Unfortunately, today, it has become increasingly common among our people—who are traditionally Orthodox but not essentially so, meaning they are baptized but not church-going—to seek help for their problems, illnesses, and sufferings from fortune tellers and diviners. Even the media, by advertising these practitioners and inviting them to appear on their shows (naturally for mutual profit), lead many people astray. Seeking a magical, instant solution to life’s burdens is not in accordance with Orthodox tradition. Every problem given to us in life is a type of blessed cross from God through which we are saved. As St. Seraphim Rose says: “Life crucifies everyone on a cross; it is up to us whether we will be like the wise thief on the cross or like the foolish one.”
The desire to overcome problems quickly and magically is unblessed.
Instead, it is necessary to reflect on our entire life, to identify the causes of our illnesses and sufferings. Often, though not always, when the causes are removed, the suffering ceases. The Church of Christ possesses all the salvific Holy Mysteries and means necessary not only for salvation but also for providing answers to all the questions we face. Therefore, when someone seeks salvation from their spiritual and physical sufferings outside the Church, from fortune tellers and diviners, they are effectively denying the Church, sending a message that the Church, Orthodox teaching, and tradition do not have the appropriate answers to their life’s problems.
But Who Are These Fortune Tellers and Diviners?
A large number of fortune tellers are deceivers. Some of them may seem to actually “help” people. This happens because they use demonic energy, and since demons are fallen angels and spiritual beings, they are very intelligent and sometimes predict things or withdraw the illness they themselves caused by their presence in a person. But they do this not out of goodness, but to deceive people and lead them away from God. When asked whether a sorcerer could heal someone, Elder Paisios responded: “Someone who is tormented by a demon may feel better if the demon is sent to another by the sorcerer. Because the sorcerer and the devil are colleagues, the sorcerer tells the devil, ‘Leave this one and go to that one.’ The demon leaves one person and goes to a relative or someone who has given the devil a foothold. The person who had the demon says, ‘I suffered, but this sorcerer made me well,’ and thus the sorcerer becomes popular.”
Most often, people who are “healed” by fortune tellers and diviners forget about God; their new “god” becomes the fortune teller who provided them with temporary health, and they submit to the demon operating through the sorcerer. Some may rightly ask how we know or are certain that these people operate with demonic energy, especially when saints also possessed supernatural gifts. Many saints had gifts that transcended human nature, but the hallmark of a saint is humility. Saints attribute nothing to themselves, giving all glory to God. Saints pray, receive Communion, confess, and devote themselves to extreme asceticism, and they do not charge money for the good they do. Such people are rare, as they flee from the world and its glory. But what do we see in fortune tellers? We see proud people who charge high fees for their “services,” boast about themselves, advertise in the media, and do not even know the basic truths of the faith. These are people who have never confessed or received Communion. Naturally, we conclude that God cannot act through such people. A small number of them may outwardly appear to be Christians, keeping icons or donating to various chapels, but regardless of this, their personality profile fits the description given above. The devil often disguises himself, which is why St. Paul warns us to be vigilant: “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Sorcery and divination are condemned not only by the Church of Christ but also in the Old Testament.
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8).
The Greatest Harm
But the worst part is the great damage inflicted on those who visit these practitioners. Once someone places their trust in fortune tellers and “magically” and temporarily solves a life problem, they seriously distance themselves from God and become a slave to the devil. The “cure” for one illness will be paid with another illness. Most people who have visited fortune tellers experience great unrest, severe anxiety, and often end up with mental illnesses and even suicide after a longer period following their visit.
By visiting fortune tellers, a person distances themselves from the Church and from receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ, as clearly and unequivocally testified by the Holy Canons. St. Basil the Great compares sorcery and visiting fortune tellers with murder and proposes similar penances. Therefore, people who visit fortune tellers should not receive Communion until they repent.
Many traditional Christians visit fortune tellers and diviners while also attending church and traditionally receiving Communion during the fasts, thereby causing even greater harm to themselves. One cannot visit fortune tellers and also receive Communion. Christ cannot enter a soul that has made itself a den of demons.
Therefore, all those who have visited sorcerers must first confess and repent for it, and then begin to live a spiritual, ecclesiastical, and liturgical life. Only then will they find peace and tranquility for their souls. Problems and illnesses should be healed by healing the sins and passions that led to them. For sins lead to illnesses. The illnesses that remain despite overcoming the sin that caused them should be accepted with gratitude to God, as a gift through which He mysteriously saves our souls.
Excerpt from the magazine “Mirror” No. 2
