Russians spent as much on ‘occult services’ as groceries in 2024 – media

End-of-year statistical reports suggest that fortune tellers and other “sorcerers” made 20 times more this year than psychologists

Russians spent almost as much money on “sorcerers” and various “occult services” in 2024 as they did on groceries, the newspaper MK claimed on Tuesday, citing end-of-year statistical reports.

According to the outlet, incomes in the ‘magical’ segment of the economy grew by 20% last year and are expected to exceed that percentage in 2024. Internet traffic to websites providing astrological and numerological forecasts and fortune telling has also grown by 38%. The market for occult services in Russia has reached an estimated 2.4 trillion rubles ($24 billion), which analysts say is comparable to how much the nation spent on food over the past 12 months.

It is noted that much of the data comes from research ordered by psychologists – the closest competitors to numerologists, astrologists and the like. MK reported, however, that while the psychology market has also grown this year, it is still 20 times smaller than its ‘supernatural’ rival.

A recent annual poll by The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTSIOM) also found that every fourth Russian respondent believed in the effectiveness of esotericism and up to 60% of the population has resorted to the help of such specialists at least once in their life.

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According to MK, the most popular service among Russians this year was so-called “chakra cleansing,” which costs about 15,000 rubles ($150). People have also paid some 25,000 rubles for “removing negativity” and also employed “supernatural” support for real estate deals, which can cost as much as 1% of the transaction amount.

Russian MP Vitaly Milonov has suggested that fortune telling was a “satanic ritual” and described 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 told Gazata.ru earlier this month.

The politician also proposed to sending tarologists, numerologists and other “magicians” to prison for committing acts of a pseudo-religious nature without registering as a religious organization.