Why do gypsies never tell fortunes to gypsies

For all of us, gypsies are invariably associated with divination. The fact that the women of this people earn money by predicting the future is sung in songs and told in books, and to make sure of this, it is enough to walk to the nearest market or train station. If you meet gypsies, then the probability that you will be offered to tell fortunes is very high. But you will hardly ever see a gypsy woman telling fortunes to one of her own people. Let's look at what this is related to.

There is an opinion that gypsies, known for their manipulations and passion for deception, simply do not recognize magic. But this is not so – the representatives of this people are very superstitious and believe in predictions, fate and various mystical signs. It is quite another matter that the gypsies themselves are sure that a person with a real gift and intimate knowledge will never offer their services in the market of "gajo", that is, to strangers.

They say that in the circle of gypsies it is not customary to deceive their own and this rule is strictly observed. This is what Konstantin Kuksin, director of the Museum of Nomadic Culture, a scientist-ethnographer, member of the "Russian Geographical Society", tells about. The scientist managed to infiltrate the gypsy camp and learn something about the relationship of its inhabitants.

Kuksin sat down to play the accordion on the street of one of the Romanian cities and attracted the attention of gypsy children. After talking with the young generation of gypsies, Konstantin earned their trust and was brought to the camp. There the guest was received very cordially – from the heart they treated him and entrusted him to work in the blacksmith shop. After that, he sang and danced all night with his new friends, and in the morning he asked them to tell fortunes.

The gypsies flatly refused to fulfill the promise of a new acquaintance, referring to the fact that after working with them and sharing the holiday, he became one of them, and they do not deceive their own. But in particularly important cases, divination is still allowed, but for the prophecy, they turn to special specialists who will never condescend to work at the station with "gajo".

However, even such divination is considered an exceptional case. Researcher Buckland Raymond in his book "Gypsies. Secrets of life and Traditions " writes that it is not customary for this people to look into the future and it is believed that such knowledge will not bring anything good. The gypsies are used to living in one day – they have been accustomed to this by centuries of hardships and persecution.

There is a simpler explanation. Perhaps the gypsies are still skeptical about all sorts of fortune-telling and they are just a way of earning money for them. It is well known that during fortune-telling, fortune-tellers from tabor use knowledge of psychology and elementary skills of hypnosis.

It can be said that gypsies simply deceive a person who is ready to be deceived psychologically. They tell him what he wants to hear and there is nothing supernatural in such divination. And you can't profit from your fellow citizens, because it's not fair, and there aren't many simpletons among the gypsies. Therefore, the Gypsies do not see the point in such a "non-commercial" fortune-telling.

It can also be assumed that the ban on divination is not related to esoteric reasons. If the ability to foresee fate is a gift from above, then there must be some prohibitions and restrictions. Fortune-telling to yourself or to your family and friends may well be associated by gypsies with "recoil".

It is possible that the superstitious gypsies associate the prediction of fate to one of their own with receiving some kind of karmic punishment for interfering with the laws of the universe. The stranger is not closely related to the fortune teller and is responsible for the information received. But the Gypsies hardly want to endanger their fellow citizens.

Unfortunately, although the Gypsies have lived near us for many centuries, we do not know much about their beliefs and customs.