Fortune Telling With Forty-One Beans

(1)

TH

FALANJE U GRAH

OWING BEANS IN BOSNIA

(2)

Fortune telling with forty-one beans

Raif Esmerović

Raif Esmerović _{Page 2}_{Page 2}

One of the most popular methods of fortune-telling in Bosnia and Herzegovina is certainly One of the most popular methods of fortune-telling in Bosnia and Herzegovina is certainly divination with beans "falanje u grah" or "throwing beans" (bacanje graha). Among

divination with beans "falanje u grah" or "throwing beans" (bacanje graha). Among thethe people there are stories that

people there are stories that demised Hazrat Fatima secretly performed divination withdemised Hazrat Fatima secretly performed divination with beans, hiding it from her father Muhammad. On one occasion while Hazrat Fatima

beans, hiding it from her father Muhammad. On one occasion while Hazrat Fatima predictedpredicted the fate of her friend in the room

the fate of her friend in the room suddenly entered Mohammed. Hazrat Fatima in shock andsuddenly entered Mohammed. Hazrat Fatima in shock and rush managed to hide under her dress only half of the beans, which

rush managed to hide under her dress only half of the beans, which were located in frontwere located in front her, therefore since then it is believed that in every divination lies half truth

her, therefore since then it is believed that in every divination lies half truth and half lie. It isand half lie. It is interesting that one combination of divination is named

interesting that one combination of divination is named after her name –after her name – “Hazrat Fatima“Hazrat Fatima fal”. It is a

fal”. It is a combination of 333, which represents happiness, marriage and the fulfillment of combination of 333, which represents happiness, marriage and the fulfillment of whish.

whish.

Fortune-telling using beans was primarily the activity of Bosniak people, but some Gypsy Fortune-telling using beans was primarily the activity of Bosniak people, but some Gypsy women also possessed know

women also possessed knowledge ledge such a throwing of beans. Practised equally by men such a throwing of beans. Practised equally by men andand by women or

by women or faladžija faladžijaandand faladžinica faladžinica, the met, the method was uhod was usedsed to acquito acquire knowre knowledge oledge of thef the future.

future.

For divination in the beans fortune teller needs the red patch

For divination in the beans fortune teller needs the red patch on which he or she lines on which he or she lines up 41up 41 grains of white beans. Before she starts placing the beans on the

grains of white beans. Before she starts placing the beans on the patch she takes the beanspatch she takes the beans into the right fist , places the fist

into the right fist , places the fist close to her mouth and recites the prayer: close to her mouth and recites the prayer: “Rabbi jesir vela“Rabbi jesir vela tu'asir, rabbi temmim bil-hayr” three times and then blows into her fist

tu'asir, rabbi temmim bil-hayr” three times and then blows into her fist three times.three times.

The person who makes the p

The person who makes the prophecy (faladžija)rophecy (faladžija) then divided the forty-one piecethen divided the forty-one pieces into threes into three random groups, removed four pieces at a tim

random groups, removed four pieces at a time from each group until each groupe from each group until each group containedcontained no more than four pieces, and then placed these remaining pieces alongside each other in no more than four pieces, and then placed these remaining pieces alongside each other in aa horizontal row. All the other pieces (adding up

horizontal row. All the other pieces (adding up to a multiple of to a multiple of four) were then recombinedfour) were then recombined and divided again into three random groups, pieces were again removed in quotas of

and divided again into three random groups, pieces were again removed in quotas of fourfour and a second horizontal row derived from the reminder. The whole operation was then and a second horizontal row derived from the reminder. The whole operation was then repeated a third time to result in a

repeated a third time to result in a third row, and these three rows were used to generatethird row, and these three rows were used to generate the prophecies.

(3)

Step 1 Step 1

Step 2 Step 2

(4)

Fortune telling with forty-one beans

Raif Esmerović

Raif Esmerović _{Page 4}_{Page 4}

Step 3 Step 3

Step 4 Step 4

(5)

Step 5 Step 5

Interpretation numbers and Cups (four grains) Interpretation numbers and Cups (four grains)

323 –

323 – love mlove meetieeting.ng. 333 –

333 – marriamarriage, lovge, love.e. 444 –

444 – proprofitfit.. 414

414 –– sadnesadness.ss. 224 –

224 – journjourney...ey....etc..etc.

Cups or Hatma Cups or Hatma 9x4 –

9x4 – good luck, joygood luck, joy, happine, happiness.ss. 8x4 –

(6)

Fortune telling with forty-one beans

Raif Esmerović