Parrot fortune telling is a well-known form of Astrology in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Fortune tellers, like Satya Keerthi—who is profiled in this short documentary—train parakeets to sift through stacks of cards with images and different meanings. Being a parrot astrologer is an occupation that’s been in Keerthi’s family for generations: “There is no official school to attend for training,” he says. “If you’re interested in the job, the elders of the house will train you as an apprentice.”

This video was filmed in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, by Andy Whitlatch. More of his work can be found on his website, Instagram, and Twitter.