What makes a psychic, medium or clairvoyant worthy of my faith or belief?  And how can I differentiate between a reader who is best used purely for entertainment, versus a genuine and gifted intuitive I can really trust?

For those of us who take our psychic readings seriously, or who need genuine guidance, advice or input before making a critical life decision, the truth is, separating out fact from fiction in the psychic reading universe is pretty darn important.  The good news?  There are a wide variety of trustworthy psychics available online or off, and learning to distinguish between the 2 is quite easy to do.

My best advice for those just getting started on the psychic path?  (or are getting your first reading and don’t know where to begin)

• Stick with psychics who have a long history of service, are well rated and reviewed, offer outstanding customer service protections (i.e. – 100% money back guarantees and great rates for first time callers or clients) and quite simply LOOK legitimate to boot!  (as some of the services you really should avoid LOOK so darn cheesy and unprofessional that you’ll know they aren’t trustworthy straight out of the gate)
• Remember that real psychics, and the ones that you should feel comfortable trusting have fans!  One of the biggest “secrets” to picking a legitimate reader is that the only real way to do readings professionally is to have a dedicated and loyal client and caller base.  Much like an attorney, or a doctor or any other speciality professional……if your only clients are those who come in ONCE and never return, you are not going to be able to stay in “business” for long!

With this in mind, the genuinely good readers are those that earn the trust of their callers and  clients, and often, as is true in my case, have relationships with those clients for many months, years and even, in some extreme cases, a lifetime as well!  (I have a friend whose grandmother has used the same psychic for close to 40 years….and makes NO big life decision without calling her first, a true testament to trust!)

Not sure if you need a medium, or a clairvoyant, or an energy healer, or a love psychic or just a good old fashioned LIFE psychic session?

The truth is, there are lots of different types of psychics to choose from, and while most people overlook this step, it IS important to make sure you pick the right type of reader for your situation, especially if you are interested in more than a light reading for entertainment purposes alone.

For example?  You do NOT want to call a medium when your interest is about your career.  Or, calling a love psychic to re-connect with a loved one who has passed over is also not such a great investment of your time, energy or income!  Learning what types of readers to what types of readings is pretty basic, but it’s pretty important none the less.

In general, here are the broad overview of the TYPES of psychics, and the kinds of readings they provide:

1. Love and relationships psychics (very general, the most common, and popular type of reading there is)
2. Mediums and spiritual psychics (most closely associated with spirit communication, there are a whole subset of these types of readers as well – mental mediums, physical mediums, voice mediums, etc…although by FAR, the most common are mental mediums, like the ones we see on TV)
3. Psychic Detectives (folks who do most of their work on crime and missing people cases, most often, they are mediums, or specialize in reading the energy of objects associated with a victim, missing person or potential “perp”, often called psychometry)
4. Tarot Readers – (One of the most common types of psychic readings as well, believe it or not, the tarot can be learned by just about anyone…..and while many tarot readers are excellent intuitives, in my experience, this is a much more symbolic and interpretive art, rather than a natural intuitive gift like most)
5. Astrological and Horoscope readers (again, very common and VERY powerful, especially if you find someone who is genuinely good!  I’ve had AMAZING experiences with astrological readings by phone and in person alike, and this can truly be a most memorable experience, especially if you have lots of detail about EXACTLY when you were born, and speak to someone with lots of intuitive skill to boot!)

My recommendation?

Take a few minutes to look over a psychic websites listings of services, and the specialties each reader is “known” for before calling.  Never be embarrassed to hang up the phone in the event that what a reader does is NOT amenable to your needs, wants or wishes.  (and simply move on to one who IS, most legitimate psychic services have a no penalty allowance for changing your mind about a specific psychic who is NOT working well for you, even if you’ve already paid)

In other words?  Do at least a few minutes of due diligence before you speak to a psychic..:-)  I also recommend writing down your most PRESSING questions up front, so you can get some key answers right away, rather than waiting for 10 or 15 minutes to find out the reader you are speaking to doesn’t “do” the types of readings you are looking for!  And lastly…..ENJOY yourself and have fun!  A great psychic reading can change your life, give you help, hope and an amazing story to share with your friends to boot!

Are psychic mediums “born that way” or can anyone develop the ability to communicate with the dead?  Is mediumship a gift, or is it a skill that can be honed with practice?  And is it a good idea to even WANT to speak to spirits, or it is more of responsibility than a real reward?  In this article we are going to take a quick and insightful look at how mediums work, and whether or not ANYONE can develop the psychic skill that makes spirit communication possible.  Curious to know more?  Continue reading as we take a closer look below!

Filed Under:  Psychic From Birth?

This is a pretty controversial question, even amongst those who are true blue believers in the magic and mystery of psychic mediumship.  Some mediums truly believe that you MUST be born with this gift to be considered an authentic medium.  Others are convinced that EVERYONE has the innate ability to speak to spirits, and to gain and glean information from the “universe” that most folks can’t see or sense.  And others believe that LIFE circumstances can trigger or unlock this innate ability, and allow “normal” people to become SUDDENLY psychic, without any previous paranormal history at all.

Filed Under:  Psychic Science

The fact is, in my research anyway, there is a good amount of truth in ALL of the above.  Some of the very best psychic mediums started seeing and speaking to spirits from a very young age…..with much of this manifesting between the ages of 5 or 6 forward.  (at about the age that most kids start having imaginary friends……only in their case, they aren’t imaginary at all!)

In other cases, losing a loved one can trigger the ability to see and speak to spirits as well, as up to 50% of spouses who lose their partner will report an experience like this, and up to 80% of parents who lose a child will have a similar “psychic” encounter, often called an after death experience.  (ADC)

The REALLY amazing thing?

It seems like normal, ordinary people can develop genuine psychic abilities with practice.  Meditation, yoga, prayer and even speaking to other psychics on a regular basis can be a trigger for having incredible spiritual transformations that defy scientific explanation.  Did you know that people who have near death experiences, for example, are well known to come “back” far more psychic than before they “died”?  It’s not only 100% true….its’ something that’s being studied right now, in 2011, by many leading hospitals and universities who are actively researching the after affects of a NDE.  (as up to HALF of all Near Death Experience Survivors report being able to communicate with loved ones who have passed on AFTER they come back!)

My own feeling?

I used to be a die hard skeptic. (no pun intended!)  But after having a genuine encounter with someone who died MANY miles away from my home…..at the very moment of his sudden, and unexpected passing, I’ve dedicated myself to studying the psychic connection between us all.  I’m now convinced that some psychics ARE in fact super special, and have the ability to see, sense and feel things that most of us never will.  (sort of like psychic “superstars” that may be born with the gift) I’m ALSO convinced that anyone can become more psychic with practice, and I know from first hand experience that ALL of us CAN speak to the so called “dead” with practice as well……and regardless of how skeptical you may be today, when it happens to you, you’ll know it’s true!

Have you been brainwashed into believing that you’ve got to spend a ton of money to get a genuine reading?  Do you believe that you’ve got to see a celebrity psychic or medium to get genuine information from your past, future or the other side?

Are you desperate for some great guidance or spiritual life advice…..but simply don’t know where to turn to get it?  If you are anything like the vast majority of people who crave more meaning and magic in our lives, but DON’T have a bunch of extra cash laying around to invest in expensive intuitives or enlightening advice, you probably think it’s simply NOT an option, right?

Believe it or not…..nothing can be further from the truth, as you truly CAN get serious and insightful intuitive and enlightening life advice from SERIOUS psychics, mediums, empaths and clairvoyants, without even needing to leave the comfort of your couch!

The EASIEST way to get an inexpensive psychic reading?

I may be a bit biased…..but it’s definitely by phone!  There are literally over a hundred different telephone psychic services which are available to people from one side of the world to the other, and most offer competitive rates that will surprise you if you think that all readers are expensive.

Are all psychic services created equal?

Absolutely not.  The only downside to this approach is that most psychic services are simply NOT quite as good as the sort of readers you’ll find on TV, or celebrity psychics you’ll read about in the news, or see advertised in premium places.  The GOOD news is that there ARE a handful of select services which are literally mind blowing accurate, and in my experience, those are often the exact services which offer trial or test psychic sessions for as little as $10.  (because they are convinced that they’ll impress you when you call…..and that you’ll become a customer,client or caller for LIFE once you do!)

The bottom line?  

A good psychic reading does NOT need to be expensive.  It DOES need to be fun, and GOOD and informative….and if you follow the simple steps above, you’ll find the ones WE use always are!  (and so too will yours as a result)

Or…..maybe you are wondering what percentage of online psychic readings are real?  Are most phone psychic networks a scam, or are some the real deal?  And what is the QUICKEST way to get a legitimate psychic reading, without spending a fortune, traveling a great distance or having to weeks weeks,months or even years for a celebrity reader?

If you are anything like I once was, the simple truth is that you probably think that the ONLY psychics that are legitimate are those that are famous, well known or have some name recognition.  The truth is, it took me a number of disappointing experiences, including one VERY costly one, to realize that just because a psychic, clairvoyant or medium was a FAMOUS, didn’t mean that they were going to be accurate.  (or honest….but that’s a different story for a different time!)

I’ve found that you can get an amazing reading online, or by phone, for a fraction of a price, and NOT have to risk a dime to make it happen.

Let me explain…..

Networks like California Psychics offer 100% money back guarantees that if you DON’T find your reading is the very BEST you’ve ever had, they’ll give you your money back right away.  (or give you a replacement reading at no charge until you ARE "wowed" as well)

The fact is, you’ll never find an offline psychic, or local medium who will offer the same guarantees.

At best, you’ll be able to get an apology, and maybe a free follow up.  But in my 20 years of researching and writing about psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, intuitives and the wild and wonderful world of paranormal abilities, I’ve yet to have an OFFLINE reader offer me a refund after more than 10 or 20 minutes of their time. 

Contrast that to the ONLINE world of phone psychics, and if you know where to go, getting a GUARANTEE is part of the promise!  (and I’ve actually had readers say to me halfway through…..I’m not comfortable that this is going well for you, would you like to end this now and try a NEW reader with the same guarantee?")

At the end of the day, the internet has blown the doors off of the psychic reading industry.  Extraordinary readers are now available to ordinary folks who don’t have the big bucks to see a celebrity psychic, and I say that’s a very GOOD thing for all!

Do they really see and speak to spirits, or is that all just New Age nonsense?  And if they aren’t really real…..and can’t really communicate with the spirit world, why do so many people still believe that they really are?  (After all…….there can’t be THAT many gullible people in the world, right?)

The truth is, if you’ve done any real research at all on psychic mediumship, the one key takeaway that’s impossible to ignore is the incredible body of evidence that appears to support the idea that SOME mediums are getting information that can’t be explained away as guessing, cold reading, fraud or even ESP.  (believe it or not, some skeptics are now trying to argue that Extra Sensory Perception is how many mediums get their information, rather than communicating with spirits…..which is a pretty incredible acknowledgement in of itself!)

1 – They aren’t guessing, or grabbing at names and initials.  A good medium will come out DIRECTLY and offer you specific information that isn’t the product of leading  questions or cold reading

2 – A good medium will tell you accurate, verifiable and evidential FACTS that even YOU didn’t know.  (this is another validation that tends to discount the idea of mind reading as an explanation of how a medium works….as if you don’t have the information in your "head" already, a medium can’t pick it up by reading your thoughts!)

2 – A good medium gives you HOPE, and inspiration and proof  that life continues on after physical death.  The best medium readings I have had offered me more REAL evidence of an afterlife, than 35 years of religious blind faith ever could.  (even though I STILL trust in and appreciate my religious upbringing, I’m much more likely to count the authentic experiences I’ve had with psychics and mediums as the best personal proof that there  is a soul, and a spirit  and that we continue on after this life ends)

Are there plenty of mediums who are making it up, guessing or just plain wrong?  Of course.  But regardless of what the cynics, skeptics and debunkers will tell you, a good medium reading CAN change your life, and make the "impossible" come alive as well!  (that’s exactly what happened to me….and my hope is, the very same exciting journey for you!)

Is seeing a psychic face to face BETTER than calling one on the phone?  Or does it NOT really matter what "medium" the reading is in……as long as the READER is good?

My experience with psychics, over the course of 20 years is pretty simple:

An excellent intuitive works well on the phone, or in person……..equally as well.

And a substandard psychic gives shitty readings regardless of the setting or circumstance.  (I’ve never seen a psychic work well in  person but NOT on the phone, or visa versa – a good psychic is a good psychic…….PERIOD!)

Which online psychic networks do we recommend?

I’ve used, and had great experiences with both Psychic Source, the California Psychic Network, AND some smaller networks as well.  (we are also active affiliates for each)

I’ve had NOT so great readings with about 10 other psychic services…….which I won’t mention here.  (and wouldn’t recommend)

The truth is, you’ve got to form your OWN opinion, and have your own experiences to truly find a reader who has the most rapport, and most compatability with you!  Set aside a small budget of 20 or 30 dollars, throw caution to the wind and simply try the BEST intuitives available, either from our recommended networks, or find your own.  

(but don’t waste a ton of time searching for the "perfect" psychic…..he or she won’t exist UNTIL you have a personal reading that proves they’re perfect for YOU..:-)

Psychic Source offers $10 dollar readings for skeptics…..with a 100% money back guarantee if you aren’t impressed!

Are clairvoyants religious by nature…..or are they more new age in terms of what they believe?

What DO mediums believe about god anyway? And most important, does any of that even matter..:-)? It amazes me how many people are "hung up" on the idea of religious beliefs, and how they intersect with psychic readings. From where I stand…..it matters NOT what a medium believes, and instead…..matters MORE what YOU believe!

Here is what I’ve discovered is MOST important:

A good psychic medium has a unique gift that can help clarify and crystalize your OWN belief system, without infringing on your religious, moral or general convictions. I’ve had a medium for example, give me a mind blowing reading about a loved one who has "crossed over", with specific details, names, dates and even "insider information" that there was absolutely NO way they could have known about me, and this relationship…….PERIOD.

Yet……

Throughout the reading, the medium made religious references that totally did NOT apply to my particular belief system. Now, I ask YOU, does that lessen, or negate, or compromise the information that came through from my loved one…..using this medium as the vehicle for him to communicate with me?

I sincerely do NOT believe it does.

What it means is that this medium, like all others, used the symbols and language she was most comfortable with when offering up information to me. And in her world, her "God" happens to be a bit different than mine! It’s important to remember that all psychics are human, and no matter how gifted, how special and how talented, we all process information from the perspective of our personality, which is shaped by our life experience.

(and that includes in large part what we were taught as children….and for MANY of us, a big part of that is where our religious beliefs emanate)

The fact is, some of the MOST famous, and most well established mediums have very different religious convictions than I do. But that doesn’t, nor should it lessen the quality of the information that comes through during a reading. If you allow it to, you confuse the MESSAGE with the messenger, which when it comes to psychic readings are 2 very different things..:-)

Do we need to turn to religion, or our Churches, Temples and Mosques to find evidence that the human personalityhas a soul or spiritual basis?  Is there good supporting scientific evidence that we have a spiritual center…..or is MATERIALISM, or the idea that our existence is all biology and random the order of the day?  In this article we are going to take a quick and insightful look at some of most compelling evidence I believe pointsto the notion that we are eternal and timeless beings, and not here for a finite period of time only to be forgotten forever, when we’re gone.

Here is a list of psychic experiences, events or ideas that have permanently colored my view on not only the afterlife, but what is possible to achieve in THIS life
as well!

1 – Evidence for Reincarnation is REAL and plentiful, and not of the silly variety that so many people want to call real research.  As a matter of fact, Dr. Ian
Stevenson wrote a book 30 years ago called "20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" that was cited not only in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, but
was also called out by Carl Sagan, the famous scientist and astronomer, as some of the most compelling evidence for a soul that survives physical death we have. 
(Sagan was a well known skeptic on all things paranormal….but found and credited this book, and others by Stevenson as amongst the most credible and serious work
on "spirit" he had come across)  Even famous skeptic Sam Harris used the writings of Stevenson on children who remembered detailed past lives as some of the very BEST
evidence there was for a "soul".  (although again, he stopped short of acknowledging he believes in one)

2 – Serious studies on psychic mediumship

Work done on and with famous mediums like Leonora Piper, Eileen Garret and others of similar gifts has provided an incredible body of proof that suggests that not only do we have a
soul, it actually "SURVIVES" the death of the physical body as well.  The 2 mediums above were studied rigorously by all sorts of serious scientists, and most
came away with a FIRM belief that what they were able to offer, in terms of information about deceased people, was NOT explainable through conventional means.  As a matter
of fact, much of this research continues to this very day….with mediums who are completely "blind", working on the telephone or from thousands of miles away, giving
accurate information to people they’ve never met, purportedly from discarnate personalities of deceased people.  (most commonly, the relatives, friends and family of those that are
being read)

The truth is, EVEN if the 2 examples above were all there were, I’d be able to find an explanation that wasn’t "supernatural".

But there are so many other psychic abilities, powers and experiences that are so incredible, they ALL point in one direction – the existence of a soul that survives
death.

• Out of body experiences
• Astral travel
• Apparitions, and after death communications
• dowsing
• esp, telepathy and clairvoyance
• amazing syncronicities that defy chance or luck

It’s an exciting and amazing world….and opening yourself up to the idea that there is much MORE to the universe than what we see, CAN (and will) change your life
forever!

In my 20 years of experience, researching and writing about psychic phenomena, I’ve had some AMAZING readings. Many were so eye opening and difficult to explain, they literally transformed me from a hardcore skeptic to a BIG believer, in just a matter of a few years. (and trust me….I was SO skeptical, that it took a lot of amazing experiences to get there)

That said…….only about 10% of the readings I got were good. Even some of the most highly recommended readers, those that friends, and peers suggested I see…..were often a disappointment, or not nearly as good as I expected.

I learned….along the way, ONE golden rule for guaranteeing that a reading was going to be good…BEFORE I spent a ton of money, or investing a ton of time, effort or energy in seeing the psychic.

The rule is so simple….that it amazes me how many ordinary folks AND psychic junkies don’t do it 100% of the time.

Get a TEST reading first. Start small. NEVER, (ever!) travel hundreds of miles….or drop hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a celebrity psychic, until you’ve established that you have a rapport with the reader. That there is a connection. And that your energy works well with theirs.

The BIGGEST secret about psychic abilities, amongst those that "know" is this:

It’s all about connection. And much like some people feel a "pull" towards a certain type of mate….or are attracted to a particular kind of person, or even prefer one kind of movie star over another, EVERYTHING is about your UNIQUE emotional energy, your karma, your history………and the ambiance of attraction between people, places and things.

I know it sounds a bit new age…..but it’s really true. In psychic studies, done by REAL scientists in University settings, people who are religious, for example….connect better with religious psychics or mediums. People who are more new age, or universal energy types…..connect better with readers who are ALSO new age, and believe in the same sort of stuff. They’ve even found that ARTISTS….are more inclined to get accurate readings from other artists, martial arts and yoga aficionados tend to get more accurate readings from those who practice the same disciplines as well.

Want to know the SHOCKING part about the above?

Many times……..the people participating in these studies don’t KNOW that they have similar beliefs, or interests. In other words, somehow…on some level, the energy we ALL have has an INTELLIGENCE….and simply flows to, and is most OPEN to those that share the same passions.

My recommendation?

Test a few different psychics for 10 or 15 minutes before you EVER spend real money. You can literally test a psychic for 10 dollars, and get a GREAT feel as to whether you bond with them, and share real rapport BEFORE you invest money on a reading you’ll regret right away. I’ve found this helps me get AMAZING readings 9 out of 10 times these days……and if you do the same thing, you’ll get equally as amazing results, I promise!