talkmagic.co.uk

To lighten the mood a trifle which seems to be getting a little tense here is an amusing video. The psychic in question is a lady I have known for many years. She is blunt with a heart of gold. Her name is Laura. I was actually exhibiting at this event but luckily for you all I am not in the video.

https://vimeo.com/26663500" target="_blank

Was it the woman who told him he’ll never be happy or the one that told him if he carries on how he is then he’ll get prostrate cancer & claims to be able to read cat paws? At least there’s consistency in the level of craziness of the people who think they’re actually predicting things.

Yes. That was Laura. The prostate cancer reading. That reading was not to be taken seriously. It was for comedy effect. It was a comedy television show. And I know the other lady at the end of the clip too who said he would never be happy. It was just for laughs and not to be taken seriously. In fact I know virtually everybody on the Canadian psychic fair circuit. And they know me too.

This might be of interest.

http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2014/ ... chic_fair/" target="_blank

The first photograph shows a gentleman is a retired magician who has appeared on the Paul Daniels show and the David Letterman show. He is famous as the King of the Flea Circus.

The second photo shows another magician whom I have admired my entire life. Please note the little write up underneath.

And here is a video of various psychics on the circuit including myself being interviewed. There are little snippets of me throughout the clip. It will give some of you who merely do readings for "entertainment" to get a real picture of the psychic world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw-B7Z-q9fI

russpie wrote:In my view it's as far out there as tea leaves, star signs, crystal balls & phrenology.

Coming this Fall: CSI: Phrenology

So awesome. Reminds me of one of my experimental profiles on Facebook...

For every dollar out there, there is someone trying to get it from you...

I remember a Chinese man at the Dandelion Market in Dublin making a lot of money out of phrenology. First and in fact only time I have ever seen it in action. He was there every week. He would gather a crowd by getting someone to sit in a chair and he would read out what all the bumps in the head meant so both his subject and the crowd could hear it. He would charge a fee for it. Then he would ask if anyone else wanted it done and of course there always was. He seemed to do very well at it. It would gather a crowd far better than palmistry or tarot cards that's for sure.

Phrenology? Somehow I wouldn't fancy getting handfuls of dandruff and hair gell.....

OK. Back to the dreaded subject of Tarot cards again. I just posted something on a facebook page and it occurs to me that it would be relevant here too. I have already explained that I believe 100% in the power of the tarot but whenever I say this people become incredulous and think I have gone mad. That is because they don't understand my reasoning. I have not gone mad and I know what I am doing. And I know WHY the tarot works. I shall now try to explain:

I have a tarot deck in front of me now. I am going to pick a card at random. They are face down at the moment so I have no idea what card I am going to pick out.

OK. I have just picked out the ten of wands. Now every reader will have a different interpretation for this card or in fact any card. To me it means end of confusion. That is because the wands represent confusion and ten is a number of endings.

Anyway. End of confusion. Have you ever experienced the end of confusion in your life? Of course you have.

Next one. The Star Card. To me this means wishing as in wishing on a star. Have you ever wished for something? Of course you have!

Three more so you will get the idea. Next we have the emperor card. To me depending on the situation and the person in front of me it can mean a businessman. Do you know any businessmen? Of course you do! However, it can also mean success as in that you will be the emperor of all you survey. Are there any areas in your life you have achieved success in? Or hope to achieve success in? Of course there is!

Now next we have the knight of swords. That represents a man at work. Do you ever work? Or do you know a man who works? Of course you do!

One last one but I think you are getting the idea now. The two of swords. That means conflict with someone. Do you ever have arguments or conflicts with anyone. Of course you do!

So now I think you can see that every single card represents you in some way. So no matter what cards you pick out of a spread they will represent you in detail. A lot depends on what cards they are next to and how the spread develops.

Now THIS is the key. If you accept that everyone has intuition (I won't call it psychic ability) to some degree and that some have stronger intuition than others mainly because they are using it all the time in their work you should be able to accept that the cards combined with observation of the person being read either consciously or on a subconscious level will result in facts about the person's life. The images on the cards apply to everyone so they are bound to trigger off the imagination and the intuitive process in the reader.

The reader is not really a "psychic" and a more accurate term would be an "intuitionist" but that wouldn't be terribly commercial so for business purposes the word "psychic" is used. So the process is all terribly logical and even scientific. Nothing that an open minded person with common sense can object to. No spirits or guardian angels involved. Just heightened observation, judging of human nature, VERY strong intuition sharpened by years of dealing with and reading people combined with the images in the tarot which apply to everyone and triggers the imagination and intuition of the reader makes the thing work.

NOW do you see how it all works? Particularly the Tarot. I believe 100 percent in the power of the Tarot and there is nothing mystical in the explanation. Read what I said carefully and you will realise that the tarot is not pieces of cardboard but a very powerful tool which aids intuition and indeed triggers it off.

There. Now you know.

Mark Lewis,

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I have classified tarot readers (not what we started out with in the thread) into 2 categories:

1. Technical Readers - those who go by the book in the box.
2. Intuitive Readers - those who can use any cards, imagery, donkey dung, tea leaves, etc.

You come across as somewhat more technical, in that you take the card at [yes, we've all been avoiding saying it, I'm going to finally say it...] face value. *ducks as rotten tomatoes fill the stage*

I'm talking about card routines, tricks, slights with the stories & imagery the various decks offer up, but this parallel topic of actual or implied mysticism, intuitiveness, or even what is perceived as actual magic is-whether we like it or not-is of interest to the specs, and they come pre-loaded with ideas about it just like those posting here.

I think that while this is a public forum, it is a fascinating exercise in the preconceived notions, beliefs, and yes-faiths of those kind enough to post their reactions. It runs the gamut the same way it does on the streets or a cabaret, "I believe!", "You're nuts!", "What is this?"...

I believe the best "magic" is that that takes full advantage of the environment-all of it. That includes lighting, mood, "patter" (hate that word), mentalism, and anything you think the specs might be even a little uncertain about. You ever see someone throw salt over their shoulder and say, "I'm not superstitious at all, but just in case..."? I'll bet they are in the majority!

Remember the saying that magic is in the mind of the spectator? Who said you can't play on those prejudices and beliefs? Who said what they bring to you is off limits? I think the posters here have been very frank, and have given a fantastic representative backdrop to perform against/with/for.

Why not a routine that is inclusive of the non-believers? The skeptics? And of course the best of all... the ones who say to themselves... "...just in case..."

Dearie me, dearie me. Far too intellectual for me old chap. I think this may perhaps amuse you somewhat. A mixture of magic, mystery and psychic atmosphere. A real master at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4dFiakyyA4

You'll "get" my comment on it!

I did. Regrettably I have never seen a stripper at a psychic fair. Perhaps it would be deemed not terribly spiritual.

I fixed it... I made a slight mistake!

I think reviving this amusing (to me anyway) old thread is an appropriate place to mention that the best book on the Tarot has just been written and published. I know the author personally and can confirm that he is a genius of the first magnitude. I shall let you all use your psychic ability to figure out who I mean. The book is called "Streetwise Tarot" and the foreword is by Richard Webster. I understand that the book will shortly be up on the author's website but he hasn't quite figured out how to do that yet. His psychic powers seem to fail him where technology is concerned. However, I understand that he is offering the book for sale if you contact him privately. I shall let you use your own psychic ability to figure out how to do that. The book sells for $30 and shipping is free.

Here is the blurb on the back cover.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TAROT READINGS

There are literally hundreds of books written on the Tarot, but this is probably the only one with a “streetwise” approach. This unorthodox system describes a more realistic, down-to-earth attitude to the Tarot, based on practicality rather than the more common metaphysical theories.

This is not to say that there is no spiritual element to this method. It encourages an attitude of empathy and compassion, which the author believes is essential for a Tarot reader. There is an entire chapter on the ethics of Tarot reading, a topic that is rarely, if ever, discussed in other books on the subject.

Another topic that is rarely covered is how to make money doing readings. Whether you consider this mercenary or not, keep in mind that Tarot readers have to eat and pay rent, just like everybody else. A whole chapter is devoted to this important topic.

A unique feature of this book is the memorization system it describes. You will be able to remember the meanings of all 78 cards in a week or two, rather than the months of practice this usually requires.
If you want a quick, practical guide to learn to do Tarot readings, satisfy your clients and earn some money in the process, Streetwise Tarot is the book for you.

Do you think this shy and retiring author might somehow be persuaded to keep us updated on the pregress and reactions to this book?