Mention the words “fortune teller” and you’re likely to get one of two reactions – eye-rolling whilst saying something like “nonsense” or eye-widening whilst saying something like “I know someone who’s frighteningly accurate”.

I heard a story told once about a woman who was trying to convince a male cynic that some people really do have psychic powers. She was relating an incident where a neighbour of hers had gone to see a fortune teller and as the cards were turned over the fortune teller was able to relay very accurate information about this person’s life.

Apparently, she could even give a detailed account of a tragic accident that had taken place two years before.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the cynic wasn’t for turning. He insisted that these people were sophisticated con artists, playing to people’s vulnerabilities. On and on, he waxed lyrical about how only foolish, superstitious people would pay any heed to fortune teller readings.

None of it was based on fact or could be scientifically verified. Hocus pocus nonsense, as far as he was concerned. As he was leaving, somebody asked him whether or not he’d be doing the hay the following day. “On a Sunday?” he asked incredulously.

“Sure you couldn’t be doing it on a Sunday, there’d be no luck in that at all.”

For him a fortune teller was hocus pocus nonsense, but his own traditional superstition was to be obeyed without question.

What we see as madness in others often blinds us to seeing a similar madness in ourselves.

As the alternative version of the serenity prayer says: “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can and the wisdom to know it’s me.” (Author unknown).

We are so often blind-sighted at many different levels. It’s good to be able to see things through fresh eyes. I’ve heard it said that at least once a year we should take an alternative route home. Simply go a different way.

We’re such creatures of habit and this is an easy way of breaking a routine and thus encourages us to see things with fresh eyes. Like in the film The Dead Poet’s Society the inspirational teacher encouraged his students to stand on their chairs and view the classroom from that perspective. Here’s another suggestion. Buy your least favourite newspaper or magazine once a year and read it from cover to cover. It’s supposed to be a good way of challenging our own particular slant on things.

I can’t say I’ve tried that one myself. I think I’d rather do the hay on a Sunday, while listening to a fortune teller.