Has Anyone Here Ever Seen a Psychic?

I was wondering if any of you or anyone you know has ever gone to a psychic. I just saw an ad for one on TV with (presumably fake) testimonials. If you have, how was your experience?

 I personally wouldn't (waste of money I don't have.) I also know they are all fake (Houdini proved it). But some people go for entertainment purposes. I know in the USA they MUST put "For Entertainment Purposes" on all their ads.

My bike wasn't in the basement of the Alamo. 

My soul is still dancing.  

No, but then again I'm not a rube.

Those testimonials may not have been fake. Those people giving them may have just been really stupid. Psychics aren't psychic. They're just cold readers.

thorstein


 I personally wouldn't (waste of money I don't have.) I also know they are all fake (Houdini proved it). But some people go for entertainment purposes. I know in the USA they MUST put "For Entertainment Purposes" on all their ads.

Could you link me to the bit about Houdini?

I also know they are all fake 

  here is an article http://www.thegreatharryhoudini.com/occult.html But I knew the story already. Basically, when Houdini died he had already created a secret code with his wife. When she visited the psychics, well, you can guess what didn't happen. But for me the real kicker is this: psychics cannot replicate their "powers" in a laboratory setting and their results do not stand up to peer review (ie many different psychics getting the exact same reading.) It doesn't stand up to the scientific method. But what really, really angers me is that these charlatans are profiting off of others losses.

Like those tarot readers? Yeah i did.

N4G Adventure Part 1 - screw it

Kon
Like those tarot readers? Yeah i did. 

How'd that turn out?

Luck or not most of her predictions were right.

N4G Adventure Part 1 - screw it

I've always been skeptical about psychics, and to be honest, I still am and probably will be forever, yet there's one woman from the Dominican Republic who has always been in contact with my fiancee's family.  That woman, who doesn't charge money for her gift,  really f*cking predicts stuff.  And not just general stuff, she predicts dates, numbers, and specific events.  She also guesses stuff that has happened to people with specifics without asking stupid general questions to try and have good luck guessing.  She narrated an event that my fiancee went through in Spain with details, date and time without her actually mentioning anything about it, etc, etc.

I'm skeptical about it, but I do believe this woman has a gift. She's well known for it and years back she was very famous and people waited in line just to have a few minutes with her.  She accepted donations of course, but never asked anybody for money.  She's old now and very poor, but she still "consults" people who are still close to her.  

Btw, I visited one some years ago, just to try it and my God did she suck.  I even laughed at her a few times because she was so off and so desperate to try to find a line to keep going and try to guess a few things.  Never again. 

they follow a well rehearsed play. Have you ever heard a fortune teller say that you were a lowlife peasant who slaved away in a farm?

Steam/Origin ID: omegaaf
Feel free to add me, just let me know you are from N4G

 

Whoooop I've always been skeptical about psychics, and to be honest, I still am and probably will be forever, yet there's one woman from the Dominican Republic who has always been in contact with my fiancee's family. That woman, who doesn't charge money for her gift, really f*cking predicts stuff.

She must be a BILLIONAIRE! That must be why she does it for free! Not just predicting lottery numbers but what stocks to buy and what products to invest in alone would be ludicrously profitable. Can you please ask her for the NYS lottery numbers for the next 4 years? Or just maybe a few tips on stocks that are going through the roof over, say the next decade. Share it with all of us here on N4G and, I at least, will be happy to donate half my profits to her favorite charity! Unless she can replicate it in a scientifically peer reviewed setting, then it is pure BS. Ever see John Edwards, total FAKE!

thorstein


 

Whoooop I've always been skeptical about psychics, and to be honest, I still am and probably will be forever, yet there's one woman from the Dominican Republic who has always been in contact with my fiancee's family. That woman, who doesn't charge money for her gift, really f*cking predicts stuff.

She must be a BILLIONAIRE! That must be why she does it for free! Not just predicting lottery numbers but what stocks to buy and what products to invest in alone would be ludicrously profitable. Can you please ask her for the NYS lottery numbers for the next 4 years? Or just maybe a few tips on stocks that are going through the roof over, say the next decade. Share it with all of us here on N4G and, I at least, will be happy to donate half my profits to her favorite charity! Unless she can replicate it in a scientifically peer reviewed setting, then it is pure BS. Ever see John Edwards, total FAKE!

She doesn't predict stuff like that.  She has a distorted view of what might have happened, will happen soon or years later on a person's life and she mentions it.  She doesn't really know when or if will happen, but she sure has guessed a LOT of stuff along with names, dates and time.  Anyway, it's not my intention at all to convince you or anybody else about it, so I really don't care if you believe me or not.  ;)

Yes I have, and I was pleasantly surprised. Can I ask if there's a specific reason you're curious?

In general, try to avoid TV psychics, 1-800 psychics, and all of that stuff. Find someone with legitimate reviews, possibly in your area; someone you can go see face-to-face. 

I used to be a little skeptic until I got my first reading. I found a professional psychic and just said what the hell. But as soon as we started, she was right off the bat telling me about all of the things which had been troubling and bothering me. Just small things which a total stranger would never know about a person. And she didn't ask me questions at all, it was just "I see this in your life right now" and "this is what your guides are telling me could help." She also described my father with incredible accuracy. 


So it wasn't about any fortune-telling or predicting the future with crystal balls. Just a normal woman in everyday clothing. It felt more like counseling, a deeply personal experience, but with the added insight of my spirit guides. 

wildcat


Yes I have, and I was pleasantly surprised. Can I ask if there's a specific reason you're curious?

In general, try to avoid TV psychics, 1-800 psychics, and all of that stuff. Find someone with legitimate reviews, possibly in your area; someone you can go see face-to-face. 

I used to be a little skeptic until I got my first reading. I found a professional psychic and just said what the hell. But as soon as we started, she was right off the bat telling me about all of the things which had been troubling and bothering me. Just small things which a total stranger would never know about a person. And she didn't ask me questions at all, it was just "I see this in your life right now" and "this is what your guides are telling me could help." She also described my father with incredible accuracy. 


So it wasn't about any fortune-telling or predicting the future with crystal balls. Just a normal woman in everyday clothing. It felt more like counseling, a deeply personal experience, but with the added insight of my spirit guides. 

Has the experience changed you in any way? Like make you more open minded etc.

What about mesmerism and hypnosis? it's a known fact that humans can temporarily "block" or "induce a shock" in some birds and lizards just by looking at them, in some cases even without touching them, (does not work with big mammals that I know of excepting humans).

Some doctor friend I have told me that this is really murky territory amongst the medical community, but assures me that one person could induce a state of altered conscience in another by following some simple instructions. 
Apparently there's lots of ways too, and some of them require near to zero feedback by the subject, he tells me. 

In any case, he states that even though it has been something scientifically proven, it does not allow the hypnotist to have the miraculous control over the subjects actions and desires we often see in "tricks".   

We can "lock" other people inside their own minds, what does this mean? 
What is the complete cause/effect in this phenomena, and what does that tells us about awareness and subsconscious? Someone had any experience?

wildcat


Yes I have, and I was pleasantly surprised. Can I ask if there's a specific reason you're curious?

In general, try to avoid TV psychics, 1-800 psychics, and all of that stuff. Find someone with legitimate reviews, possibly in your area; someone you can go see face-to-face. 

I used to be a little skeptic until I got my first reading. I found a professional psychic and just said what the hell. But as soon as we started, she was right off the bat telling me about all of the things which had been troubling and bothering me. Just small things which a total stranger would never know about a person. And she didn't ask me questions at all, it was just "I see this in your life right now" and "this is what your guides are telling me could help." She also described my father with incredible accuracy. 


So it wasn't about any fortune-telling or predicting the future with crystal balls. Just a normal woman in everyday clothing. It felt more like counseling, a deeply personal experience, but with the added insight of my spirit guides. 

I think I'd want to have a reading one day. Not as a means to an end, but because I've nothing to lose.

redDevil87

wildcat


Yes I have, and I was pleasantly surprised. Can I ask if there's a specific reason you're curious?

In general, try to avoid TV psychics, 1-800 psychics, and all of that stuff. Find someone with legitimate reviews, possibly in your area; someone you can go see face-to-face. 

I used to be a little skeptic until I got my first reading. I found a professional psychic and just said what the hell. But as soon as we started, she was right off the bat telling me about all of the things which had been troubling and bothering me. Just small things which a total stranger would never know about a person. And she didn't ask me questions at all, it was just "I see this in your life right now" and "this is what your guides are telling me could help." She also described my father with incredible accuracy. 


So it wasn't about any fortune-telling or predicting the future with crystal balls. Just a normal woman in everyday clothing. It felt more like counseling, a deeply personal experience, but with the added insight of my spirit guides. 

Has the experience changed you in any way? Like make you more open minded etc.

 


It was definitely eye-opening. It's fun to just sit and listen to a complete stranger tell you very specific things about yourself. 

I mean, I've always believed in the metaphysical "other side" and in the concept of spirit guides; but to experience it in reality and to have it confirmed was an awesome feeling. It sounds corny, but it made me feel like I'm never truly alone. That even when I'm down or I feel miserable, that there are people, or spirits or whatever, who know what you're going through. I suppose it's made me a more encouraged person. 

MidnytRain
 
I think I'd want to have a reading one day. Not as a means to an end, but because I've nothing to lose. 

 
That's how I felt going in. I had no stake in the outcome, and I've wasted money on worse things...

wildcat

MidnytRain
 
I think I'd want to have a reading one day. Not as a means to an end, but because I've nothing to lose. 

 
That's how I felt going in. I had no stake in the outcome, and I've wasted money on worse things...

Just curious: How much did your reading cost you?

Okay, okay. Who wants a reading and how much are you willing to pay me? And how specific do you want it to be? I'll be happy to do it right here on this forum.

To prove my prowess, I will do a reading of MidnytRain right now, for free. Let's see: You are a young male who is extremely well read. You do well in school but not "too good." Most likely this is because the classes aren't as challenging as you need them to be. You best teachers are the ones that truly make you stretch. MidnytRain likes to play racing games, though this doesn't necessarily translate in wanting to race in NASCAR or more likely the European circuit, he does appreciate the automobile to some degree. Science is of interest to him as he seeks to know more about subjects such as physics. He feels that most people who know him don't know the "real him" that he is inside. Sometimes he is misunderstood even by his own family/ friends. I can predict that he is college bound and though there might be a plan for what he wants his career to be, he will probably switch majors to accommodate another interest. He (and this is not an opinion) is quite intelligent for his age and quite often can determine solutions that many other people don't see. He likes some anime (I am getting that from a deceased male, either a friend or a relative). But he isn't an anime geek (so his friend/ relative says) with posters all over his room. There is a special person that he looks at/ thinks about almost daily. And this person does know he exists though, they may not talk all that often. This person is kind and likeable and not like the other people around this person. Not too far off am I?

Nah I'm not an idiot. 

@thorstein

Yeah, that's a good example of a cold reading: general statements which can pertain to any person. Your comment is funny and true. There ARE scam artists and fakes. But I think they give the people who have the actual capacity a bad name. 

@Midny

I paid $75 for the hour. 

Rage_S90


Nah I'm not an idiot. 

Wrong.

N4G Adventure Part 1 - screw it

 

wildcat @thorstein Yeah, that's a good example of a cold reading: general statements which can pertain to any person. Your comment is funny and true. There ARE scam artists and fakes. But I think they give the people who have the actual capacity a bad name. @Midny I paid $75 for the hour.

Until they can reproduce what they do scientifically in a controlled setting with peer review, then I'm not buying. Are some better than others at duping people? Sure. But, psychics should be millionaires not only for playing the lottery, and gambling, but by playing the stockmarket. These should be the most powerful people in the world because they would be able to know what another nation's leader would do and be able to convey those actions to advisors.... thing is, they can't. Never could, never will.... unless we evolve the abilities to read minds. But predicting the future can't happen as the future doesn't exist. PS Read my sig!

thorstein

 Until they can reproduce what they do scientifically in a controlled setting with peer review, then I'm not buying. Are some better than others at duping people? Sure. But, psychics should be millionaires not only for playing the lottery, and gambling, but by playing the stockmarket. These should be the most powerful people in the world because they would be able to know what another nation's leader would do and be able to convey those actions to advisors.... thing is, they can't. Never could, never will.... unless we evolve the abilities to read minds. But predicting the future can't happen as the future doesn't exist. PS Read my sig!

I'm not sure why you've assumed that psychics would be able to strike big in lottery or stockmarkets. There's a large degree of difference between being able to predict a few events versus being able to predict that results of a complex system such as a lottery machine or the stockmarkets.

As an example, let's consider physics. (because it contains similar letters to 'psychics')
A physicist should just be able to note down the position and geometry of a lottery ball machine and then calculate the result. Even if such a practice was allowed, the answers would come out wrong and their calculations would be no better than a typical guess. Does this mean all of physics is wrong? Well, that's what you seem to be suggesting.

Also, I completely disagree about humans not being able to predict the future. Future events follow a distinct number of laws and science is all about figuring out those laws. If you believe the future can not be predicted, then you also have to believe that there are things which can not be discovered through the scientific method.

Kon

Rage_S90


Nah I'm not an idiot. 

Wrong.

Persona attack, ban him mods!

thorstein

Until they can reproduce what they do scientifically in a controlled setting with peer review, then I'm not buying. 

That has been done. Dr. Gary Schwartz did just that and documented his research and experiments in this book.  

thorstein
 But, psychics should be millionaires not only for playing the lottery, and gambling, but by playing the stockmarket. These should be the most powerful people in the world because they would be able to know what another nation's leader would do and be able to convey those actions to advisors.... thing is, they can't. Never could, never will.... unless we evolve the abilities to read minds. But predicting the future can't happen as the future doesn't exist. 

 

This is where the misunderstanding lies. Mediums and psychics don't possess any supernatural powers. Being psychic is a very human thing. Each one of us has this ability, even you and me, though it's easier for others than some to develop it; like some people have a natural talent to play the piano or guitar. 

Coming from a place of love and compassion, a reading is not about reading the minds of others and manipulating people, it's a direct communication with the other side about issues pertaining to one's own life. I don't even like the word psychic because it's too much associated with predicting the future or predicting world events. In my first hand experience with a medium, she was more concerned about the present. 

thorstein
 PS Read my sig! 

  
I did read your signature, however how much do we actually know of the universe? True, science has liberated us from strict dogmatic beliefs, but still it can only observe a fragment of the universe itself. Science is about catching up to how the world works; measuring and testing hypotheses in order to come to a logical conclusion. But as human beings, we are not merely experiments, we are more or less complete as we are. We have our bodies, our brains and organs, which are measurable and observable. But how about our consciousness? Do we have the ability to record a dream or a thought? It could be our scientific instruments have not caught up with all of our abilities just yet. 

  I am suggesting that physics is wrong? That is a stretch. Verifiable, peer reviewed science? Nope. Predicting a lottery machines outcome with physics? I'm not sure you understand scientific inquiry. If there was a way that it could be done and reproduced, then it would be done. Your claim that it can't doesn't make the physicists wrong in any way shape or form. I am not trying to troll or be mean here, sincerely. Equating hocus pocus and abracadabra to science and the scientific method and tried and true models of it is ludicrous in its very assertions. It isn't because I am wrong about this, it is because you lack (and again I am not trying to troll you) a fundamental understanding of science. That is all that means. I don't think psychics can predict the future, but they claim they can so . . . not sure what the argument here is. Are you claiming psychics don't promise to predict the future? And that is where your argument completely falls apart... with science it is the same out come every single time. With psychics you can state: oh, that one's a fake but this one isn't. And then when that one is tested... fail.

 Gary Schwartz? Seriously, the man "validated" one of the largest scam artists ever in John Edwards. Edwards was shown to be deceiving when he put plants in the line outside of his show! That man is vile: he profits off of others bereavement. That is sick! I don't know what I am doing on this thread anymore, I was trying to help midnyt figure out that these people are shuysters. Nothing I do or say will convince you if you "truly believe." There are people that have a firm belief that an alien names Xenu brought humans to this world.... they are called scientologists. There are those that believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the Invisible Pink Unicorn are the creators of all. Some people even believe an invisible sky zombie created it all. All of these included have no more merit to their argument than psychics. Not a one has been able to reproduce their claims in a controlled setting. To midnyt, shysters they are and shysters they will be, to a one. Don't buy the bull.

thorstein


  I am suggesting that physics is wrong? That is a stretch. Verifiable, peer reviewed science? Nope. Predicting a lottery machines outcome with physics? I'm not sure you understand scientific inquiry. If there was a way that it could be done and reproduced, then it would be done. Your claim that it can't doesn't make the physicists wrong in any way shape or form. I am not trying to troll or be mean here, sincerely. Equating hocus pocus and abracadabra to science and the scientific method and tried and true models of it is ludicrous in its very assertions. It isn't because I am wrong about this, it is because you lack (and again I am not trying to troll you) a fundamental understanding of science. That is all that means. I don't think psychics can predict the future, but they claim they can so . . . not sure what the argument here is. Are you claiming psychics don't promise to predict the future? And that is where your argument completely falls apart... with science it is the same out come every single time. With psychics you can state: oh, that one's a fake but this one isn't. And then when that one is tested... fail.

Well, to be fair, not everything in science can be predicted to have the same outcome every time...

thorstein

I don't enjoy the argument either because people tend to be deeply rooted in their beliefs, like you and me. I know I'm not going to change your mind and I'm not going to try. But I'm offering MidnytRain my personal, first-hand experience with an actual medium as someone who used to be, more or less, as skeptical as you are right now. 

 Science is probably the most useful thing we have to determine actualities of the world we live in, but to rely on the words of others instead of experiencing things for yourself in order to come your own conclusion; that is a shame.

MidnytRain

thorstein


I am suggesting that physics is wrong? That is a stretch. Verifiable, peer reviewed science? Nope. Predicting a lottery machines outcome with physics? I'm not sure you understand scientific inquiry. If there was a way that it could be done and reproduced, then it would be done. Your claim that it can't doesn't make the physicists wrong in any way shape or form. I am not trying to troll or be mean here, sincerely. Equating hocus pocus and abracadabra to science and the scientific method and tried and true models of it is ludicrous in its very assertions. It isn't because I am wrong about this, it is because you lack (and again I am not trying to troll you) a fundamental understanding of science. That is all that means. I don't think psychics can predict the future, but they claim they can so . . . not sure what the argument here is. Are you claiming psychics don't promise to predict the future? And that is where your argument completely falls apart... with science it is the same out come every single time. With psychics you can state: oh, that one's a fake but this one isn't. And then when that one is tested... fail.

Well, to be fair, not everything in science can be predicted to have the same outcome every time...

But that's how science works you know. Something is hypothesized, it doesn't turn out how the hypothesis went so the data is recorded. Rinse repeat until you find it where it consistently happens, then you get a theory and then later on down the line a law.


That's the most barebones stripped down version of the scientific method there is.

ZombieNinjaPanda

MidnytRain

Well, to be fair, not everything in science can be predicted to have the same outcome every time...

But that's how science works you know. Something is hypothesized, it doesn't turn out how the hypothesis went so the data is recorded. Rinse repeat until you find it where it consistently happens, then you get a theory and then later on down the line a law.

That's the most barebones stripped down version of the scientific method there is.

I think Midnyt meant that some theories we have in science do not spit out the same result every single time, but rather it comes in probabilities.

Nuclear decay is once case where we don't exactly know when any single atom will decay, but our predictions become accurate when a large number of atoms are considered.
Same holds true for most of quantum physics, but that's a bigger pain to explain.