Claiming to be "Psychic" has been exploited by countless mentalists since the earliest days of the art coming into its own. This is old school thinking based on the axiom that no one will pay to see a fake mind reader... though a few frauds have managed to take the public spot light, their success centers more on the fact that they were first known as a magician who later adopted the more mentally/paranormal theme. In fact this is why there existed a long held "rule" that one had to have more than a few grey hairs and crows feet before moving from magic into mentalism; it was seen as the apex to a magician's career, proving him a "master". At many levels this really holds true in that the seasoned conjurer has learned much from his years of dealing with hecklers, address groups large and small, thinking on his feet and simply knowing people -- how to select the "right" ones for each routine, etc. All prime skills required by the commercial mentalist.
A "Psychic" on the other hand, is not viewed nor expected to be a polished showman. Their awkwardness and nonchalant manner actually works for them, as does other subtle angles like the ardent claim of not understanding how certain things happen or why.
I was watching a program last night about Haunted Houses and one thing was brought out when it came to "skeptics".
- 1.) Whenever an honest investigation is being undertaken having an honest and fair skeptic as part of the team isn't just valuable, it reveals the teams desire to consider alternative possibilities.
2.) There are different kinds of "Skeptics"... those that state such things but when pushed, reconsider their expressed skepticism; the genuine investigator that's willing to say "he don't know" or "it could be" rather than insisting that it all is rubbish... this latter attitude of course, revealing the Cynic who sees everything in a very cold, cut & dry, black & white mi-optic manner.
3.) The program revealed a fair assessment when it came to the psychological elements tied to a Haunting, like group mind and how one person's reaction ooozes out and becomes an influence on others in the room.
4.) The program also revealed the oddity that other psychics as well as the skeptic and his team ALL had a strong draw to a specific spot in the home and this was also where all the little gadgets seemed to indicate that something was afoot.
Oh! The corner in question had no electrical influences, so that discounts that explanation, including the fact that the home did not rest near high power lines.
The so-called moral of the story being that there is a heck of a lot out there that we do not understand and it's going to take a good deal of time before science as well as honest intellect is going to be in the position to comprehend it all.
I'll stand by my standard challenge; watch a 2 hour motion picture you've never seen before but the running time for the 120 minutes of footage will be less than 3 seconds.
Now, take out a pencil and pad and start writing down your impressions; names, descriptions, the plot or message, etc.
Next, compare your notes to the truth and tell me that your accuracy is any more spot on than what most psychic convey. Honesty take a side by side inventory of things even allowing a neutral part to do all the comparisons.
I'll lay money on the fact that you will not come close to the criteria the majority of skeptics and pseudo-intellectuals demand of a psychic. With that being the case, explain to me how such "tests" are fair.
Bringing things Back Around... Being "Psychic" simply means that you are sensitive to and more aware of your environment and the finer "invisible" (to the conscious mind) elements therein... not my words, but those of the great Edgar Cayce. It also means that one is more empathic when it comes to living things as well as the finer influences that surround us and thus, susceptible to situations in which the subconscious mind assembles a "puzzle" of sorts, presenting its conclusions to us via dreams, a "psychic flash" or any number of manifestations that become a quasi-prophetic statement... I say it that way due to the personal uncertainty most Psychics have when it comes to these flashes, when speaking with people other than their own.
Anyone can be taught the skills required for cultivating base psychic ability, there is NOTHING mystical about it, never has been outside of bogus media, Hollywood and of course religiously based propaganda and fear mongering. But within that list of misrepresentation we have the skeptic's society who tend to bend & twist things so as to meet their own agenda and whenever possible, paint the claimant into a corner, making them look the fool rather than being as honest and fair to their target as they would ask others to be of them... bullies always become victims when the shoe is on the other foot.
When it comes to the Old School mode of being a Mentalist, claiming to be a Psychic, Medium, Clairvoyant, etc. are all common modes of practice even when we do a full stage show in a theater. The reason being, especially in the case of a "show" is that we don't believe in insulting the public by throwing up the disclaimer rhetoric the more cynical believe needs be in place... but why?
I wouldn't have anything to do with trying to level the proverbial playing field, would it? Taking from the mentalists that psychological edge it depends on for giving the audience an encounter with the plausible and fantastic; demoting said art to the same lowly status as card tricks and sponge bunnies...
Chances are quite strong that this is the case in that until recently, the majority of people involved with the various Skeptics societies around the globe were those geeks and armchair experts that weren't capable of doing a legit show. Even Randi tried to go the straight "I'm psychic" route long ago (though his handlers have carefully rewritten that chapter of his life). Some sources even suggest that the whole Randi vs. Geller hype started off over the fact that Uri wouldn't let Randi serve as his Manager here in the states and in retribution Randi launched an anti-psychic media march. I've always found the chronology a bit more than convenient when it comes to sustaining said rumor
Then again, good ole Mr. R has a lot of dark rumors enveloping his life; underhanded, predator based black marks that seem to go ignored, swept under the very large rugs of his home, etc. rather than being impetus to alienation by those of supposed superior intellect
As the saying goes... get your own house in order before casting stones at those you believe to be more dishonest than you and your fellowship is.
