Will fortune smile on tarot gathering in Eagan?

Professional letter-board turner Vanna White won't be there. neither will actor Jeremy Irons or relatives of 20th-century magazine publisher Henry Luce.

But while those people with connections to famous fortunes (Wheel of Fortune, Fortune magazine and the Reversal of Fortune movie) won't be in Eagan this weekend, there will be plenty of other fortune seekers at the annual Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium.

The three-day event, which began Friday night, concludes Sunday. but if you are a tarot card reader or enthusiast you probably know that already.

"We love the cards," said Corrine Kenner, a symposium organizer. "It's not an especially common hobby so we like to get together and talk to one other when we can."

Among the featured events Sunday is a workshop on creating a full-size tarot mask, which organizers claim will help people "reveal your true self in the process."

The event, designed for professional tarot card readers as well as those just learning the craft, was held last year at the Dakota Ridge Hotel in Eagan. The event proved such a success — drawing dozens of people — that it was brought back this year to the same town and the same hotel, in part because Dakota Ridge was willing to discount room rates to $78 — matching the number of cards in a Tarot deck.

Ideally, organizers would like to limit the number of participants to 78. Participants are expected to come not only from Minnesota, but also from Wisconsin and Iowa.

"Conferences like this are crucial for people who want to get to the top level," said Kenner, an author of tarot books. "Everyone who comes in does readings for others, although not everyone gets paid. it will be sort of a psychic fair between the workshops."

Kenner estimates there are hundreds of tarot card readers in Minnesota who do thousands of readings each year.

Over the weekend, participants also talked about past and future lives progression, the hidden mysteries of the High Priestess card and the best way to turn pro.

A new feature this year was a labyrinth that organizers constructed outside the hotel. Another twist: allowing hotel guests to sign up for readings.

"Our guests love it," said Chad Kolness, director of sales at Dakota Ridge. "It's kind of intriguing for our guests."

Tarot began in Italy in the 15th century and has since spread around the world, with some people taking it seriously (think Nancy Reagan) and others viewing it as an interesting or entertaining parlor game.

The cards have symbols, which the Tarot reader can interpret to divine the future, reveal the customer's nature or entertain family and friends.

"People will see themselves in the cards," said Kenner, who has an office in Bloomington.

Kolness said organizers were so happy last year with the hotel that they booked the space for this year immediately after the 2009 gathering.

"They're a fun, tight-knit group," Kolness said before the weekend. "I have a feeling we'll be booking them again."

No word yet on the lunch and dinner menus for next year. or whether there will be fortune cookies for dessert.

Heron Marquez Estrada • 612-673-4280