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These are my own personal cards and interpretations that I have devised in the hope of keeping the precious culture alive. Drom means “way” or “road” and Romani, of course, is the correct word for Gypsy. So this is the “Way of the Romani people.”

The number 22 is very karmic and is used in the tarot as well as the Drom. Some symbols are gathered from the lore absorbed from my grandmother who taught me to read cards, tea leaves, and interpret dreams, and from my father who taught me many mystical things. Some symbols are personal, some are those I’ve come across in my years of research.

Oh Devla (Cosmic Being), bless the internet! It helped me to better understand those symbols my grandmother drew on small pieces of wood that I have reproduced. I strongly encourage you to develop your own symbols and draw your own deck. Folk art is recognized as its own genre so there is no such thing as bad art. Power to the people! Opre Roma!

Note: The Roma have been associated with music and although I am moved to tears from a good violin or guitar solo (especially in A minor), as a true Baby Boomer rock music has always been one of my favorite genres. Since I had to assimilate and hide my background, my nationality is truly American so at times I will use certain songs as part of the interpretation. I am not trivializing the divinatory meanings. Some songs are magical, logical, important to the several generations currently enjoying them.

Because my life has been like a palimpsest, I’ve had to gently erase what has been written over the real hidden manuscript to find the original. This is the result.

THE DROM OF TWENTY-TWO

1 ASHOK CHAKRA: Wheel of Origin. While designing this card it began as the chakra that is the symbol on the flag of India. Roma—Gypsies—are believed to be from one of the castes of India (based on the similarities of Romanes to Sanskrit). We have adopted the Ashok Chakra as our own symbol in the form of a wagon or vurdon wheel. Result: it looked like the skeleton of a Ferris Wheel. But in the way of synchronicity, I realized that my mother’s father was, in her words, a “Gypsy Carnival Man” so it was fitting. I remember meeting him at the circus when I was young (my phuri dai—grandmother—was married to someone else). He bought me a clown on a stick and got on his knees, so we would be eyelevel, and spoke to me tenderly. I always yearned to be a carnival person myself. And so my maternal origin derived from a carnival or circus wheel, making the symbolism correct. That is why it is so important to draw your own cards! I added the horizontal octonary, or figure eight, to signify regeneration, and the little “V” birds to symbolize freedom.

INTERPRETATION: You have the power to make things happen. Your life is ahead of you, no matter how old you are. This is the beginning of a new venture. The past no longer matters, accept it as part of your training and enjoy the future. No one’s life is without ups and downs so remember, the low times will not last, all things change. This is a good time to reinvent yourself if you have been dissatisfied with certain aspects of your personality.

2 PHURI DAI: She With Knowledge. This is the valued wise woman (grandmother) who travels with the kumpania or group. I used a serpent, the symbol of wisdom in most cultures, at the top of our world, looking out toward the universe. Whenever I look at this card I think of George Harrison’s song “Across the Universe”: “Jai guru deva om…nothing’s gonna change my world…” Well, we know that everything seems to change but the universe is eternal. As long as we don’t blow it up by the use of nuclear weapons, it will be, just be. My maternal phuri dai (Romani, with a little European blood injected during slavery) believed that we must be careful what we say because there is an exact moment every day that a statement can come true. If you cried in devastation, say, at the age of eighteen, and if the technology to go back in time exists when you are thirty, will we find that eighteen-year-old screaming through the infinite along the space-time continuum?

INTERPRETATION: You have access to the Akhashic Records, we all do. This is a record of all that was, is, will be. The “will be” is mutable and can be changed depending on the path you choose. Knowledge is free. Go inside yourself and you will find it because once you are inside, you are able to observe the space/time continuum and instinctively know what is correct. If you feel too inexperienced, the adage “when a teacher is needed, one will appear” will occur. Sometimes a teacher is someone you least expect: an infant or a pet can teach you. Pay attention!

3 DRABARNI: She Who Heals. My maternal phuri dai was a physical healer. Not a romanticized wise woman, but an earthy, flirtatious woman with a wonderful talent and a desire to help others. She related how the village people would come to her parents for curative herbs. Once, as a young girl, she sewed on a man’s almost-severed fingers. When my father couldn’t get rid of a wart after months of doctors and medicine (he felt we were American and had to act like Americans, so we used “real” doctors), she put some herbs on the wart, tied a string around it, mumbled an incantation and buried the string in the ground. Yes, it disappeared forever. I have no hands-on physical healing abilities but have a knack for making good herbal remedies. I also try to heal people emotionally by being a good and sympathetic listener. “Drab” means herb but a Drabarni is also one who foretells the future. I don’t like the word “fortuneteller.” I take this gift seriously and think of myself as an advisor. Please have respect for the cards and the people for whom you may be called upon to interpret.

INTERPRETATION: If you are not asked to heal someone, you may need to heal yourself. Pay attention to your needs and do what must be done. Are you working too hard? Giving too much of yourself? We must help ourselves before we can help others. Onions and garlic are herbs. Research their benefits in your diet. Nutrition is the best medicine. Ayurveda—the science of life—has many healthy recipes. Consider purchasing a juice extractor. Use carrots, celery, and kale for a healthful drink. Thank the Earth for her gifts.

4 ROM BARO: The Leader (of the kumpania). He not only mediates between the members, but is also the liaison between the Roma and non-Roma. If you are an activist, you may want to read about the plight of the European Roma and help out, even if it is just by e-mailing or writing the proper authorities. There are websites that you may want to check out: Rom News Network in particular. Thank you.

INTERPRETATION: Have the confidence to make the correct decision. You have the intelligence, as well as the sensitivity, to lead yourself and others down the correct path. If you are called upon to be the peacemaker in the family or at your workplace, do not be surprised. A family reunion may be in the future, or a significant meeting with your supervisor. If you are feeling at odds with life right now, volunteer time to bring together people with other people or necessary resources. If you have recently argued with someone, take the initiative for reconciliation.

5 MUDROSTI: (Esoteric) Wisdom. Nothing in the world or in our lives is more important than keeping an open mind and learning as much as possible. This picture depicts a cave with steps leading…where? The Akhashic Library? The great library in ancient Alexandria? One’s own mind? Various symbols adorn the entranceway and the rainbow, or seven charkas, hovers over all.

INTERPRETATION: Now is the time to learn everything you can about a situation. Do not come to an impulsive decision. Study, think, meditate. You may have to conform in order to get through a crisis, but remember who you are and never lose yourself.

6 MANGEN PES: Love each other. Words from Jessie Colin Young’s song say it best: “Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.” Try is the optimal word. I’m very concerned about a phenomenon that I call “Tribal Sociopathy.” A sociopath, simplistically, is someone who thinks no one but him/herself feels pain. I notice that some groups—family, workplace, or religious—seem to think that they are special and shouldn’t have to suffer, but it is all right for others to suffer. They demonize other people/groups, convinced that they deserve pain.

INTERPRETATION: Try to look at others if not with love, then with tolerance. See others as fellow human beings who suffer as you do. Life is difficult. Do not make it worse by spreading hatred and anger into the aethers. Even if you do nothing to help others, have kind thoughts. Avoid road rage and shopping cart wars in supermarkets! If you are questioning a love interest, good news: you will have a happy relationship if you do not play “mind games.” Try to be as honest as possible.

7 SWADARSHAN CHAKRA: Wheel of Time. This symbol arises from Hindu cosmology. My father, who learned this from his mother, taught me this theory. It is very interesting and I strongly urge you to give it an in-depth examination since I am unable to address it thoroughly in this writing. This chakra concerns the World Cycle or Kalpa that is of 5,000 years duration and repeats itself identically after every 5,000 years. My father believed we are in the seventh cycle. That is, the world has been created, destroyed, and recreated for the seventh time and everything has been exact. Does this bring the concept of free will into play? Do our decisions not matter since everything may be preordained? Or is it like life? The cycle of a year repeats itself but we make it uniquely our own each day. Are we our own parallel universe? The symbol on the cards should be a swastika, but that will always be reminiscent of O Baro Porrajmos (The Devouring/Holocaust) where about one million Roma perished as well as six million Jews and various other “undesirables.” But please read about this symbol as it was before being tainted by the Nazis. I have chosen the Kalpa, or World Genealogical Tree to replace it. And yes, the tree is upside down.

INTERPRETATION: Examine your goals. Are they feasible? Can you make them so? You are walking the great spiral path and need to take note of how your actions cause reactions. A major decision will be necessary. In Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Robert Plant writes, “Yes there are two paths you can go down but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.” About ten years later he states, in “Big Log,” “There is no turning back, oh no.” Age may dictate how we react to challenges, but this is the ultimate career card (or your most significant path of life) so take a chance as long as it will not be detrimental to you or anyone else.

8 URSO: The Bear. Some of the Roma, especially during slavery—rrobija—in Moldova (where my great-grandparents were slaves) were bear trainers. The bear is the perfect metaphor for the slaves. Chained, used for entertainment or hard work, they must always play along with those in power. However, the proof of continued existence is the strength of the Roma. It may be hidden but is there when needed. That is the vital element of survival.

INTERPRETATION: You have immense strength but in the situation you are questioning, it is wise to keep it hidden, whether it requires physical or mental power. Be adaptable or, as my father trained me, be accommodating. It is not enslavement. On the contrary, you are free because only you know the strength you are capable of exerting if need be. The lemniscat or octonary over the bear symbolizes infinity. Remember and be proud: you are the result of one of a long line of the fittest survivors.

9 KAPURI: Imprisonment. This does not really mean physical imprisonment. Sometimes we imprison ourselves, especially in our minds. It is good to be alone at times but avoid loneliness. E Kapuri is also an ancient way to imprison a curse or sickness into an insect or inanimate object to free a person from illness or jakhalo (evil eye).

INTERPRETATION: Seek company! The word “hermit” is an alien concept in Romanes. It is out of the question to not have family or friends, but if you feel that at the present moment you are alone and cannot take action to change this, seek professional help if needed. If you are just shy, join a gym, garage band, anything with interaction. It is the 21^st century, so an internet chat room will qualify as taking action to meet people…

10 SLOBOZIL PE MAYA: Freedom from Illusion. None of us will ever truly get free of illusion. It takes years of yoga to be able to accomplish that. Maya is a veiling power but when we release the dormant spiritual energy—kundalini, the coiled serpent that rises from the base of the spine (the seat of security) all the way to the crown of the head (the seat of wisdom)—it enables us to begin to achieve the necessary consciousness for liberation from the ever-changing world of illusion.

INTERPRETATION: This card signifies the advisability of trying to see through Maya’s veil. Don’t accept what you see or hear as truth. Once again, it is important to go inward and think about a situation, whether you are trying to decide to continue dating a certain person, accepting a new job, or moving. This is a time for a dose of reality, as unwelcome as it may seem. In early Sanskrit, Maya was the goddess of magic, art, wisdom, and external power, so try to use the positive side of illusion.

11 CHACHIMOS: Truth. What a difference this card is from the western tarot card of Justice. That figure is depicted blindfolded, but truth must have eyes open. To the Roma, the eye is a powerful part of the culture. I grew up exposed to the dangers of jakhalo or the evil eye. Perhaps this belief was part of the slave mentality, as well as the counteraction.

INTERPRETATION: One must not fall into a black-and-white interpretation of a situation. Study every nuance, see the touch of gray (as the Grateful Dead sing). Use all your senses to determine what is really occurring. Learn to study the eyes, they tell all. However, eye contact can sometimes be misunderstood so be aware of how you use it with strangers.

12 SAP: Snake. The Tree of Knowledge is a very common symbol. The Tarot uses the Hanged Man or sacrifice. It represents Odin who, in Norse mythology, hung from a tree for 9 days to bring truth to humanity. Jesus hung from the cross as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins. The Judeo-Christian cosmology interprets the serpent as a creature of evil but as stated earlier, the serpent is a symbol of wisdom in more ancient cultures. The double serpent is still used as a medical symbol: the caduceus.

INTERPRETATION: Practical wisdom. You may be called upon to sacrifice something, whether it is an idea, a plan, or anything that you were counting on. This is temporary and in the words of Mick Jagger, “You can’t always get what you want…[but] you get what you need.” Accept with good grace. Sometimes when we delay gratification, the rewards are so much better than what we expected. Consider this as a period of growth.

13 STANA: The Rock. Rocks look dead, but if you’ve ever held a crystal or stone in your hand, quietly, you can feel their vibrations, the magnetic pull of the earth.

INTERPRETATION: Sometimes other cultures state it perfectly, and so I must quote from Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching: “Pure and still, one can make things right everywhere under heaven.” This is the end of a cycle; a time to be very still and not attract attention. Be alert and aware but take no action. You may choose another card if you need clarification.

14 MARA: The Sea. Traveling mostly inland, the Roma thought of water as being important for drinking, bathing, and cleaning. The prime place to camp was next to o pirovo (the stream). To me, the most perfect place of balance was always by the ocean. I spent a week in Atlantic City (pre-Casinoland) every year with my grandmother. Standing in the Atlantic Ocean the wild surf would wash up to the sand and the current would pull the sand out from under my feet. What dizzying fun! By the sea during a sunny day exists the perfect elemental balance: earth, air, fire, and water.

INTERPRETATION: Keep your balance, be temperate in all you do. Retain a sense of humor as the day progresses. It may be a time to give in as it is always wise to choose your fights carefully. Go with the flow…it is all right to be accepting and passive at times. This will enhance, not damage, your image!

15 SHAMBAHLA: Quietude. According to the Tibetan Lamas, this is the secret place of enlightenment in the mountains. Everything is perfect there including the inhabitants, even if they are servants.

INTERPRETATION: Temptation. Nothing is perfect. For the average person, Shangri-La does not exist. Unlike Maya that veils the truth, Shambahla shows that we really do know the difference between right and wrong. You are considering a situation that is not ethically sound. Do not glorify vices whether they be cheating (a love partner or in business or in school), the use of drugs or alcohol, or other unclean habits. That rationalization will lead you to destruction. You have great power. Use it wisely and for the good of others as well as for yourself.

16 KHER: The House. Where is my home? Like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” I believe that there is no place like home but I cannot find it! My father spent the first ten years of his life in a mud-floored thatch-roofed hut, sleeping on a stove in Bessarabia, Moldova. He felt that as long as he had a roof over his head, life was good. Perhaps this is where I become more like my mother’s family. Happiness is movement until the search for home ends. After desrobbireja (abolition), my father’s family remained in Moldova but my mother’s family hopped into the vurdon and took off for perdell paya (literally, beyond the waters, or America). They continued to move around Philadelphia, though. I suppose it’s genetic. I’ve lived in Florida for 13 years and lived in 12 different places!

INTERPRETATION: At this point in your life it is wise to move around but not necessarily in a physical sense. Permanence is fine if you improve upon it: change the way you do your job, try meeting some new friends, change some aspects of your residence, or perhaps change a love interest. If you are basically happy but feel some minor discontent, see what can be improved: paint the rooms, buy a better mattress, or discuss modifications of household chores with your mate. Underlying all this need for movement is the onset of knowledge. Your powers of insight are on the rise at this time.

17 VURDON: The Wagon. Yes, this is home, the traveling home. As a Romani I learned that there is usually safety in movement. For most of my life I have carried a backpack stuffed with underwear, toiletries, and important things much to the amusement of my friends and co-workers. Recently, I discovered that my brother, who is 17 years younger and wasn’t raised with me, carries an ice chest stuffed with similar “escape” necessities. Cultural or genetic?

INTERPRETATION: Safety in movement. Or maybe it is time for a vacation. Visit a friend, get in touch with the earth. Have a giveaway or yard sale (don’t charge much money). Rebel against the acquisition society. Instead of spending money, do something for free like walking in a park. While you’re there, collect some rocks, shells, sticks, or feathers. They are free and would look great in a thrift store bowl or on your lawn or by your front steps. This is also a period when your hopes will be fulfilled but not necessarily in a material way. So if you expect to win the lottery, there’s a chance that you will not! But you will win something more profitable in the long run.

18 SHON: The Moon. Unlike the classic tarot interpretation, the moon is a positive symbol. Controller of the tides, planting, our lives. Read the Farmer’s Almanac or the Moon Sign Book and you will understand. Dieting? Begin exercising from new moon to full, and diet from full to new. Great results! Making herbal extracts? Keep in jar (and shake every day) from new moon to full to get the most out of herbal properties. Tooth extraction and surgical procedures should be scheduled immediately before or after the new moon to avoid hemorrhaging.

INTERPRETATION: Be aware of the cycles of life. The moon is peaceful and serene. Go outside and bathe in the light. My mother always told me to “stop mooning about,” but sometimes a little bit of melancholy is good for the soul. Close the TV and moon dream. This is a prelude to a creative time in your life.

19 KHAM: The Sun. Source of all life on our planet. This needs no description!

INTERPRETATION: Health, happiness, wishes come true. Success is guaranteed as long as you remain modest and are ever-mindful of, and grateful for, the solar gift.

20 GUGA: The Boogie Man. The one that hid under our bed or in our closets when we were young. There always seemed to be a nasty neighbor or crazy uncle who threatened this menace. We’re older now so drag it out of the dark and you will see that it is really not so scary.

INTERPRETATION: Face your fears. Something that has been hidden will soon be made clear in a way that will bring you great relief.

21 DESROBBIREJA: Abolition (of slavery). Life is sometimes a form of slavery. Many of us have to spend most of our days with strangers doing work we may not enjoy. There are many wheels that we are attached to: the wheel of life, the daily wheel (daily grind). How do we get free? I used a vimana symbol because in ancient Sanskrit and other texts, flying machines coming to Earth, and leaving it, are depicted. This is the origin of not only the Roma but of Hindus, Buddhists, and other religions. Vimana literally means “He who is able to take three strides across Earth and Heaven.”

INTERPRETATION: Completion. End of a cycle. New life. Resolution of a problem.

22 TATAGHI: Father of Fire. What a beautiful beginning and end. Safe at last! My parents used to tell me a bedtime story about a baby wrapped in leaves and sleeping on the moon, safe with father.

INTERPRETATION: The beginning or the end of a matter. The endless cycle. Exactly where one should be in life. You are walking the correct path. You are no longer worried about the mundane scenes of life. A birth or new life. Permit yourself to relax and enjoy life!

Vegetable juicer	I have a Hamilton Beach one from Sears that costs only $30. It's great!
Hand strainer	To strain leftover pulp after veggies put through the juicer.
Vegetable scrubber	Scrub those veggies because some imported ones are waxed.
Tooth brush	Clean the juicer screen--you'll see why.

6-8 carrots	Carrots must be cut up if you're using a small juicer. Cut the tops and bottoms off and toss.
1 bouquet of celery	Celery must be cut up if you're using a Champion Juicer.
1/4 head of cabbage	Cabbage contains Vitamin K, a clotting factor, so substitute kale if you are taking aspirin to thin your blood.
1 cucumber	Add for taste--they're perfect!
Experiment! Beets taste sweet and harmonize with the above vegetables.

Barley	Corn
Sesame Seeds	Wheat
Oats	Rice

Legumes	Rice and Soybeans
Soybeans and Peanuts	Soybeans and Sesame Seeds