Secrets of Gypsy Fortunetelling

by Raymond Buckland

This book, by a man of Romani (Gypsy) blood, discusses the history, language, and divination of the Gypsies. It explores such subjects as palm reading, tea leaf reading, tarot reading, interpreting the actions of animals, reading regular playing cards, interpreting the weather, reading the future with knives, dice, needles, sticks, and more. With these simple, easily acquired items, the secrets of magical life can be revealed.

Genres: Nonfiction, Occult, Divination, Reference, Wicca, Religion, Magick

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

About the author

Raymond Buckland was a highly influential figure in the development of modern Wicca and the occult in the United States. Born in London, he became interested in the supernatural at an early age and was initiated into the Gardnerian Wiccan tradition in 1963 by Monique Wilson, a high priestess appointed by Gerald Gardner. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1962, Buckland introduced Gardnerian Wicca to the country, founding its first coven in New York in 1964. He later developed his own tradition, Seax-Wica, inspired by Anglo-Saxon paganism, and published The Tree: Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft to make it accessible to all.
In 1968, he established the first Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in the U.S., which helped normalize and educate the public about Wicca. Over the course of his career, Buckland wrote more than sixty books on Wicca, divination, and the occult, including Witchcraft from the Inside and Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, both regarded as essential texts in Neopaganism.
Throughout his life, Buckland remained a prolific teacher, writer, and practitioner. He continued to write and teach until his death in 2017, leaving behind a lasting legacy that shaped the spiritual practices of countless Wiccans and Pagans worldwide.

Reviews

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot speak to the historicity of this work. I know nothing of the culture, beyond what is presented in this book; there is occasion to doubt claims made.

Overall, it is a small book that offers, several folk divination practices from the cards, and crystal gazing one might expect to find, then there is the use of tea leaves, dice, dominoes, the hand, and even moles upon the body. There are several more examples offered to expand one's idea of what can be used as an oracle.

I rate based on availability, as much as content, in some cases because information can be scarce with certain subjects so the very fact that a book is 'out there' and mass marketed, while not being entirely wrong, yet, a good spring board to one building knowledge, makes it good to me. One hopes encountering such a book as this, the reader goes out to seek more. It is assuredly out there.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful book that is practical and informative.

[Flower · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good book..It was more than I though it would be
raymond Buckland is a very good author.

[Barbara Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is helpful when reading tarot cards.