Mystical Dating Is Having a Moment. Keep Your Judgment in the Picture.
What a survey about Gen Z’s dating rituals actually tells us—and how to explore manifestation, tarot or romantic artwork as entertainment and reflection.
A horoscope before a date, a journal entry imagining a future partner, a tarot reading after a breakup: mystical practices offer plenty of ways to think about romance. A headline reporting that 64% of Gen Z has tried such approaches deserves a closer look. The useful takeaway is about people’s interests and hopes; the survey does not establish that these practices can predict or deliver love.
What the 64% figure actually measures
The figure comes from DatingNews, which published results from a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults. Among its Gen Z respondents, 64% reported trying at least one spiritual, psychic or manifestation practice to improve their romantic lives. The corresponding figure for millennials was 51%. Within the Gen Z group, 29% reported manifestation or scripting, 25% seeing a psychic and 17% seeing a tarot reader. Read the original survey report.
Those categories cover different experiences, from writing down wishes to consulting another person. Trying something once does not establish regular use, firm belief or a successful outcome. The percentage describes the survey’s respondents; it should not become a blanket description of every young dater.
Likewise, a participant’s impression that a ritual helped cannot establish that it caused a relationship to change. Treat this as a snapshot of reported behavior, with no demonstrated supernatural mechanism.
Curiosity is bigger than one dating headline
Independent research offers useful context. A nationally representative Pew Research Center survey of 9,593 U.S. adults, conducted in October 2024, found that 30% consulted astrology, tarot cards or fortune tellers at least annually. Most participants who used these practices said their main purpose was enjoyment. Only 1% of all adults reported relying heavily on what they learned when making major life decisions. See Pew’s findings.
Pew’s research does not independently confirm the 64% dating figure: it asked different questions of a different population. It does show that participation can coexist with a lighthearted attitude.
There is also reason to resist declaring a sudden revolution in belief. Pew found that Americans’ belief in astrology had not changed significantly from its 2017 measurement. Visibility, experimentation and conviction are separate things.
Give the ritual a practical purpose
If you enjoy these activities, choose a question that helps you examine your own preferences. After drawing a tarot card, try writing about what its imagery brings to mind. Which qualities do you want in a relationship? Which boundaries have you struggled to express? Treat your answers as your interpretations, without assigning the card authority over someone else’s feelings.
For manifestation journaling, translate an imagined relationship into observable behavior. Wanting a considerate partner might mean looking for someone who follows through on plans, respects a refusal and takes an interest in your life. Then identify one step you control, such as accepting an invitation or stating your intentions honestly.
Leave room for the other person’s choices. A reading, coincidence or compatibility chart cannot supply their consent. If someone declines contact, respect that answer. You also do not owe an unsuitable relationship more time because a prediction sounded encouraging.
Decide what the experience is worth before paying
Before buying a reading or romantic illustration, name the experience you want: amusement, a keepsake or a prompt for reflection. Set a spending limit that makes sense even if nothing changes in your dating life.
Check the full price, what you receive, delivery terms, refund conditions and whether checkout includes recurring charges. Keep personal information to what is necessary for the purchase. Promises to reveal a certain future partner or make a specific person return should not determine your spending.
Apply the same approach to an imagined soulmate portrait. Evaluate it as creative artwork: would you enjoy the picture without expecting to meet the person depicted? Let any reflection it inspires focus on values and connection, while actual dating decisions remain grounded in conversation, mutual interest and how someone treats you.
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