TV Psychics: Helpful or Harmful?
Tuesday October 30, 2007
Not quite Pagan or Wiccan news, but an interesting bit from the Guardian Unlimted regarding well-known psychic Sylvia Browne. The piece is well-written, by a reporter who clearly is trying to be objective. While it doesn't question the existence of psychic abilities, it certainly makes you stop and think about who's legit and who's not -- and how can you tell the difference? Definitely an article worth reading.
I personally know a number of psychics, most of whom are pretty accurate the majority of the time. However, none of them appear on Montel or other daytime shows, either. I guess the question is -- when ratings and large sums of money are involved, does that change the way a psychic does his or her readings? Does it, in fact, change the way they do business?
Another point to consider is the idea that we all have some degree of psychic ability. So if Lady Sparklepants the Psychic is able to see what happened to Uncle Ernie who went missing ten years ago, why can't EVERYONE see it? Does paying Lady Sparklepants $300 for a consultation somehow give her more significant powers than everyone else? Is her $300 session more valid than my twenty-dollar, twenty-minute Tarot reading? Just a few things to ponder.
I personally know a number of psychics, most of whom are pretty accurate the majority of the time. However, none of them appear on Montel or other daytime shows, either. I guess the question is -- when ratings and large sums of money are involved, does that change the way a psychic does his or her readings? Does it, in fact, change the way they do business?
Another point to consider is the idea that we all have some degree of psychic ability. So if Lady Sparklepants the Psychic is able to see what happened to Uncle Ernie who went missing ten years ago, why can't EVERYONE see it? Does paying Lady Sparklepants $300 for a consultation somehow give her more significant powers than everyone else? Is her $300 session more valid than my twenty-dollar, twenty-minute Tarot reading? Just a few things to ponder.
I am a psychic. I also am a paid advisor that works on a popular advisor line. I have just began to be paid for something that has been a free gift …all my life. I don’t see anything wrong with being paid, but I would feel bad to break someone’s wallet for something I feel sould be inexpensive or free. I only work enough to help pay the bills of the household, not to get rich off of someone else’s pain. Hopefully this helps someone. A good psychic is in the business to heal others not to break them. I care for EACH person I advise. I was looking for such a job and the company I work for holds this quality very high. Please realize tht pastors are paid accordingly for their prophecies and leadings as well. Some are good, some are bad. My feeling is to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Thanks for listening and love to you all!
I’ve met some “good” psychics and some “bad” psychics. Usually the good ones are more concerned about those they read for and adivising them than the money they can make. They charge what they need to charge and it’s adjusted accordingly for those they read. There are some who accept expenses only. Good ones spend time one-on-one with people doing readings, not rattling off one-liners. As in any other profession, someone who is only in it for the money should be suspect – salesmen, bankers, you name it.
If you have a talent, such as art or writing, and you use it to earn a living, no one argues with you. If you do it bettern than others, and thus get more money than others, again, no one argues with it. So why should it not be the same for psychics?
That having been said, each person has to decide whether they are getting “their fair share” or ripping someone off. There’s that threefold law thing.
And finally, let me point out that no one forces anyone to go to a particular psychic. If you see a psychic, and what they tell you strikes a chord in you, then you need to decide if it’s worth your hard-earned money to see them again. If it doesn’t strike that chord, then you should walk away.
While the majority of us (Pagans, Witches, Wiccans, etc.) will agree that psychicism is inside all of us, please remember that it is not a TALENT for most people. (just to explain why not everyone can’t See what happened to Uncle Ernie 10 yrs ago)
And so what if it’s expensive to see Slyvia? She’s a GIFTED psychic. There are loads of people lined up to see her, and if she makes her money this way, who are we to decide it’s immoral? There are plenty of other pyschics out there to consider. As previously mentioned, the better the service, the more you have to pay.
I agree with the ‘pay the bills with my gift’ attitude. And I commend anyone who does just that. However, I do feel once you reach the point where ‘the bills’ include spa weekends and cruises, you lose whatever credibility you may have gained when you were humble. IMO, that is exactly what Sylvia Browne has done. She IS an extremely gifted lady but she has gotten way too commercialized. Because of that, I feel she has placed herself on such a level that you have to question whether some of her insight isn’t just a product of the pressure to maintain a certain income level to perpetuate her lifestyle. Sylvia isn’t the only one. She’s just the one mentioned in the article. I believe this applies to ANY psychic regardless of popularity or national recognition.