Sylvia Brown, John Edwards And All Those Other Shiny People

There is an always will be an ongoing debate on whether it is ethical for a psychic to charge or not charge for their services. That is not the purpose of this entry. We can debate this particular subject till the cows come home and everyone will still have their own thoughts and convictions about it.

So with that out of the way, I guess you could ask where in the world my mind is going this morning. My answer would be all over the place, but it seems to want to hang around the subject of psychics at the moment.

So here goes nothing.

All my life I have been interested in those who supposedly talk to the dead. I really needed to believe I wasn't the only one. That I wasn't a freak because I carried on lengthy conversations with those family members who had passed on years before I was born. Growing up, I didn't know a word for this thing that I had. I just needed not to feel that I was odd or the freak.

Growing up my movies of choice were horrors, I would spend every week watching programs like Outer Limits, Night Gallery and Twilight Zone just to see people who sometimes could do what I could.

Anyway, lets fast forward for a few years. A time where my gifts were growing stronger and a time where I didn't know how to control them or use them well. In walks Sylvia Browne (well not literally, but on the television). I'm blown away. Here was a woman that seemed to do what I did. See things. Not just spirits but little glimpses of the future. I start watching her every chance I get. (Easy because my Mother loves her.)

Then comes John Edwards. Another person, doing what I do but differently that Brown. And then one after another I am introduced to others with the same gift.

So I get to thinking, studying and asking questions. I listen, practice and listen again.

So here is what I have come up with. Might be a bit confusing, but I'll try to keep my thought patters in some kind of cohesive order.

During the time I first saw Browne, I was attending a Spiritual Center where they had public and private psychic readings on a regular basis, at least two a week. During the time the psychic was reading, I would be sitting in the back, taking notes. Usually they were talking to the person that wanted the reading and gave a love offering. Thing is, nine times out of ten the reading, or at least one aspect of the reading would actually be meant for me. Sometimes I would stand and say something, other times I would just quietly continue taking notes.

That said, it wasn't long before I began to study under the Spiritual Center's leader to hone my abilities and how not to be bombarded at all hours of the day. I began giving my own readings during Public time and sometimes took on a private reading. As far as I know, the center still has many of the confirmation letters from those I read for, about what I hit on perfectly and what didn't happen.

I began to wonder, if I could hit on so many things right, why did I hit on some things totally wrong. I didn't want to be giving anyone any bad information or useless thoughts. So I began to study and ask questions again. Not only of the Spiritual Center's leader, but other psychics and clergy from other faiths.

I have settled on a theory that seems sound to me. One that I can live with for myself, and use with other psychics.

1. Even psychics are human. We get things wrong or misunderstand what is being shown or seen.

2. Time and the future is not set in stone. There are so many tiny decision we make, maybe not thinking they are going to have much of an impact but indeed with change whole sections of not only our future but the future of those that might be associated with us in some way.

3. Choices and Free will can and sometimes negates entire readings.

Because of this realization (for myself of course) I refuse to believe that Sylvia Browne, John Edwards and all those other Shiny People out there are fakes. Maybe they don't hit on things everytime. Maybe they get something wrong or just misinterpret the message being given. Last time I checked they were still human and still make mistakes.

So, I'll continue to listen to what they are saying, but take it with the knowledge that they might be wrong. Who knows, they might be right.

I will continue to work with my own gifts and give a reading when I sense it is needed.

And sometimes I will be wrong as well.