A few years ago, at a friend’s housewarming party, a woman pulled me aside and quietly asked me if I would read her cards. The request took me by surprise. She and I had never met, and very few people other than the host knew that I always carried a deck oftarocchi, or tarot cards, with me.

After all, the divination tool – believed to have been developed in northern Italy in the 15th century – was not a topic of conversation. But the woman told me she was trying to understand why so much bad luck had suddenly invaded her life. Financial hiccups, minor illnesses, petty arguments with her husband—the list was long. Only a couple of months ago, she explained, her corner of the world had been perfect. Now she felt pursued by misfortune. What was happening?