Avoda Zara means one thing: worshiping other gods. That’s all. There are many things that are Assur — including tarot cards, which are called Goralos — and they might be connected ideologically to the ideas of Ovdei Avoda Zara, as the Rambam explains, but doing that is not doing Avoda Zara.
Avoda Zara is never Mutar, Kishuf can be Mutar at times. Kishuf is not a Yehoreg Ve’al Yavor.
Another great surprize is that taking herbs is not either Avoda Zara, as much as I hear that term being tossed around.
The Gemara explains that the Zman Krias Shema is during the first three hours of the day, the time when the kings don their crowns and bow to the sun. The Maharal explains that the sun bowing referred to here means the belief in Teva. The sun is the king and center of the workings of the world, since all energy starts from the sun. So, be careful of that Avoda Zara — which is much more common these days and is gaining ground even amongst our camp.