Your psychic encounters....

[Lizzer]

Ok, not a deadly serious one but I am in really interested in people's brushes with fate, meetings with mediums, palm readings, tarot card predictions etc...
I am really considering getting an reading done myself soon. I have had a quick one done before and it has turned out pretty correct. I talked to my friend about it and she says she prefers not to know, anyone think like that or thinks it's a load of bull? Anyone been conned completely or amazed at their's??

Incidently, anyone have the Living channel and watched 'crossing over with John Edwards'? I was fascinated when I watched it at a friend's house recently - but then it's only (american) TV and could be utter rubbish...

I love John Edward and watch everyday. I totally believe in everything he does and could tell you loads of stories if you had a few hours about my sister who is able to do the same as him. My whole family are believers of this sort of thing and my nana was extremely accurate, if she told you not to go somewhere you didnt. She also, from day one, knew that I was having a boy. Now youve got me going Ill be here all day. Im going to put my washing on, John Edward is on in 15 mins.

Oh fantastic Joe, I've got as long as you can type for....honestly! It's a weird thing though isn't it, I sometimes get very, very weak links to things, like feelings, but they are so un-trained and I'm sure it happens to most people, just some can tune into them better and some choose to ignore them. I suppose sceptics (sp?) just put it down to co-incidence...

Ok Lizzer, havnt got time now as Im going to have an early night, just popped on here between jobs and hubby using internet for terrorist stuff after the happenings in America today (to do with his job) but I promise I will try and type out a couple of stories tomorrow. We dont often talk about it because so many people dont believe or think you make it up.

I went for lunch on my birthday 6th August, we ordered from a self service buffet and the bill came to £19.67. The year I was born! Coincidence I know.

The rest I don't believe in I'm afraid. There are too many so called 'psychics' out there fleecing emotional people of their money. Most people visit a psychic after some sort of emotional upheaval, be it a death or relationship problem. It can't be too difficult to find out which one by asking the right questions. R.

I had a friend who wasnt really convinced by it all, but went to see a medium/healer for several sessions.

Very spooky, got family names spot on, described the dog who apparently was in the room (in spirit!) and described family jewellery and paintings. Incredibly detailed and accurate bizarre information that under no circumstances would she ever have known.

Since then it has always made me wonder ...

Cant wait to hear from you tomorrow Joe!

Rhiannon I was born 1967, whens your birthday.

I'm going with a friend of mine to a meeting where there will be a medium passing on messages on Saturday so I'll let you know how I go! As just about all of my family have 'passed over' I should be a pretty good candidate for a message! I love John Edwards and watch it whenever I can. I'm quite a believer in alternative things anyway and have always wanted to go to a medium, but somehow never went. I'm a sceptical believer if that is possible! What I mean is that intellectually I'm sure that some of John Edwards has to be a scam, but my heart wants to believe!

Oh Lordy! I have enough trouble with my "psychic" in-laws. Thought I could rely on mumsnet to eschew such stuff...Still, have never seen 'crossing over with John Edwards'- is he enough to convert a sceptic on the spot?

My MIL is a spiritualist and does healing with her hands. She believes she has been reincarnated etc. She doesn't tell fortunes or anything like that, though. My DH refers to her as the Crazy Lady!!

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Hi, just a quick one to start. My mum goes to spiritulist church. My grandad (my dads dad) had just died and my dad was trying to sort out his affairs with his sisters. He was having a real problem as they live in Australia, as did my grandad. They had already gone against my grandads wishes with personal effects so my dad knew it all wouldnt go smoothly. My mum went to church as normal and my grandad came through regularly to my mum telling her what to watch out for with my dads sisters. They were abit amazed when my dad used to ring, already one step ahead.
My mum and dad have a canal narrow boat and we bought them a small Rosie and Jim on their narrow boat for Christmas. It sits on a shelf on the boat and Rosie and Jim are regularly swopped around. My sister took one of her friends with her to the boat recently, her and her boyfriend went to the pub leaving him on the boat. When they returned he thought they had come back ages ago as he had seen someone walking down the stairs (he had gone to bed). We believe this to be my grandad from Austrialia, he had always wanted to come back home but was worried about flying and the boat is named after him.
I can do more later if you want more.

Joe, my birthday is on the posting!

Cool guys, keep 'em coming, I'm intrigued although worried about Robinw's msg - I really want to know how to choose a genuine person...

Also, has anyone paid for one over the phone (as advertised in the back pages of the glossies)?

Lizzer, DONT even think about it!

Oh yeah, I was tired. You are a few weeks older than me then.
I went to someone who said he could tell my future, was recommended by lots of people who had been to him. He told me I would have twins and I would win the lottery, neither have happened yet. Cant remenber much else. He told my ex husband that we were not compatible, how right he was there and so glad Im not with him anymore and am with my very lovely toy boy. I have not been to him since, I dont need to I am too happy. Just going to go and watch John Edward.

I really do think that there are some awful charlatans out there, both in the spiritualist and alternative therapy field.
An old friend of mine, living in a distant town, was in the clutches of a real horror. She had broken up with her partner and was bringing up her two boys single-handed, as well as living miles away from any family. She had always been interested in alternative therapy and, feeling depressed and in need of support, started to see a therapist. Nothing wrong in that, of course.

Unfortunately my friend was unlucky. The therapist began to befriend her, and the line betwen friendly chats and therapy quickly blurred. My friend would ring her therapist for a quick hello, the therapist would express some friendly concern and ask her if she'd like to pop round for a quick coffee. My friend would happily accept the invitation, making it clear that she didn't want a proper 'session'. However, once they were together, the therapist would persuade my friend that she really needed treatment right there and then - chrystals etc, and at the end of her visit the therapist would present her with a bill. Often my friend was completely unaware that she was going to be charged, having not agreed to any therapy.

When the therapist wasn't running this little scam, she used to persuade my friend to sell ornaments and furniture to her or her friends for peanuts, to cover the therapy bills.

My friend was not rich, and as more and more of her money went to fund her therapy, she became so seriously broke she was not buying sufficient food for herself or her sons.

My friend used to ring me up with the most awful tales of this therapist, and whenever I drove the 200 miles to visit, I could see for myself that something was very wrong. She used to feel so angry with the situation, yet she couldn't bear to get her out of her life. The therapist had made her feel so dependent on the treatment she offered. She also ensured my friend's social circle totally revolved around her and the 'special' friends she introduced her to. She advised my friend to have no contact with the rest of her family or old friends because their influence was 'so damaging'.

It took a huge personal crisis before my friend could rid herself of this person. My friend's sister paid the therapist a visit, primed with knowledge that she was already known to the police, but there was not enough hard evidence to merit a conviction. The therapist was unbelievably cynical about my friend's dependency on her, and accepted no blame for it whatsoever.

My MIL bought a 'make it yourself' china doll shortly after DH & i married, 14 years ago. She intended to make it as a gift for her first grandchild, but didn't say anything about it as we had had words about no grandkids for a long time yet. Having completely forgot about it, she found it in the loft last year, and discovered it was the same name as her first grandchild, not a usual one either!
Also, the same dd seems to know what I'm thinking half the time. I was watching from an upstairs room at the leisure centre last year, as she did her gym class. She was walking along a plank with her back to me. The lady next to me asked which one was mine and I pointed her out, at which point she turned and waved. I put it down to coincidence until we were in the car going home & she said 'mum, why did you shout me in class?' - the room we were in was on a different floor and fully glassed in - she couldn't have heard even if I did shout. How weird is that!

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Thanks Robinw and Ems - don't worry I'm not about to part with my £30 that easily. I don't actually have that cash to throw around so I was thinking of asking for it for Christmas or birthday present (assuming of course I don't need any Clinique products - I know my priorites, girls!!)
I think there is a spirtiualist church nearby but I'd be pretty scared to investigate I need someone to go with, may start harrassing friends soon! I know of one really good guy in Preston, where I used to live, but it's a trip up the motorway so that bumps the price up even more - still if I could combine it with a visit to friends and xmas shopping it might be worth it....!

My friend has these really strange dreams and also is really 'intouch' with things eg we always end up saying the same things at the same time and just when I'm thinking of phoning her she'll send a text message etc... But the dreams she has are really strange, they always appear in black and white and she always tells someone about them the next morning incase something happens and she can't be accused of making it up. Her most recent one is a bit scary, she had a dream that she was driving in a car and suddenly the car went out of control and headed towards a tree, then suddenly she got a searing pain in her chest that woke her up. She sat bolt upright in bed and calmed down before going back to sleep. In the morning she told her Mum about what had happened and went to work as usual. That evening at work she got a phonecall from her Mum saying her brother had been in a car crash! He was taken to hospital but escaped with only cuts and bruises but was so lucky as apparently if the car had been heading slightly to the left the TREE in front would have hit him head on and he would have been killed instantly. My friend talked to him the next day and he described what had happened to her, he said the car had just totally flipped out of control on a corner and he saw the tree heading toward him then at the very last second the car veered off and the tree smacked into the passenger sidebut with the impact the steering wheel turned on it's side, smacked him hard in the chest and winded him! She is a very trustworthy friend and I do not believe she would make this up as she's been having these dreams for years. She has also had an amazingly lucky escape from things, uncluding ferry disaster and a kidnapping! I'm convinced she has some kind of gift but she is half perplexed and half scared of it, I think...

Lizzer, I believe we all have these abilities, just that some are able to tune in more than others. I also believe that imaginary friends are people we have lost that are always around us. My sisters imaginary friend told her that our nan had died in Australia. We were only young and my mum had not yet told us and had not talked obout it at any time in front of us. My sister has the same dreams as your friend and feelings during the day. She phoned me a few years ago to ask if I knew anybody with blonde hair who might go out on the road on a bike. I didnt and didnt think anymore of it, until a bloke I worked with told us that his friend had just died. He was riding his motorbike, hit a lampost and his helmet fell off and had died, he had blonde hair. This young mans wife now sees him on a regular basis as he visits her to make sure she is ok.

Be careful Lizzer - anyone can set up as a medium, palm reader etc.
I have to admit to being a total sceptic, I don't believe horoscopes, predictions etc. Most people who do predictions make so many and tend to vagueness so that eventually some of it is bound to be true.
I often worry that people who have had readings, then tend to make attempts to fulfill the futures that they were told. I had a good friend who went to a palmist who told her that true love lay ahead with a dark haired professional gentlemen, so those were the only blokes she would look at after that.
Someone else suggested that alot of these people are very skilled readers of body language, appearance etc. They will look at hair styles, make up, clothing and read alot about a person from that. There have been television programmes exposing how fraudulent some of these people are by sending in people in different clothing and make-up.
I am not saying that there aren't some people who are particularly perceptive but I think they are probably very few and far between.
Lizzer, why do you want a reading done anyway?

Ages ago, I read a great article about spiritualists in Marie Claire. A sceptical journalist went to four highly regarded spiritualists in the same week, asked them the same question (forgotten what it was) about a deceased loved one. Being a journalist, she was highly aware of interview technique, and was careful to give few clues about herself when asked questions. The accuracy of the readings varied widely. Two of the four gave her some generally encouraging answers about her future, but the insights into her past were wildly inaccurate. The other two gave her some accurate descriptions about her past, one in such close personal detail that the journalist was awestruck.

I am a bit of a sceptic, too. Because most advertised spiritualists charge for their services, how can you easily compare the advice you get? You are hardly likely to go to lots in one week. I can accept that some people, sometimes may be able to 'see' things. I can't so easily believe someone can to this to order.

Perhaps it boils down to being with the right person, at the right time, in the right place. You pay your money and you take your chance.

PS, I definitely believe some people - strangers you meet in passing, a chance conversation - can unwittingly convey a message to you that carries great significance shortly after when you are faced with the unexpected. This has happened to me several times in my life. Coincidence or not, I don't know.