In Moscow, a new trend has started for corporate parties: fortune tellers are being hired. This year, companies are adding fortune tellers and astrologers as the highlight of their corporate celebrations. Both regular office employees, mostly women, and top management, mostly men, are eager to know their future. MK spoke to fortune tellers in Moscow to find out what the working population wants from them.
Tarologist Sofia offers fortune-telling and rituals that only work once a year - during the New Year. At the end of December, the prices for her services skyrocket. "I charge 160,000 rubles for a visit," the fortune teller says shyly. "A group of up to 40 people. One day feeds me for the whole year."
For this money, Sofia promises to tell the fortune of the entire company and every employee. One tarot reading and three questions answered. She will also offer a talisman to each person and perform a ritual for money or love. Sofia even has a magical costume: a black cloak and a headband. However, she refuses to dress up as a carnival magician. "I am a real fortune teller, not a clown."
This fortune teller even has her own rider. In addition to her high fee, she demands a hot dinner, three types of salad, coffee with dessert, and a bottle of wine worth at least 1,000 rubles. She promises not to drink at the corporate party.
In search of a more affordable fortune teller, we call another number. And luck strikes immediately. A New Year's fortune teller agrees to come to the corporate party for only 16,000 rubles. "Just cover my train fare, please. I travel from the Moscow region," she says.
This fortune teller's program also includes tarot cards and granting wishes throughout the year. "I will be with you all evening. Usually, the host leads the program, and I sit at a table and see clients at the same time. I start with a tarot reading and then I can lay out runes. Your colleague can take a photo of them and do the same reading at home," she explains.
The fortune teller refers to runes as bloodthirsty. She doesn't want to delve into this topic during the New Year celebrations. When asked about the treachery of the runes, she says they require sacrifices. However, she quickly agrees not to perform any rituals involving sacrifices for the success of the company. Intriguingly, she asks, "Can your boss kill a rooster?" Then she reconsiders and says that we can do without these rituals.
The upcoming year is the year of the snake, and it is possible to hire a live snake, such as a python or a boa constrictor, for the corporate party. "You can have your photo taken next to our python, pet or hold it," says the owner of the snake. "Our snakes are not ordinary; they bring good luck."
However, the python's schedule turned out to be quite busy, and the price is high. The cost of having a woman with a snake at the corporate party starts at 40,000 rubles. "The year's symbol. Such luck only happens once every 12 years," she argues.
One of the fortune tellers agreed to make predictions for the corporate party period. It turned out to be quite alarming. The fortune teller predicts fights and physical altercations. To avoid awkward situations, she warned against excesses with a green snake. "Don't start arguments with your boss and don't harass the ladies," the fortune teller advises. She explained that currently, Mars in retrograde is aligning with Mercury in retrograde, which is a relatively rare phenomenon. "Just try to have fun," the psychic advises.
