Aug 16, 2018
Amanda and Sarah look at cool, spooky or just plain weird methods of fortune telling. Amanda examines the history of phrenology, the extremely problematic practice of categorizing people by "reading" their head bumps. Sarah shuffles through the fascinating origins and evolution of tarot cards. Other subjects covered include possible #daddy Engelbert Humperdinck, the bowel-moving magic of P. F. Chang's, and murders with mystical connections.
Recommendations:
Sarah recommends watching the super psychic X-Files episode "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose."
Sources:
Slate ("When Phrenology Was Used in Court")
The Atlantic ("The Shape of Your Head and the Shape of Your Mind")
Smithsonian Magazine ("Facing a Bumpy History")
The Cabinet of Phrenology and Crime
Collectors Weekly ("Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World's Most Misunderstood Cards")
The Met ("Before Fortune-Telling: The History and Structure of Tarot Cards")
The Telegraph ("Tarot card reader kept murderer talking for an hour while waiting for police after dealing him death card")
Be sure to check out our upcoming guest spot on Neon Brainiacs!
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