mark lewis wrote:It is bloody awful and he hasn't done a paid reading in his life either.
Sorry Mark but I happen to know better on this one... Kenton has in fact done a fair enough share of paid Readings to at least understand that a difference exists between being a READER vs. a Cold or Scripted mockingbird acting like a psychic.
As to TOMO's complaint about using a capitol R when referring to a person that does READINGS vs the small r, which denotes someone that is reading this thread... well, that says it all doesn't it? It's a matter of subtle clarification as to what is being spoken of and in what perspective, nothing more. So stop letting such little courtesies (sp) annoy you; I tend to do it out of habit in that I do this same capitolization in all of my books and articles. Then again I do have a social-political reason for doing this... I'm not ashamed of being a Reader. Contrary to the misinformation spewed forth from the mouths of skeptics, cynics and self-invented "experts" I happen to know that I'm not a crook or con-artist (as the good Rev. Lewis would boast himself to be... but I happen to know, he's got a bit more heart than he puts on)and I'm not out to take advantage of those who are desperate and seeking some kind of magick pill to fix their woes.
When it comes to the book in question it should be pointed out that most EVERY ONE OF THE TACTICS EXPLIANED can be found in a college level text on Counseling and the Psychological Dynamics of Interpersonal Communications... after all, the majority of that particular (now validated) field came directly from the gypsy's craft, aspects of anthropology and an extension of Dream Interpretation which can be traced back thousands of years in and of itself. So given that FULL FACT what makes the modern therapist any less a con-artist or crook than the local palmist or tarot card Reader?
I've found that they are in deed more dangerous and predatory in that they have the ability to legally prescribe medications that are highly addictive as well as potentially damaging to the body and more! Yet, they are seen as the up-standing professionals of the world simply because they have a college degree in the same basic thing I've done for 30 years and of course, they are in partners with the chemical and pharmacuetical companies as field reps and, for lack of a better term, pushers.
Are all shrinks rude, crude and money grabbing?
Nope! But a solid case could be built up on data that is far more up to date and FACTUAL than what you will find in the majority of these "How to be a Reader" books on the magic market of today; most of which refer to a series of concepts or suppositions that are generations old and rarely offer anything more current... talk about beating some dead horse flesh, as intellectual and "scientific" our cynical fellows are supposed to be you'd think, in the 60 some odd years since the Forer experiments and disclosure of the Barnum effect that they'd find something a bit more substantial and contemporary... but hey, I'm just confusing the issues with a valid point of fact, aren't I.
The bottom line is, those that wish to believe, will and those that don't want to believe, won't. There is nothing written or carved in stone that goes outside the auspices of man-invented excuse that says we must be a**holes over it all and try to cram our point of view down everyone else's throat, now is there? Similarly, there is nothing carved in stone (and this is very important to bear in mind) that says, "If you are a student of stage magic or mentalism you must denounce your belief in God and all things magickle, fantastic, surreal, metaphysical and/or miraculous. You must bow down at the altars of Science & Logic, surrendering your innate sense of will, freedom and connection to life and the Universe." Yet, this is the attitude so many CYNICS want us all to take if we are in fact, involved in this craft... I do stress that this is a recent attitude and is does not parallel the older, more roundly accepted ideas of what a Skeptic is (skeptics frequently hold to faith... just look at Houdini, Kellar and Thruston a bit deeper if you doubt me. Thurston was preparing for Seminary before he met Kellar.)
We've all got to stop bowing to the bully tactics others would impose upon us and learn to listen to our own inner-voice. That is the only place you are going to find your own "truth" to the over all issue at hand.