From tea leaf reading to tarot cards: Tracing the rise of alternative forms of self-discovery

The universe has spoken Manifest once a common verb has been elevated to Word of the Year by the Cambridge Dictionary This can only be interpreted as a massive cultural shift in how we view spirituality personal growth and even reality itself From crystal enthusiasts to tarot readers the era of alternative forms of spirituality healing and selfdiscovery has taken centre stageWhile alternative forms of spirituality healing and connecting with nature are rooted in ancient traditions and cultures therersquos rebirth and reshaping in the digital age A simple search will take you to a list of books on Manifestation on Goodreads and throws up 75372 resultsTasseography practitioner Ekta Sunil Thaker preps for a tea leaf reading session at her Ghatkopar office PicSayyed Sameer AbediDespite concerns there is a growing recognition that spiritualitymdashespecially in alternative formsmdashhas the power to address and soothe the deepest existential questions Who am I Why am I here How do I heal from my past These are questions that every religion philosophy and spiritual tradition attempts to answer In a time when many feel disconnected from traditional structures of belief alternative spirituality offers a flexible accessible avenue for exploring themFor many Indians manifestation is a modern twist on an ancient practice According to Chetna Chakravarthy a manifestation and relationship coach ldquoThe Indian word for manifestation is mannat and lsquomannat mangnarsquo involves a pact with the divinerdquo Individuals promise to give back to the divinity when their wishes or desires are fulfilled often through action or material offeringsIt isnrsquot as simple as wishing and praying for something to happen Chakravarthy emphasises that it requires surrendermdasha process of releasing fears hesitations and doubts to something greater ldquoManifestation is about beliefrdquo she notes ldquoYou have to believe in what you want and then you must trust yourself enough to take actionrdquoThe commercialisation and rebranding of ldquomannatrdquo has both pros and cons On one hand it has made spiritual practices more accessible creating a shared global language that transcends geographical boundaries People now turn to Instagram and YouTube for spiritual guidance Manifestation circles online crystal healing workshops and group dance therapy sessions have proliferated creating a worldwide community of people who share a common interest in spiritual growthChetna ChakravarthyOn the other hand the overwhelming presence of misinformation and commodified spirituality can dilute the authenticity of these practices Blaming ldquoMercury retrograderdquo for all aspects of failure or posts about ldquomanifesting your soulmaterdquo within seven days can be both frustrating and misleadingChakravarthy cautions mdashldquoYou need to decipher between intuition and delusionrdquo she advises For example seeing the angel numbers 1111 on the clock on your phone repeatedly isnrsquot necessarily a divine sign itrsquos likely the brainrsquos tendency to notice patterns ldquoTrue signs manifest in varied and meaningful waysrdquo Chakravarthy explains They show up in different contexts such as on a scratch card or a bank transaction not just on your phone screen at the same time every dayZia Nath emphasizes on the conncection between the mind body and spirit Zohra Shakti believes that the artistic representation of each deck is unique Lavanya Arora tarot card reader says that tarot is about reflectionldquoAs a relationship coach I often get asked how to manifest loverdquo she says ldquoThe first step is believing love exists You also need to actively pursue itmdashif yoursquore not going out meeting people or even letting your friends and family set you up yoursquore not going to find anyone because no one is going to show up on your doorsteprdquoCiting the famous Shah Rukh Khan dialogue ldquoItni shiddat se maine tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai ki har jurre ne mujhe tumse milane ki saazish ki hairdquo Chakravarthy highlights that the essence is if you genuinely desire something the universe will conspire to make it happen But there is a fine line between ldquoshiddatrdquo or passion and obsession ldquoThe key to manifestation lies in commitment and passionmdashnot obsession and stubbornnessrdquo she underlinesleft Zia Nathrsquos spirituality extends to dance and is deeply influenced by Sufi Zen and Oshorsquos teachings right Aaditya Shah the cofounder of Rock and AnchorShe also addresses a common misconception ldquoMany overthink while manifestingrdquo she explains ldquoThe universe is not a copy editor It doesnrsquot matter how you write your goals where you write themmdashyour intention is what matters The universe isnrsquot judging bad spelling itrsquos responding to pure intentionsrdquoAccording to a report published by Transparency Market Research the global crystal market was valued at over R400 crore in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 39 per cent from 2024 to 2034 According to another report published by TechSci Research the gobal tarot cards market was valued at around R120 crore in 2023 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 3 per cent through 2029The booming market for esoteric spiritual tools such as crystals and tarot cards is reflective of the demand for these practices Tarot cards traditionally associated with divination and fortunetelling have transcended their historical roots to become a cultural phenomenon The success of social media influencers and spiritual entrepreneurs demonstrates that there is a growing highly engaged audience seeking more than just material wealthFor Lavanya Arora a tarot practitioner reading cards is less about mystical predictions and more about selfreflection ldquoTarot is about gaining clarity about your emotions and understanding patterns in your liferdquo she explainsldquoWhen I meet sceptics I tell them to move beyond the confines of the rational mind and the five senses to remind oneself that our spirit is always talking to us and guiding us in different waysrdquo says Zohra Shakti a Tarot Priestess Crystal Therapist Spiritual Coach whose predictions have been carried in international magazines Arora holds that tarot is unique in its adaptability Unlike traditional astrology which often requires strict adherence to a belief system tarot provides immediate personal insights that help individuals make informed decisions Shersquos worked with clients from fields such as engineering who were initially doubtful about tarot but later found it to be a valuable tool for selfdiscovery ldquoItrsquos about reflection not predictionrdquo Arora notesTarot cards are also a form of artistic expression The decks come in various forms some of the most popular being Rider Waite Smith and the Wild Unknown among many others Each has unique and carefully created artwork representing different meanings ldquoEach deck is uniquerdquo says Shakti ldquoI use different decks because each artistic representation of each deck is unique Before any reading I see what deck I am intuitively drawn to and this ensures accuracyrdquoTasseography or tea leaf reading which dates back to ancient China involves interpreting patterns left by tea leaves or coffee grounds Ekta Sunil Thaker a practitioner says ldquoin todayrsquos world we accumulate so much negative energy Tasseography is a way of reflecting inward helping align your energy and reconnecting with your true selfrdquo To Thaker reading tea leaves offers a therapeutic form of clarityThaker who mostly practises Tasseography at events such as weddings functions and corporate parties also places importance on trusting onersquos intuition ldquoEveryone is born with it Tea leaf reading is just a way of channelling that energyrdquo she sharesFor many spiritual seekers reconnecting with nature is an essential aspect of their healing journey Aaditya Shah the cofounder of Rock and Anchor an ecoadventure startup has built his business on the belief that nature is a form of spiritual healing that restores balance and gives emotional groundingldquoHiking for me is a journey of both outward exploration and inward reflection Walking through trails fosters a meditative state where the mind slows down creating space for healing and introspectionrdquoHis ecoadventures offer people a chance to reconnect with the purity and simplicity of nature ldquoPeople are realising that true growth and healing often comes from stepping back and reconnecting with whatrsquos simple and pure or like I call it lsquoharyalirsquordquo he says ldquoThis shift reflects a deeper desire for spiritual and emotional reconnectionCraniosacral Therapy BCST as practised by Zia Nath for over 22 years is one that emphasises the relationship between form and function ldquoThe body is designed to function in health not disease By supporting the bodyrsquos alignment we support its overall healthrdquo says Nath The craniosacral system regulates the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid which supports all bodily functions This approach aligns closely with ancient beliefs about the interconnectedness of mind body and spiritAlso a dancer Nathrsquos spiritual practices deeply influenced by Sufi Zen and Oshorsquos teachings reflect this philosophy Nath is a meeting point between these therapeutic and dance practices ldquoWhile they are different paths they converge within memdashthere is a synergy Dance brings grace and harmony while therapeutics aligns the body for healthrdquoCrystals too are undergoing a resurgence in popularity as a form of energetic healing Aarti Kalro a crystal alchemist sharesmdashldquoCrystals have unique vibrations that can help rebalance the energy in our bodiesrdquo she explains To her crystals are a powerful tool for initiating healing but she stresses that they should be used alongside other practices such as meditation ldquoCrystals are not a replacement for medical treatmentrdquo she clarifiesOver time Kalro incorporated Akashic readings into her practice which are a tool to explore a soulrsquos journey across lifetimes offering insights into relationships challenges and karmic patternsKalro holds that life is not about labelling events lsquopositiversquo or lsquonegativersquo but recognising them as essential experiences Through this perspective hardships are not punishments ldquobut opportunities for selfawareness acceptance and resiliencerdquo she continuesThis approach aligns deeply with German thinker Friedrich Nietzschersquos philosophy which posits that traditional constructs of ldquogoodrdquo and ldquobadrdquo are inherently humanmade Nietzsche challenges the moral dichotomies that often limit our understanding of life suggesting instead that every experience is an opportunity for growth and transformationWhat once lived in the fringes of society is now a mainstream movement taking on new forms in the digital age While the rituals may have changed their underlying messages remain the same trust balance and growth are the keys to spiritual and personal transformation