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Harper San Francisco 1992 ISBN 0-06-250876-8 I find all forms of divination interesting and fun to work with, and I was very drawn to this set of cards when I first saw them. My sister had left them out as a way for me to amuse myself while I was *puppy sitting* her ten year old German Shepherd Katy for the weekend. They are very visually appealing - a set of 25 cards, approximately 5X5, with glossy black backs. The backs are framed in gold, with a thin gold line inset, then a thicker gold line, then a *box* in the middle with a lotus type center surrounded by four quadrants - one containing a Sun, one containing a Moon, one containing a heart and one containing a flower. The front of the cards are divided into quadrants by a black X with a gold outline and lettering on the inside. In each of the four quadrants is half of a picture, done in vibrant colors with great detail. You can hear the Gypsy violins playing simply by looking at these cards. The background given for the cards is quite interesting. Telling fortunes was once an integral part of Russian life. They would gatherin the evenings, with one person reading and everybody else adding comments. The readings were used to form ways of dealing with the future, as there was a firm belief that both free will and divine intervention could change the outcome of any situation. To quote from the accompanying book: "The Russian Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards have the mystical power of predicting events, of indicating favorable and unfavorable circumstances. They can help us by revealing the siutation, by making us aware and by enabling us to choose the qualities that we should put forth to meet the situation. Yet, the cards do not seek to control us. How we see events and react to them is left to our free will." The pictures on the cards were derived from the gypsy aspect of Russian folk lore. They are a blend of animal, natural and Christian symbology. In the Gypsy lifestyle - prevelant in southwestern Russia, freedom was of most importance - freedom of movement physically, emotionally and spiritually. The card definitions were translated from Russian using a meaning as close to the Russian equivelant as possible. The readings themselves are done with the same type of preparation as a Tarot reading. The person centers and grounds themselves, thoroughly shuffles the cards and them splits them into three piles. The piles are then recombined, and the first row of five cards is laid out. The cards are turned (but not switched) to form any and all pictures possible. If a picture is formed, the symbols are then contemplated until an understanding comes. Then a second row of five cards is laid down and the procedure is repeated. Particular attention is paid to the last card set down, as that indicates the future, or the outcome of the reading. Readings may be done anytime, anywhere. There is a limit to one reading per person, per day. The readings may be of a general nature, or there may be specific questions asked. The book accompanying the deck also gives this as a reason for a reading - doubting someone's faithfulness! (I will leave that alone!) One may wish to read before taking a major trip, before beginning a new enterprise, if one is in a *neutral* zone - i.e. nothing going on! (again - that comes from the book!), on Friday's (as it is usual in Russia to eat no meat or dairy products on Friday), or on New Year's as a forecast for the new year. There are certain caveats given for using the cards: There must be no charge for the reading, although goods or services may be exchanged. Ther should eb no more than one reading per day per person. No readings are done on Sunday. No readings are done for children, as their lives are changing too rapidly. Do not use the cards to divine with criminal intent - but it is OK to check for the timing of buying, say, a lottery ticket!). The pictures have different basic meanings, depending on the diretion they are facing. They may be upright, reversed, facing right or facing left. Each card has a different period of influence: Immediate: 1-2 weeks prior to or following the reading. Short: 1-4 weeks following the reading. Middle: One to several months following the reading. Life: Lifelong effect. The meaning of the card is the English translation of the Russian meaning. The general meaning gives the background for each picture along with an explanation of the symbolism used. The position indicates the strength of the meaning of the card.
Position 1 = strongest meaning I asked the cards about a projected move, and this is the picture (yup - out of 10 cards I got one picture!) that I received. I got number 19, the Castle, in the upright position. The castle as a symbol indicates a sense of security. The meaning of the Castle is fulfillment of hopes, although this can happen at the end of my life. (Note: I am a Capricorn Sun and Moon - and our successes generally do come to us later in our lives.) The general meaning is that of material security, safety and the home as a refuge. Rewards will come to be, but based on my own efforts. This card was in the number one position: Whatever your hopes in life are, they will be fulfilled, even if at the end of your life. This card truly pushes the *p* word (patience!). :) There is also a caveat here not to use my home as a refuge - as in a place to hide. That I need to broaden the scope of my journey. This to me seemed to be a just answer to my question. :) I would reccomend these cards - at least as a form of divination. For meditative purposes - the I Ching, Runes or Tarot would be a better bet.
August 2001
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