Psychics /mediums - How Genuine?

[mizfiesta]

I guess most of us know of a Psychic, locally, who does readings in peoples homes. Whether they've been to one themselves or know someone who has.
I've always wondered if the majority of Psychics truly believe themselves to have some sort of gift - whether they actually have or not. Or do they know fine well they don't? Are they out and out charlatans? Or have they convinced themselves they have a special gift?
I guess there's a lot in this world that we don't understand. As Shakespeare wrote, "There are more things in heaven and Earth...", and maybe there are a few special people in the world who definitely have some sort of 'gift'. But for the majority? The ones that sit in peoples houses and charge upwards of £40, do they?
I guess my point would be that if they're giving a 'reading' but they truly believe they have a gift and are helping someone, I wouldn't mind parting with cash. But for someone to sit opposite you and know they're talking rubbish - possibly speaking about people we have loved and lost - is that just not SO wrong?

[Arksided]

I do believe there is an element of truth behind it all (Call me what you like) but as Douglas says...

There are indeed many charlatans out there.

As for the TV shows... pmsl.

[jno]

andy, I once went to see an osteopath in a strange town. Before he started work on me he held my pulse for about five minutes and told me three things about myself. The first was wrong. The other two (one was that I'd been in a traffic accident years before) were spot on. There was no way he could have known these things.

He wasn't claiming to be a fortune teller (and told me nothing about the future). But clearly he was able to detect my medical history just by taking my pulse. Which leads me to suppose that people who are sensitive enough can find out things we wouldn't think possible.

[andy-hughes]

What you have to consider is the high-profile mediums are of a 'type', as are their audiences.

If you got The Amazing Randi in a room with most of them, they'd collapse very quickly.

Randi's wish is that after he dies, he is cremated, and his ashes are blown into Uri Gellar's eyes!

[Cloverjo]

Jno, he probably googled your name and found a local newspaper report about the accident. There is no way he could have known about it by taking your pulse.

[-Talbot-]

I have the gift and I'm ashamed to say I abused my powers by having a four time acca

Brexit ....won
Leicester ... won
Trump ....won

I'm now simply waiting for Jeremy Corbyn to take Labour to a landslide victory and I will be rich beyond my wildest dreams.

[bobbie22]

I went to a spiritual medium once. She told me lots of general things, but in the end she said. ......... Sends her love. This was my late husbands mother. It was a very unusual name, and she could not possibly have known me, as I was from another town. I hasten to add, that I never go now, I am far too nervous.

[ummmm]

I do believe some people have a sixth sense. I don't think it's psychic, I just think it's a sense that something is not right. It's rarely happy!!!

But readings of complete strangers, bull.

[RATTER15]

In my opinion, it's a load of stupid nonsense along with faith healers etc....

[jourdain2]

I won handsomely on Brexit. I won handsomely on Trump. I have not placed a bet previous to these for well over 40 years. There is something hits between my shoulder-blades and it is compelling. It is weird - but something happens.

[Arksided]

I wanna know who Talbots predicting for the Premier league this season... any insights on that one... ohh mystic one.

[Barmaid]

Hmmm, I am in two minds. The stage artists I think are utter charlatans and I think they are very good at "reading". however, I have had two experiences that make me wonder. One is my best friend who claims she has a sixth sense. TBH, she will always call me at my direst moment of despair. I once left a man under quite distressing circumstances and she called me the next day in a panic (she was on holiday in Thailand). She said she just felt I needed her so she found a pay phone and called me - weird.

I also saw a few mediums - by and large they were bullsh*tters. But one told me I would be living by a large expanse of still water and my brother (or a close male relative) would have serious eye problems. Less than a year later I was living next to a lake and one of my closest friends (who calls me his big sister) was told he was going blind. Coincidence? Probably, but not sure.

[Peter Pedant]

rubbish

a fren' visited a medium who (inter alia ! anyone who is psychic will know what that means) identified me old da' as a lancashire millowner with a northern accent.
Oz opal miner would be more correct
oh well .....

[naomi24]

Showbiz is showbiz – and you can count Derek Whatisname and Madame Flossy (or whatever her name is) in her booth at the end of Brighton or Southend pier as ‘Showbiz’ – every one of them out to fleece the public with their art of preying on the easily persuaded, the willing to believe, and the vulnerable. I do, however, think that some people have an ability that the rest of us neither possess nor understand.

[ladybirder]

I've told this story on here many years ago. My grandmother was a medium. She did not do it for money and didn't seem to have much control over it. As a child I remember us all sitting at the dinner table eating our meal and Grandmother started shaking, her face turning grey and her eyes staring into space and speaking in a strange voice. I was terrified and was quickly removed from the situation but she didn't have any control over what was happening to her. The police often came to ask for her help and she told them where a missing child was once. She saw the poor child was dead, clothes hooked onto the roots of a tree in the river so could not rise to the surface. She described the location to the police who then found her. This was never talked about outside of the family.

[Cloverjo]

Naomi, you are the last person on AB that I thought would have that view.( Ref your last sentence at 22.41 )

[naomi24]

Cloverjo, really? Why? I've written lots on the subject here.

[mazie]

The ability to see and feel things is a gift and as such should be given freely. There are a lot of people out there that have this gift, no control buttons I'm afraid. It just happens. As naomi says, the majority is showbiz.

[ummmm]

I was scared to turn my back on religion, even though I didn't practice it, but reading Naomi's thoughts on this type of subject made me confident in doing so.

I don't believe in a God (I don't think I ever had) but knowing someone so knowledgeable doesn't dismiss a 6th sense convinced me.

[naomi24]

Why, thank you ummmm. I'm flattered.

[ummmm]

I always credited you with that, and I always will :-)