1we experience uncertainty, insecurity, and confusion; and we feel remorse, regret, and guilt when in retrospect(回想起来) our choices turn out be poor ones. Understandably, to prevent these bad feelings many people try to shift the burden of making difficult choices and decisions to some nebulous(=vague) authority(权利) outside themselves--by relying on the stars or on a stack of tarot cards(一叠塔罗牌) for guidance.

2While the sorts of pursuits which the speaker lists might be "vital" insofar as(到……的程度) they help some people feel better about themselves and about their choices and circumstances, query(质问、怀疑) whether these pursuits are otherwise useful to any individual or society.