Finding someone to date is one thing. Figuring out whether that person is actually meant for you is another, and Gen Z is getting creative about finding answers. From manifestation journals to psychic readings and paid love spells, young adults are bringing spirituality into their romantic lives in ways that go beyond checking a potential partner’s zodiac sign.
According to a new DatingNews survey, 64% of Gen Z respondents have tried at least one spiritual, psychic, or manifestation practice in hopes of improving their love lives. Even more surprising, nearly one in five have paid someone to perform a love spell or ritual.
The findings, published October 6, reveal a considerable generational difference in how Americans approach romantic uncertainty. While 64% of Gen Z reported experimenting with these practices, the figure dropped to 51% among millennials, 25% among Gen X and just 12% among baby boomers.
For a generation accustomed to finding potential partners through dating apps and social media, the appeal of seeking spiritual guidance offers another layer to the modern dating experience.
Manifestation emerged as the most popular spiritual approach among Gen Z dating respondents, with 29% saying they had tried manifestation or scripting to improve their romantic prospects. The practice often involves writing down relationship goals, visualizing a desired outcome, or expressing intentions about the type of partner someone hopes to attract.
Another 25% reported visiting a psychic, while 19% said they had paid for a love spell or ritual. Tarot readings attracted 17% of Gen Z respondents, followed by astrology or compatibility charts at 16%. Crystals and other spiritual tools accounted for 8%.
The numbers suggest some young adults are exploring several ways to make sense of relationships, whether that means trying to attract a new partner, better understand an existing connection, or move past an unresolved breakup.
The willingness to spend money on spiritual services is particularly notable. DatingNews found that 19% of Gen Z respondents had purchased a love spell or ritual, compared with 16% of millennials, 6% of Gen X, and only 2% of boomers. The report referenced platforms such as Etsy and TikTok as part of the online marketplace surrounding these services, although it did not establish how much respondents spent.
The motivation isn’t always entertainment, either. Among Gen Z respondents who had experimented with these methods, 22% wanted to improve an existing relationship, while 13% hoped to get an ex back. That was the highest reported percentage for reconnecting with a former partner among the generations surveyed.
Only 15% of Gen Z participants who tried these practices cited entertainment as their motivation, compared with 40% of boomers. Curiosity remained another important factor, accounting for 34% of Gen Z respondents who experimented with spiritual methods.
But perhaps the most interesting finding involves whether people believe their efforts actually made a difference.
DatingNews reported that 46% of Gen Z respondents who tried a spiritual or magic-based tactic said it worked to some degree. Specifically, 17% answered yes, while another 29% said it “kind of” worked. Meanwhile, 20% believed it was too early to tell, and 35% said their efforts had not worked.
Those results reflect participants’ personal perceptions, not scientific evidence that spells, psychic readings, or manifestation can influence another person’s romantic feelings or behavior. Still, the responses offer a look at how people interpret their own experiences when hope, timing, and uncertainty are involved.
Another revealing part of the Gen Z dating survey concerns whose advice young adults trust when navigating relationships.
Therapy ranked first, with 38% selecting it as their most trusted source of dating guidance. However, a combined 32% chose astrology, psychics, tarot readings, or love spells. That exceeded the 23% who preferred advice from friends or family and was more than four times the 7% who selected dating coaches.
Broken down further, 14% favored astrology, 10% chose psychics or tarot readers, and 8% selected love spells.
Those preferences suggest spirituality and more conventional approaches to emotional well-being can coexist. A young adult might seek professional support for communication or relationship patterns while also looking at a tarot reading for personal reflection.
The broader fascination with spiritual practices is supported by other research, although not everyone who participates considers the results meaningful.
A May 2025 Pew Research Center study involving 9,593 American adults found that 30% consult astrology, tarot cards, or fortune tellers at least once annually. Most participants who engaged in these activities reported doing so primarily for entertainment rather than serious guidance.
Pew also found that nearly a quarter of Americans ages 18 to 29 consult tarot cards at least annually, while 14% in that age group visit fortune tellers. Younger adults were more likely than older Americans to engage with these practices.
Importantly, Pew found that only 6% of all U.S. adults relied at least a little on spiritual readings when making major life decisions. The findings suggest an important distinction between enjoying spiritual practices and allowing them to determine significant personal choices.
Even dating platforms have recognized the cultural interest in astrology.
In March 2026, Tinder announced the expansion of Astrology Mode, a feature allowing users to incorporate their birth information and explore potential compatibility through Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.
Instead of keeping astrology separate from the digital dating experience, Tinder incorporated zodiac compatibility into how users discover and evaluate potential matches.
That development offers an interesting contrast to the idea that young adults are abandoning dating technology for spiritual practices. In some cases, both are becoming part of the same experience.
There is also a larger conversation about why Gen Z dating feels complicated in the first place.
A separate September 2026 study from Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute surveyed 2,373 American adults ages 18 to 29 about relationships, sexual experiences, and modern dating challenges.
Researchers found that 43% said financial concerns made dating or maintaining a romantic relationship more difficult. Another 28% reported that spending time on screens or digital activities reduced their motivation to pursue sexual connections in person.
Those findings do not establish that financial pressure or dating fatigue causes young people to seek spiritual services. They do, however, provide context for the real obstacles some young adults encounter while attempting to establish meaningful connections.
Meanwhile, research suggests that romance remains important, even when the process of finding it becomes complicated.
The Kinsey Institute’s 2026 Singles in America study examined approximately 5,000 single adults and found that nearly half had developed feelings for someone they were not initially attracted to. Researchers identified conversation, shared interests, and personal values as factors that can change how someone views a potential partner.
Dr. Justin Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute, summarized that unpredictability in a statement accompanying the research.
“Knowing what matters to you doesn’t mean knowing exactly who you’ll fall for.”
That uncertainty may help explain why practices promising romantic insight can feel appealing. A tarot reading might encourage someone to reflect on a difficult relationship, while manifestation may help another person clarify what they want from a partner.
There are limitations to the new DatingNews findings. The outlet surveyed 1,013 U.S. adults online in August 2026 through Cherry Data Signals and reported an estimated margin of error of 3.1 percentage points for the full sample. It did not disclose the Gen Z subgroup size in the published report, meaning that the overall margin should not be treated as the margin for the generational figures.
The survey also measured reported experiences and beliefs rather than whether any spiritual intervention genuinely changed a relationship’s outcome.
Nevertheless, the findings capture a compelling part of modern dating culture. Gen Z is exploring a combination of technology, professional guidance and personal spirituality while searching for love, clarity and reassurance.
For some, that means trusting a therapist. For others, it means checking a birth chart, booking a psychic reading or writing down the qualities they hope to find in a partner.
And while no love spell can guarantee a healthy relationship, the growing interest in these practices highlights something familiar about romance: People want to believe the uncertainty will eventually lead somewhere meaningful.
