27/01/2026
No two Tarot readings are the same. No two Tarot readers are the same either. I say no two Tarot readings are the same, but along those lines, some questions can be the same, to my great annoyance. Lord give me strength.
This question normally comes from the lips of women in their late teens and early twenties. You know it’s coming within minutes of engaging with said young woman. It’s often the first question they ask, and it’s almost said like their life, their whole future depends on the answer. I swear to God that in these instances, my Tarot deck wants to run and hide. Hell, I want to run and hide with them, but I must be brave. I must face my Nemesis. I must ask the Tarot in all seriousness, the question put to the cards. (the children cry so with hunger)
It goes thus,
‘Can you tell me please? Will I win millions on the National Lottery anytime soon?’ You can feel their sincerity, their hope. It fills the air. It’s tangible.
This is where I usually call, Time Out. I smile. I keep cool. I don’t scream in despair. No. I ask the client, ‘Do you know the actual odds on winning the lottery?’ I do, and I’ve never gambled. I looked it up because I was curious.
The odds of winning the UK National Lottery are 45 million to 1. (that’s winning the big prize individually.) I’ll say it again, 45 million to 1. That says to me, If I buy 45 million tickets, my ticket is guaranteed to win, once. That’s the scientifically sanctioned odds. Now ask yourself, If you can afford 45 million tickets, What on earth are you buying lottery tickets for? But for people like me (poor as a church mouse) why not spend a few pounds, a few dollars a week. You never know? Well I do. I know this, the odds are 45 million to 1. I’m not a gambler. I don’t buy lottery tickets. I’d rather use the money to go see a show, go see a football match.
Yes, I bite my lip and ask the Tarot, Will this lady win the Tarot anytime soon? The Tarot always (this far) says, Not a hope in Hell. And I’m left to butter up, Not a hope in Hell. I’m not charging enough. And on occasions, it gets worse. Really. Honest Indian. Some girls follow up their first question with a second question. It invariably goes like this, ‘OK no lottery win then. My second question is, ‘Will I meet a rich, handsome man, and will we fall in love?’ By this stage, I need to lie down for a while in a darkened room. Urgently. Did you notice ‘Rich’ came before ‘Handsome?’ It always does! And surprise surprise, The Tarot (this far) says, The computer says no.
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner. No, that’s a song. Maybe is because I’m a Capricorn. That’s better. Capricorns see the world in black and white. We are very practical. We are analytical. We work out the odds. To ask the Tarot such questions are futile, surely? Lottery wins. Rich guys. Why waste the best years of your life walking round in hope of a 45 million to 1 miracle? I know a girl (Stateside) who was working on tables in the deep south. She was 19 and had dropped out of school. One day she woke up and told herself she could do better. And so she did. She now works on Wall Street NY, in charge of 150 employees and she’s a very successful businesswoman. Now what were the odds on that? A damn site better than buying a lottery ticket.
That’s my girl……