Romani Wisdom & Creative Practice: Jezmina & Paulina on Fortune Telling

This week I spoke with Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens, co-hosts of the Romanistan podcast. I talked to them about the tragic fires in LA and their advice on navigating dark times and finding personal and collective resilience. They shared advice on healing and self-care during crises, looking at the tarot card of the year, what they do when they're feeling uninspired or creatively blocked, embracing resilience, and the importance of bringing diverse perspectives to ancient traditions. Their new book, Secrets of Romani Fortune-Telling, introduces the history of the Romani people and their long-standing relationship with fortune-telling, exploring techniques like card reading, palmistry, dream interpretation, and tea leaf and coffee reading, many of which were created or popularized by the Roma. We discussed their distinct cultural upbringings—Paulina’s roots in a traditional Romani community and Jezmina's mixed heritage—and how they each work with people today. And at the end they each pulled a card that's meant to be a message of anyone who listens.

Show notes:

- Good comprehensive list of how to help LA by my friend Kate: here

- Find me on IG: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout | Substack 

- Find Jez @jezmina.vonthiele & Paulina @romaniholistic

- Their book | podcast

- Vent Method: visit ventmethod.com to learn more & book a session 

- Resolutions Reframe journaling workshop

- Zine shop is here! or become a paid Substack member and I'll mail you a copy of Pivot! 

- COMING 2025- FRESH NEW (!!) In Process: Experimental Creative Group semester coming up: sign up for the waitlist

If you liked this episode, try out from the archive:

Episode 306: inner play, outer work, & being a beginner with Lenéa Sims