RoxyAPI

Menu

How to Add Tarot Readings to Your Dating App (Complete API Guide)

•
18 min read
•By Priya Sharma
TarotDating AppsRelationship AppsAPI Integration

Boost engagement in dating apps with tarot-powered icebreakers, compatibility readings, and conversation starters. Complete implementation guide with real API examples for relationship spreads and yes/no guidance features.

How to Add Tarot Readings to Your Dating App (Complete API Guide)

Dating apps live and die by engagement metrics. Users swipe, match, then... crickets. 70% of matches never exchange a single message. The problem? Conversation anxiety and lack of compelling conversation starters.

Enter tarot-powered features: playful icebreakers ("What does the tarot say about us?"), compatibility spreads that spark discussion, and yes/no guidance for those "should I send this?" moments. Apps like Struck and NUiT already leverage astrology for 3-5x higher messaging rates. Tarot offers similar magic with even richer storytelling potential.

This guide shows you how to integrate RoxyAPI's Tarot API into dating platforms: relationship compatibility spreads, icebreaker card draws, yes/no decision features, and shareable reading cards that drive profile visits. Complete with production-ready code examples.

Why Tarot Works in Dating Apps

Psychological Triggers:

  • Barnum Effect: People see personal relevance in general descriptions ("The Two of Cups represents connection...")
  • Conversation Catalyst: Shared reading creates instant common ground ("My card was The Lovers, what was yours?")
  • Gamification: Collectible daily draws and rare card achievements boost retention
  • Social Proof: Shareable results drive organic growth ("We got 5/5 compatibility!")

Engagement Impact:

  • 40-60% higher first-message rates (icebreaker features)
  • 2-3x longer session times (exploring spreads together)
  • 25-35% increase in profile revisits (checking updated daily cards)
  • Viral coefficient 1.2-1.5x (users share readings on social media)

What You Will Build

By the end of this tutorial, you will have:

  1. Compatibility Spread - 5-card reading showing Your Energy / Their Energy / Connection Strength / Challenges / Potential
  2. Icebreaker Card Draw - Quick 3-card conversation starter displayed on match screen
  3. Yes/No Oracle - Should I message them? Should I ask for their number? Instant guidance
  4. Daily Match Card - Seeded daily card for each match (consistent per day, changes at midnight)
  5. Shareable Reading Cards - Beautiful OG images for Instagram Stories / DMs

Prerequisites

Tech Stack:

  • Backend: Node.js/Python/Ruby (any REST API consumer)
  • Frontend: React Native, Flutter, Swift/Kotlin, or web
  • RoxyAPI Tarot API Key (get one here - Starter plan at ₹999/month)

API Base URL:

https://roxyapi.com/api/v2/tarot

Authentication: All requests require X-API-Key header:

curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
     https://roxyapi.com/api/tarot/cards

Feature 1: Relationship Compatibility Spread

Display a 5-card spread when users match. Each position reveals relationship dynamics.

API: Custom Spread Builder

Endpoint:

POST /tarot/spreads/custom

Request:

{
  "spreadName": "Relationship Compatibility",
  "positions": [
    {
      "name": "Your Energy",
      "interpretation": "What you bring to the relationship"
    },
    {
      "name": "Their Energy",
      "interpretation": "What they bring to the relationship"
    },
    {
      "name": "Connection Strength",
      "interpretation": "The bond between you"
    },
    {
      "name": "Potential Challenges",
      "interpretation": "What could create friction"
    },
    {
      "name": "Relationship Potential",
      "interpretation": "Where this connection could lead"
    }
  ],
  "seed": "user123-user456-2026-01-09"
}

Response:

{
  "spread": "Custom Spread",
  "seed": "user123-user456-2026-01-09",
  "positions": [
    {
      "position": 1,
      "name": "Your Energy",
      "interpretation": "What you bring to the relationship",
      "card": {
        "id": "hanged-man",
        "name": "The Hanged Man",
        "arcana": "major",
        "number": 12,
        "position": 1,
        "reversed": false,
        "keywords": ["Pause", "surrender", "letting go", "new perspectives"],
        "meaning": "The Hanged Man reminds you that sometimes you have to put everything on hold...",
        "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/major/hanged-man.jpg"
      }
    },
    {
      "position": 2,
      "name": "Their Energy",
      "interpretation": "What they bring to the relationship",
      "card": {
        "id": "ace-of-wands",
        "name": "Ace of Wands",
        "arcana": "minor",
        "suit": "wands",
        "number": 1,
        "reversed": true,
        "keywords": ["An emerging idea", "lack of direction", "distractions"],
        "meaning": "The Ace of Wands reversed suggests that you can sense an idea emerging...",
        "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/minor/ace-of-wands.jpg"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Implementation: Node.js + Express

const axios = require('axios');

const TAROT_API_KEY = process.env.TAROT_API_KEY;
const TAROT_BASE_URL = 'https://roxyapi.com/api/v2/tarot';

// Generate compatibility reading for a match
async function getCompatibilityReading(userId1, userId2, date) {
  // Seed ensures same match gets same reading on same day
  const seed = `${userId1}-${userId2}-${date}`;
  
  const response = await axios.post(
    `${TAROT_BASE_URL}/spreads/custom`,
    {
      spreadName: "Relationship Compatibility",
      positions: [
        { name: "Your Energy", interpretation: "What you bring to the relationship" },
        { name: "Their Energy", interpretation: "What they bring to the relationship" },
        { name: "Connection Strength", interpretation: "The bond between you" },
        { name: "Potential Challenges", interpretation: "What could create friction" },
        { name: "Relationship Potential", interpretation: "Where this connection could lead" }
      ],
      seed
    },
    {
      headers: { 'X-API-Key': TAROT_API_KEY }
    }
  );
  
  return response.data;
}

// Express route
app.get('/api/matches/:matchId/compatibility', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const match = await Match.findById(req.params.matchId);
    const today = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0];
    
    const reading = await getCompatibilityReading(
      match.user1Id,
      match.user2Id,
      today
    );
    
    // Calculate compatibility score based on card energies
    const score = calculateCompatibilityScore(reading.positions);
    
    res.json({
      matchId: match.id,
      compatibility: score,
      reading: reading.positions.map(pos => ({
        position: pos.name,
        card: pos.card.name,
        reversed: pos.card.reversed,
        keywords: pos.card.keywords,
        meaning: pos.card.meaning.substring(0, 200) + '...',
        imageUrl: pos.card.imageUrl
      }))
    });
    
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to generate compatibility reading' });
  }
});

// Simple scoring algorithm
function calculateCompatibilityScore(positions) {
  let score = 50; // Base score
  
  positions.forEach(pos => {
    // Major arcana = stronger influence (+/-10)
    // Minor arcana = moderate influence (+/-5)
    const impact = pos.card.arcana === 'major' ? 10 : 5;
    
    // Reversed = challenging energy (reduce score)
    // Upright = positive energy (increase score)
    const direction = pos.card.reversed ? -1 : 1;
    
    // Position weight (Connection Strength = 2x impact)
    const weight = pos.name === 'Connection Strength' ? 2 : 1;
    
    score += (impact * direction * weight);
  });
  
  // Clamp between 0-100
  return Math.max(0, Math.min(100, score));
}

Implementation: React Native Frontend

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { View, Text, Image, StyleSheet, ScrollView, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';

export default function CompatibilityScreen({ route }) {
  const { matchId } = route.params;
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  const [reading, setReading] = useState(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetchCompatibility();
  }, []);
  
  async function fetchCompatibility() {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(
        `https://your-api.com/api/matches/${matchId}/compatibility`,
        {
          headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN}` }
        }
      );
      const data = await response.json();
      setReading(data);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Failed to fetch compatibility:', error);
    } finally {
      setLoading(false);
    }
  }
  
  if (loading) {
    return (
      <View style={styles.centered}>
        <ActivityIndicator size="large" color="#6366f1" />
      </View>
    );
  }
  
  return (
    <ScrollView style={styles.container}>
      {/* Compatibility Score */}
      <View style={styles.scoreCard}>
        <Text style={styles.scoreTitle}>Compatibility Score</Text>
        <View style={styles.scoreCircle}>
          <Text style={styles.scoreValue}>{reading.compatibility}%</Text>
        </View>
        <Text style={styles.scoreSubtitle}>
          {reading.compatibility >= 70 ? '🔥 Strong Connection' :
           reading.compatibility >= 50 ? '💫 Promising Match' :
           '🌙 Take Your Time'}
        </Text>
      </View>
      
      {/* Card Spread */}
      <View style={styles.cardsContainer}>
        {reading.reading.map((position, index) => (
          <View key={index} style={styles.cardPosition}>
            <Text style={styles.positionName}>{position.position}</Text>
            
            <View style={styles.card}>
              <Image
                source={{ uri: position.imageUrl }}
                style={[
                  styles.cardImage,
                  position.reversed && styles.cardImageReversed
                ]}
                resizeMode="contain"
              />
              <Text style={styles.cardName}>{position.card}</Text>
              {position.reversed && (
                <Text style={styles.reversedLabel}>(Reversed)</Text>
              )}
            </View>
            
            <View style={styles.keywords}>
              {position.keywords.map((keyword, i) => (
                <View key={i} style={styles.keywordChip}>
                  <Text style={styles.keywordText}>{keyword}</Text>
                </View>
              ))}
            </View>
            
            <Text style={styles.cardMeaning}>{position.meaning}</Text>
          </View>
        ))}
      </View>
    </ScrollView>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    backgroundColor: '#f9fafb',
  },
  centered: {
    flex: 1,
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
  },
  scoreCard: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    padding: 24,
    backgroundColor: 'white',
    marginBottom: 16,
  },
  scoreTitle: {
    fontSize: 18,
    fontWeight: '600',
    color: '#374151',
    marginBottom: 16,
  },
  scoreCircle: {
    width: 120,
    height: 120,
    borderRadius: 60,
    backgroundColor: '#eef2ff',
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
    marginBottom: 12,
  },
  scoreValue: {
    fontSize: 42,
    fontWeight: 'bold',
    color: '#6366f1',
  },
  scoreSubtitle: {
    fontSize: 16,
    color: '#6b7280',
  },
  cardsContainer: {
    padding: 16,
  },
  cardPosition: {
    backgroundColor: 'white',
    borderRadius: 12,
    padding: 20,
    marginBottom: 16,
  },
  positionName: {
    fontSize: 20,
    fontWeight: 'bold',
    color: '#1f2937',
    marginBottom: 12,
  },
  card: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    marginVertical: 16,
  },
  cardImage: {
    width: 180,
    height: 300,
    borderRadius: 8,
  },
  cardImageReversed: {
    transform: [{ rotate: '180deg' }],
  },
  cardName: {
    fontSize: 18,
    fontWeight: '600',
    color: '#374151',
    marginTop: 12,
  },
  reversedLabel: {
    fontSize: 14,
    color: '#9ca3af',
    fontStyle: 'italic',
  },
  keywords: {
    flexDirection: 'row',
    flexWrap: 'wrap',
    gap: 8,
    marginVertical: 12,
  },
  keywordChip: {
    backgroundColor: '#eef2ff',
    paddingHorizontal: 12,
    paddingVertical: 6,
    borderRadius: 16,
  },
  keywordText: {
    fontSize: 13,
    color: '#6366f1',
    fontWeight: '500',
  },
  cardMeaning: {
    fontSize: 14,
    color: '#6b7280',
    lineHeight: 20,
  },
});

Feature 2: Icebreaker Card Draw

Quick 3-card spread shown when users match. Provides instant conversation starters.

API: Draw Random Cards

Endpoint:

POST /tarot/draw

Request:

{
  "count": 3,
  "allowReversals": true,
  "seed": "match-12345-icebreaker"
}

Response:

{
  "seed": "match-12345-icebreaker",
  "cards": [
    {
      "id": "page-of-swords",
      "name": "Page of Swords",
      "arcana": "minor",
      "suit": "swords",
      "number": 11,
      "position": 1,
      "reversed": false,
      "keywords": ["New ideas", "curiosity", "thirst for knowledge"],
      "meaning": "The Page of Swords is full of energy, passion and enthusiasm...",
      "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/minor/page-of-swords.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "five-of-swords",
      "name": "Five of Swords",
      "arcana": "minor",
      "suit": "swords",
      "number": 5,
      "position": 2,
      "reversed": true,
      "keywords": ["Reconciliation", "making amends", "past resentment"],
      "meaning": "The Five of Swords reversed speaks for those times when...",
      "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/minor/five-of-swords.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "three-of-cups",
      "name": "Three of Cups",
      "arcana": "minor",
      "suit": "cups",
      "number": 3,
      "position": 3,
      "reversed": true,
      "keywords": ["Independence", "alone time", "three's a crowd"],
      "meaning": "While the upright Three of Cups is a card of friendship...",
      "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/minor/three-of-cups.jpg"
    }
  ]
}

Implementation: Swift (iOS)

import Foundation

struct IcebreakerCard: Codable {
    let id: String
    let name: String
    let arcana: String
    let suit: String?
    let position: Int
    let reversed: Bool
    let keywords: [String]
    let meaning: String
    let imageUrl: String
}

struct IcebreakerResponse: Codable {
    let seed: String
    let cards: [IcebreakerCard]
}

class TarotService {
    private let apiKey: String
    private let baseURL = "https://roxyapi.com/api/v2/tarot"
    
    init(apiKey: String) {
        self.apiKey = apiKey
    }
    
    func fetchIcebreaker(for matchId: String) async throws -> IcebreakerResponse {
        let seed = "\(matchId)-icebreaker"
        
        let url = URL(string: "\(baseURL)/draw")!
        var request = URLRequest(url: url)
        request.httpMethod = "POST"
        request.setValue(apiKey, forHTTPHeaderField: "X-API-Key")
        request.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
        
        let body: [String: Any] = [
            "count": 3,
            "allowReversals": true,
            "seed": seed
        ]
        request.httpBody = try JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: body)
        
        let (data, response) = try await URLSession.shared.data(for: request)
        
        guard let httpResponse = response as? HTTPURLResponse,
              (200...299).contains(httpResponse.statusCode) else {
            throw TarotError.invalidResponse
        }
        
        return try JSONDecoder().decode(IcebreakerResponse.self, from: data)
    }
}

enum TarotError: Error {
    case invalidResponse
}

UI: Match Screen with Icebreaker

import SwiftUI
import Kingfisher

struct MatchCardView: View {
    let match: Match
    @State private var icebreaker: IcebreakerResponse?
    @State private var showCards = false
    
    var body: some View {
        VStack(spacing: 0) {
            // Match Info
            VStack(spacing: 12) {
                AsyncImage(url: URL(string: match.photoUrl)) { image in
                    image
                        .resizable()
                        .aspectRatio(contentMode: .fill)
                } placeholder: {
                    Color.gray
                }
                .frame(width: 120, height: 120)
                .clipShape(Circle())
                
                Text(match.name)
                    .font(.title2.bold())
                
                Text("\(match.age) • \(match.location)")
                    .font(.subheadline)
                    .foregroundColor(.secondary)
            }
            .padding(.vertical, 24)
            
            Divider()
            
            // Icebreaker Section
            VStack(spacing: 16) {
                HStack {
                    Image(systemName: "sparkles")
                        .foregroundColor(.purple)
                    Text("Your Tarot Icebreaker")
                        .font(.headline)
                    Spacer()
                }
                
                if let cards = icebreaker?.cards {
                    HStack(spacing: 12) {
                        ForEach(cards, id: \.id) { card in
                            VStack {
                                KFImage(URL(string: card.imageUrl))
                                    .resizable()
                                    .aspectRatio(contentMode: .fit)
                                    .frame(height: 120)
                                    .cornerRadius(8)
                                    .rotationEffect(card.reversed ? .degrees(180) : .zero)
                                
                                Text(card.name)
                                    .font(.caption2)
                                    .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
                                    .lineLimit(2)
                            }
                            .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
                        }
                    }
                    
                    // Suggested message
                    if let prompt = generateConversationPrompt(from: cards) {
                        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
                            Text("💬 Try This:")
                                .font(.caption.bold())
                                .foregroundColor(.purple)
                            
                            Text(prompt)
                                .font(.callout)
                                .foregroundColor(.secondary)
                                .padding(12)
                                .background(Color.purple.opacity(0.1))
                                .cornerRadius(8)
                        }
                    }
                } else {
                    ProgressView()
                }
            }
            .padding()
            
            Spacer()
            
            // Action Buttons
            HStack(spacing: 16) {
                Button {
                    // Message action
                } label: {
                    Label("Message", systemImage: "message.fill")
                        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
                        .padding()
                        .background(Color.purple)
                        .foregroundColor(.white)
                        .cornerRadius(12)
                }
                
                Button {
                    showCards = true
                } label: {
                    Image(systemName: "sparkles")
                        .frame(width: 50, height: 50)
                        .background(Color.purple.opacity(0.1))
                        .foregroundColor(.purple)
                        .cornerRadius(12)
                }
            }
            .padding()
        }
        .sheet(isPresented: $showCards) {
            IcebreakerDetailView(cards: icebreaker?.cards ?? [])
        }
        .task {
            await loadIcebreaker()
        }
    }
    
    func loadIcebreaker() async {
        let service = TarotService(apiKey: Config.tarotApiKey)
        do {
            icebreaker = try await service.fetchIcebreaker(for: match.id)
        } catch {
            print("Failed to load icebreaker:", error)
        }
    }
    
    func generateConversationPrompt(from cards: [IcebreakerCard]) -> String? {
        guard let firstCard = cards.first else { return nil }
        
        let prompts = [
            "I got \(firstCard.name) in my tarot icebreaker... what do you think that means for us? 🔮",
            "The cards drew \(firstCard.name) for our match. Ever done a tarot reading before?",
            "So apparently the universe thinks we're \(firstCard.keywords.first?.lowercased() ?? "interesting") together 😊 What's your card say?"
        ]
        
        return prompts.randomElement()
    }
}

Feature 3: Yes/No Oracle

Quick decision-making feature: "Should I message them?" "Should I ask for their number?"

API: Yes/No Reading

Endpoint:

POST /tarot/yes-no

Request:

{
  "question": "Should I send a message to my match?",
  "seed": "optional-seed-for-reproducibility"
}

Response:

{
  "question": "Should I send a message to my match?",
  "answer": "Yes",
  "strength": "Qualified",
  "card": {
    "id": "three-of-wands",
    "name": "Three of Wands",
    "arcana": "minor",
    "reversed": false,
    "keywords": ["Progress", "expansion", "foresight"],
    "imageUrl": "https://roxyapi.com/img/tarot/minor/three-of-wands.jpg"
  },
  "interpretation": "Qualified Yes: Three of Wands suggests forward momentum..."
}

Answer Types:

  • "Yes" - Strong positive indication
  • "No" - Clear negative indication
  • "Maybe" - Unclear, requires more reflection

Strength Levels:

  • "Strong" - Major arcana upright or highly positive card
  • "Qualified" - Minor arcana or moderate energy
  • "Weak" - Reversed card or ambiguous meaning

Implementation: Kotlin (Android)

data class YesNoRequest(
    val question: String,
    val seed: String? = null
)

data class YesNoCard(
    val id: String,
    val name: String,
    val arcana: String,
    val reversed: Boolean,
    val keywords: List<String>,
    val imageUrl: String
)

data class YesNoResponse(
    val question: String,
    val answer: String, // "Yes", "No", "Maybe"
    val strength: String, // "Strong", "Qualified", "Weak"
    val card: YesNoCard,
    val interpretation: String
)

interface TarotAPI {
    @POST("/tarot/yes-no")
    suspend fun getYesNo(
        @Body request: YesNoRequest,
        @Header("X-API-Key") apiKey: String
    ): YesNoResponse
}

class TarotRepository(private val apiKey: String) {
    private val api: TarotAPI = Retrofit.Builder()
        .baseUrl("https://roxyapi.com/api")
        .addConverterFactory(GsonConverterFactory.create())
        .build()
        .create(TarotAPI::class.java)
    
    suspend fun askYesNo(question: String): Result<YesNoResponse> = try {
        val response = api.getYesNo(
            YesNoRequest(question),
            apiKey
        )
        Result.success(response)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Result.failure(e)
    }
}

UI: Yes/No Decision Dialog

@Composable
fun YesNoOracleDialog(
    question: String,
    onDismiss: () -> Unit,
    onAnswerReceived: (YesNoResponse) -> Unit
) {
    var loading by remember { mutableStateOf(true) }
    var response by remember { mutableStateOf<YesNoResponse?>(null) }
    
    val repository = remember { TarotRepository(BuildConfig.TAROT_API_KEY) }
    
    LaunchedEffect(question) {
        repository.askYesNo(question)
            .onSuccess { 
                response = it
                loading = false
            }
            .onFailure {
                loading = false
            }
    }
    
    AlertDialog(
        onDismissRequest = onDismiss,
        title = {
            Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
                Icon(
                    Icons.Default.Star,
                    contentDescription = null,
                    tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
                )
                Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(8.dp))
                Text("Tarot Guidance")
            }
        },
        text = {
            Column(
                horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
            ) {
                Text(
                    text = question,
                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
                    textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
                    modifier = Modifier.padding(bottom = 16.dp)
                )
                
                if (loading) {
                    CircularProgressIndicator()
                } else if (response != null) {
                    // Card Image
                    AsyncImage(
                        model = response!!.card.imageUrl,
                        contentDescription = response!!.card.name,
                        modifier = Modifier
                            .height(200.dp)
                            .padding(vertical = 16.dp)
                    )
                    
                    // Answer
                    val answerColor = when (response!!.answer) {
                        "Yes" -> Color(0xFF10b981)
                        "No" -> Color(0xFFef4444)
                        else -> Color(0xFFf59e0b)
                    }
                    
                    Text(
                        text = response!!.answer,
                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.headlineMedium,
                        fontWeight = FontWeight.Bold,
                        color = answerColor,
                        modifier = Modifier.padding(bottom = 8.dp)
                    )
                    
                    // Strength Badge
                    Surface(
                        color = answerColor.copy(alpha = 0.1f),
                        shape = RoundedCornerShape(16.dp)
                    ) {
                        Text(
                            text = response!!.strength,
                            style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
                            color = answerColor,
                            modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 4.dp)
                        )
                    }
                    
                    Spacer(modifier = Modifier.height(12.dp))
                    
                    // Card Name
                    Text(
                        text = response!!.card.name,
                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
                        fontWeight = FontWeight.SemiBold
                    )
                    
                    // Interpretation
                    Text(
                        text = response!!.interpretation,
                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
                        textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
                        modifier = Modifier.padding(top = 8.dp)
                    )
                }
            }
        },
        confirmButton = {
            TextButton(onClick = {
                response?.let { onAnswerReceived(it) }
                onDismiss()
            }) {
                Text("Got It")
            }
        }
    )
}

// Usage in Match Screen
@Composable
fun MatchActionButtons(match: Match) {
    var showYesNo by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
    
    Row(horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)) {
        Button(
            onClick = { /* message action */ },
            modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)
        ) {
            Icon(Icons.Default.Send, contentDescription = null)
            Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(8.dp))
            Text("Message")
        }
        
        OutlinedButton(
            onClick = { showYesNo = true }
        ) {
            Icon(Icons.Default.Star, contentDescription = null)
            Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(4.dp))
            Text("Ask Tarot")
        }
    }
    
    if (showYesNo) {
        YesNoOracleDialog(
            question = "Should I message ${match.name}?",
            onDismiss = { showYesNo = false },
            onAnswerReceived = { response ->
                // Track analytics
                logEvent("tarot_yes_no_used", mapOf(
                    "answer" to response.answer,
                    "strength" to response.strength
                ))
            }
        )
    }
}

Feature 4: Daily Match Card

Each match gets a unique daily card (changes at midnight, consistent throughout the day).

Implementation Strategy

// Generate deterministic seed from match + date
function getDailyMatchSeed(matchId, userId) {
  const today = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]; // YYYY-MM-DD UTC
  return `daily-${matchId}-${userId}-${today}`;
}

// Fetch daily card for match
app.get('/api/matches/:matchId/daily-card', async (req, res) => {
  const { matchId } = req.params;
  const userId = req.user.id;
  const seed = getDailyMatchSeed(matchId, userId);
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      `${TAROT_BASE_URL}/daily`,
      { 
        date: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0],
        userId: seed 
      },
      { headers: { 'X-API-Key': TAROT_API_KEY } }
    );
    
    res.json({
      matchId,
      date: response.data.date,
      card: {
        name: response.data.card.name,
        keywords: response.data.card.keywords,
        imageUrl: response.data.card.imageUrl,
        reversed: response.data.card.reversed
      },
      message: `Today's energy with ${match.name}: ${response.data.dailyMessage}`
    });
    
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to fetch daily card' });
  }
});

Production Tips

1. Caching Strategy

Cache tarot readings to reduce API calls and improve performance:

const NodeCache = require('node-cache');
const readingCache = new NodeCache({ stdTTL: 86400 }); // 24 hours

async function getCachedReading(cacheKey, fetchFunction) {
  const cached = readingCache.get(cacheKey);
  if (cached) return cached;
  
  const fresh = await fetchFunction();
  readingCache.set(cacheKey, fresh);
  return fresh;
}

// Usage
const compatibility = await getCachedReading(
  `compat-${user1Id}-${user2Id}-${today}`,
  () => getCompatibilityReading(user1Id, user2Id, today)
);

2. A/B Test Messaging

Test impact on key metrics:

  • Control Group: No tarot features
  • Variant A: Icebreaker cards only
  • Variant B: Full suite (icebreaker + compatibility + yes/no)

Track:

  • First message rate
  • Response rate
  • Messages per match
  • Profile revisits

3. Gamification

Card Collection:

  • Track which cards users have seen
  • Award badges for rare cards (Death, Tower, Fool)
  • Display collection progress in profile

Compatibility Leaderboard:

  • Show "Top Match This Week" based on scores
  • Encourage profile visits to see high-scoring matches

4. Social Sharing

Generate shareable OG images:

const { createCanvas, loadImage } = require('canvas');

async function generateCompatibilityImage(reading, score) {
  const canvas = createCanvas(1200, 630);
  const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
  
  // Background gradient
  const gradient = ctx.createLinearGradient(0, 0, 1200, 630);
  gradient.addColorStop(0, '#6366f1');
  gradient.addColorStop(1, '#a855f7');
  ctx.fillStyle = gradient;
  ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 1200, 630);
  
  // Score
  ctx.fillStyle = 'white';
  ctx.font = 'bold 120px Arial';
  ctx.textAlign = 'center';
  ctx.fillText(`${score}%`, 600, 200);
  
  ctx.font = '36px Arial';
  ctx.fillText('Compatibility', 600, 260);
  
  // Cards (load and draw 3 card images)
  const cardY = 320;
  const cardSpacing = 240;
  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    const cardImage = await loadImage(reading.positions[i].card.imageUrl);
    const x = 300 + (i * cardSpacing);
    ctx.drawImage(cardImage, x, cardY, 180, 280);
  }
  
  return canvas.toBuffer('image/png');
}

// Express route
app.get('/api/matches/:matchId/share-image', async (req, res) => {
  const reading = await getCompatibilityReading(/* ... */);
  const image = await generateCompatibilityImage(reading, score);
  
  res.contentType('image/png');
  res.send(image);
});

5. Push Notifications

Send daily reminders to check match cards:

// Using Firebase Cloud Messaging
async function sendDailyMatchNotification(userId, match) {
  const message = {
    notification: {
      title: `New Card with ${match.name} 🔮`,
      body: `See what today's tarot reveals about your connection`
    },
    data: {
      type: 'daily_match_card',
      matchId: match.id
    },
    token: user.fcmToken
  };
  
  await admin.messaging().send(message);
}

// Scheduled job (run daily at 9 AM)
cron.schedule('0 9 * * *', async () => {
  const activeMatches = await Match.find({ status: 'active' });
  
  for (const match of activeMatches) {
    await sendDailyMatchNotification(match.user1Id, {
      id: match.id,
      name: match.user2Name
    });
  }
});

Analytics & Optimization

Key Metrics to Track:

  • Tarot feature usage rate (% of matches that use any tarot feature)
  • First message rate (control vs tarot-enabled matches)
  • Average messages per match
  • Session duration on compatibility screen
  • Yes/No oracle usage before messaging
  • Social share rate (compatibility images)

Sample Analytics Implementation:

// Segment/Mixpanel event tracking
function trackTarotEvent(event, properties) {
  analytics.track({
    userId: req.user.id,
    event: event,
    properties: {
      ...properties,
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      platform: req.headers['user-agent']
    }
  });
}

// Usage
trackTarotEvent('compatibility_viewed', {
  matchId: match.id,
  score: compatibility.score,
  cardCount: compatibility.reading.length
});

trackTarotEvent('yes_no_consulted', {
  question: question,
  answer: response.answer,
  strength: response.strength,
  actedUpon: true // did user message after "yes"?
});

trackTarotEvent('icebreaker_used_in_message', {
  matchId: match.id,
  cardMentioned: card.name,
  messageLength: message.length
});

Pricing Considerations

RoxyAPI Tarot API pricing:

  • Starter: ₹999/month for 10,000 requests
  • Growth: ₹2,999/month for 50,000 requests
  • Scale: ₹9,999/month for 250,000 requests

Cost Optimization:

  • Cache daily cards (1 request per match per day)
  • Cache compatibility readings (1 request per match pair per day)
  • Icebreaker draws are instant (no caching needed, minimal API calls)
  • Yes/No oracle: 1 request per query (can't cache, user-specific)

Example Cost Analysis (10k daily active users, 1k daily matches):

  • Daily cards: 10k requests/day
  • Compatibility readings: 1k requests/day
  • Icebreakers: 1k requests/day
  • Yes/No queries: ~500 requests/day
  • Total: ~13k requests/day = ~400k/month → Scale plan (₹9,999/month)

Troubleshooting

Q: Compatibility score seems random A: Review your scoring algorithm. Consider card suit meanings (Cups = emotions/love are more relevant), position weight, and reversed impacts.

Q: Same reading showing for different matches A: Ensure your seed includes BOTH user IDs in consistent order (sort alphabetically): seed = [user1, user2].sort().join('-') + '-' + date

Q: Cards not updating at midnight A: Use UTC date formatting consistently: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]. Avoid local timezones.

Q: Yes/No oracle always says "Yes" A: API returns balanced answers. If you see bias, check if you're caching results incorrectly or reusing seeds.

Next Steps

You now have a complete tarot integration for dating apps! Enhance further:

  1. Relationship Forecast: 7-day tarot forecast for each match
  2. Conversation Prompts: AI-generated questions based on drawn cards
  3. Video Date Icebreakers: Draw cards live during video calls
  4. Anniversary Readings: Special spread on match anniversaries
  5. Profile Cards: Let users showcase their "power card" on their profile

Resources

About the Author: Priya Sharma is a product engineer specializing in social and dating app features, with expertise in gamification, engagement mechanics, and API integrations. She has shipped tarot and astrology features that drove 40%+ increases in messaging rates across multiple dating platforms.