Elephant search turned into psychic reading

I stopped because of the elephant.

It was an ordinary rummage sale, like hundreds of others around town. I am not usually a fan of such things but there was that elephant. I thought that maybe the seller would also have baby clothes to fit my grandson, Jacob.

The elephant may have beckoned to me but once I got close to it I discovered that several pieces were missing and errant crayon marks still decorated the inside of its tummy. I decided that Jacob didn't need an elephant.

There weren't any baby clothes to be seen. I perused a display of necklaces, thinking that maybe one would suit granddaughter Emma. No such luck.

As I was turning to leave the lady having the sale asked if I would like a psychic reading. I smiled and told her no.

I have always been curious about those who claim to have special powers. I neither believe nor disbelieve in such things. I do think that many so-called psychics are fakes who prey on vulnerable people. For the longest time I have had a secret desire to someday be a fortune teller complete with crystal ball. I think it would be interesting to listen to people's souls and tell them what they need to hear.

I also want to be a park ranger, a tour guide, a mascot, a best-selling novelist and Santa Claus among other things. Somehow I doubt if I will ever be any of those. But here was a chance to get my very own psychic reading for only a couple of dollars.

It was worth every penny.

She told me her name was Maria. I sat on a step stool as she lit a bundle of sage that looked like a wadded up handkerchief. She then "cleansed my aura" by waving smoking sage around me. She told me that I didn't have very many bad spirits around me and that was good.

She then held my hands and closed her eyes. "Do you have an aunt who just died?" she asked.

I searched my mind. Nope. Kitty and Barbara were long dead. I had lost track of Carol after my Uncle Norman died. Vicki doesn't count as she was a replacement for Barbara. I am older than Vicki and don't know her very well. She seems fun. But recently dead aunts? Not a one that I could find.

Then Maria asked, "You're not married?"

I smiled and told her that my husband and I had been married for more than 30 years. I thought to myself that the wedding ring on my finger should have told her that.

She told me a few more things about myself that were as far from reality as her questions had been. This was interesting. I had assumed that psychics would stick with generalities. Not Maria. Being mistaken about almost everything never fazed her. She pressed on with her reading, not once resorting to banalities.

She said she had always had her "gift." It had been passed down from her mother. Other members of her family have similar "gifts." One is a healer. Even the younger children in her family have "gifts."

Since she was wrong about so many things in my reading, some have suggested I ask for my money back. I tell them that I got more than I bargained for. I received a glimpse into someone else's mind. I found the woman to be fascinating. I would love to talk with her some more, if only to try to discern what she really believes.

Is she a charlatan? Is she cuckoo? Does she really have a "gift?" I have no idea.

I am reminded of an old saying of my grandmother's, "the foolishness of man is the work of God." It is a bastardization of a Shakespeare quote from Hamlet. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

In other words, some things that we dismiss as foolishness are merely things we don't yet understand.

If I had stuck with the elephant and skipped the reading my day wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. I'm glad I stopped for the elephant.[[In-content Ad]]