For anyone wondering how prevalent occult practices are becoming in mainstream culture, look no further than McDonald’s most recent marketing tactic, which involved, among meal deals, the chance to win tarot card readings.

A USA Today story covering McDonald’s plan reads, “McDonald’s is preparing for this week’s celestial and astrological change of Mercury retrograde with both a deal and tarot card readings.” Customers using the McDonald’s app to buy a medium order of fries were given a free McDouble or McChicken and the chance to a tarot card reading.

Reportedly, McDonald’s partnered with Madam Adam, a tarot card reader with expertise in astrology, to offer reading to certain customers. To win, customers had to go to Madam Adam’s Instagram or TikTok posts to share their name and zodiac sign. Adam advertised the campaign on his social media platforms, urging people to participate so they could learn their “fate.” Participants filled the comment sections on Adam’s social media pages with their zodiac sign in hopes of receiving a tarot reading.

In a video promotion, Adam said, “I don’t know about you, but Mercury in retrograde can be a really difficult time for me. So why not ease the discomfort with comfort food? Want to know what the Tarot has in store for you? Join me and McDonald’s for a very special TikTok Live… to know your fate.”

According to a statement from McDonald’s, Adam planned to “randomly select a lucky few to receive custom readings” during the live stream, which took place last week.

@officialmadamadam #ad Comment your first name and zodiac sign to find out what the cards will reveal for you during my live with @McDonald’s on 5/10 #menuOfFate #ad #mcdonalds #madamadam #tarottok #tarotreading #mercuryretrograde #tarotok ♬ original sound – Madam Adam

McDonald’s discount effort corresponded with Mercury retrograde, an optical illusion unfolding a few times each year and showing Mercury moving backward in its orbit. When Mercury laps Earth in its 88-day move around the sun, it causes Mercury’s appearance to be retrograde from Earth’s perspective.

But why do so many care about Mercury retrograde? And why did Adam say it can make for a “difficult time?” Astrologists believe happenings in the sky impact life on Earth. Therefore, Mercury retrograde has people engaging in speculation and superstition over alleged disruptions they think it can cause.

People routinely blame communication problems and other issues on Mercury retrograde, tragically putting their faith in the stars and celestial happenings instead of in God. This trend seems to be worsening. The Zodiac obsession is problematic from a spiritual perspective, but so are tarot cards.

The issue with these alleged oracles is they’re a form of divination, defined by Merriam-Webster as “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.”

While tarot cards might seem like harmless fun to some, the Bible rebukes divination in the strongest terms imaginable, warning people to steer clear of it. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 is just one place in the Old Testament that deals with the subject matter.

In Acts 16:16 in the New Testament, Paul exorcises a slave woman who has the “spirit of divination.” The Bible is filled with warnings against these practices, yet culture continues to adopt them and is increasingly celebrating these practices. McDonald’s is the latest big brand to commemorate such anti-biblical practices.

As for history, tarot reading goes back 600 years, and though it’s used as a parlor game by many, it is also a tool psychics use to try and foretell the future. A Tarot deck has 78 cards, and practitioners rely on occultic practices to use the cards to create a narrative about peoples’ lives. Anyone considering participating in these activities should turn their eyes to the Lord instead.