TIL the 500-year-old tradition of Turkish coffee reading (kahve falı) started in the Ottoman harem not just as magic, but as a clever social loophole. Women used the “fortunes” in the cups as a safe excuse to gossip, vent, and talk about taboo subjects without getting in trouble.
Why does anyone think gossip and witchcraft got such bad reputations?
Women used gossip to keep each other informed and safe.