In 2024, Russians' expenditures on 'occult services' matched grocery spending, according to media reports
End-of-year statistical reports indicate that fortune tellers and other “sorcerers” generated earnings 20 times greater than those of psychologists. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
End-of-year statistical reports indicate that fortune tellers and other “sorcerers” earned 20 times more this year than psychologists.
According to the newspaper MK, Russians spent nearly as much on “sorcerers” and various “occult services” in 2024 as they did on groceries. The outlet reported that incomes in the ‘magical’ segment of the economy saw a 20% increase last year, with projections suggesting even greater growth for 2024. Website traffic for services offering astrological and numerological forecasts and fortune-telling also rose by 38%. The occult services market in Russia is now estimated to be around 2.4 trillion rubles, comparable to the country's total food expenditures over the past year.
Much of this data derives from research commissioned by psychologists, who rank as the closest competitors to numerologists and astrologists. While the psychology market has also expanded this year, MK noted that it remains significantly smaller—20 times less—than its ‘supernatural’ counterpart.
A recent survey conducted by The Russian Public Opinion Research Center found that one in four Russians believes in the effectiveness of esotericism, with nearly 60% having sought help from such specialists at least once in their lives.
MK highlighted that the most sought-after service among Russians this year was “chakra cleansing,” priced at around 15,000 rubles. Services for “removing negativity” cost approximately 25,000 rubles, and “supernatural” assistance for real estate transactions can demand fees of up to 1% of the deal's value.
Russian MP Vitaly Milonov has characterized fortune telling as a “satanic ritual,” referring to Tarot cards as “pictures of the devil.”
“All this is categorically unacceptable and should be excluded altogether for any person. If someone stupidly has Tarot cards left, burn them and wash your hands,” Milonov expressed to Gazeta.ru earlier this month.
The politician has also suggested that practitioners of Tarot, numerology, and other forms of “magic” face imprisonment for engaging in acts of a pseudo-religious nature without proper registration as a religious organization.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to the newspaper MK, Russians spent nearly as much on “sorcerers” and various “occult services” in 2024 as they did on groceries. The outlet reported that incomes in the ‘magical’ segment of the economy saw a 20% increase last year, with projections suggesting even greater growth for 2024. Website traffic for services offering astrological and numerological forecasts and fortune-telling also rose by 38%. The occult services market in Russia is now estimated to be around 2.4 trillion rubles, comparable to the country's total food expenditures over the past year.
Much of this data derives from research commissioned by psychologists, who rank as the closest competitors to numerologists and astrologists. While the psychology market has also expanded this year, MK noted that it remains significantly smaller—20 times less—than its ‘supernatural’ counterpart.
A recent survey conducted by The Russian Public Opinion Research Center found that one in four Russians believes in the effectiveness of esotericism, with nearly 60% having sought help from such specialists at least once in their lives.
MK highlighted that the most sought-after service among Russians this year was “chakra cleansing,” priced at around 15,000 rubles. Services for “removing negativity” cost approximately 25,000 rubles, and “supernatural” assistance for real estate transactions can demand fees of up to 1% of the deal's value.
Russian MP Vitaly Milonov has characterized fortune telling as a “satanic ritual,” referring to Tarot cards as “pictures of the devil.”
“All this is categorically unacceptable and should be excluded altogether for any person. If someone stupidly has Tarot cards left, burn them and wash your hands,” Milonov expressed to Gazeta.ru earlier this month.
The politician has also suggested that practitioners of Tarot, numerology, and other forms of “magic” face imprisonment for engaging in acts of a pseudo-religious nature without proper registration as a religious organization.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
