Getting a reading: rights and wrongs

February 20, 2006 | Comment icon

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At a lecture meeting recently I noted that, a question that comes up continually over the years is; “where can I get a reasonable reading, and how can I tell if it is genuine”? A new twist to the old snake oil salesman scams are the fraudulent psychics,Particularly the phone and mail frauds, who use threats and tell of curses that must be removed at high cost etc. There are several criteria that must be followed. First, look for a body or reputable association such as B.A.P.S or the British Astrological and Psychical society, or the S.A.G.B., or Spiritualist Association Of Great Britain, and seek advice here for a recommended reader, perhaps in your area, and it sometimes pays to ask for advice about the type of reader required, such as a cartomancer or tarot reader, clairvoyant healer, crystal specialist, mental medium, or one well versed in your required art, ask when you ring for advice. But give no extra information away. Secondly, if you ring for an appointment, the only information to give is your Christian name, nothing more is necessary.

Always ask among your friends for where they have been and would recommend. Psychic fairs can be a bit hit and miss in this regard, the readers being an unknown quantity. Sometimes particularly at fairs one can encounter some considerable rivalry between readers, remember the saying,” A truth that’s told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent”, one reader will rarely recommend another, as livings have to be earned.

A good point to keep in mind is always go to them, never have a reading in your own home, as a wealth of information can be gleaned from just a casual glance at photos,the car you may drive, whether there are cheap or expensive soft furnishings etc. This is known in the trade as “cold reading”, and is increasingly common.

Save all questions until the reading ends. Personally I am not in favour of taping a reading, as I have experienced over many years, the tape can be found by a family member, or even a jealous husband, and listened to. I can recall some tales here believe me, where something that should be very personal can become public, especially among show business people and sports personalities who are often neurotic about privacy.

There is one little known aspect called “The Hawthorne effect”, this is when the sitter patient or querent, accepts everything the analyst, reader or medium says without question, and agrees with everything said, in principle, certain psychological disorders often manifest in a similar way, particularly when under the added stress of trauma or bereavement.

Remember also the “Barnum effect” which is people accepting extremely loose or vague descriptions as accurate.This is a little similar to the well-documented “Stockholm Syndrome”. Where people are subtlety persuaded, bullied or conditioned to believe in their interviewer, boss or captors belief systems. This technique is often used in religious cult indoctrination.And was used extensively on captured Muslims in Cuba, the British superspy George Blake claimed he was indoctrinated in this way to betray his country.British industry managers such as royal mail, have this technique as part of the induction training.The “Experimenter effect” is the complex relationship between reader and querent, with various emotional or psychic undertones, which can undermine a reading.Observer bias is when results, or the observer can be influenced by previous knowledge.Mediums will often claim that spirit readings are the best, but the elevation of the spirit contact will determine the quality of what comes through.Much of the generalised nonsense type channelling can be from poor spirit contacts.

Remember much spirit reading is not at all spiritual in content or in origin.“By their fruits shall ye know them “Over many years of attending development circles, one often saw something given as evidential, an item that was spoken of over tea the week before.The “scattergun effect” this is the term used for frauds that will bark out a dozen names in quick succession, knowing that with the law of averages some will hit.Those of you who have attended my seminars will be familiar with all this and I apologise for the repetition

THE LAW and Readings in Britain

Remember under the new European human rights act, each reader has a “duty of care”And must be accountable for the quality of the message.The 1563 witchcraft act supported the death penalty for divination, being overtaken in1735 by one year in prison. The 1824 vagrancy act perhaps being the best known, actually names palmistry .The notorious 1951 fraudulent mediums act had targeted Spiritualism and was very anti- divination.What is normally forgotten is that the medieval texts on astrology and palmistry were written in Latin, because that was the language of the Christian monks who taught these subjects at the theological colleges of the time.Most importantly the 1976 sale of goods act refers to any bought commodity, having to be of merchantable quality, and this also covers, spiritual, psychic or emotional readings, so if you feel your reading was not of “merchantable quality”, or not of value, you are entitled by law not to pay.The local trading standards office can advise, but are not always helpful. My postbag is often full of spiritual reading scams through the post etc., as I have campaigned for many years on this subject, and also bogus doorstep readers promising a great destiny if you either join my Jesus group or purchase this lucky charm etc

Alarm bells should ring when pseudonyms are used, 2 cases to appear before the courts as I write, concern “Ghostly master john” and “Psychic Anna” so be careful here.

In one case a telephone medium called “ psychic full moon angel cloud”Was actually 5 different people taking turns answering the phoneNever deal with pseudonyms, if people are proud of their work they put their real name to it.In one case yet to appear before the court, a man was continually hanging around outside an educational college, in full witch doctors garb telling the girls he could increase their exam results with African magic, amazingly eleven women allowed him to rub an egg all over their naked bodies to absorb “ bad vibes” and this cost them £30.

I have received several complaints of late from the client or querent of telephone readings being told there is a curse on them and it can only be removed for £1000 or similar sum, this is a version of the old gypsies trick, I will clear your bad luck if you buy my lucky heather, or whatever…I have sent so many people to the Citizens Advice Bureau, over the years that now they send them to me.

HOW TO SPOT A SCAM.

E.g., Such things as having to send money overseas, or having to give credit card or bank account details. Beware P.O.boxes; you should always have an address for any follow up. Unfortunately the old and vulnerable are persistently targeted, with fraudulent mail shots for expensive nonsense readings, each one being the same as the rest, they can cause great harm, particularly the type of chain letter that says send money for readings or else bad luck will come.

Avoid sending away for lucky keys, magic coins, Cornish elves, Irish blarney chips, Nigerian crucifix’s or Tony Blair grease.

A sympathetic member of parliament whose chart I recently drew up contacted Royal Mail on this subject, but Royal Mail’s attitude was that it generated large financial revenues so they were reluctant to make changes.

Finally the office of fair-trading is currently investigating scams of all types.

The poet Longfellow said;” Others judge us by what we have already done, but we judge ourselves, by what we are capable of.

To paraphrase the great Harry Edwards”--

“Readings should always be positive, constructive and uplifting and enhance our capabilities “.

Finally give no information away before or during a reading, but put aside a few minutes afterwards for questions, just a polite yes or no is the only answer necessary. You should not be asked anything beforehand that can be put back to you as a psychic message. One of the big television celebrities who debunks mediums in his programme relies on hidden microphones in the studios green room, to gather information prior to going on air, to do his own version of a reading. This sort of thing is quite prevalent. A good tip is to ask your reader or medium for information about your past, if this is correct then odds are they will be right about your future, accept no reading solely on your future, as you have no way to tell if any of it is genuine. Just as a priest or doctor is bound by confidentiality, so should readers be, and it is for this reason that I advise against readings on tape.

Much of the criticism levelled at psychic readings is from Churchmen and psychologists, who say that, “readers encourage addiction and many follow up visits”.

No group encourages regular visits and contributions more than churchmen, and one visit to a psychologist is liable to mean you are part of the average statistic of 25 very expensive visits.

Over the years I have had some incredibly informative readings, that have been of real benefit, and only a couple that were dubious, at the moment most of the complaints I receive are either about postal or telephone readings, remember “buyer beware”.

Suspect spiritual or fortune predicting style mail can be sent to -

”The Enforcement Team”,
Office of Fair Trading,
Fleetbank House,
2-6 Salisbury Square,
London E.C.4Y 8JX

At crucial times in life, a skilful reading can make a great difference. Comments (1)

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