I am not defending, and would never, defend fake "psychics" who prey on the vulnerable. That's disgusting. However, as a person who reads the Tarot as something of a sideline (I do not charge people), I can promise you that a "reading" is nothing more complicated than picking up the cues from your subject and using attributes of the cards drawn to make observations about their situations and possible courses of action. You can pretty much make any card mean anything based on what you're getting off the subject. I'm usually right in the sense that a therapist is often right, and you never predict outcomes--just offer suggestions about things that might work, or things to be cautious about. 99% harmless fun and maybe about 1% insight.
"You have to be a pretty evil person already to prey on peopleβs belief in magic, but to specifically target the elderly, most of whom are living on fixed incomes, seems especially cruel."
gee, sounds like every prosperity preacher I have ever seen.
Hey that reminds me of my elderly uncle. He got defrauded by this orange-skinned grifter who kept talking about magic tarriffs that would solve all his financial problems and even pay for his medical care.
Stephen Glass says [I know, I know] he worked as a telephone psychic and would advise people asking for lottery numbers with "Don't play the lottery: you are going through a long spell of back luck with the lottery. Do not play the lottery."
So one guy was a force for good, one time. (He says.)
I keep an open mind when it comes to the "paranormal" ESP, remote viewing, continued awareness of some sort after physical death, etc, etc If such things so exist there is a rational explanation which we may as of yet not uncovered. Warrants further study. However, anyone who charges for such "services" is a fraud.
I really appreciate these articles. They all call to mind a line from Carl Sagan: βPeople are rarely grateful for a demonstration of their own credulityβ
For some reason, that line has been on my mind a lot in the past yearβ¦
What? No Miss Cleo? CALL ME NOW!
Two psychics get married. After consummating the nuptials, one turns to the other and says, "Wow! Was that as good for me as it was for you?"
Thank you, I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip your waitress...
She lit a candle for my love luck
And 18 bucks went up in smoke.
I am not defending, and would never, defend fake "psychics" who prey on the vulnerable. That's disgusting. However, as a person who reads the Tarot as something of a sideline (I do not charge people), I can promise you that a "reading" is nothing more complicated than picking up the cues from your subject and using attributes of the cards drawn to make observations about their situations and possible courses of action. You can pretty much make any card mean anything based on what you're getting off the subject. I'm usually right in the sense that a therapist is often right, and you never predict outcomes--just offer suggestions about things that might work, or things to be cautious about. 99% harmless fun and maybe about 1% insight.
From psychics to televangelists to Trump, it's all the same ... just a matter of scale.
I used to make fun of these charlatans by saying that "If a telephone psychic knows anything important about me, *they* can call *me*."
It never occurred to me that a psychic would read that and think "Hey, that's a great idea for a scam!" (Which I guess proves that I'm no psychic.)
"You have to be a pretty evil person already to prey on peopleβs belief in magic, but to specifically target the elderly, most of whom are living on fixed incomes, seems especially cruel."
gee, sounds like every prosperity preacher I have ever seen.
Did someone mention that every televangelist alive is in on this grift?
Ms. O worked for a bit for Ms. Cleo. Guess who didn't make a lot of money out of that relationship.
Hey that reminds me of my elderly uncle. He got defrauded by this orange-skinned grifter who kept talking about magic tarriffs that would solve all his financial problems and even pay for his medical care.
Psychics are an obvious scam... all my money goes to Nigerian princes
But a Psychic told the Missus that I looked like the kind of husband that would finish the last piece of panettone. Turns out she was right.
Stephen Glass says [I know, I know] he worked as a telephone psychic and would advise people asking for lottery numbers with "Don't play the lottery: you are going through a long spell of back luck with the lottery. Do not play the lottery."
So one guy was a force for good, one time. (He says.)
My crystal ball tells me that the incoming Trump administration will be a fukking disaster.
I keep an open mind when it comes to the "paranormal" ESP, remote viewing, continued awareness of some sort after physical death, etc, etc If such things so exist there is a rational explanation which we may as of yet not uncovered. Warrants further study. However, anyone who charges for such "services" is a fraud.
Heck, I'd offer that we don't actually live in a rational universe, just take a look around!
I really appreciate these articles. They all call to mind a line from Carl Sagan: βPeople are rarely grateful for a demonstration of their own credulityβ
For some reason, that line has been on my mind a lot in the past yearβ¦