Commodity Insight: Markets ‘too impersonal’ for Gilda, the psychic

From “Back to the Futures,” a not-so-serious look at the futures markets in the 1980s, written by yours truly.

And not to be mistaken with the movie, “Back to the Future” — my book came out before the movie!

I was amused, and to an extent surprised, when I met a psychic at a party in November 1988. At one time, she had worked for a commodity brokerage house.

I have always felt that one good soothsayer could replace an entire research department. Meeting Gilda, the psychic, simply reinforced that belief.

Everyone would like to know what the future holds. That is especially true if you happen to be an investor or speculator.

Anyone who has ever bought or sold stocks, bonds, or a futures contract has, at one time or another, wished they had a crystal ball, tomorrow’s newspaper, or knew a psychic. A peek into the future can lead to instant riches where the markets are concerned.

In the early 1970s, I had a gentleman trading with me whom I nicknamed “The Moon Man.” He bought and sold commodity futures based on his analysis of the cycles and phases of the moon.

When he first explained to me his method of trading, I thought he was a crackpot. But he made money — and that is the bottom line where investing and trading is concerned.

Today, individuals and brokerage houses rely upon the personal computers and program trading to forecast prices.

The need for psychics, fortune tellers, astrologers and so forth is non-existent. At least it’s supposed to be.

And then I met Gilda, the psychic, at a party. She was there to read tarot cards for those bold or foolish enough to peek into the future.

Born in Vietnam and raised in France, Gilda speaks four languages. She graduated from college with a degree in education and currently teaches a night course in world cultures.

Gilda’s talents, however, go far beyond the reading of tarot cards. She is a psychic, a healer, a transcendental meditation instructor and practices a form of Himalayan healing massage.

Half black, half Indian and 50 years old, Gilda was wearing a multicolored wrap around dress similar to a sarong when I first saw her.

Her hair dangled from her head in a mixture of braids and loose strands. She had a small diamond stud in her right nostril.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, Gilda did not read any tarot cards for me, but I did have a chance to talk with her. And I discovered that we had something in common — the commodity markets.

In 1987, she was employed by a brokerage house specializing in commodity futures. She was being paid for her talents as a psychic to forecast prices and to predict market trends.

The brokerage house employing her would phone every morning before the markets opened and asked what her “feelings” were toward stocks, soybeans, cattle and so forth.

With those”feelings” in mind, the brokerage house made specific trading recommendations to their clients.

Gilda said that her market forecasts were accurate and the brokerage house was pleased with her work. As a matter of fact, they said they would like to rehire her.

But she is not happy dealing with the Big Four — stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities.

“I want to work with people and their problems. Not numbers and money. The markets are too impersonal to suit my temperament,” she said.

Tarot cards, personal computers, moon cycles, a crystal ball, or a psychic — if it works, it works. And if it works, don’t tamper with it, I say.

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