The Barnum effect (named after the famous circus showman P.T. Barnum) explains why predictions work: they are general enough that anyone will believe them. "You will be rich" could mean a work bonus, an inheritance from an aunt, or... a Lotto win. But in the world of numbers and probability, generality is a failure. Statistically, the chance of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 14 million—even with a vision, without precision, it's like shooting with your eyes closed at a needle in a haystack. That's why fortune tellers prefer safe sessions for 100 zlotys, where the client interprets the prophecy themselves, rather than risking their reputation on the stock market, where the market doesn't forgive mistakes.
Moreover, many clairvoyants admit (in moments of honesty) that their abilities are more intuition than supernatural power. Intuition helps in human relationships or life decisions, but on the stock market, it loses to algorithms and big data. Let's recall the famous "prophecies" of Nostradamus—they sound brilliant after the fact, but before? It's chaos. Prophetic giants like Baba Vanga or Edgar Cayce never left behind fortunes from investments; their "legacy" is books and legends, not portfolios of bonds.
Ethics and the Moral Dilemma – Playing with Fate Against the Laws of Nature?
The second reason why fortune tellers avoid the lottery and the stock market is ethics. In esoteric circles, there's a belief that interfering with "free will" or "karma" is unethical. If a clairvoyant knows a certain number will win but doesn't share it with everyone—aren't they being selfish? And if they do share it—aren't they disrupting the balance of the universe? Many fortune-telling traditions, from Chinese I Ching to Celtic runes, emphasize that prophecy is an art, not a tool for getting rich. Playing the stock market? That's manipulating fate, which can ruin others—and a fortune teller who "sees" a crash but stays silent feels guilty.
Consider the client's perspective: if the fortune teller doesn't play themselves, why should I? It undermines credibility. That's why the esoteric industry builds a narrative of "humility" and "spiritual mission." Fortune tellers earn from advice, not speculation, because their "gift" is meant to serve enlightenment, not greed. After all, as the old saying goes: "Money is the root of all evil"—and a clairvoyant who trades stocks stops being a mystic and becomes a broker in a turban. The irony? Many of them advise clients: "Don't play Lotto, it's a waste of time"—which sounds wise, but avoids the question: "Why don't you play?"
In popular culture, this motif appears often—from the movie Bruce Almighty, where God doesn't give lottery numbers, to TV series about fortune tellers, where heroines avoid the temptations of wealth to preserve the "purity of their gift." It's no coincidence: ethics protect the business. If a fortune teller won millions, a client might say, "Since you won, your predictions work!"—and demand a refund for ineffective sessions. It's better to stay in the shadows, collecting small fees for "spiritual guidance."
Practical Barriers – Risk and the Reality of the Esoteric Business
Finally, pure pragmatism. Lotteries and the stock market are not games—they're risks. Even with a vision, the market can crash due to a war, a pandemic, or an Elon Musk tweet. A fortune teller who loses their savings on a bad prediction not only goes broke but loses clients: "How could you, clairvoyant, not foresee the crash?" The esoteric business thrives on hope, not facts—one failure and the reputation is in ruins.
Moreover, fortune-telling is a niche market. A session for 50-200 zlotys is enough to live on, without the stress of quarterly reports. Why risk stability for an illusory jackpot? Statistics show that 99% of fortune tellers are middle-aged women, often self-employed, for whom the stock market is a foreign world. They prefer tarot over TradingView.
And what if someone does play? There are anecdotes—like the one about a fortune teller who "predicted" a win and shared numbers with clients. But these are exceptions, often fabricated for publicity. In reality, the lack of spectacular financial successes among fortune tellers is proof of their... normalcy. They, like all of us, rely on intuition, not magic.
Conclusion
Why don't fortune tellers and clairvoyants play the lottery or the stock market? Because their "gift" is too hazy to compete with numbers; because ethics forbid manipulating fate; because practice demands avoiding risk. This paradox exposes the essence of esotericism: it's not a science of the future, but an art of consoling the present. In a world where true prediction requires data, not a crystal ball, the seers remain in their role—advisors, not players. And perhaps that's their greatest wisdom: the wealth of the soul is more important than a bank account. If a fortune teller ever wins billions? Well, then I'll believe in miracles. For now—thanks, but I'll choose my own numbers.