Who doesn't love divination? (If that's you... What's wrong with you? Get out) It's hard to come across books that are not introductory, so it was a nice surprise when I found out about The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide, by Tom Benjamin, and with a foreword by Maria Minnis. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
- Print Length: 248 pages.
- Publisher: Crossed Crow Books
- Publication Date: October 7, 2025.
- Genres: Divination, Non-Fiction, Occultism, Witchcraft.
- Rating: 4/5 stars
A groundbreaking approach to the practice of divination.Historically, fortune-tellers have always stood on the margins of society and been villainized by the Christo-colonial powers that view divination as competition. The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide takes a contemporary and engaged approach to divination, with a strong focus on social responsibility. Because fortune-tellers can see the world as it is, they serve as a threat to structures that benefit from secrecy.The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide is an essential guide to anyone seeking theory and history alongside divinatory knowledge. Though anyone today can pick up a pack of tarot cards or begin casting bones, fortune-tellers have a responsibility in taking up that work to not only consider the forebears who suffered for that art but also to understand the systems of oppression that impact our clients. We must understand that spiritually bypassing a client’s reality is not only ineffective but also cruel.
This was a huge surprise! Tom Benjamin goes deep into what it means to be a fortune teller, the dos and don'ts, and the difficult questions around fortune telling, cultural appropriation, bias, the dangers of dogma, and more. He is clear from the beginning that this is not one of the introductory books about what this or that card means, but one that speaks about being and doing fortune-telling.
That is one of the main appeals of The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide because it makes you think about scenarios and ideas you might not have considered otherwise. It guides you to grow in your practice and as a fortune teller, and while most of the book uses tarot cards as examples, I see the ideas applying to other forms of divination as well.
Now, it was hard to go through this one because of the writing style. It was similar to a stream of consciousness, a maximalist style that felt over-explaining to me at times. There are parts of it easier to digest, to be fair, but it's certainly not the kind of book you'd read in a single sitting, so I recommend taking your sweet time with it to avoid feeling overwhelmed as I did now and then.
If you're interested in any form of divination and are serious about it, The Modern Fortune-Teller’s Field Guide helps you take your practice to the next level, but it is not for beginners. Think of it as a level 2 class with a fabulous professor who doesn't gatekeep his knowledge and experience. The writing might feel heavy at times, so breaks are recommended.
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