The Bluffer's Guide to Astrology and Fortune Telling
By Alexander C. Rae
 
Extracts from the book

 
Soothsaying
Bluffing is so important in the telling of fortunes that soothsayers have invented their own special word for it. They call it 'interpretation.'
 
Obfuscatory objectification
'Predictive sciences', 'prognosticative powers' or even 'oracular sensitivity' are all terms which mean fortune telling, and somehow sound better. Use them regularly. As a general rule use the most significant description (i.e. the longest words). Don't 'read tea leaves' - use 'tasseographic augury'.
 
Phrenology
In phrenology the areas of interest are duplicated on both sides of the skull so if you find a bump on one side of the head and not on the other you can make great play of it. Bumps usually denote a positive ability or skill. However you don't need to stick to this if you feel like finding a spurious bump that makes the person 'inclined to say silly things' or gives them a desire to cheat at Trivial Pursuits.
 
Skin blemishes
Molescopy is divination by means of moles. Although it is not really a serious method of augury, it can be used to create an instant impression. For instance, you can tell a complete stranger that because he has a mole on his right temple he is exceptionally able but should guard against illness in later life. Don't try it with someone who has a mole in the middle of their forehead. This is supposed to show a vicious nature and a bad temper. It could just be true.
 
Tarot
You can always keep people off-balance by insisting that all the things they believed about the Tarot are false. The best one is to say that 13 (Death) is not an unlucky card. Say it means the end of an outmoded phase of their life and an exciting new start. But be sure not to take a post dated cheque for the reading.
 
Reviews

 
The Bluffer's Guide to Astrology & Fortune Telling is a nifty little paperback which should turn you into an impressive Gipsy Petulengro.
Yorkshire Evening Post
 
Table of Contents
 

Introduction

Interpretation
The Golden Rules

Astrology
The Theory
Popular Astrology
Having Fun with Astrology
The Signs
The Elements
Predictions

Chinese Astrology

The Tarot
Picking the Pack
Reading the Cards
The Major or Grand Arcana
The Minor Arcana
Face Cards
Numbers
Layouts
Having Fun with the Tarot

I Ching
Casting the Hexagram
The Yarrow Stalk Method
The Coin Method
Interpretation
Jung and I Ching

Palmistry
Technical Terms
The Technique
The Mounts
The Lines

Runes

Oneiromancy
Interpretation

Phrenology
Interpretation

Metoposcopy

Molescopy

General Rules

Geomancy

 
Author: Alexander C. Rae
Format: 64 pages, pb

Published: 01/03/2004

Updated:
Price: £3.99

ISBN-10 & ISBN-13:
1-903096-20-0
978-1-903096-20-8

  
About the author
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Table of contents
  
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