Palmistry & Priests

Do you believe in palmistry? I certainly don't. And this is what this post is gonna be about.

I am a hybrid of Sikhism & Hinduism. I follow some traditions out of both religions and sometimes,  I outright reject some of the rituals we are asked to perform. Let's be real. More than half of these shenanigans were created by human beings. And the last time I checked, human beings are not God. This is my reason for not believing. Because religion and its teachings hold a great value in our family, I try to comply with most of them. But I definitely draw the line at some point.

Believe in getting "shubh" (auspicious) dates for weddings and events? Sure. The Guna Matching Kundli thing. Sure. I can let it slide. I don't believe in it but I can tolerate it if it's happening. But watching others go to an extent which isn't even realistic bothers me.

There are so many orthodox, religious and spiritual people out there who definitely believe in palmistry and priests. People pay crazy money for all these poojas. Apparently, a pooja is the resolution for people not having babies, people's unhappiness, people's unemployment and other domestic issues etc. Bullshit, I tell ya. I believe in destiny and fate (somewhat) but I don't believe in an individual reading your face or hand and making predictions about your life.

In India, astrology is a great deal to people. Technically, it shouldn't be because we're progressing in India and people are moving forward. This is an ancient practice that is widely accepted throughout India. And some people follow it here as well. I know a couple of people who paid money to a lot of priests for various reasons. It is a business... the way I see it.

Now, I am not saying that these predictions can't be accurate. They sure can be. Apparently, some people are gifted. Some people tell you really specific things sometimes. But hello... a lot of things exist in the world and we can't assess the validity of these things. The whole world reads their daily horoscopes and everyone believes it's true for themselves. I used to do it too - for fun! But there is a line between fun and 'reality.'

If someone is dying of cancer, will you get a pooja to make the poor fellow feel any better? It's a medical condition! People believe in praying... sure. I can believe that. I can live with that. Miracles do happen. But if a priest came and told me you can't have kids or you're gonna live till you're 45... that is freaking insane! These are just examples by the way before all of you start asking me silly questions. I have NEVER gone to a priest or palmist for any answers. I've never had any questions that I wanna know the answers to from these people. This life is mine and I will search for those answers myself. Will I do well in life? Sure, I will if I work for it. If I sit around on a couch waiting to have my own business (because my kundli said so), I will be waiting forever. I've heard some people say, the priest told me to pursue business instead of medical because I will be better at it. Umm... if you are interested in medical, then why the hell would you switch your field? Because some guy made a prediction about your life?

This is such a sticky subject and I was really avoiding it. I didn't wanna write about it because I knew I'd be getting all types of weird responses. But I had to get it out there for myself. I don't believe in this. At all, whatsoever.

Let's assume that a palmist told me... I have 2 marriages written in my destiny. Now, let's assume... unfortunately, my marriage is going downhill and I start believing what the palmist told me was true. So, what do I do? Instinctively, I will think... I am getting remarried according to his prediction. I wouldn't work at saving the relationship. I wouldn't care how old I am at that point and blindly believe I still have a second marriage waiting for me. What is the moral of the story? I'll say it in Hindi - VEHAM. ANDHVISHWAS.
You guys can Google that =) lol

The truth is... if we listen to these predictions, we become 'andh-vishwasi' and start believing their predictions. We act according to what was said and don't treat the situation in a way it should be treated. Taking that situation above for instance, if I hadn't known I am able to get remarried, I would think of all factors involved in my first wedding. I would definitely think about my lonely future. What if I don't find anyone? What if I am lonely for the rest of my life? Kids? Finances? Aftermath of divorce? All that scares you. You wanna be able to truly assess what's going wrong in your marriage and most importantly, you wanna be able to fix it. You don't wanna have the backhand confidence of a priest who lets you believe you are gonna be granted a second marriage. The same logic applies to all other predictions they make - such as babies etc. Honestly, leave it to science.

Science is the answer to it, not priests.

I am able to recall all these superstitions and other Indian palmistry myths that people have taught us over the years. If your henna comes out dark, that means your husband loves you. So, ladies... if your henna isn't dark enough, you might be getting laid at night but your husband probably doesn't love you as much *rolls eyes*

Some people look at the curvy line on your hand and describe it as the 'marriage line.' Apparently, if the line is straight or slightly curved, you are supposed to have a good married life. And when there is a break in the marriage line, that means you will separate for a certain period of time. And if the line happens to be vertical, that means your spouse is at the risk of death. Wow. Applause anyone?

On the other hand, there are some selective superstitions that I believe, just so it's clear that I am not dismissing everything. I believe one shouldn't wear white in their wedding rituals because it symbolizes our clothing for a funeral. For others, it's black. This is something I can ask my brain to comprehend but the palmistry stands no chance.

A couple of years ago, my dad took my uncle's ashes to Haridwar, I believe. And something along the same lines happened there. A priest asked him to get some pooja done for 'shaanti' and ensuring that he rests in peace. I am sorry? Giving you an extra 500 rupees is gonna ensure that he will rest in peace? And if you choose to do no pooja and go ahead with the ritual like the rest of the world will, then I assume, those people aren't gonna be in peace, apparently? *sigh*

I could probably think of several other examples, but I don't have the time and energy to write about them. I bet you guys know a hundred more examples. But anyway... back to the point of this post.

In brief, (if you already haven't understood it), I do not believe in palmistry and priests. I do not believe in going to them for solutions to your life problems. Because once you go, they create a veham which you will sooner or later start believing in. You let that priest control the rest of your decisions in life because of that one veham, which is utterly stupid. I have never heard of an argument from a priest for anything. A pooja is not gonna make your sperm count any more potent and magically give you a child. I do not believe that anyone can sit and predict your future. No kundli  in the world can decide whether a couple will be compatible or not. It is the 2 people in the marriage itself that are in charge of making it work, not the priest. I am willing to be more open minded about this topic if someone has a logic for it. But until then, let's leave it at this.

Honestly speaking.... I understand the frustration of couples who haven't had babies for 5 years and blah blah. I know people look for answers to the struggles in their life i.e. being unmarried for longer than you hoped etc. But in all seriousness... no one has supernatural abilities to predict what the hell is gonna happen and when.

Palmistry. Tarot Cards. Astrology. Priests. NO. NO. NO. And NO. That's a good conclusion. Okay. I've got to sleep and I don't even know what I am writing anymore. Goodnight folks.