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The Eyes of the Gypsy

© Florence Cardinal

Gypsies - you see them at fairs and carnivals, usually with their tents and wagons huddled together in one section of the midway. You'll find them in tearooms where they'll read your future in your teacup. You'll find them in their own little shops where they preside over the crystal ball and the Tarot deck. Cross their palms with silver and they'll read the lines on your palm.

But how much of this fortune telling is done with psychic powers? I'm not denying that, to some extent, and in some cases, psychic ability is involved. But another ability is far more important - the ability to observe.

In his book Gypsy Fortune Telling, author and lecturer Raymond Buckland discusses this fact. The fortune teller, no matter what her method, is always aware of the reactions of her client. The nod of the head, a smile, a frown, all give clues as to whether the Gypsy has scored a hit. In many cases says Buckland, who is of Romany descent, the crystal ball or deck of cards is merely a prop, a means of distracting the client's attention to give the fortune teller time to observe the reactions of the client.

If you visit a fortune teller, watch the eyes and the hands rather than the props that are supposed to hold you in awe. To outsmart the Gypsy, you must be as observant as she is, and almost always your fortune teller is a woman, a Chovikani, or Gypsy witch and what she does is called dukkering. The men are busy with other pursuits - working as tinker fixing pots, sharpening knives, trading horses, selling trinkets.

To excel at fortune telling or dukkering one must always be alert to every expression that crosses the face of the client. Sometimes body language will reveal a direct hit or the touching of a sore spot.

If you want to find out what lies ahead, Gypsies probably are more aware than many people, but never put it all down to psychic ability. Cross her hand with silver, put on a poker face and keep your eyes OFF the ball.

You might enjoy my short story Gypsy Dancer.