Today I’ve got an interview with world-famous clairvoyant Lisa Williams and after asking people what I could ask her, let’s say, I’ve got some mixed reactions…
Whilst many people find solace in sitting down and listening to someone who claims to be able to speak to the dead, the question has to be asked whether or not people who claim to have this sixth sense are just clever, money-making machines who play on the vulnerable?
I’ve got to admit, over the past couple of weeks I’ve gone to the local spiritualist church with my friend to see what it’s all about, and as much as I truly want to believe that my Grandad is talking to me from beyond the grave, what the mediums say to me and the other people in the room seems like complete guesswork and saying “I’ve got a grey-haired old man in the room with me†can apply to just about anyone who has lost a grandfather or a father.
What’s more, the people at the church go to these classes which teach you to be a medium, I mean come on, teaching clairvoyance, is it just me or was that supposed to be ‘a gift?’
And even worse that giving courses on this subject, the students are allowed to stand up in ‘open’ circle where they practice on the congregation, and they go through the rigmarole of a) stating who’s here, b) giving evidence that can only fit to the message recipient, c) explaining why this dead person is ‘here’ and d) giving something nice to the message recipient… so – parts a & b are usually just guesswork… I mean lets be honest, if you’ve got an old person in the room, you can usually ‘prove’ it’s a persons relative by picking out a name from the such as Frank or Mary and the gift is always flowers, chocolate or a rosary bead? I mean if they were really leaving me with a gift, shouldn’t it be something that would mean something to me and that person?
Nevertheless though, I was willing to give the church another go, so I went to one of their ‘trance demonstrations’ in which this bloke claimed to go into a trance and have the dead take over his vocal chords and deliver a message… okay,. So the first message almost sent me to sleep, but his voice did change, he spoke in a different accent and I was like… ooh, could this be real?
Unfortunately for the trance man though, the next four people who came through also spoke in this posh accent, so as for the ‘taking over the vocal chords claim’ – I don’t think so.
But the real thing that pi**ed me off, was that the trance man (or the people who were coming through) spoke about being a medium throughout the who demonstration… he didn’t talk about how my grandad is loving smoking his pipe now that he’s not got cancer to worry about, or that the bloke who turned his son’s life support will be okay. No, he talked about how these people – who had all passed their mediumship ‘foundation course’ should go on to do more clairvoyance. Bear in mind you have to pay for each course.
I don’t want to sound like a total moaning Minnie though, because I do believe that there could be something more, but as programmes like The Mentalist and Psych begin to claim that clairvoyants are just hyper observant people who can read small facial expressions and moods, could it all just be a con?
The thing is, for me to be convinced, I really need to hear something that noone else could no, something that will strike a chord and make sense, rather than just being educated guesswork. And if there are some honest mediums out there who speak to the dead and not a load of rubbish, then please, drop me a line… I WANT TO BE PROVEN WRONG!
I know this isn’t my usual light-hearted type of blog, but please share your thoughts with me!
Ruth xx
Hi Ruth,
As a deeply committed Spiritualist and a medium I can understand how you feel about this. Believe me the majority of us who are dedicated agree with you that neither ““I’ve got a grey-haired old man in the room with me— nor “you can usually ‘prove’ it’s a persons relative by picking out a name from the such as Frank or Mary and the gift is always flowers, chocolate or a rosary bead?”
I think you will find may of us driven to distraction by the lack of positive information. There is insufficient eveidence in any of this. Hope you see some good mediums in the churches soon watch out for Gerard Smith or Eileen Davies. tehse two are Mediums who work in teh Churches and not for big money in any way
In the meantime take a look at the utube of the great Gordon Higginson demonstrating to a big crowd.
Good luck with your search
Jim
Hi Ruth
I went to see a very famous local clairvoyant when my relationship of 3 years broke down. I was determined not to give anything away (although I did look like I’d just been through hell) and I have to say that the reading I was given was a) very specific to me b) full of detailed information that she could not have possibly known and c)not done by looking at me very much. The clairvoyant in question would sit and “shuffle” a deck of old playing cards while she was speaking so she was hardly searching my face for tells or corroboration. I came out of the reading feeling much better about myself and I have to say that in the 4 months since I had the reading a lot of the things she said would happen have happened!
I think in cases such as these, it’s wise to do your homework. The lady I went to see has been going for over 30 years and does not advertise; trying to get her contact details isn’t easy because she’s not in the yellow pages or anything. I ended up having to search online for recommendations and those who responded to my question all said the same thing – they’d been to see this lady and her predictions were scarily accurate.
So I guess the answer to the question is that there are charlatans out there who are out to make a quick buck by praying on the susceptible but there are also people out there who have a real gift; and if you can find them, they’re worth every penny because they can work wonders for you.
It is generally crap and self delusion,
There are events we cannot understand, bur a psychic, with there alleged knowledge of “spirits”
is a sham..Usually, I know because I have passed myself off as a pshycic to gullible before.
@Sammy – I would be interested to know if you have recordings of the sessions, and have ever reviewed them to see how many things were right and how many wrong.
If you don’t then next time you go ask if you can record the session… If the psychic does not want you to, then this is a big indicator that they are worried about being found out just how poor they are.
I think anyone that is impressed with psychics should read up on the “Confirmation bias” – simply put we are more likely to believe something if it confirms what we already think/believe, it is a feature of the human brain that does cause problems in assessing these situations, it is one of a large number of cognitive biases that we suffer from without really knowing it. There are probably others that help sham psychics ply their trade too, but there are so many I am not sure which ones apply! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases
A little side opinion, I think that going to a local medium/psychic etc also has its issues, especially if it is a small town. They obviously have more information about the the type of lifestyle you’ll have or your upbringing if you have been raised local. And there is even the possibility that they might know or know of your family, that is a big headstart.
Hi, please could you let me know the details of the medium you saw. I wonder if she does telephone readings. I am in Lincolnshire. There are so many poor mediums out there. I do hope to hear from you.
kind regards
Sarah
Hello,
in reference to your article above, you say – Clairvoyants may state
“..I’ve got a grey-haired old man in the room with me, can apply to just about anyone..”
1st: Only a Medium will communicate with Spirits, not necessarily a Clairvoyant.
2nd: We must pay attention to the information in addition, to the ‘grey-haired old man’ description – was there a name given, a specific shared memory relayed from the recipients childhood, etc.
3rd: You ask about training for Clairvoyance – of course – any gift has to be trained, enhanced and worked at, a concert pianist has to refine his art, just as any decent Medium or Psychic.
4th: Spirit leaving a gift, you say, did you ask the recipient if the Rosary Beads or flowers were specific enough as to be personal. Perhaps these gifts, were like reminders in thanks for items placed in the loved ones coffin !
5th: We need to ask the right questions – not blindly accept what is heard – or easily accepted.
Recipients are entitled to say NO to a Medium giving a message. And if the Medium is on the ball, and really in communication, not just cold-reading, they should be able to clarify, and provide more information.
6th: Your above poster, talks about Clairvoyants using cards & ‘predicting’ – this is not Mediumship. This is Clairvoyance of a different kind. Assessing the recipients situation from cards, or any tool, is purely Psychic. There is no Spirit involvement whatsoever. However Clairvoyance can come into play, when the Medium is ‘seeing’ something from the Spirit world. Although a good combination of Psychic awareness, Clairvoyance & Mediumship from any practitioner, provides a fuller experience for the recipient, or sitter. We must not be satisfied that whoever we see in this line of business, is an expert – there are no experts. Some are very much better than others, for many reasons, we are are all still learning.
7th: Yes, Clairvoyants are hyper-observant, they have to be. If giving details of a dear departed which causes tears of emotion in the recipient, the Medium needs to be sensitive to that. When working, they should also give information that is over and above the really obvious, and easily readable. Commonsense comes into play here.
As you state – ” I really need to hear something that no-one else could know…” might I recommend that you go back, not to pay money, but attend another free Demonstration, until you receive the proof you seek. Question other recipients, check their stories, and DO NOT settle for second best. There are mediocre Mediums out there – as there are in any profession. There are also – I am sure you are aware – those who work tirelessly, with conviction, and are quite capable of providing real evidence of Survival after death…seek out the experienced Medium, and I am sure you will be satisfied.
Best wishes.
A very interesting post!
I agree that clairvoyants can be very helpful. A real clairvoyant can give you guidance and help you deal with the things that are going to happen to you in the future. Whether you are consulting a phone psychic a clairvoyant or an angel card reader, you have to make sure that the psychic reader I really genuine and it is also very essential to establish a good connection with him.