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Ramblings
Bibliotherapy
by Vikram Karve
Whenever I’m
in a blue mood, I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a book.
Reading is the greatest of all joys, and the moment I start reading a
book I enter a different world, and this change of environment has a
positive psychological effect, and lo and behold, my spirits are
uplifted. Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned
in their moods and immediate surroundings.
I’ve just
picked up a delightful little book called “The Ladies Oracle” by
Cornelius Agrippa from my bookcase. Let me tell you about it.
Whenever I buy a book, I write down the date and place of purchase on
its first page. I have duly recorded that I bought The Ladies Oracle on
14 February 1989 on the pavement bookstalls opposite the CTO at Fort in
Bombay as it was then known.
Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle. First choose a question
from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii)
numbered 5 to 100 (I wonder where the first five questions are?).
I select question number 35: – Shall I always enjoy good health?
Now I turn to page (i), close my eyes and put my finger on the table of
signs. (I have placed my finger on the sign representing a single
square).
Now I consult the table starting from page ten, follow the line marked
by the number of the question (35th line) till I arrive at the column
which has the chosen sign over it, and this figure gives me the number
of the page (74) where by looking at the sign traced by my finger I find
my answer: – You will always have joy, health and prosperity!
Fantastic! I’m feeling good already.
Now the next question, number 15: – How many lovers shall I have?
I go through the procedure and the Oracle gives me the answer: – A great
many, but those that have so many generally choose the worst.
Hey, I’ve to be careful!
The next question, number 91: – What opinion has the world of me?
The Oracle answers: – You are thought to have had more than one
adventure.
Oh, dear! Have I?
Shall I be happy in love? The oracle says: – You will find more pain
than pleasure.
Pretty bleak –better I steer clear of falling in love!
Will my reputation be always good?
It will always be as you make it!
Must take care to build up a good reputation!
Shall I go many long voyages?
You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room!
Great! That puts an end to all my travel plans! All I’m going to do is
go round and round in my room! What a gloomy answer! And I thought
browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits!
Okay, just one last question, and the answer better be something good,
or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me!
I select question number 74: – What is the person that I am thinking
about doing at this moment? and the Oracle answers: – She regrets not
being with you!
Wow! Bibliotheraphy really works. I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic,
on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and right on top of the world as I rush
off to surprise my beloved sweetheart. And just imagine, I thought she
never even thought about me!
Long live The Ladies Oracle!
Oh, yes. The Ladies Oracle is a delightful little book you can consult
from time to time on matters of love and life, believe me you'll enjoy
it. (It may be called The Ladies’ Oracle but I’m sure even men will
enjoy reading and consulting it with satisfying results).
Dear Reader, why don’t you try it out? It’s entertaining reading,
guaranteed to lift your spirits. And do let me know what questions you
asked the Oracle and what answers you got!
September 3,
2006
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Ramblings
The Week of September 3, 2006
Second tryst with destiny? The first brought
little! by Rajinder Puri
Terrorism against India by Dr. Subhash
Kapila
Surveillance Tapes from God's Security Agency (A
Spoof) by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
Parallel College for Parapolitics by J.
Ajithkumar
Racial Profiling - Episodic Misgivings by Col.
Rahul K. Bhonsle
Are you a Hindustani? by VK Joshi
The Creation of One World: Is it just an
Utopia? by TA Ramesh
Happy Birthday Boloji by Meera Chowdhry
The Passing Away of Giants by Dr. Amitabh Mitra
New Age Birthing
by Elayne Clift
Putting Women in Charge by Nitin Jugran
Bahuguna
When all joy Leaks Out by Fehmida Zakeer
Saved by 'Kat-Ki-Kunni' by VK Joshi
Marutta: A Lesson in Character for our Times
by Satya Chaitanya
In Search of a Guru by Arya Bhushan
It's a Dog Life by Michael Levy
In the Matter of Territory by VK Joshi
Mobing You, Mobing Me, Aha! by Robert L. Sungte
India @ 60 - A Reflection by Rajesh
Ramasubramanian
Khajanchibabu by Tarasankar Bandopadhyay –
Translated by Kumud Biwas
Dancing To Her Own Tune by Ponni Arasu
Looking Back, Looking Forward by Deepti Priya
Mehrotra
Red Alert and Waiting by Monisha Sen
Wireless Technologies: Voice and
Messaging by Ruchi Gupta
The Silent Majority by Robert L. Sungte
Bibliotherapy by Vikram Karve
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