What is your dog really thinking? Tarot cards aim to provide answers
Pet owners in South Korea are increasingly turning to tarot readers to understand their dogs' emotions. The rise in pet ownership, coupled with a declining birth rate, has made this unique service a growing trend.
A greyhound named Kan sniffs among tarot cards at a fortune-telling shop in Seoul, finally placing his paw on one of them. Across the table, his owner, Han Hye-ju, waits anxiously to hear the meaning of the chosen card, which depicts a dog chasing its owner. Hwang Su-kyung, a tarot reader who runs the "Ice Sophia" institute in the upscale Gangnam district, explains that the image indicates anxiety related to the five puppies that Kan sired.
"These are feelings that Kan experiences, but veterinarians or dog trainers do not recognize them, because they do not manifest as a significant problem," explains Hwang.
This niche service, "Pet Tarot," is gaining popularity against the backdrop of significant demographic shifts in South Korea. With fewer citizens choosing to have children due to the high costs of housing and education, pets are increasingly viewed as essential family members. Government surveys show that this year, 29.2% of households in South Korea—the country with the world's lowest birth rate—raise pets, compared to 17.4% in 2010.
Hwang, who opened her institute in 2014, notes that demand grows as owners increasingly view their pets as family members and, at times, their only companions at home.
"They come back again, because once you start asking what your dog is thinking, you can no longer stop," she says. According to Hwang, she even designed a dedicated deck of cards for pets, including turtles and reptiles, following requests from clients. For example, if an animal chooses a card featuring swords, it may indicate that the pet is not feeling well physically and perhaps suffers from joint pain.
However, many pet owners believe these readings offer more than just entertainment. Ryu Su-mi brought her dog, I-Sol, to the institute after she collapsed at home and was hospitalized; since then, the dog has been terrified of anyone dressed like a paramedic. According to Hwang, the card the dog chose showed that the trauma still exists, but that the animal is in the process of recovery.
"I had no way of knowing this myself," says Ryu. "We look into each other's eyes every day, but it is clear that there are a great many things that we simply miss."
