new age spirituality

This article is provided by kind permission of T Stokes. This article MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without the permission of the author.

Psychic Abuse - and how to avoid it

by T Stokes, "Britains psychic agony uncle"

Over the 50 years I have been studying psychic practises, and building up my ability, I have watched fashions come and go, but at no time have I seen the amount of psychic abuse that goes on today.

Out of work actors are targeted in actors magazines for employment on psychic telephone lines, some people have just 2 hours tuition before being online for the public.

IGNORE both JUNK MAIL PSYCHICS, AND JUNK PHONE PSYCHICS

Computer programmes geared to both astrology and Tarot are available, and used while the subject is on the phone, the advice is often to keep them on for as long as possible, the computer programme takes the skill out of the equation completely.

Unfortunately, those who are stuck at home, the aged and single mothers with small children are particularly vulnerable.

When I am asked to advise people looking for which psychic help-line to ring, my general advice is don’t.

Avoiding fraud

Some frauds use pseudonyms, insist on knowing with whom you speak.

Mail scams offering fake readings at sky high prices, are targeted at the elderly, and breach every regulation going, yet are busier than ever.

Many people forget that the Spiritualist church gives genuine spirit contact to the public and those in need at their services, and this is free.

The 5 stages of understanding enumerated by kubler-ross are taught to every budding medium, and in general are a tremendous help, they are;

"Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and grief".

My own specialist subject palmistry has been so ridden with fraud, that Britain’s 1824 vagrancy act actually made palmistry illegal.

A Genuine Reading?

The eternal question is, "how can I get a genuine reading" well there are some simple guidelines.

  1. What you seek is evidence, non judgemental understanding of your position and some personal connection which is helpful and uplifting.
  2. Never volunteer information, you are paying the psychic to tell you.
  3. Frauds, quacks and cold readers will want to look inside your home at furnishings photos etc, so you, go to them.
  4. Quality control, this is important, check with friends for where they have been for a good reading, in short take advice.
  5. Never accept a reading just based on your future, you do not know if that is valid or not, ask about your past if they get that right, its odds on your future will be right too.
  6. Never, ever base your life on what is told to you, use it only as back up knowledge before coming to an opinion, it is advice only, and never listen to those who will reunite lost loves through expensive spells, lucky heather or Jesus tokens etc.
  7. If you are told you are under a spell for bad luck which can only be removed by the payment of large sums, walk away and report it to police and trading standards.
  8. Avoid the people who live as parasites on the backs of the gifted such as the general nonsense-mongers like Psuedo-psychologist Richard Wiseman, who take money to continually give derogatory comments on the psychic sciences, he really should just get a proper job.
  9. A well known American actors geriatric mother, claims she can tell your fortune from a feel of your bum at $70 a go (she also claims her dogs told her George Bush would win the election). Keep your money in your pocket here.

Avoid disturbed showmen such as Jim Baker, mystical spoon-benders and James Randi types, use your own judgement, neither be too believing, nor over sceptical.

If you need more clarity of information ask for it, or ring back when you get home and ask for clarification.

What Killed Off the Dinosaurs?

Boredom killed them, bored with the same twaddle peddled by the nonsense-mongers.

Make sure they do not kill you off too, we really need a compulsory code of conduct for psychic readers, the complementary therapies guide is the natural umbrella for us, as many genuine readers work with various healers in alternative clinics.

If we do not self regulate it will be done for us, and there is already rumblings of discontent from the Christian extremists in America

The law is available here, and it says

" any bought commodity must be of merchantable quality", if it is not, then you are entitled by law- not to have to pay.

So just bear in mind what is called "A duty of care".

Finally there are some wonderful caring readers out there, the one thing you need to bring with you, is an open mind.

"Enjoy".

T.Stokes paranormal studies lecturer. Copyright 2002
Palms read by post or email at palmist@fsmail.net