From palm reading to joss sticks to fortune cookies, there are many ways to learn your personal future. But if you want to know what will happen to other people, and the world in general, there are fewer options. Of these, one of the most popular is tarot reading. Curious as newly born 2007 kittens, we consulted with four masters of the cards and asked them for predictions on a range of topics.

The Country’s Big Men

"Are we going to have an election this year?"

Khata: The next election will be in early to mid-2008—so not within a year, as promised. Conflicts will arise around February, May and June, leading to a frightening confrontation, but finally respected men—not politicians—will come to the rescue.

Meen: Things will be more stable after six months. The election will happen but it will take some time. 

J: Around the end of November, we will know whose turn it is to rule the stage.

Mettawan: This year ends with a zero [2550 by the Thai calendar], so it’s not likely. I think the election will be early next year.

Will Mr. T come back?

Khata: He will be return to Thailand, but his chance of getting back his power again this year is zero. He’ll try but he won’t succeed.

Meen: He will be back with his wife but he won’t get involved in politics.

J: In July, the ex-ruler will be courageous enough to request that he be allowed to return. Seventeen months from his departure date, he will be able to come back.

Mettawan: He will not want to take part in politics again, but there are things he can do that others can’t. He will be forced into the political arena again.

Will the three provinces in the South become a separate country?

Khata: There’s no chance it will happen, at least not for 50 to 100 years. The situation will improve somewhat due to better understanding among the various parties by July. Unfortunately, conditions will worsen in the next three years.  

Meen: The situation will dramatically improve and the South will stay a part of our country

J: The Devil is the answer. There won’t be a separation this year, but the matter will reach the world stage.  

Will Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties be dissolved?

Khata: There is a 90-100% chance TRT will. But there isn’t any chance that the Democrat Party will be dissolved.

J: After March 21, both parties will pray for forgiveness, rather than a rebirth.  

Mettawan: The guilty individuals will pay, not the whole parties.

Does Somkid Jatusripitak stand a chance of being the next PM?

Khata: Somkid’s new party will be similar to Chart Thai or National Development parties that always go with the flow. 

Meen: He will take an important role in politics, but not as PM in 2008.

Mettawan: He doesn’t have a chance.

Will Thailand ever have a female PM?

Khata: There will be one, but not in the next 10-20 years.

Meen: Within 10 years the role of women in politics will increase, but there won’t be any female PM.

Mettawan: I don’t see a chance at all.

Will ABhisit get to be PM?

Khata: He will not, but the next prime minister will come from the Democrat Party.

Meen: He will stay as the party’s leader, become more respected and play a larger role in the political scene, but he will never become PM.

Mettawan: No, it’s not in his fortune.

Money-wise and More

With the new airport, will Thailand become the “gateway to SouthEast Asia”?

Khata: No, it won’t. The airport has to be ready for an accident or tragedy that will happen, and midyear Thailand will lose some credibility. There might be some epidemic that will prevent Suvarnnabhumi from being the aviation hub of Southeast Asia. 

Meen: It’s possible. This year commerce in Thailand will flourish, money will flow, foreigners will come invest and the median household income will increase.

J: The airport should get prepared because Thailand is ready to be the gateway to Southeast Asia.

Mettawan: Suvarnnabhumi has a chance. It’s bigger than the airports in lots of countries.

What kind of businesses will prosper this year?

Khata: Healthcare. People will pay more attention to health, living, beauty, body and mind. Also foreign affairs and communications. Property will boom at the end of the year.

Meen: Overall, the businesses that have effect on the mind or therapy business, like spa, will make a lot of money. Tourism and hotels will also grow.  

J: Healthcare, pharmaceuticals and property.

Mettawan: If you want to be rich, invest in the stock market.

Will the value of the baht increase or decrease?

Khata: The baht will weaken early in the year and gradually rise from February to March. It will decrease again from May to July.

Meen: It will drop during the first six months but will get higher later in the year.

Mettawan: It won’t increase.

Will BTS and MRT part II be finished on time?

Khata: The BTS won’t be later than the plan. The MRT won’t be on time—completion cannot be seen.

Meen: BTS will have problems in the beginning but will get through OK. The project won’t take longer than five years. MRT will face a postponement in the decision. There will be big problems.

Mettawan: Both BTS and MRT will be finished in due time for sure.

Entertainment

Will a Thai football team ever make it to the finals at the Olympics?

Khata: A Thai football team will stand a chance, but not the next Olympics. The chance will come 3-7 years from now.

Meen: Next year, a star in the Thai team will shine; he is young and enthusiastic and has good skill. It’s possible that he’s imported from abroad. He will be the striker who scores in an important match.

J: The next Olympics are still too soon.

Mettawan: They can.

Will Bird Thongchai have a new album this year?

Khata: Next year, Bird will have to be careful about his health, respiratory system and muscles. His album will come out and though it it won’t be as popular as the previous ones, it will be warmly welcomed.

Meen: He might have a new album, but if he wants it to be successful he will need help from others. He will need to sing with some other people and it should be a group of women.

J: He will but it will be somehow quieter. Money-wise it’s nothing exciting but his charm remains. It will be a good year for old people in the entertainment industry.

Mettawan: He won’t have one.

Can Tony Ja be as successful as Jackie Chan?

Khata: He will be successful in foreign countries, including Europe. Not as popular as Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee, though. 

Meen: This year he will have to work harder and there will be a trivial problem with his agent. It will take around three years to get him to Hollywood. 

Mettawan: He won’t.

Will Tata Young go inter in the US or Europe—or get married?

Khata: This year, Tata will be even more famous but there will be no news of marriage.

Meen: She will get into a new market, either Europe or America. Her fame in Asia is already at its peak, though. For marriage, her boo will ask but she will refuse. She won’t get pregnant before marriage. 

J: America isn’t too hard for her. Her fortune is in Asia. Her love is going very well but marriage won’t come yet.

Mettawan: No. She will be famous only in Thailand.

Will Pen-ek Rattanarueng ever win an Oscar?

Khata: He will get nominated someday but won’t win.    

Meen: Pen-ek’s fortune will suffer during the first six months with personal problems, but he will get new international friends to invest in his movie. He won’t get an Oscar this year but he will win other international awards, like at Cannes.

Will Paradon ever return to form?

Khata: He will be back in one of the top rankings but won’t do any better than he already has.

Meen: His behavior will not go astray like before and he will have less gossip news about him and women. It’s possible that he’ll be ranked in the Top 20 again.

J: He’ll have to fight just to maintain his present position.

How will the nightlife scene be affected by the alcohol advertising ban?

Khata: The law won’t affect alcohol companies. Thai people will still choose to find happiness in nightlife and sex.