Fortune telling and spirit mediumship are a genuine, ongoing part of everyday belief for many Thais — distinct from the novelty fortune-telling booths sometimes set up for tourists in nightlife areas.
Common forms
Palm reading, astrology tied to birth date, and consulting a recognised spirit medium for guidance on major life decisions (business, health, relationships) are all practiced seriously by a meaningful portion of the population, alongside — not necessarily in conflict with — Buddhist practice.
Temple-based fortune telling
Some temples offer a formalised fortune-telling practice using numbered sticks or similar methods, tied into a temple visit rather than a separate commercial activity.
The tourist version
Novelty fortune-telling stalls aimed at tourists in nightlife areas are a different, more commercial thing entirely — fine as casual entertainment, but worth recognising as separate from the genuine cultural practice described above.
Visitor etiquette
If invited to observe a genuine consultation with a medium or temple fortune-telling practice, treat it with the same respect as any other religious or spiritual practice — not a photo opportunity or curiosity to interrupt.