Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling [Paperback]

Patrinella Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

"Gypsies are justly famed for their psychic powers and the ability to curse or bring good luck to those that cross their path." A sparkling compilation of secrets passed down from one generation to the next, Gypsy Magic offers readers simple techniques for harnessing "zee energy" to bring about good luck, health, wealth, happiness, and love. Author Patrinella Cooper draws upon her Romany heritage and tells readers "how the Gypsy tradition helped me to develop my own power, which in turn enables me to help other people, through magic and fortune-telling." Perfect for anyone interested in the interplay between nature and divination, this introduction to the gypsy traditions shows how to unlock the power of palmistry, tarot, dreams, tea leaves, and, of course, crystal balls. In addition to sharing time-tested natural remedies and healing herbs, Cooper shares her traveler's insight into reading nature's signs and omens, from stars and seasons to birds and plants. Gypsy Magic also reveals how to attract good luck with charms, protect against curses, harness the power of the planets, and weave simple spells.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author certainly has the credentials to write this book: she is an English Romany-gypsy who was born in a tent and spent her infancy in a horse-drawn wagon. The book conjures the aura of an earlier and simpler time, when people lived out of doors in natural elements, and no shopping malls, computers or automobiles claimed our time, resources and attention. It introduces a panoply of low-tech, intuitive techniques for understanding, foretelling and influencing events: Tarot reading, spell casting, fortune telling and palmistry, among others. The metaphysical understanding of universal energy that underpins Romany folkways and wisdom can be related to Eastern systems of thought: chakra energy, for example, is perceived in palm reading, and quieting the mind in meditative fashion is an important precondition for reading tea leaves or a crystal ball. Other teachings are too familiar. Appeals to pay attention to nature, wish hard for what you want and say thanks each day are hardly new, but perhaps those injunctions cannot be given too often to an urbanized culture in a hurry to stop, have a "cuppa" and then read the tea leaves. Perhaps the greatest charm of the volume is that the author can make the commonplace seem fresh. She projects the voice of a grandmotherly yet shrewd woman skilled in folkways and wanting to help for a price. If she hawked this book at your door, you might just buy it.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Patrinella Cooper was born in a bender tent near Manchester and spent her infancy in a horse-drawn wagon. She eloped at the age of 17, eventually traveling with her husband to Australia, where they made a living by fortune-telling, hawking, opal mining, gold fossicking, and working the fairs. When they returned to England, they settled in the east of Britain, where they live to this day. Patrinella has a life-long interest in the magical subject described in this book and was fortunate enough to be born into a traditional family who could satisfy her curiosity with their wisdom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books; First Printing edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578632617
• ISBN-13: 978-1578632619
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars so so, March 18, 2005

By 

Inner Spiral - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling (Paperback)

I bought this book on a whim. I had a gift certificate to use at Barnes and Noble so I picked it up. I have to say the information contained within is very vague and basic at best. There really is no history or explaination aside from a few words at the start of each chapter. What i did like about this book were the chapters on Gypsy Divination, Reading tea leaves, reading palms, and the tarot cards. If your interested in those subjects then this book might be worth checking out. All things considered, i think the $16.95 price tag is a bit high for what you get, I would reccomend buying this one used.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars gypsy magic, April 29, 2002

By 

"riverwillow345" (Steger, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling (Paperback)

I was very pleased to find this book on the store shelves. I am researching gypsies and gypsy magic for a role I play at a Rennaisance Faire. The book is written by a Rom and gives the reader a good idea of what they are about re: magic. The book is fun but it doesn't get too detailed. Depending on what you are looking for, that could be good or bad. If you are just starting out this is a good place to start but don't think you will be getting all the gypsy "secrets" the author just skims the top of a very deep subject. Maybe there will be a part 2. If you are interested in gypsy culture, I recomend a very good book: "We Borrow the Earth" by Patrick Jasper Lee. It's a very easy read and very hard to put down.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic but good, July 17, 2004

By 

blueromany "blueromany" (Toledo, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling (Paperback)

It is nice to see a book written by a Romani on the shelves. This book is not very detailed but it seems acurate. I do reccomend it along with Lelands historical text, together the 2 make a good combo