to not understand how you can just ‘become’ a psychic

[acquiesce]

OK so I went to school with a girl who I still have on FB. She has always been heavily into MLM, until her most recent one failed and she took herself off social media until yesterday when she posted this message

‘From tomorrow I will be offering psychic readings. I have been practicing on family and friends to gain more confidence and light. Going forward this will be part of my light work and so the price for this will be £10 per reading’

And so many commenters are lapping it up!

She’s so irritating but so fascinating. I don’t know how she makes money from this though, how are people this gullible? And wtf is light work???

I’m clearly doing something wrong working!

Wonderlime "Of course you can. I will make an assumption about someone turning up in Uggs and a Superdry Hoodie. Or someone wearing boho tunic top and big jade necklaces. I can assume someone wearing a wedding ring is married. Someone without a ring but a tan line as recently separated. A cross necklace for spirituality. If tarnished, possible a family heirloom"

but how? one day you might be dressed in the first way, another day, the second way. I wear a ring on my wedding finger quite often - and certainly would if I were going to see a psychic - but I'm not married, to me it's another finger on which I can wear a ring.

cross necklace, bit different. I know lots of people who wear some kind of charm thing but it doesn't mean anything to them, it just looks pretty.

I gave the example of being warmly dressed if I went to see a psychic today. If I visit one after seeing a casual client, I might be in jeans. Ditto might be in a suit after seeing a posh one.

Also, if I am simply wearing a big jumper and leggings what does that tell you about me? Nothing. Or nothing that a psychic could usefully use.

then again, I also take the view that psychics - or those who claim to be - shouldn't ask any questions. Because that would indicate they aren't psychic surely?!

We have 'the gift' in my family . I don't use it. It scares me more than anything.

We have 'the gift' in my family . I don't use it. It scares me more than anything.

user1497863568 Nope, you really don’t.

You should be more scared by your mass family delusions.

user, why does it scare you?

It would sure make my family more interesting (in a good way).

Riverside2 Maybe she’s scared about her family’s welfare that they actually believe in this stuff.

What is "the gift"? Did someone give your family one of those electric tin openers for Christmas? I don't like using them either.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 - I'm curious if you'd make that comment about someone following a religion.

I've got to do some work now so I haven't disappeared, I will be along later.

I was once asked if I had 'the gift' (because of my ethnic origins) I said 'no, is it a new car because I need one ?'

It's all total exploitative bullshit, people preying on vulnerable people.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 - I'm curious if you'd make that comment about someone following a religion.

Riverside2 Of course I would. It is yet again another belief with absolutely no evidence whatsoever.

User - no. No you don’t.

I have a very dear friend who is into all this - she lost several close family members over a short period of time, so now goes to these spiritualist things often. Such a waste of time and money, and bless her she believes it all! She's normally very down to earth and logical but I just 'ok' and 'uhuh' when she talks about it - it's her choice I guess, but then when I hear about her money woes.....

Kurri, hmm, I get all sorts of queries on account of my ethnic origin, I guess it's not known for this!

What - okay, thanks. I often wonder because there's obviously a range of thoughts around and certainly in a workplace, people feel more free to take the mick out of some thing than others.

speaking of workplaces....yes I am really getting back to it

WellThisIsShit How awful for your poor son That horrible woman shouldn't be a nanny. She shouldn't have contact with children. Were you able to complain about her to an agency? Assuming that's how you sourced her? I really think I would want to track her down, give her a piece of my mind and somehow try to make others aware of how very unsuitable she is for that job. Stupid witch.

Riverside2 I think if you’re going to believe in something with no evidence whatsoever, you should be prepared to have the mick taken.

There shouldn’t be as much protection surrounding religion as there is. It should not be something we should tip-toe around; people should be as free to say that believing in a mysterious man in the sky is just as ridiculous as believing some people can tell the future.

Amarriedcatlady, the beauty of science is it’s true whether you believe it or not.

Psychics are dangerous and cruel. It should be banned.

I went to a psychic, desperate to hear from my late mum and dad as I never felt I had closure after their deaths. She got so many things wrong and nothing made sense, but I could tell she was trying to get information out of me and make up some bullshit.

I was at such a low point in my life and came out feeling worse, and used. I paid for a load of crap to be spouted at me.

Can't stand them. Bastards

I did meet one, once. Who was able to tell me something even I didn't know (but sadly later confirmed. ). She has since predicted several things correctly and I met her randomly, always. She'd always say she'd find me if she had a message and always refused money. I asked why and she said it was bad to profit from being able to do it and that if you profit from it you lose your gift... whether it was true or not I don't know but I do know she did predict things she couldn't have possibly known in advance, and was able to tell me other things even I didn't know...

Anyone can become a "pyschic" because it's all bollocks.

No one can foretell your future, neither can they speak to the dead. There is no mystery to this, it's all made up.

Please don't be conned by it.

It is all hooey.

But my sister's friend is a natural at cold reading people; never been trained just a natural ability.

People regularly ask her if she has 'the Gift'; no which she laughs and says 'no I just pay attention'. She could probably con people but she's a good person she just explains how she picked that someone was upset and made an educated guess.

I remember watching a doc a few years where various people went to these charlatans; unknown to both of them the sessions were taped.

When they went back to them the believers that is, 6 months later and asked them how accurate it was; they mis-remembered a lot of what had been said only recalling the vague things like you will go on a trip; a person in your life will make a big change....blah blah which they then twisted to fit with what had happen in their lives.

One that I can remember was a women now pregnant with twins was confident it had been predicted; except all she'd been told was that a new person will come in to your life; is that the babies or the midwife of the people she met in prenatal classes?

It was very interesting; memory is a funny thing. (Wish I could remember what it was called).. . . . . .

I read tarot but I do not claim to be a medium. Tarot is based on intuition and what your subconscious tells you.

That's spooky VileyRose I was just thinking how to explain that as I do Tarot too and am about as psychic as a plank

Viley Ivor

Can you explain how divination using playing cards works? What do the cards 'tell' you?

I think the world would be an immeasurably better place if there was more open criticism of stupid and baseless beliefs whether they’re religion or psychics or fairies.