The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Whether or not one believes psychics have genuine abilities of divination.

There is an evident number of individuals that practice unethical behaviour.

Most ads that are posted by psychics state For Entertainment Only.

What in your opinion, should a person "consumer" of such services avoid?

What, can they expect from a reading? What psychic claims are unreasonable?

Is it wise to seek a psychic for emotional issues?

How does one separate hacks from sincere readers?

Two of the most engaging readers I know never claimed to be " mystically" gifted, though they are very demonstratably social adapt. They performed for mixers on, and around collage campuses.

Sitting in on a few group reading I found that individuals have unrealistic preconceptions of the art/craft.


I have also volunteered at a Spiritualist Center, and scandalous behaviour is practiced with impunity. Perhaps not all Spiritualist ( weither I'd not it is a true gift) are so unethical, but I personally saw genuinely sincere mediums
phase out by unethical mediums.

Dabbler, I'm not very learned on this subject, although it does fall somewhat into the mysterious paranormal realm, of which I am a student, but from what I've gleaned, alot of mathematic's and subject willingness to believe and participate have much to do with a "successful" reading. Theres just too large a grey area involved in determining a fake from the authentic psychic, because a grifter is good at what he/she does, and has an explanation or excuse for every tidbit of skepticism you throw at them. They rely on the subjects desperation and gullibility for their ruse to "work". But someone who can sit back and absorb the facts without the hindrance of emotions can see the absurdity of some of the psychics claims. For instance, a phony psychi promises you fortune and fame through their readings, and yet, they themselves aren't doing so well financially. How can they pick and guarentee lottery numbers for you, but not themselves? And so on. So-called psychics of the past-Jean Dixon, to name one, have been exposed and debunked, and yet, Edgar Cayce, for instance, has not. Being able to distinguish phonies from real psychics then, becomes a difficulty. My personal opinion is there are genuine psychics whose true gifts have been kicked to the curb by frustrated skeptics mainly because there are so many con-artists out there who have jaded the phenomena to the point of commercialism and entertainment. Because of all the non sense going on out there, if I were a psychic, I don't think I'd tell anyone for fear of ridicule and sensationalism via the tabloid trash magazines.

And I agree with you, unethical mediums phasing out the genuine, mainly because, I think, there are more fakes jumping on the psychic payday bandwagon everyday, while a true seer is relegated to the back of the picture.

In answer to your one question "What in your opinion, should a person " consumer" of such services avoid?"...my answer is this:
Beware of the ones that do a reading then try to lure you back in for hundreds of dollars to light candles for your problems.

They hook you in then try to keep luring you back.

Believers and non believers and even con artists in the supernatural arena are all too often consumed with such time wasting argumentation as to whether or not there is any validity to claims of ESP and so forth. Edgar Cayce, then, becomes a prophet that cannot be debunked, virtually by election; his readings have a 90-something percent accuracy, I think...something like that, and by virtue of his non-confrontational attitude has been labeled an authentic seer by some in both the scientific and psychological professions. I haven't heard of anyone else falling into that category, if category is what you want to call it.

Absolutely, VampireBlondie smacked it right on the noggin. I would most definitely be leary of a situation such as the one she described. Anyone who offers to "reunite lost lovers" or "cure baldness" or guarentee lottery numbers should be vehemently avoided. I've heard of the candle-lighters...for a "small" fee they will burn beeswax candles and utter a few secret chants and soon your finances will pick up.

One common denominator in the medium/ psychic field is that when a psychic rips someone off, other psychics arbitrarily, and adimently label them fake, and insist that they have no " genuine gift".

The commercial psychics are the shadest element.

In a way the degree of expectation invested in any reading, and the manner that the reader responds to those expectations is key.

Undercover Fraud investigators have co-opperated with ethical readers, and spiritualist to establish a screening criteria for assessing intent of advertised psychics. I am searching for the article.

In the matter of EC, I am not cynic, though I readly admit that weither or not he was psychic, he was perseptive, and a practical observer.

What concerns me is those who have inheirited his legacy, and the constant practice of rehashing his journals.

For me the main red flag is money..Whether it is one dollar,or 100 dollars.And any of them who are even on the internet ,with their forms for you to fill out, so they can sell your info or swamp your email with their spam.Another one is if I see or get any kind of letter over the net telling you that" time is running out you need your reading now because I see something major in the very near future for you "Etc..

No copy of that article is on the net, I read it in an Alternative Health Periodical..

"My personal opinion is there are genuine psychics whose true gifts have been kicked to the curb by frustrated skeptics mainly because there are so many con-artists out there who have jaded the phenomena to the point of commercialism and entertainment."

That statement Coolyho is so spot on it isnt funny.

While searching for the article, I came across an article on familiar site.

Psychic Skeptic Bad Language

The author writes of her experience applying to be a telephone psychic.

I think that you'd all agree that psychic ability is demonstrated whenever a person picks up information and knowledge that he or she wouldn't or shouldn't normally know, like the guy who just KNOWS the phones about to ring, or that something bad is about to happen, or the girl who suddenly senses that going to the store would have some disastrous consequence. I think that information comes from a source outside of the person's intellect, and is distinct from learned knowledge and experience. The insights and knowledge derived, comes directly from the universal mind (whom I choose to call God) and from other people themselves. Its like mental telepathy, where one person can read another's thoughts. Everyone has had that experience more than once in their life, and if they can't recall ever having done so, its because they were not paying attention and didn't recognize it. Just like hearing, feeling, seeing, smelling and tasting, everyone has it. Its our sixth sense. Of course I'm not stating this as a matter of fact, but rather as an opinion. Someone who doesn't like working outside of scientific facts might certainly stick a fork in this one, but I'm only tossing this in from having experienced it myself many, many times over.

I tend to see it as a phenomena of applied reasoning, still that doesn't make
a skilled person any less phenomenal.

Applying acute observation, consciously, or subconciously, is an existing actuality.


For this thread though, I would rather avoid the " Does it" or " Does it not"
exist, and the possible machanics.

I believe we all have an inherent ability to exhibit psychic phenomena (for lack of a better word-whats so phenominal about intuition?) but so many bad apples have exploited this for monetary gain, its jaded it to the point that even those who experience it on a day to day basis have come to dismiss it as mere coincidence, and thats a shame. We've all heard of a womans intuition; man, thats been documented time and again, and is no less sensational-in my humble opinion-than a verified Nostradamus prediction, but more and more "womens intuition", as well as mans "gut feelings" are being phased out by a desensitised society as chance-I mean, con artists, scammers, spammers, and phony psychics have turned the "natural phenomena" into something you can buy like a trinket in a novelty shop.

Unethical phychics exploit that, and it is not just reading that they use.

" institutes" that " guarentee to develop a persons psychic abitities, pitch that we all have the ability..

Any detective can demonstrate a skill, or talent that far surpasses the novel psychic.

There are logical reasons a person " senses" a phone is about to ring, there is a logical explsination for " sensing" something us about to happen.

I continuely ask those who cite such occursnces the question, " What practical purpose does it serve it the significants of the "preminituon" is always actualuzed after the occursnce.

Again though, that is a matter for a different thread.

"Someone who doesn't like working outside of scientific facts might certainly stick a fork in this one,"

Then they are a fool because from what I've found,science has only lent credence that this type of thing can happen.

I saw a pretty good example on tv the other day of a woman who seemily believed she was a medium and made sensation claims, but when asked certain questions,she pretty much back paddeled.you could really see she was full of it.

Groucho Marx had an interesting encounter with a medium.

A medium approached him, and invited him to a channeling demonstration.

He eventually agreed, and sometimes later attended, he was told that any question he asked would be answered.
The audience asked a few personal questions, then it came to Groucho he simply asked " What's the capital of New Jersy." The " All Knowing cannaled entity had no answer.

.. with so many pupporting to be 'real', whilst being bullshit artists, I'd say one only learns what is/who is "real", by experience.

Any psychic service that presents a concise disclaimer that idicates " Our readings are not a substitute for professional counseling, or theraphy."

Canada is very stern with their guidelines for psychic practices. Compliance by ethical psychics makes unethical practices stand out.

People with irrational preconceived notions about what to expect from a psychic will become marks for psychics that cater to, and expoit thru such
people.


Grief, Romantic Desperation, Financial Strife ( even financial windfalls) nudge people to psychics..

unethical psychics, and mediums read obituaries, foreclosers, and classified ads taking names, and cross refererancing relatated names, they then bulk mail to those people, if they mail 300 postcards, and only 5 people respond they are considered sucessful..

Yes, Dab, I agree with your statement about oppertunists capitalizing on the "everyone is psychic" so let us help you realize your powers to the tune of 500 bucks, but I'm curious about your statement that there are logical explanations for someone knowing the phone is going to ring, etc. I am wondering how we account for the seeming psychic link between people who are close-i.e., my wife knowing what I'm going to say or do in advance even if I'm getting ready to do or say something out of the repetitive ordinary. How does a mother know what her children are doing, or when something has happened to them, even from a seizable distance? Complacency and repetitive redundancy aside, how did my mother know I was in an automobile accident three states away at four in the morning? When I arrived at the hospital with only a few bumps and scratches, I was handed a phone and told it was my mum...I assumed they had called her, as an emergency contact; but quite the opposite had occured...she had called THEM twenty minutes before I got there insisting that her son was hurt and he must be there. They placed this obviously "crazy" woman on hold just as the call came in from authorities that I was being brought to the hospital as a result of the auto crash. Coincidence? My beliefs preclude me from believing in coincidence, but I have a very open mind to any plausible suggestions here. Perhaps there is some logical explanation, and I'd sure like to know what it is. Who wouldn't?

I think a lot of the true "mediums" if you will do not claim to be gifted though if you seek advice from them they will give it, I have met a couple and they are fascinating people who often give off a feel of calm and power.

I clipped my last post,

Psychics that present disclaimers are often more likely to be ethical, and to
simply apply their talent to give a person perspective on basic life matters,
entertainers astonish audiences.

Those that desire astonishing mystical breakthroughs in a personal reading in my opinion, and in the opinion of ethical practing psychics is
a inventation to be astonished out of ones money, or be party to someone else being fleeced. Because unethical psychics/mediums operate via association as well.

About a year ago someone gave me a pressie, a psychic reading over the phone a special offer from a group organisation.

As it was free I called, got a surprise too, the guy I talked to told me he just could'nt get a link to me and put me through for another reading from someone else.

I admired his honesty, and made sure I called the organisation and told them how pleased I was.

That is noteable, I would be a bit concerned though.

Here's why, the initial call you made was advertised as free, the operator/ reader ( if he asked you if you consented to be transfered to another operator/reader) could have teansfered you to a billed service.
I hope you where bit billed Miss Sinora. Bait, and switch is a nasty practice of phone bank companies, usually they operate out of countries that limit legal action against them.

This particular company resides in the UK and it was fine no charge was ever made. However your right Dabs it could have gone that way.

Thats how people learn about red flags.

Another suspicious request relating more to seminar type mediums
is the unsolicited package that invites you to a session free of charge ( logging not included).

Some popular psychics in the past Gene Dixon,
started their empires on such mailings.

Another red flag is " Volunteer applications" upon signing the form to allegedly be an aid at seminars, the person consents to a background check,
an private investagator can excess as much info as an unethical medium needs. Several private investigatirs had a concious overload, and revealed the mediums that recruited their services.

The statement "For Entertainment only" does not mean "fake". It is there to protect, legally, the person/s giving the reading/divination. However, I am not saying that I believe every card-flipping, tea leave reading, stone tosser.

Lets say that someone was given the reading that they will die in a plain crash. Well, perhaps that person is so upset by this they decided to blow up said plane they are scheduled to be on, just to spite death. The psychic that gave the reading could be held responsible, since it was--in a round about way--their fault the bomber acted. We are a society of arse coverings, and this is just another extension of that.

Bait and switch applies to just about every "free" service I ever contemplated...The old saying goes, nothing is for free. But I've gotten off the subject...sorry.

Who cares what other people foolishly spend their money on!
Anything and everything could be labelled consumer beware when you think about it!

Roma,

Could you venture to answer a few of the questions?

"Who cares?"

Rather apathetic.

Why sould we be concerned with three card monty? It's just a game of chance, right?

Have you ever seen a family suffer over financial distress brought on them by an unethical psychic?




WW,

I was not implying that, for entertainment purposes only disclaimer meant " fake". I understand liability.

The post referred to the integrite of the reader, being up front, and not
claiming to be capable of striking life altering divination.

Personally i've never used the service of a "entertainment" reader, but if you have a gift may as well use it for profit. those who are intuitive can seem just as good a a reader, although i tend to find from a friend who has used thier services, that they read nutral. Meaning, it could be taken how ever you want to see it.

Though I agree with you Roma when you say spending money on psychics is foolish, except for an occasional flat rate reading.


After seeing card readers perform practical readings without claiming to be mystically gifted, just simply talented, my concern is in how such unethical readers/mediums graft the field to exploit peoples emotion, time, and time again..

One individual did a two year sentance for emebezling funds from her employer to give money to a psychic, after she got out ( the psychic did no time, or even got arrested) she sought out the same person!

Now I ask, is the psychics gift reading cards? Or reading Suckers?

So I thank you for your candor, giving money to psychics is foolish!

For S***s and giggles, no harm.

But beyond that, one would gave to be oblivious to invest any serious dependency on a psychic..or medium.

I read tarot...but I do not charge alot
I am only a conductor.
I know a woman however, who has a sign in her yard
Palm reading..five dollars.A friend of mine went to her and ended spending over 300 hundred dollars.
She then had to do his astrology chart
Then a tarot reading
But I come to find out he was not the only one
she ripped off.
Those type of people make other's
who take their readings to other's serious.
When I do psychic fairs I feel that those I read for deserve at least a 11 card reading.
Yes they take in 25 dollars for readings...I get ten dollars out of each reading.
So I am not in it for the money
Many times I feel like a therapist
for some people they are searching for geniune answers
for what is going on in their live's.
If you cannot give the highest and best reading for a person,
they I suggest don't read tarot.

I have never had my fortune read because everytime I ask someone to read it that claims they can, conveniently can't do it atm or is too busy, or, my personal favorite, doesn't feel the right energy or what have you.... So forgive me if I seem a little skeptical.

Convince me...

I do think that there are real psychics out there! But I also feel that a lot of them are fake! I think that a person should not take to seriouse what they are told always, because things change day to day anyways! Also, most psychics charge way too much money!

Rain witch

May I inquire, You say there are many fake psychics I follow that, do you agree that among the real psychics there are unethical practices?

When I read for the American Tarot association
They give free live readings
and charge nothing
We just volunteer.

But we always were taught to answer that tarot can be a guide...but you always have your free will
to change your path.

Simply, people believe what they choose to believe whether true or false.

Yes Doru, people choose to believe in their own thoughts of physics. yet i have to say i have not seen anything to impress me or believe in this theory.

My curiosity is why the thread has to start from the negative end of things? There have always been charlatans in this area because people can be gullible and especially if they are emotionally upset. Now please don't lump in all the Spiritualists into this category. There are those that claim to be this but aren't. Spritualists are sort of universalists and usually attend church...it is more of a religion and most often they offer classes and reading sessions and help some hone their skills. Healing and psychic abilities and other practices such as astrology, palmistry, numerology, meditation, trance and the list goes on are apart of their belief system. If you are a member readings are free. They usually sponsor psychic fairs and the charges are minimal to free. Others have these fairs and they are usually not connected to a Spiritualist group or are but the fair is not sponsored by one. Usually a church has very strict rules. They consider charging high fees as an abuse of power which will be lost or dimished by this sort of thing. It is sort of akin to money is the root of all evil. It is considered a natural gift but to be used wisely. I know where I use to go they told us that no psychic was more than 80 pecent correct and if they say otherwise you should not seek their services.

People don't often get concrete things but abstract that they have to try to interpret so because questions are asked doesn't necessarily mean they are trying to lead you anywhere. I saw a local psychic once because someone else wanted a reading from her. She told me something I didn't think could ever come to pass but it did, ten years later. Time is relative and a problem for most psychics to pin down and why they don't like to usually to be pinned down. This is where a big mistake factor can be. Most often legally they have to state it is for entertainment purposes because of various liabilitities with the laws. Independents generally have to get licensed by the relative cities. This is the difference between religious as opposed to what some label fortune telling. In the churches they are exempt. There are bad apples in any area that could be questionable to some but look what many believe anyway yet they put down a psychic...I find it amusing really.

The media likes to push the ones that are unethical or quite frankly fraudulent but it is the same in any profession such as lawyers are now thought of as shady. All those who are Satanists are thought of as baby killers or worse and the list goes on. People see and hear what they want. They go in usually from a negative attitude from the get go so shrugs, why get involved with debunking people. Just avoid where you think people may be using other than ethical means. The underlying principle is people have the right to choose what they believe. They also shouldn't be ripped off but it is a very regulated business from the stand point of an independent psychic. The telephone psychics have always been for entertainment. They will hire anyone to do that. This is why it has phased out and you don't see it advertised much on tv anymore. Some took it too seriously. I am not saying all most likely but most. I would never have called one.

Auzur,

Do you agree that psychics, and mediums can be " gifted" and practice unethicalally, I don't see how this started from the negative end.

How do you recommend a person seeking such services prevent themselves from unethical psychics, or mediums.. I am not just saying fake.

Why is it that any psychic caught exploiting is arbitrarily dismissed as a fraud?

One thing about lawyers, and shrinks is that they are regulated, and unlike psychics, and mediums need to have a degree.

Anyone can claim to be psychic.

I have seen examples of un"gifted" people convince others they were psychics, you say so yourself AD people are gullible, and the last few medium sessions I watched, they choked so frequently, yet.. still people ate it all with glazed eyes.. psychics, and mediums are getting lazier, and believers are getting more oblivious.

I have been to a few psychics with friends but we went into it with the feelings it was only for entertainment. I think we stayed "safe" by not allowing ourselves to fall for gimmicks and we all agreed before going we would take it all in with a grain of salt.

Being "not gullible" perhaps is the key.

Do I believe they exist? Yes, probably somewhere, but no body could possibly know everything or the psychics themselves would have the perfect life.

Well I will have to agree with most people that anytime money is involved it raises red flags, of the people that I do know that read, they do not charge for reading.

Some i have seen where they accept donations, like most do for the pagan pride day no money is charged to get in just food canned nonparishable food items.

Well I will have to agree with most people that anytime money is involved it raises red flags, of the people that I do know that read, they do not charge for reading.

Some i have seen where they accept donations, like most do for the pagan pride day no money is charged to get in just food canned nonparishable food items.

i was always taught that if one charges money, then they are fake.
but my teachers had some set ideas about such things.
~W~

I don't see anything wrong personally with a flat rate fee for providing a service.

But anything beyond, or luring clients back for " more indepth" readings raises red flags, no psychic should create such a dependency to their service.

I read that the usual "sucker client" will keep coming back until they are told something they want to hear, or something they can interprets to condone predetermined issues.

Unethical psychics cater to such desperate individuals.

"Unethical psychics cater to such desperate individuals."
Exactly as I stated earlier; as long as there will always be desperate, heartbroken people looking for relief, as long as there will always be vain individuals horrified at the prospect of growing old and losing their hair, as long as there will always be people looking for the get-rich routes of lottery wins...then there will always be a steady supply of hoodwinkers masquerading as psychics, thus phasing out the credibility of those with actual "gifts" of foresight, and clairvoyance. Dabbler, I enjoy your threads very much. Frieden, mein freund.

The gifted unethical, and outright conartist rely on the notion that psychic readings are suragete for counseling.

Mediums ( unethical gifted, and out right frauds) beam when the realize a client ( *read mark) comes looking to be reconsiled for not communicating with a deceased family member.

Such unethical gift, or fraud mediums often hold the deceased hostage, telling the bereaved they need to intervene in some way to " help" the deceased "cross over", it is almost gurtinteed to be at a progressive fee.

Fake psychics are like psychologists. First they start off by asking what seem to be simple questions about your life, such as birthdays, etc. One thing every good psychologist knows is everyone one a given day has something going on in their life that is questionable, hence why you took the time to call their 1-900 number in the first place. The readers on the other end of the line will give just enough info to kick your mind thinking, in which case you become more willing to give little bitts of information to them. Basically it is a sick head game that anyone with the proper training can achieve. We are very submissive to the ideal that someone understands what we are going through and may have information that we don’t. Now when they do give you positive news is it that they saw your future or you so believe what they have told you that your sub- conscious kicks in and makes the action take place? Remember the sub-conscious will only block information that it believes to be harmful to you, but it is very easily altered by information that it believes will be useful.

A true psychic does not need all these little bitts and pieces of information to give you a reading, hence why they are psychic. They will not try to build you up in hopes you will call back, they will give you the straight up truth about what they feel or see is going to happen. Remember that the future is not set in stone and can be altered so a reading is only good for the moment you received it. After the reading you have new insight and knowing what you now know has probably already altered the future you were heading towards. So do they see the future, or what the future would have been if you hadn’t called ten minutes ago? I love that concept. A true reader or psychic has a sense of commitment to honesty and assisting those who need it. I personally wouldn’t feel if I had a gift so wonderful that I could exploit it by charging people to hear what I have to say. I’m sure there are a few real deals out there that do charge, and that’s their right to do so. Just be careful of the ones looking only to use your own mind against you and draw you in for more money. Like I said it is an easy task if you understand how to “implant” or “influence” a persons mind.

Aka “Just my Personal Opinion”

When I attended the Spiritualist Church in my area Tarot is a No No.

The bad publicity created by the unethical psychics, has created a major problem to the ones who are into the visions and prophecies. From reading of the Palm to the reading of the tarot Card, everything has change in the last hundred years. But for most people, the Godlike ability to foresee tomorrow has always seemed to hang around. Outside the scientific realm, however, in the misty land of the paranormal, many people have claimed to posses the vision denied to mere scientist and scholars. And yes, there are fake and there are real. Is up to you, to know who is who, before you get hooked into the spire web of the paranormal.

But thats life isn't it you get the good and the bad, for example: plastic surgeons, yeah i know not very paranormal but, you get the good ones, they make it an art and they are good at their craft, and then you have the not so good ones who are in it purely for the money and not for their patients well being.
I would suggest you do exactly the same as you would if you were wanting plastic surgery. Go somewhere reputable, check sources, ask friends etc; make sure you're not going to see a money grabbing cowboy.

Istsa

Where the comparision between plastic surgons, and even other professions
ends is when you factor in the education of the field, along with a board of review ( standard to all professional fields)

Psychics have no established, or standard criteria, and that frankly leaves it open.

People are lured in with extravegant claims, as mentioned earlier psychics are not substituites for professional counseling.

Google Psychic Fraud, and read some of the come ons people responded to.

Gifted, or not psychics are capable of establishing dependant associations with clients. Those psychics are implying an alternative for professional counseling, their practices have no consumer protection from price bilking.


Ethical psychics are banding together together to distingish themselves from
unethical psychics*.


*note I use the term unethical psychic, instead of fake/scammers, here's why?it seems that when a psychic/medium is caught exploiting a client
there is an arbitrary tendancy to declare that individual " fake".

Yet, just as a certified doctor can practice unethically, there are also uncertified individuals that pose as doctors.

I would have liked to see more people stick to the questions.

my self what sends red flags off is when they do the asking and you are ginvg info aka cold reading

if they answer a question with a question thats a nother one for me

i have never seen any one my self but i have had friends


i my self read cards. i do a trade for my readings. what you can give is what i expect. nothing more nothing less