Do you believe in Mediums?

[Snowballs138]

Some years ago I went (very sceptically) with a friend to see a well renowned Medium. I had waited almost 2 years to see her. I booked the appointment via telephone on a withheld number. I Gave only my first name which isn't unusual and no other information.
As I say, I was a very sceptical and pretty much a non- beleiver, but just went along with a friend to see what it was all about and a giggle. I had previously lost my husband quite young in a very unusual way. The woman seemed to know a lot about this and even specified that it was abroad, an accident and he was surrounded by water, which he was 🤯 she then went on to say he was with her and was trying to tell her a nickname he used to call me so that I would believe he was there. I was completely confused as I couldn't remember any nicknames that he had for me (non to my knowledge). So this is where I had her, or so I thought! I said no, there has never been a nickname. He never called me anything other than my Christian name. She then said she would give me the first letter of the nickname. I just looked at her blankly and said no. She then shot out the nickname and I was completely and utterly blindsided. It was a ridiculous name. I won't say it on here because it's embarrassing and silly 🤣 but it's something in humour that he used to call me when it was just the two of us (and very unusual/not guessable for her AT ALL). I had totally and utterly forgotten about it. So how could she have known this if even I had forgotten and absolutely nobody else knew? I've never to this day been able to understand how she could know. She also went on to say several other things were that were outstandingly accurate and things that nobody else could possibly have known, for example I was in the middle of a private dental claim which she said was legal (I was) and that I would receive a substantial payout very soon (I did). She told my friend she was pregnant (she was, 6 weeks, but had told nobody bar her DH) This one visit to this Medium changed my entire belief system regarding mediums and the spirit world which I never thought would be possible. Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Yes. I've come across many claiming to have the gift of 'mediumship' and were so vague with their readings that it was ridiculous (either rubbish ((being polite here!)) or fake or deluded) but I have also met some genuine ones who are exceptionally gifted and I have one who is a friend.

Visit a Spiritualist Church and go to a couple of the services. The church will normally only bring in reputable Mediums for their services (unless it's a fledgling night with new Mediums, or those that are in training). It's not in the interest of a Spiritualist Church to have rubbish Mediums at their services as it would damage their reputation. Take tissues as sometimes the services can be very emotional. Try a couple of services before reaching a decision. Unlike a normal 1-2-1 reading, you are only paying a donation or very small amount at the church service, so the Medium will attempt to read for the whole congregation (if there is time).

Mumsnet is not the best place to ask this you’ll get very negative responses here .

At best they can offer comfort to the bereaved and at worst they can do an awful lot of damage. Absolute shithousery either way.

Mumsnet is not the best place to ask this as lots of us don't buy into lies that rinse people of their money taking advantage of their grief and loss and we frown on those who do.
Fixed it for you. HTH.

If you have to surround yourself with believers to believe something, it's not a belief, it's a cult or a scam. If your belief doesn't stand up in front of critical thinking and pertinent questions, it's not a belief, it's a delusion.

Well, I once walked into the house of a couple I had met for the first time that evening, and one of them raced to hide away a Valentine card on the mantelpiece. I said jokingly 'You don't want me seeing that one of you calls the other Snugglecheeks!' (or something like that can't remember, it was a randomly-invented silly/embarrassing nickname I just pulled out of the air, having only just met these people). They both went scarlet -- I had somehow hit upon the actual embarrassing nickname.

I am not psychic. This was pure coincidence.

Also, can I suggest that you are not as sceptical as you believe you are if you had in fact 'waited two years' to see this medium?

I went to a tarot reading many years ago. Just one you turn up and wait your turn. Stood outside alone waiting then went in and was told only say yes or no. She wanted no information from me. Was only young girl early 20’s. Wasn’t really expecting much from it. Told me my DH name which is an unusual name. Named my nephew who had just had an accident and told me about the accident. Told me I was pregnant with a girl. I was around 8 weeks and hadn’t even taken a test yet and it was a girl. An invitation to a wedding from someone that had always said they would never get married. A payout from DH work that wasn’t even in motion at that time. Company was bought out two months later and he received a good payout. There’s no way she could have known anything about me. I had never been anywhere near her and neither had anyone I knew. I just came upon her by chance at a market and thought why not.

No. They are total con merchants.

Yes, I believe in mediums. They are con artists who prey on vulnerable people.

Cash on the day

I think it is pure bollocks but that's just my personal belief.

You are incorrect.
I booked via phone 2 years prior and paid on the day. She is very reputable.
You can put the laugh emoji on you're response all day long, but this is exactly what happened, I have absolutely no reason to make this up.

I went to a medium who told me that I was going to do a lot of travelling over the next 12 months. That was in February 2020. She couldn't have been more wrong.

If these people were so good at forecasting, why can't they warn us about things like the pandemic and other major disasters?

This is the thing. Obviously most on here see them as con artists, and I'm pretty sure many are, but when you've had an experience like ours, it does make you question whether there is something there. I'm on the fence, but still can't explain how she would know all the things she told me which were incredibly private and accurate.

Look up cold reading. Mediums talent is reading people and looking for cues. It's easy to do, believe me

We only really booked it as a bit of fun and I'd never seen one and was open minded (albeit sceptical)
The nickname my DH had was beyond anything anyone could really guess- very obscure - and so this is what has always baffled me.

Snowballs138 that’s exactly what I felt. There is no way of explaining it. Was before mobile phones and social media so couldn’t have had someone looking me up while I was waiting. Completely blew me away. Have been to a few others and not been very impressed. Could tell they were cold reading me but this girl was so spot on it.

Yes there are legitimate ones who do have some contact with the devils to aquire such information . They do some pretty messed up stuff in order to obtain SOME information. But it is 1 part truth and 10 lies. But majority are fakes.

They can read you cold and also find out info on SM or just googling your name.

I have also had a very powerful experience with a medium who told me the nam of my deceased sister and my living brother. There is no way that she could have acquired this information from cold reading or anything else. I paid £25 on the day and she held my hand throught the reading. She looked pained, drained and exhausted from it. I do not care what anyone on here thinks, to me she connected with something very profound to convey this information to me.

Not true for me, I paid in cash and there are no details about my sister's death or her connection to me on any social media platform.

I visited a medium many years ago. As the session was coming to the end, she said "This isn't something I usually do but the person coming forward is very persistent and needs you to pass a message on. He is saying that the message is for someone that sits near to you at work". She then proceeded to give me a name and details of his passing along with the message.

There was nothing to link me to this colleague or the person that had passed. I tracked down the person that the message was intended for and passed it on - treading carefully as I did not know how it would be taken. I have never seen the colour drain from someones face so quickly. They believed in what I said as the details given were accurate.

I have something that is sort of the other way round:
Years ago, I agreed to be a “fortune teller” at a village fund raising fete. (This was my friend's village, not mine, so no one knew me)
My friend was taking the money and ushering the clients in to my dim, dressed up tent. She would whisper things like “divorced, two kids” and leave me to it.
I was a complete fake and it was easy to go on from there.
They all went out saying “isn't she good”, etc.
However after a while my friend got bored and buggered off to the beer tent, leaving me absolutely stranded.
So I began telling them the first things that came into my head, no matter how outlandish, as I thought it would at least be entertainment value, even if I said someone's uncle had been a circus acrobat, or whatever.
I got hit after hit and they still carried on telling the waiting queue how good it was.
It was a laugh and also very strange.

The thing is-nobody on here can tell you exactly how the medium knew what they told you. There are loads of different ways. I really suggest you have a look at some of Derren Brown's videos. He can do all of this and more-and tells you how. It's fascinating.

Contact with the devils? What on earth are you talking about?

It's bollocks. Exploitative bollocks, too.