Latoya Jackson, Kenny, Dionne Warwick, Kebrina. What are we to think when we're bombarded with ads and infomercials for 1-900 psychic lines? Are they for real? Are there real psychics at all? What can they do? What can they tell us? Should we believe them? Or are we wasting our money?
There are a lot of answers to those questions.
Are those 1-900 psychic lines for real?
The answer to this depends upon the particular line, and upon the particular psychic. Having worked in this arena, I can tell you what really goes on in some of them.
There are real psychics on some of these lines. Since it is difficult to make a reasonable living as a psychic, it is a good way for real psychics to have regular income, or to supplement their income from private clients. I have known many excellent psychics who have worked on these lines, although they may not all be willing to tell you they have, given the questionable nature and practices of the lines.
There are also complete frauds on these lines. A 1-900 line is a business, first and foremost. Ethics tend to be secondary to some (and remember, I cannot speak for every 1-900 psychic line out there; all I know is my own experiences). I am personally aware of one line/group of lines that hired temporaries and homeless shelter residents to answer phones and give readings. Although hiring homeless people and others in need of work is commendable, passing them off as psychics is reprehensible. I have seen some of these people giving astrological readings by reading horoscope columns out of grocery store publications! Some have been handed a deck of cards and a book, and are simply shuffling cards and looking up meanings to the cards straight out of a book. You could do the same for a lot less money at home.
I have also seen professional psychics help solve crimes, find lost objects, assist callers with decisions about their romantic lives, offer support and guidance after the death of a loved one, and accurately predict everything from a new romance to winning lottery numbers.
My best advice on calling 1-900 lines is this: find a local psychic instead. Get recommendations from friends. Get references from the psychic. Ask questions about how long they've been doing this, what they do, how they do it. Check with local metaphysical bookstores (most have psychics and astrologers they are associated with who are legitimate). Most psychics charge a lot less in person than the 1-900 lines do, and you are more able to be certain that you are getting a legitimate psychic.
If you do call a 1-900 line, beware and be careful. If you get a psychic who seems to be good, stick with that psychic in the future. If you get someone who completely misses the boat, ask for another psychic, even while you're on the line. I would not recommend doing what some callers do: "Tell me about myself first. You tell me, you're the psychic." First, it's insulting to psychics. Secondly, if you shut yourself off like that, you will be harder for a psychic to read. Thirdly, a good psychic reading should be an interactive process, not a game of 20 questions. Tell the psychic your question(s). If the psychic is not saying anything that makes any sense to you whatsoever, ask to be transferred to someone else.
Further advice: never, ever, ever believe
any psychic (1-900 or not) who asks you for money to take a curse off you
or something like that. It's a rip-off. There are legitimate
Wiccan psychics who may perform magic for a fee, but they should tell you
up front what the one-time fee is, and it should be reasonable (less than
$100). Anyone who tells you there's a curse on you and they can remove
it if you bury money in a graveyard at midnight -- run. Run immediately
to the police and/or Better Business Bureau.
What exactly is a psychic, anyway?
There are many answers to that question. What most people think of as a psychic is really only one form of psychic: a clairvoyant (see below). I really don't like the term psychic, and rarely use it, as there are so many misconceptions about the word. A psychic is anyone with intuitive abilities who can use those abilities to help someone else with a problem by offering insight gained with intuition that would not otherwise be available to the person seeking help. This can be done in many forms, using many methods and many tools (see below).
A psychic has an extra-ordinary helping tool in his/her own intuition. Often, when we are wrapped up in our own dilemmas and problems, we are unable to use our own intuition to help guide us. Or perhaps our own intuitive gifts are not very strong. At times of crisis or change, or at times when you wish for greater self-understanding, you may want to consult a psychic to assist you in understanding what has happened, what is happening, and what is likely to happen in the future.
A psychic is not generally a "mind-reader". Mind reading is called telepathy, and although many psychics may be able to do this, it is considered rude and invasive of privacy to read someone else's thoughts without being invited to. This is one reason that if you are skeptical or presenting a "you-tell-me, you're-the-psychic" attitude, a psychic may be unable to read you. You are not willing to allow yourself to be read.
What psychics do is perceive energies, energy fields, helping entities around you, pictures, images, sounds, or feelings, either directly or through various tools, that allow them to see answers you may not be able to see for yourself.
Clairvoyants are psychics who see images or pictures. Clairvoyant literally means "clear-seeing". The clairvoyant psychic must interpret the pictures or images in light of the questions you are asking the psychic, which is another reason directly stating your questions is very helpful. If a psychic is seeing a picture of the Empire State Building, and your question is "Should I move to New York," the answer is obvious. If, however, your question is about finding romance, the Empire State Building could represent a potential mate in New York, or it could represent a tall person that stands out above the rest. Pictures are often symbolic to clairvoyants, and clarifying your question helps a clairvoyant determine how to interpret the picture s/he is receiving.
Clairaudients are psychics who hear voices and sounds which give them information. The "psychic vs. psychotic" joke is an old one, but generally psychics hear voices only when they need to, can usually turn them off when necessary, and are never told by a voice to harm someone else. The voices are within the context of what they do, and make sense. The voices can come from guides, or spirit guides, angels if you prefer to believe in them, relatives of the client who have crossed over, or other entities. The voices could simply be an "inner voice" imagined spoken out loud. Most of us are familiar with that little voice in our heads that says "Don't go out with this person, they'll hurt you," or "Take a different route to work today" -- only to find out later that we were right about that romantic prospect, or there was an accident on our regular route to work that day.
Clairsentients are similar, but don't audibly hear voices or visually see pictures. They simply feel specific information. A clairsentient may say "I feel that you are not in the right relationship, that what you really want to do is pursue your career as a singer, and that you should move to Los Angeles." The information simply feels right to them.
Empaths are similar to clairsentients in using feeling as a psychic tool, but they are more limited. Empaths are able to use feelings to pick up on what others are feeling, both emotionally and physically. Think Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. That's an empath.
Any and all of these types of psychic abilities may occur within an individual psychic. An empath may also be clairvoyant, but get most information via empathy, and only occasionally experience clairvoyance. A clairsentient may occasionally hear information, but mostly receive it through feelings.
There are numerous tools to focus and develop one's psychic ability. Here are some of the common ones.
Tarot cards. Tarot is one of the most common tools used by psychics, as it is easy to learn and conducive to opening up to your intuitive side. See the Tarot section of this site for detailed information. In addition to the Tarot, there are numerous other sets of cards around that can be used similarly. There are past-life cards, dream cards, Native American-oriented decks, and others. When a psychic reads the cards, s/he is using the cards as a tool, as a starting point, to express his/her psychic awareness. Just because one uses cards as a tool does not mean one is a bad psychic. Most psychics use the cards at some point, on occasion, or even most of the time. A good Tarot reader is as good as a clairvoyant. It just depends upon what you are comfortable with and prefer.
Psychometry. Psychometry is a tool used by many psychics to pick up on the energy field of the person being read. In psychometry, an object belonging to the client and usually carried by the client (such as a ring, or keys) is held in the hand, and a reading is given while holding the object. Again, it is a tool to help focus the psychic energy and allow it to express in a clear and accurate manner.
Palmistry. Palmistry is an old art that is based on some specific rules, like astrology, but also has a strong intuitive element to it. It is based upon specific lines in the hands and their specific properties. Most palmists I know are also clairvoyants or another type of "pure" psychic, and combine both.
Astrology. Astrology is a separate topic altogether, but I wanted to mention it here, as there are intuitive astrologers around. Many astrologers use no other method to read a client other than astrology, but some combine astrology with other forms of divination, or use their own intuitive abilities to more precisely read a client's chart.
Other oracles. Other tools include the I Ching, Runes, and Casting Stones. See elsewhere on this site for more details on these oracles.
Miscellaneous. Almost anything can
be used as a tool to invoke psychic awareness. Ouija boards have
been popular for many years, although I personally don't use them.
Tea leaves are another ancient method that's usually considered too fraught
with "superstition" and silliness these days to be much in use. I
have even read shadows on the wall or bubbles in the bathtub! Anything
can be a tool if it helps open up and allow you to use your psychic awareness.
What should you expect and get from a psychic
reading?
If you have followed my advice above and consulted and found a good, professional psychic, you can expect to pay from $30-$40 (or more) for a half-hour reading. The rest depends upon the type of psychic s/he is and the tools s/he uses, as well as your input, questions, state of mind and level of understanding.
An average reading may go something like this. You call the psychic and make an appointment, and go to his/her home or other place of business. The psychic may explain to you who they are, what they do and what tools they use, and how long they've been doing it. They may ask you if you've ever had a reading before, and go into a more detailed explanation of what they are doing if you have never had a reading. They may ask you to sign a release form, or state that what they are doing is "for entertainment purposes only" (this is for legal reasons to protect the psychic).
Let's assume the psychic is primarily a Tarot reader with some other abilities as listed above. They will probably ask you to focus on a question and shuffle the cards. (Some psychics do not like other people to touch their cards, however, and will ask you to focus while they shuffle. Most prefer the client shuffle the cards, thus transferring your energy to the cards.) They may explain to you how to shuffle, or they may not. Some will ask you to shuffle a certain number of times; others will tell you to stop shuffling when it feels right to you; and yet others will tell you when to stop shuffling. The psychic will then lay the cards out on the table.
This can also be done many ways, but the most common is the Celtic Cross layout. The psychic will look at the cards, and either ask what your question is or the general area of your question (love, money, health); ask you a specific question about the recent past or present; or simply state something s/he sees in the cards. Generally, a psychic will "test the waters" and make sure they are tuned into you by asking you to verify a question about the present or recent past before continuing the reading. If they are not tuning in, they may shift focus and ask another question (sort of like sliding around to the back door to try to find another way in) to see if s/he is connecting that way. If so, they will proceed with the reading. If not, some psychics will try to find the connection, while others may simply tell you they are unable to read you.
If they are able to read you and you have verified that you are connected, they will continue reading. As noted earlier, I believe a reading is more like a consultation between reader and client, and thus is an interactive event, not a one-way monologue by the psychic. In fact, I prefer to frame almost everything in the form of a question, although I am thinking of it as a statement, because it encourages interaction. Your goal in a reading should not be to approach it with the attitude "tell me everything about what my future holds, who'm I gonna marry, how many kids am I gonna have?". That is too broad and too distant into the future for most psychics to accurately predict. You should have a specific area, or a specific question (or group of questions) that you are currently concerned about. You should be approaching the psychic as a counselor of sorts who (hopefully) will be able to help you clearly see your situation and thus help you make the best possible decision that will help you create a better life for yourself.
An important message about free will versus fate! If you believe that your life is completely dictated by fate and that only the cards or the stars can guide you, you are mistaken. We all have free will, and can change our "fates" any time. Most of us, however, go with the "line of least resistance" in our lives, and continue to follow along with the natural flow of things without resistance. Oddly enough, this is partly why psychics are able to predict future likelihoods. I use the word "likelihoods" because that is exactly what each reading is: a likelihood. Not a scenario cast in stone, not a certainty, not an absolute. Merely a likelihood. With free will, you can change any likelihood you see, and thus change your "fate" (and the outcome of the reading as well). Readings are intended as a guide to help you make changes to control your own life, not as a roadmap to blindly follow.
The psychic should then be able to pick up/read some specifics about the question, what you have done about it thus far, what you are thinking or feeling about it now, and what is most likely to happen if you act on your current opinion. If there are other options you are not aware of, the psychic should be able to make you aware of these. For instance, if you are asking about a current romantic interest that you are unsure about, the psychic could tell you the following:
"You are uncertain about this relationship. Is there something in the relationship that is causing this concern?" Or, "There is uncertainty in this relationship. It looks as though the other person is not fully committed to it, because s/he has never quite let go of an old relationship, and this makes it feel unstable to you."
"At this point, it does not look like it will last, and given the hold the past relationship has on the other party, and your own uncertainty, it probably won't. But who is the person in your immediate environment who you are overlooking? There is a person who is kind and caring, but quiet, that you know but haven't taken seriously in the past. This person may be the right one for you."
Some psychics may be able to get more specific (i.e., "This new person is someone you work with"; "I don't see the current relationship lasting more than another month"; "Does the current person's name start with the letter 'J'?"; etc.). How specific the psychic can be doesn't matter as long as s/he helps you solve your problem! What does matter is the accuracy.
Accuracy varies among psychics. No psychic is 100% accurate, and one who claims to be is a liar. Most psychics are in the 75-90% accuracy range. Some are more accurate in certain areas (like everything else these days, psychics specialize, too). And like everyone else, psychics have their off days. However, most of what a psychic tells you in a reading should be accurate, and should occur, unless you take drastic action (use your free will) to change it.
You should be able to verify what the psychic is getting that you are already aware of, and this should help the psychic to get more detailed about your question.
You may also ask other questions, either more specific questions or separate questions (which will probably require reshuffling the cards).
When your time is about up, the psychic should tell you that there are a few minutes left, and allow you time to ask a final quick question or get clarification on an earlier issue.
When you are done, you should pay the psychic (if
you haven't already), and the psychic should give you his/her business
card or brochure. If you have general questions about things psychic
at this point, most psychics (if they aren't busy) will be happy to answer
general questions for free (how the cards work, how they knew they were
psychic, etc.). If you were happy with your reading, please be sure
to recommend the psychic to your friends and colleagues; referrals are
how they get most of their business!
Are psychics for real?
Obviously, I believe they (we) are. As I said above, we are all born with some abilities, some more than others. Some of us are born with it, some of us develop it from childhood, and the rest of us can develop it to some degree or another if we work at it. Is it real in the sense of what is portrayed on movies and TV? Of course not; movies and TV aren't real!
What would cause someone watching a news story about a murder to say "His body is buried in a shallow grave in the woods close to a main road. He was shot once in the back of the head," only to find out later that's exactly what happened? What would cause someone to call up her mother after reading Tarot cards and seeing her father's death impending, only to find out that (although she didn't even know he was sick), that yes, he has terminal cancer? What would cause someone to tell a business client an employee was embezzling, only to have the employer check it out and find out it's true?
Many, many stories like this exist. And so
do psychics and psychic abilities.
How do I develop my psychic ability?
There are many ways, and what will work depends upon you as an individual. Here are just a few tips and ideas.
Pay attention to your dreams and intuition. Some dreams are psychic, some are simply regurgitation of the day's events. Write down your dreams, and pay attention to what happens for several days afterward. Look for a connection between real-life events and symbolism in your dreams. Listen to your intuition in little things, and see if your life seems to be getting easier or better. For example, if it feels like you should eat something other than what you had planned for dinner, do so. Perhaps your original plan might have upset your stomach. Drive a different way if it feels like you should (did you avoid a traffic jam?).
Try to "feel" who is calling when the phone rings. A lot of psychics I know have this ability.
Get a deck of Tarot cards and a book to go with it. Read the book and look up meanings at first, and then put the book away. See what the cards mean to you. Get into the pictures. Let your imagination go. See what you feel. Write it down (with the date and time). Look at it again a week or a month later, and see if you got anything that was on target. It's better to do this for friends and family, as reading for yourself can be tricky. If you have to read for yourself, though, then do it.
Try psychometry. Hold a friend's keys and see what pops into your head.
Don't dismiss those things that seem to "pop into your head out of nowhere".
Meditate, relax, or do whatever you can that allows your subconscious mind to come forward.
Focus on a friend who is far away. Imagine their face vividly in front of you. Try to (1) see what they're doing, or feel what they're thinking or feeling at that moment; or (2) send them a "psychic phone call" to call you. Write down the time, and see what happens. And please, ask their permission first! Most psychics consider it an invasion of privacy to read someone who has not asked you to do so, and thus, allowed you to connect with them.
Read, watch, listen. Steep yourself in psychic subjects. Watch TV shows, movies, read books about anything to do with psychic phenomenon.
It may take awhile to develop something, but if you are open and keep working on it, you should start to notice that you are more attuned than you were, and are acting on your intuition.
Good luck!