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uni Kahfi, 29, believes so strongly in zodiac and tarot that she relies on them for making important decisions.

Whenever she encounters a difficult situation, the first person she contacts would not be her friend or family member, but her tarot reader.

“If I feel uneasy about something or unsure about my decision, I go to my favorite tarot reader and have my forking path foreseen,” she told The Jakarta Post recently.

The resident of Kemang in South Jakarta claimed that 80 percent of her social maneuvers were directed by zodiac readings. The Gemini said she took other people’s zodiac into consideration when deciding on whether to proceed with a friendship.

“Matching zodiacs are the key to successful friendships or relationships,” she said. “Each zodiac has its own unique, basic character that is symbolized by the elements. For example, a Gemini like me is extroverted and witty, a person of the air element. I would be a good match for a person of the fire element because fire needs air,” she said.

Tarot reading and astrology has gained popularity in Greater Jakarta among those who want to find clues on love, life and fortune. Clients can express their troubles to tarot readers or astrologers while also asking questions on the steps they should take.

Clients look for a different vibe when going to an astrologer or tarot reader when compared to a psychologist or religious figure, astrologer Novira Mapparessa said. She offers 90 to 120 minute sessions in person or online.

“Astrology is an alternative to understanding a person’s psychology. It can help us understand ourselves and offer solutions for our problems,” the 27-year-old said, adding that she could meet up to four clients per week.

For online sessions, Novira makes her astrological calculation based on her client’s birth data, so that she could study the interstellar movement that happened when the client was born. She then processes the data for three to seven days, depending on the client’s questions.

She provides the analysis through a PDF document. After receiving the analysis, the client could talk to her online for 75 minutes and ask questions. She charges Rp 75,000 (US$5.36) to Rp 200,000 per session.

Novira is a self-proclaimed astrologist having studied astrology through a United States-based website that provided her with journals, teaching materials and online tutoring.

Those who seek help come from various backgrounds, Philipus Fath Oei, a 25-year-old tarot reader, said. He claimed he handled 20 clients per week, with celebrities and politicians coming to have their fortune told by him.

“Tarot reading is a medium I use to understand a client’s personality. Only then can we understand their problems and predict what would happen,” he said, adding that he charged Rp 350,000 per session.