Street Astrology

[Joan Marie]

I saw this photo in a book and thought I would share it with you.

The caption is:
An enterprising astrologer casts horoscopes for customers on a busy city street.
From the publication, Die Woche, 24 September 1932

I kind of like these old photos that depict real, unposed, people and situations of different esoteric practices. I mean this dude looks pretty unassuming.

Near this photo was another account from 1927 of a gathering in Munich of a large group that called themselves the Astrology Society. The group was nearly all women, and most of them had a very sophisticated understanding of astrology. The observer noted that he was surprised at their appearance. He thought they looked like a bunch of "innocent knitters" and had a hard time reconciling this with their deeply esoteric knowledge.

I guess he wasn't able to imagine they could do charts and knit.

I enjoy seeing that stereotype broken.

[katrinka]

INear this photo was another account from 1927 of a gathering in Munich of a large group that called themselves the Astrology Society. The group was nearly all women, and most of them had a very sophisticated understanding of astrology. The observer noted that he was surprised at their appearance. He thought they looked like a bunch of "innocent knitters" and had a hard time reconciling this with their deeply esoteric knowledge.

I guess he wasn't able to imagine they could do charts and knit.

I enjoy seeing that stereotype broken.

Exactly.

I see so many readers in costumes, trying to look like "gypsies". Tons of jewelry and flow-y outfits. Because it's expected, I suppose. But it's actually offensive if you think about it. Like blackface, or white people in Plains Indian headdresses.

And there's that dishonesty, right away. That reader is already pretending to be something they are not. What else are they going to lie about?

Don't get me wrong, it's OK to look a little eccentric, outside the norm. We trade on being different, and we ARE different. Wear that weird pendant that looks like an eye, but wear it with your normal clothes and makeup: jeans and a tank top, professional, 40's retro, punk, whatever your thing is. Do the heavy eye makeup if that's what you normally do anyway. But please no ethnic costuming!

And if you normally dress like an "innocent knitter" (I'm not sure how that works - do you wear a little blazer and skirt? A house schmatta?), dress that way for readings, too.

OK, off rant for now. *puts soapbox away*

[Joan Marie]

I see so many readers in costumes, trying to look like "gypsies". Tons of jewelry and flow-y outfits. Because it's expected, I suppose. But it's actually offensive if you think about it.

The idea of cultural appropriation is new to many but as it spreads you will likely see less of that.

I think you are right that a lot of people who wear actual "costumes" to read tarot are doing so to fulfil a stereotype look created by the movies which actually doesn't reflect what most tarot readers or astrologers etc. look like at all.

That's one reason I like to see these old photos like this.

I also enjoy seeing the "everyday" nature of it back then. I don't think I've ever seen a "street" astrologer or tarot reader.

[katrinka]

I used to occasionally see people reading outside the witch shops at the East India Mall in Salem. But I'm sure they were affiliated with whichever shop they were in front of.

As far as just lugging a card table *wherever* and doing readings in some random public spot, no, I haven't seen it either. It seems like it would be a good way to pick up some quick cash, but since nobody does it, I have to assume the cops would find a reason to shut it down.