Let me make a disclaimer here - I don't really believe in fortune telling. Even more so, I don't believe in fortune telling via a computer program. If the universe could somehow be tapped into by playing cards or marked stones, I fail to see how a program under 5MB could emulate that kind of connection to the cosmos.

However, I do find fortune telling fascinating. Call it scientific curiosity. The atmosphere, the intensity, the drama of it all is quite entertaining. While researching this avenue, I came across a website with some very interesting software for fortune telling. MysticBoard.com has a lot of software related to the esoteric. It's a bit hard to find, but I'll give you the link. Why? Because I like you, my friend. Today, I'm just going to look at three of them.

The software featured is mostly postware. This is a new concept to me, but maybe you've heard of it. You download the software for free, you register it by registering for the sites forum and once you've made the requisite number of meaningful posts on the forum, your software is unlocked so you can use it forever. That's a pretty neat way to build a community or to engage in beta testing, if you ask me! It's a bit naggy, but it is useable.

MB Tarot Pro for Free Fortune and Tarot Readings

Let's look at the method most people have heard of - good old tarot cards. MB Tarot Pro has a variety of options to choose from. You can use it to learn how to read tarot cards, just get a free reading, or go through a tarot dictionary. I just went for a reading.

This screen is pretty straight forward. By the way, that's not my real birthday, I'm not so foolish as to put that out there in Internetland.

On this page there are plenty of options, most of which I don't have a clue about. Different decks, different layouts, inverted, manual readings... I didn't really know what to do so I just clicked AutoCast.

This screenshot doesn't give you the whole flavour of what is presented, but I hope it gives you an idea of how indepth of a reading the software can give. It's actually pretty well done!

I read through the reading as best I could. Did it answer the question? Not really. I'm not sure what they mean by facing legal obstacles. All I want to do is get an article on the front page of Digg. Should lawyers be involved in that? Think not, I do so.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 cards up for cool looking decks and depth of reading.

MB Free Chinese Zodiac

Have you ever been to a Chinese buffet where they have the Chinese zodiac on the placemats? It's always a bit of fun, especially if one of your table mates is a boar. Out come the pig jokes, which are too easy at a buffet. The MysticBoard Chinese Zodiac software goes a step further into the Chinese zodiac, since elements as well as animals are involved.

Let's look at how it works. Enter your Name, Birth Day and Sex (Yes please!) then click on Proceed.

Then, a whole breakdown of your zodiac a la Chinois comes up.

Everything that the software said totally applied to me! Amazing! Especially considering that's not my birthday. The statements are very generalized and appeal to the ego of the person being read. So, of course, a lot of it will seem to really represent me! Or anyone else!

Verdict: 2 out of 5 Metal Pigs and a Spring Roll.

MB Free Kundali

I really don't know what Kundali is, but that's what Wikipedia is for. Okay, Wikipedia says that it's a soap opera in India. I suppose naming a soap opera after a form of fortune telling is only appropriate.

The Kundali software is amazingly detailed, perhaps more so than the Tarot software. Again, I don't have a bloody clue what half of it means! Let's take a look at my fake reading.

All false information in there, of course. But let's see what the results are.

Wow. Big screen with a lot of information. Some of it appears to be of the self-fulfilling prophecy kind and some of it of the fortune cookie nature. Yet there are some very specific details in there such as what organs will cause me health problems and details on my physique and looks. So far those have been inaccurate, but it is based on false information I gave the software. Interesting, nonetheless.

Verdict: 3 out of 5 Nakshatra's, hold the Rashti.

There are a lot more programs for free fortune and tarot readings over at MysticBoards.com like the three I've shared today. Finding where to download them can be a bit of a bother, yet if you are a believer, or even just find this stuff entertaining, it's worth the trip. I just wish they would put out software that would really tell me if I'll make it to the front page of Digg or not.

Are you a believer? Do you have an interesting fortune telling experience to share? What do you think of software taking on the role of fortune teller? Send us your vibes in the comments to receive your share of MUO karma.