Does the idea of opening a wild, wacky and wonderful window into the world of spiritual beings sound scary……or scintillating and sensational?  In my many years of experience with psychic and paranormal research, I can tell you that there are 3 very specific camps that most people fall into.

1. “True Blue” believers
2. Hard core skeptics and cynics
3. The CURIOUS but not convinced

Which one are you?

The truth is, you can get all of the personal proof and afterlife evidence you want, without having to believe anything I say is true, or to take the skeptics at their word, either.  The afterlife IS available to be studied by anyone with a sincere interest, and who is willing to go out on a bit of a limb and be adventurous with respect to the unknown.

I want to share with you 4 things you can do to begin to experience the afterlife NOW.  These all have worked wonderfully well for me, and have opened me  up to an amazing array of experiences over the years that I didn’t believe possible.  Remember though, just because something works for one person….doesn’t mean that it will work well for the next.  That’s why it’s important to use different channels, approaches and mediums (no pun intended!) for accessing the kind of evidence AND experiences that work for you.

• Ouija Boards and Spiritual Tools
• EVP (voice activated digital recording of electronic voice phenomena)
• Psychic Mediums
• Meditation

Many of these things work really well together.  For example, using a digital recording device while “working” with a ouija board can be a very cool experience, and can yield amazingly empowering results.

One one hand….the ouija board planchette is moving around seemingly on it’s own, and then later…..when you listen to the recording, EVP’s are captured very clearly that you KNOW you didn’t audibly hear while using the board.

Spooky?  It can be!

But exciting?  If you are genuinely interested in spirit communication……..Very!

Again, meditating before speaking to a psychic medium can be very effective for me as well, as does practicing meditation in general, on a daily basis prove to be a great spiritual tool for opening yourself up to realities that are closed off during ordinary consciousnesses.

And remember……one of the most important lessons I’ve learned from 20 years of exploration is this:

it’s often equally as difficult for your loved ones to come through on THEIR side, as it is for us, to access them….on ours.

Using time tested tools and techniques like above may be controversial to some…..but there is a reason they’ve been along for as long as they have and continue to be used.

They WORK!  (And if you don’t believe me….I challenge you to see for yourself!)

Do you ever have a powerful sense that you’ve been somewhere in the past….even though you know it’s impossible that you were? Or maybe you’ve met someone for the very first time, and yet you can’t shake the feeling that they’re VERY familiar, or you feel like you’ve known them forever? Or maybe you have just picked up a new hobby or personal passion and find that you are just naturally REALLY, really good at it……and it seems to come to you far easier than it should? (or that other similar skills you struggle with do)

No matter how you “slice it”….there are many simple, subtle and powerful signs that your collection of experiences transcends the current lifetime.

And while many people think it sounds silly, believe it or not, there is PLENTY of powerful scientific evidence to support the idea that our soul or spiritual self continues on after physical death, and CAN choose to “come back” in a new body, and in a new lifetime in the future.

For example?

Small children who remember incredible details of past lives and who recount these experiences to their parents in painstaking detail…..EVEN when they’ve had no way to learn so much specific information.

Kids who play musical instrument, speak foreign languages and exhibit artistic talents on a “prodigy” like level…..and whose memories of past lives coincide with people who displayed those same skills! (whole books have been written about this, including work by the late Dr. Ian Stevenson, regarded by most as the worlds foremost expert on legitimate reincarnation cases…..and today, in 2012, Dr. Jim Tucker at the University of Virginia, who studies and publishes on children with verifiable past life memories)

As a matter of fact……

Most serious past life research focuses on children, because they have far less to “gain” from making up stories, or wanting to be famous in a past life, or having a psychological agenda that makes telling tall tales attractive. (something unfortunately, that most skeptics and debunkers focus on when it comes to adults who describe previous lifetimes)

That said, there are several PROVEN ways to remember a previous lifetime as an adult that can have a profound, and powerfully positive benefit on your current life.

1. Regression Therapy (Can be expensive and intense and does require a licensed professional therapist with a focus on past life memories to do the right way)
2. Dream Therapy. (often involves a prolonged period of documenting your dreams, and looking for elements of precognition as well as recurring “karmic symbols” which keep coming up)
3. Meditative and Guided Visualization Techniques. I personally do this at least once a day, and for 15-20 minutes will try to “regress” myself to a previous lifetime using a guided meditative script a pair of headphones and an mp3 player
4. Tarot Card Readings. As goofy as many people believe these are, if you have a GENUINE tarot reading you’ll be amazed at how much “karmic” stuff and symbols you’ll start to see in your daily life that have a deeper spiritual meaning. (and are often trying to POINT you in a specific destiny direction as well)
5. And of course, a good old fashioned past life psychic reading can often be the very BEST way to remember your previous lifetimes with incredible detail and clarity, and without having to do anything other than let someone’s psychic gifts put the pieces of YOUR puzzle together. Each of us has a path and a purpose….and a good past life reading can help reveal that in a very powerful way when you’re ready to hear what the Universe WANTS you to know.

Remember…..

Regardless of what you believe right now, opening yourself up to the idea of past lives can reveal the fullness in your life, and can help you understand your higher, authentic self and TRUE spiritual nature as well. After all, each individual lifetime is a mere microcosm of who you really are….and understanding that MAY be the key to true fulfillment, happiness and bliss. (at least it was for me!)

Are the shows scripted in advance…..or are the readings really as impressive as they appear on the show?  And what about the most POPULAR medium on TV today - The “Long Island Medium” with Theresa Caputo, is she the real deal……or simply just another person pretending to communicate with spirits for money, fame and celebrity prestige?  In this short blog post, I’ll share some quick thoughts about Long Island Medium TV show, and I’ll share my personal opinion on whether I believe she is doing something truly extraordinary, or simply makes for good TV instead.

Curious to know more?  Continue reading as we take a closer look below!

But FIRST…….  My Personal Psychic Experiences

First, of course ALL of this is just my own personal opinion, and based on many years of research, publishing and adventures in the psychic realm.  (as I’ve written well over 1000 published articles on psychic phenomena and maintain a whole slew of blogs, websites and social communities in the psychic field)

With that said, I’ve had hundreds of readings myself, and feel like I’m a pretty good judge at who is the real deal….and who is just enjoying a good ride up the totem pole of success!

When I first started watching the show…….

I was a bit skeptical, to say the least.  While I’m definitely a true blue believer in the authenticity of MANY psychic mediums, (through personal experience and rigorous research) I’m also very well aware that many, especially on TV, are often much more about entertainment, than genuine ethereal enlightenment.  I’ve been highly critical of Sylvia Browne, (who I believe is a con artist and NOT a clairvoyant) and even Alison Dubois (the real life inspiration behind “Medium”) doesn’t inspire me to believe she is truly doing what people purport she does.

And at first, my biggest problem with THIS show was that many of Theresa’s messages were a bit vague for my tastes and with so much “1 to 1″ contact, cold reading…..or picking up non verbal cues from clients, is a HUGE risk as well and makes for easy de-bunking, too.

(Note:  This is  BIG reason most people who study psychic mediums prefer to test them on the phone….with no direct visual contact with the people they’re reading.  This is often called “blind” readings for that reason)

Over a number of shows, and doing some of my own research by talking to other people in the field, my opinion started to change in her favor.

Watching a few shows this weekend, I was impressed by some of the seemingly spontaneous reactions of people who Theresa “read” in unexpected places, and the super specific information she shared with each of them.  (and of course, their reactions to what she shared which is very hard to script, and seemed to reflect genuine amazement and incredulity at the accuracy of what they were told)

At the end of the day, it’s VERY difficult to gauge how accurate a medium is on TV.  The format makes it very tough to judge…..as it’s TV, and designed to entertain us, and keep us coming back.  Plus, we have no idea how much is “omitted” as well, and this keeps my skeptical guard up, even today.

That said, I’m impressed with “The Long Island Medium” and it’s pretty good TV, too!  As someone who has had personal experiences (and readings) with some of the biggest names in celebrity mediumship (people like John Edward and the like, who I believe is 100% authentic) I’m definitely interested in learning more about Theresa Caputo….and when available, would be very interested in seeing her face to face as well!

The only real downside of investigating famous psychics, mediums and clairvoyants?

Cost.  Most of the better known celebrity psychics charge such a large amount for a reading, that the general public is priced out of the equation.  The good news is, you DON’T have to pay a fortune to a celebrity psychic to get an amazing reading, and often……you can find local or telephone readers who are equally as good, for a fraction, of the fraction of the cost.  As I’ve said many times in the past…..my WORST reading ever cost me over $1000 (with a famous psychic who I had to travel to see) and one my best, cost $18 and literally blew me away.….without having to get off my sofa to boot!

Let me share with you the one consistent truism I’ve encountered in 2 decades of writing, researching and exploring psychic phenomena, both personally and professionally alike.

As a self confessed paranormal junkie…….the ONE challenge, over and above all else, has always been to be able to spot a psychic scam, before I waste my time, energy, effort and income…..on a reader who is trying to pull a fast one.

And the good news is, while this may be surprising to some….there really are very few “scam” artists out there, although there are certainly a small minority who make a lot of noise and news.

The bad news?

There are lots of professional intuitive’s who aren’t really all that psychic…..and who may have good people skills, aren’t worth paying for their predictive powers, insight or illumination at all.  (I tend to find that only about 1 in 10 of the professional psychics are really impressive and worth paying to see)

With that in mind, lets’ look at 3 qualities every good psychic or medium WILL have (bar none)

1 – An Area of Specialty

Good psychics specialize.  It’s really true.  I’ve rarely found that a really gifted intuitive was a “jack of all trades” and did many things really well.  For example?  A gifted medium will NOT do future predictions, or do detailed “love readings” or tell you about your past lives.  (unless of course that information is coming through from your loved one “on the other side”.  The key to getting a great reading is to know what you need ahead of time, and stick with psychics and mediums who do that one thing REALLY well.

2 – They are HUMBLE (And Open Minded about Themselves….AND Their Abilities)

I’ll never forget speaking to famous medium John Edward last summer in a small group session, and he told us that he was always skeptical of the information that comes through, and where it’s coming from.  Losing that sense of wonder, and curiosity about HOW exactly these things work…..even when you HAVE the power, in my experience, is almost always a bad sign.  As a matter of fact, after hundreds of readings, I can honestly tell you that the more over-confident a clairvoyant is, the more insistent they are that they are always right, the less confidence I have in their ability to deliver what they promise.

3 – A track record of success (and the fans and followers that go with it!)

There are very few “amazing” psychics, from your local community to the more popular online networks that are unknowns.  If a reader is GOOD, they  have fans, friends and followers who are anxious to spread the word.  If a reader or a psychic service has been around for a while but has no “history” to check, it’s a bad sign and NOT someone I would trust paying a large fee to speak with.  The good news is, there are lots of well established, well credentialed clairvoyants who ARE as good as advertised….and who are willing to offer you a performance promise to back it up.

Remember, much like any other professional services industry, there are LOTS of amazing mediums and gifted intuitives out there, and plenty of quacks and crackpots to go along with them.  Learning to separate out which group is which is the KEY to having great psychic experiences, and the 3 simple traits above are a great place to start!

How much does a genuine medium reading cost?  Are they expensive……or can I find someone local, or by phone and get an amazing reading for a great price?

Any of these questions sound familiar?  There is probably no question that comes up more often on our blogs and psychic communities than those that deal with calling, seeing or finding legitimate psychic mediums, as so many people are CURIOUS but not convinced……and need a lot of help, advice and information before they pick someone they’ll regret later.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the MOST common questions we get below…and our answers, accordingly!

Do I need to find someone “famous”, like a TV medium,  to make contact with a loved one on the other side?

Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, one of the worst readings I’ve EVER gotten was from a well known, “celebrity” psychic and it cost me well over $1000! (including travel) One of my favorite readings? Was done by phone and cost $18 and totally blew me away….and gave me first hand evidence that the afterlife is real.

While there are some well known mediums who ARE in fact, incredibly good…….(I’ve seen John Edward in person and think he’s definitely the REAL deal) there are many local readers who work by phone alone, who are very skilled as well. (and much less expensive to boot)

How can I find a medium in my own town, city or state to talk with?

Good question! One of my favorite strategies is to join local meet ups or community organizations that specialize in new age thought, or psychical research. Some of my closest friends in the industry have come from simply getting out and getting involved…and of course, it’s a great way to get inexpensive readings as well. (especially once you establish friendships with others in the community)

What about psychic fairs and places where mediums congregate to offer inexpensive readings to the public?

I’ve had mixed success at these events…..but you can find really good readers if you try a few of these and they are organized by reputable people. Avoid some of the more tourist trap set ups that many resorts have if you are serious about getting a reading for important life decisions. (as these are usually set up for entertainment purposes only…and I’ve rarely found the readings to be good)

Another decent idea?

Spiritualist churches are another great resource for quality psychics, mediums and intuitives who are practicing their craft professionally. In my city (close to Miami) there are several very active spiritualist churches with a few well known intuitives, and I’ve had a few great readings for a nominal cost over the years. (mostly at fundraisers and special events the Church puts on every year)

Of course there are plenty of great phone psychics and mediums as well, and lots of good networks and services that offer readings throughout the day, on demand! This can be an easy and affordable solution when you need instant answers to pressing problems, and often, in MY experience, you’ll be blown away at the quality (and quantity) of talented intuitive’s available to help!

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!