On the Cards

MYRIAD performers, stalls and games all pass in a colourful blur as I make my way to a tent on the fairground. I hesitate for a second, and ...

MYRIAD performers, stalls and games all pass in a colourful blur as I make my way to a tent on the fairground. I hesitate for a second, and then lift the flap and plunge in. The heady incense assails first, then sounds of a slow haunting folk tune. The gypsy woman, who they say has been blessed with a powerful gift, beckons me.

The movement makes her scarves whisper and tarnished silver jewellery clank. I sit and quickly ask my question. She deftly shuffles her pack, lays down the cards and starts flipping them over. She raises kohl-laden eyes after a long time and begins to speak.

What she said, I will never know. My rickshaw ride is over and I have arrived at a not-so-exotic Barista for my first tarot card reading.

Danovy, 28, is sitting by the window sipping an iced tea. With her casual outfit and red and gold flecked hair, she certainly doesn8217;t fit my fanciful ideas of a mystic tarot card reader.

8216;8216;The cards are fantastic,8217;8217; she grins, and takes a pack from her backpack. They8217;re carefully wrapped in a scarf with a smiling sun, moon and star pattern. 8216;8216;The information they give you is unbelievable,8217;8217; she says. In the last seven years she8217;s done readings at parties, product launches and most recently, at an art exhibition!

nbsp;	DIY TAROT

		nbsp;	8226; The Empress Feminine energy, abundance, creativity 8226; The Star Granting of wishes, divine energy 8226; The Chariot Balance, moving ahead, travel 8226; The Sun Joy, success 8226; The Magician Starting a new enterprise, using skills and talents, proving your self-reliance	nbsp;

8216;8216;Reading8217;s quite easy,8217;8217; she claims, spreading the scarf out on the table. She puts a few cards before me. The first is the eight of cups8212;a picture of a hermit, walking up a hill. 8216;8216;It8217;s lonely,8217;8217; I say. 8216;8216;But not sad.8217;8217; She agrees: 8216;8216;You8217;re perceptive8212;he8217;s opting to be alone.8217;8217; Then I catch a glimpse of the Death card. 8216;8216;What do you think?8217;8217; she asks. I tell her I don8217;t think it8217;s that scary. After I judge The Empress as a complete feminine power, I look at The Star. 8216;8216;I don8217;t know what to make of this,8217;8217; I say. Danovy asks me to close my eyes. 8216;8216;Picture a rolling green meadow with rivulets. You can feel the grass under your feet and sense the peace.8217;8217; I can. It8217;s too close, and a little eerie.

Story continues below this ad

By now college kids are feigning nonchalance in an attempt to see what is going on. After fortifying myself with a cappuccino, we start the reading.

I ask about my job. Danovy lays out the cards in a Celtic cross formation one of the innumerable positions. 8216;8216;A promotion or monetary increase coming your way?8217;8217; she asks, pointing to the three of pentacles. 8216;8216;I don8217;t know,8217;8217; I grin. 8216;8216;But I sure hope so!8217;8217;

8216;8216;There8217;s an idea germinating8212;go for it! It8217;s along the lines of a children8217;s book,8217;8217;she looks at me speculatively. Sure it8217;s crossed my mind, but I never really believed I could do it. Me, a desi Roald Dahl. Wicked! She warns me to keep a systematic record of all paperwork. Groan!

What about men? 8216;8216;That is one of the most commonly asked questions,8217;8217; she laughs. 8216;8216;Soon,8217;8217; she says cryptically. And we laugh about a few other things that are so on the mark, that I am a bit freaked out.

Then she lays out a reading for my personality. 8216;8216;You love to tell others what to do8230; don8217;t you?8217;8217; she asks. 8216;8216;Are you saying I8217;m bossy?8217;8217; I laugh. She adds that I like others to constantly see me as a highly creative person, but I don8217;t quite agree with that.

Story continues below this ad

I have just one more thing to ask. About me and the ones I love. 8216;8216;What is our future like? Will we be happy?8217;8217; 8216;8216;It just requires a little work and communication, but it8217;s there,8217;8217; she says. Before I leave, she cautions, 8216;8216;Don8217;t be dependent on the cards. And work towards what you want, instead of waiting for it to come your way.8217;8217; I promise I won8217;t. But I definitely will hit the cards again to see what8217;s in store.