My very good friend Mariam wrote a very compelling post detailing her trip to Baqaa, a Palestinian refugee camp, to have her fortune read by the infamous fortune teller Ibtisam. Mariam’s account of the trip is dead on. She fully describes her encounter with Baqaa residents who automatically direct her to Ibtisam’s house without questions, as Mariam’s appearance along with that of her friends didn’t fit such a destitute area. Why else would westernized, Ammanite girls come to Baqaa unless it was to have their coffee cups read?
Unlike Mariam, who went home disappointed after Ibtisam refused to read her cup (for lacking intention), I had the intent and my cup was fully read by Ibtisam nearly five years ago. I don’t recall all of what she told me that day but I remember two major things she saw coming in the near future: Without even looking me in the eyes, Ibtisam predicted that 1) I would marry someone out of my culture and 2) I would spend most of my life outside of Jordan.
Well, I’m not sure I believe in all of this fortune telling stuff, but what she foresaw in my coffee cup was very similar to what happened in my life. Freaky!
Arash, I know he’s a fraud. 🙂 That’s why I put some links that included those same references you put later. The point was, he got to me, cynic that I am; pushing me to the edge. That’s worth noting because, as I mentioned, imagine the inclination to believe in Ibtisam’s place. Once the environment is controlled and the minds are willing, it is time for the trickery to begin. 🙂
Natasha there are a million possible ways this women knew these things! First of all, did she ask for your name? If she did, then she knew you were a Jordanian Christian. She probably figured that since you only have about 5% of the population to choose from for marriage in Jordan, she assumed that you would marry ‘outside your culture’. Please note that I am assuming that you would not marry outside of your religion and I don’t know if that’s true or not but she probably assumed it. Also, this women probably follows the local news and gossip and it is no secret that Arab Christians-VERY unfortunately-have been immigrating to the West! Natasha, you couldn’t have believed that she actually read something! And she probably also noted that you are no village girl waiting at home and baking bread until a suitor comes along. Another reason for your to ‘marry outside of your culture.’
Here‘s a good article on John Edward that contains a brief description of the readings techniques these people use (“Cold, Warm, and Hot”).