The Future Is Not Predetermined

Time: A Convenient Frame of Reference

We are accustomed to dividing life into the past, the present, and the future. Yet the boundaries themselves are far less obvious than the calendar on the wall.

In our everyday reality, time carefully weaves events, people, causes, and consequences into intricate knots. Often quite spontaneously and, at first glance, by chance. But only at first glance. In the philosophical model proposed here, the past is a possibility already realized, the present is the moment of action, and the future is a space of possibilities.

The future is unknown to us. To every one of us. Of course, we can assume, with some degree of probability, that we will receive our salary on the tenth of next month and find fresh milk in the refrigerator that evening. That a new job will suit us, the pension fund we have chosen will prove profitable, and a future wife will be faithful and good at running a household. We may hope for all of this, but we cannot know it for certain.

But the unknown is not necessarily empty. Perhaps different scenarios exist, and our choices determine which one becomes our lived reality. Sometimes there are dozens of options; sometimes only two or three. At times they lie before us in plain sight. At others, we cannot see them at all. And we forget that even a narrow corridor does not necessarily end at a single exit. There may be doors along the way. Or even a way out onto the street.

That is what I would like to talk to you about.

My view of the relationship between probabilities and choice is an original conceptual model, not a proven physical theory. Its main value lies in changing the question: instead of asking “What is definitely going to happen?” we ask, “What might happen under these conditions?” Much more useful, wouldn’t you agree?

Let me give you an example.

“We can predict the future when we know how moments of synchronicity are created in the present.” — Carl Gustav Jung

(Swiss psychotherapist, philosopher, and author of numerous studies used in modern psychodiagnostics, among other fields)

Imagine that someone faces a problem or finds themselves in a difficult situation that requires a choice. After long deliberation, doubt, hesitation, and reflection, they conclude that a lawyer or psychologist is unlikely to help.

And then they remember esoteric practices.

Having chosen a suitable practitioner, they arrange an appointment, come to the Master (a practitioner), and ask, “What awaits me?” A good question. And the person genuinely expects an answer, while deep down fiercely resisting the very idea and, at the same time, desperately clinging to the fragile branch of “but what if?” The person asking the question—let us call them the Querent, as is customary in esoteric circles—will be very fortunate if the Master is experienced and in good form. In that case, the Querent will most likely be invited to look at the situation differently and replace “What awaits me?” or “What will happen next?” with questions that are far more useful and appropriate:

What paths are open to me, where might they lead, and how much effort will each require?

Who can help me resolve my situation, and what can I realistically do myself?

Or, instead of the painfully familiar “Do they love me or not?”:

Is there anything I can change or do to have my feelings reciprocated?

Is this really the right person for me? Are we suited to each other?

In other words, when working with divinatory tools, a fundamental requirement is to ask the right question at the right time.

What does that mean? It means that asking about something already over is, to put it mildly, inappropriate. Do you really want to know how someone who is no longer part of your life feels about you or what they think of you? Let us suppose you do. What would that answer give you? A pinch of salt on a wound that has not yet healed? In such a situation, it would be more useful and appropriate to ask:

What reasons and circumstances prevented our relationship / family life / collaboration from working out?

What lessons should I draw from this experience?

And a few similar questions suited to the context. The very act of framing them this way redirects attention to your own life and to what you can change in it.

Quantum Mechanics, Singularity, and One Uncomfortable Question

Modern physics has taught us to be more cautious with intuition: our world and the Universe are more complex than they appear to someone who confidently locates yesterday’s soup in the refrigerator. In quantum theory, probability is not merely the everyday “maybe.” It is not simply a gap in our knowledge, but a fundamental property of nature.

Unlike our everyday world, where we can calculate with reasonable accuracy which window a thrown ball will break, the microscopic world works differently. The world of extraordinarily small particles, which make up the matter of everything from a blade of grass to a comet, operates according to its own patterns and laws. These include the probability wave, the act of observation, and true randomness.

To put it very simply, here is how it works:

The Probability Wave:

Before measurement, a particle (an electron, for example) is not located in one specific place. It exists everywhere at once, in the form of a cloud of probabilities.

The Act of Observation:

Only when a physicist or an instrument “looks” at the particle does that cloud instantly collapse: the wave function collapses, and the particle randomly materializes at a particular point.

True Randomness:

This is the most mysterious kind of randomness. Scientists consider it absolute. It appears when Nature, at the most fundamental level, makes a choice that cannot be predicted in advance—we can only attempt to calculate the chances (probabilities) of one outcome or another.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Something elusive yet strangely close and understandable, even if you are not a physicist…

Synchronicity displays similar probabilities, chance events, and “coincidences.”

Suppose you have been thinking about a friend for half an hour, and suddenly they call you—or you hear some news from or about them.

Or you are considering where to spend your next holiday, weighing the options. You pick up your smartphone, and an advertisement for a trip to that very country pops up on the screen.

Or you remember some rare bird or plant, spend a while thinking about it, and that evening receive a postcard bearing its image—or even an actual potted plant.

Familiar situations?

But there is one more term to consider.

Singularity is a technical term with different meanings in physics and mathematics. In very simple terms, a singularity is when all known laws, explanations, and theories somehow stop working.

This leads to a philosophical hypothesis: if reality allows for many possible trajectories, could there be a practical tool that helps a person explore them—and perhaps even interact with them?

And the answer is yes. There are many such tools. They were well known in ancient times, from time immemorial. They are familiar even to us, thoroughly modern people who use cars, airplanes, and intelligent voice assistants every day. So what are these tools?

Let me name a few: Scandinavian runes; all kinds of card decks, from straightforward Gypsy-style card decks to intricate Lenormand cards, from Papus Tarot to the classic Rider–Waite–Smith or Thoth Tarot. Chicken bones. Crystal balls. Soap bubbles and cocktail straws. Don’t smile—those are used too. But let us focus on Tarot.

In this article, we consider this divinatory tool as a hypothetical connecting link between a person and their life, destiny, and future, understood as alternative courses of events, with the Master serving as interpreter. In other words, a particular system begins to emerge.

This is not a claim that Tarot has a scientifically established quantum mechanism. It is a subject for reflection and practice.

Divination: Not a Verdict, but a Route Map

In such a system, Tarot cards should not dictate an inevitable fate. They become a way of answering a well-formulated question, seeing alternatives, assessing obstacles, timing, resources, and possible consequences. The more precise the question and the more conscientious the interpretation, the more useful the conversation.

A Master is under no obligation to promise someone the moon by next Tuesday. What is more, in today’s dynamic world, with its constant “Brownian motion,” scheduling life-changing events for Friday afternoon is practically a genre of unscientific fiction in its own right.

Choice Is Not Exclusive to Humans

A fish chooses which way to swim, a bird chooses where to build its nest, and an animal chooses a route to food or shelter. Such decisions are often tightly constrained by instinct and the need to survive. In many circumstances, humans have more at their disposal: education, skills, experience, resources and savings, technology, help from others, and the ability to plan years ahead. (Much to the amusement of their older relatives.)

But having resources does not mean knowing how to use them. You can have free time, talent, and support—and still spend years believing that there are only two options. Sometimes the real work begins not with choosing, but with discovering a third possibility.

A Young Woman, Computer Graphics, and Manicures

Suppose a young woman from a small provincial town wants to study computer graphics. But there is a problem: there are no companies nearby working on such projects. What should she do? Give up her dream without even trying? Move to a large, unfamiliar city where there will surely be potential employers—but competitors too? Or perhaps it would make more sense to find out what exactly attracts her to this profession: drawing, creating beautiful things, working with her hands, working for people? Why not?

Perhaps it turns out that she enjoys delicate manual work and interacting with people. Then she could consider fields where artistic talent and creativity can be applied, such as manicures, pedicures, and other practical specialties. From podiatry and physiotherapy to many other medical fields requiring patience, attention to detail, and, of course, appropriate training and compliance with professional standards. In other words—a profession. As a starting point, such a path could provide personal fulfillment, an income, and independence.

And computer graphics has not gone anywhere. Earn money, study, try your hand at small commissions. Build experience and find fulfillment in what your heart is drawn to. If a family and children come along, adjust your schedule. When the children grow older, take on a larger project. If there is work locally—wonderful. If not—perhaps there will be remote opportunities or work in another city.

This is not an “either–or” choice, but a “both–and” strategy spread over time. One skill supports another, income pays for education, and life circumstances do not erase the dream.

The World Today: When Uncertainty Is Not an Abstraction

Today, in many countries across Europe and the Middle East, a conversation about life’s unpredictability needs little introduction. War, alerts, mobilization, disruptions to everyday routines—for many people, these are not distant headlines but entries in their own calendars. This makes backup plans especially important: sources of income, useful skills, a support network, financial reserves, and an understanding of what can be changed right now.

No cards can replace instructions from emergency and security services, medical care, or the verification of financial facts. But thinking through scenarios can help a person formulate questions they have been putting off and identify real actions within their control.

The Highest Level of Mastery

Predicting everything is impossible. But we can compare likely outcomes, consider resources, the cost of mistakes, timing, and personal wishes. The effort we invest sometimes improves our chances of success—though it never guarantees it. And the most economical route is not necessarily the shortest: what matters is that it offers not only money but also satisfaction.

In my model of divination, true mastery is not about telling someone their fate. It is about noticing the options available to them in time, helping them distinguish the feasible from the fanciful, and helping them recognize and choose a trajectory they are genuinely prepared to follow.

The future does not have to be a single road. And perhaps the best question to ask it is this: “Which doors have I not noticed yet?”

NAWARU · An Original Concept of Strategic Divination