Star’s Trek

Of palmists and slight of hand; a sceptic’s psychic-o-logical journey

By Star Miklashek

I’m not sure how much I believe people who claim to be able to predict the future, but sometimes predictions slip into my consciousness that are difficult to discount. I admit that I can’t resist flipping to the back of magazines to read my horoscope. It’s an indulgence but I never navigate my life according to their vague predictions. It’s just an example of internal conflict. My practical brain says it’s all bull, but my romantic side refuses to pass up a brush with magic. Publicly, I have always denied even considering that there is any supernatural power behind predictions. Regardless I’ve always been secretly intrigued.

This past summer I world at Southern Accents, a restaurant that employs a psychic. She reads tarot cards and her prices are cheap. I would watch people come in to get a reading and often looked for an excuse to indulge my curiosity and getting one done myself.

Finally, an opportunity presented itself. On one of my work-shifts, I asked the reader if she could fit me in. It was a busy night but she was able to make time for me. She called me in and I held my breath as I pulled back the heavy velvet curtain. Behind the curtain was a small table. The only light in the room was created by a small candle in the centre of her table. I took a seat across from her and immediately felt as though I travelled back in time. She began by asking for a sample of my hand writing. On the small piece of paper I printed a couple of lines of single syllable words. After closely inspecting my slashes of ink, she began to describe my personality. She was very descriptive and accurate. I was impressed. As my scepticism began to fade, I realized I wanted to believe her. Her reading consisted of not just positive things. The person she described wasn’t exactly ideal. This is probably why I believed it.

She asked me for my birth date and the full name of the “significant person” in my life. She got quite excited when she discovered that I was a Scorpio. From this point on she said too much for me to absorb. All I remember was that I, being a Scorpio woman, am the queen of passion, love, and sexuality. The Scorpio woman is also secretive and possessive. I’m not sure if I appreciated this. 

The personality analysis done, she began to shuffle and flop playing cards. She read the cards to predict what is to happen, and provide insight into what has already occurred. In many ways she was pretty accurate. Many of these predictions reflected plans I’ve already made. She also had some news about love. She told me that my present friend/love is not the man of my dreams. She tried to reassure me that someone else was waiting for me.

I left feeling really bummed. I began to question and doubt my relationship. Then I realized that unconsciously, I was basing my future on a reading. I couldn’t talk myself out of it. This intensified a need to answer my own questions. Do I believe? Do things ‘psychics’ tell us come true because they can indeed predict the future? Or is it because we make adjustments within our own situations and outlooks so that their predictions do, in fact, come true? In search of answers, I decided to visit another card reader, and compare the results.

I chose to visit to Sonia’s Tea Room. After climbing a narrow staircase, I opened a small door to discover an old office space that was decorated late ‘60s – dining – room – chic with decorative gold design wallpaper and bright fluorescent lights. There were four or five mismatched kitchen tables with appropriate mismatched chairs. Each table was decorated with enormous ashtrays. I was warmly greeted by three older women with smoky voices, and tight perms. One woman guided me toward one of the tables and asked what type of reading I wanted. She directed my attention to a dry erase board that listed the prices. Due to pocket book restrictions I went for the minimum reading: 20 minutes. 

I was guided through a hallway into a small cubical. I sat down across from my reader, who introduced herself and asked my name. She then asked me a few questions as she shuffled the cards. Her style of reading was different than the first reader. Much of what she said reiterated what I had already heard but she had more to say about my friend. She had higher hopes for our relationship. Just before my time was up, my reader quickly flipped through some more cards, although she didn’t have time to explain it all, she saw some great things in store for me. I think she was trying to milk me for more cash. 

Even though the two readings did not conflict, I’m still not completely convinced. I’ve concluded that I will never be certain. I think card readers are very good judges of character, and know what their customers want to hear. I’m amazed at their ability to understand people with so little information. 

During my reading, and shortly thereafter, I believed. As time passes, they lose their magic, or I realize there was never any to begin with.

Whether there is magic in the hands of readers, astrologists, or other psychics is not actually important. Instead, it’s the moment. I have managed to partly extinguish the flame, their magic, by over-analyzing them. Card reading is a form of entertainment. Fantasizing about the future may be self indulgent, but what the hell.

Everyone likes a captive audience, especially if the key topic is themselves. Psychics are paid by you, so they want to please you. More often than not they emphasize the positive; the stuff you want to hear. 

It’s more fun to believe that there is something mystical about card reading. As long as no one bases their life on the words of a psychic, why not let ourselves believe in the magic?