FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED

My mum, aunt and I visited a famous tarot card reader in Ipoh this afternoon.  Actually, my aunt has been consulting her for nearly forty years and her predictions are rather accurate.  Furthermore, one needs to telephone in advance to make a booking.  Though I called in the morning and was told to go to her place a 1.30 p.m., my family and I had to wait until 2.45 p.m. before it was our turn.  There were a few others before us. Many people in Ipoh refer to her as Sek Lui (literally translated to mean Rock Lady) but we call her Ah Ku (Aunty).  Ah Ku is in her sixties and she is a spinster.  She only charges RM10.00 for a reading which lasts about 10 to 20 minutes.  Before she lays out the cards, she would pray to Buddha first and asks for His guidance.  Then one needs to tell her the Chinese age, date of birth and address and she then repeats the information and asks for Buddha's divine help before laying the tarot card spread to tell the fortune of the person.

I asked if I could take photographs of the session but she declined as she said that she was not looking her best and told me that I could do so next time I went there.

My mum and aunt had their readings first.  As far as I know, quite a number of Chinese of the Taoist and Buddhist faiths would visit the fortune tellers and tarot card readers at the beginning of a new year to have their fortunes read.  They would be advised on what to do if their Animal signs clash with Tai Sui or there are certain calamities or dangers ahead for them.  Sometimes, they would be told to pray to the White Tiger Deity, to appease the Heavenly Dog, to carry out a ritual to "beat the small people (troublemakers) or to pray to certain deities to ask for blessings.  In that way we would be prepared to counter any negativities that might be awaiting us for the year, as the saying goes "forewarned is forearmed" - POWER IS INFORMATION.

I am sure that you would be curious what were her readings for me, right?  According to Ah Ku, my luck for the year is okay.  She told me to be contented with what I have and that my book will definitely be published this year.  YEAH!!!