Some pet owners in South Korea are using tarot readings to attempt communication with their animal companions [1, 2].
The practice reflects a shifting social landscape where pets are increasingly viewed as central family members. This trend emerges as the country navigates a period of rising pet ownership coupled with low birth rates [1, 2].
Practitioners of this method said that tarot can provide insights into the emotional states or needs of pets that cannot speak. By interpreting the cards, owners seek to understand the hidden desires or stresses of their dogs and cats [1, 2]. This approach allows owners to feel a deeper spiritual connection with their animals, a bond that often replaces or supplements traditional family structures.
While tarot is widely used for human fortunes, applying it to animals represents a niche expansion of the practice. The desire to bridge the communication gap highlights the emotional investment owners place in their pets' well-being [1, 2].
Observers said that the rise of such services coincides with the broader "pet humanization" trend in South Korea. As more people opt for pets over children, the emotional demands placed on these animals increase, leading owners to seek unconventional ways to ensure their pets are happy [1, 2].
“South Korean pet owners are using tarot readings to attempt communication with their animal companions.”
The adoption of tarot for pet communication is a sociological indicator of South Korea's demographic crisis. As low birth rates reduce the number of children in households, pets are filling the emotional void, leading to an intensified level of anthropomorphism where owners apply human psychological and spiritual tools to animals to maintain an emotional bond.
