I received a heartbreaking telephone call for help from a young woman last week. She had been seeing a psychic for several years, one she trusted, and recently confided to the person that she suspected her boyfriend of infidelity. The “trusted” psychic then asked the woman for $300; the money would be used to put a spell on the wayward boyfriend and bring him back. Well, she paid the $300 but the spell didn’t work, so the psychic said she needed a stronger mojo and told the woman to pay another $600. Troubled by this, she called and asked me what she should do.
I strongly advised her against giving the charlatan any more money. Any intuitive who demands more money than what the session costs is out to scam you. And in terms of casting spells, “We all have free will,” I said. “If it is his heart to walk a different path, then there’s nothing you can do to force someone to act against his will.”
Of course, this isn’t what the woman wanted to hear. I felt bad for her in two ways: One, we all know what it is to suffer through the pain of an unsuccessful romance. But more importantly is the pain of realizing we have been taken advantage of by someone we thought we could trust.
After we finished talking, I thought about all the good people I’ve talked with who had fallen for psychic scams. More than two years ago, I posted a blog on this subject and today, it’s still the most widely read post on my site. So, in an effort to help anyone who’s concerned about what a psychic says, here’s that column again.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE PSYCHIC SCAMS
When Amber telephoned, she sounded terrified. She said a curse had been put on her, and the psychic she’d contacted for help wanted $1,500 for three sessions to remove the curse. When I heard that, I almost swallowed my tongue. A moment later, Amber hesitantly admitted that she’d paid the money, visited the quack (my word, not Amber’s) three times – and yet Amber still felt like bad luck was following her around.
“Amber,” I told her, “there is no such thing as a curse. No one has given you the evil eye. But I think what’s happening is you believe someone or something has the power over you to make bad things happen, and your belief system is manifesting your fears.”
In other words, I continued, you’re expressing the dark side of the Law of Attraction; and dwelling on your fears makes them more powerful. So, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
“Do this,” I told Amber. “Every time you have a negative thought or a depressing feeling about yourself, simply say, ‘I reject this.’ Take back your power. No one is stronger than you – and you know how you can prove it? The next time you feel powerless, say to yourself, ‘I reject this.’ And remind yourself of your family and friends, the people who love and care about you.”
I didn’t charge Amber a cent for my advice. But when I hung up, I thought of the client who had come to me once because another psychic had told him that he had to buy three candles from her at $62 each, and if he burned them, they’d get rid of the curse. Of course, the phony psychic sneakily added, if the curse doesn’t go away, you might need more candles…
The second woman who called me found my name on the Internet. Lillian wanted to know how I felt about Madame X, another psychic she had found on the Internet. Personally, I don’t like to compare myself to others; besides, I didn’t know the Madame X that Lillian mentioned.
“Well, if I wanted to see you, Carolyn, how many times would I need to see you?”
After a few moments of pondering, I told Lillian I didn’t understand her question.
“Madame X said I would need to see her five times next week to resolve all my issues.”
My jaw dropped. I didn’t know the extent of Lillian’s “issues,” but there’s a difference between a psychic and a psychiatrist. I can’t predict tomorrow’s lottery numbers and I can’t solve deep-seated emotional problems, but I can give advice and hope. I can offer you support, but I can’t be your crutch. Similarly, if someone wants to see me as a medium – chances are if I bring the spirit of your father to you on Monday, he’s not going to have a lot more to say if you come back to see him on Wednesday. For this reason, I tell my clients who want to return that one reading every six months is fine.
“Y’know,” Lillian said after my explanation, “I thought five sessions was a bit excessive.”
Good girl, I thought. Don’t let anyone tell you what you need. Don’t surrender your power.
So, let’s recap by saying here are the signs that you’re dealing with a hocus-bogus scam artist:
• The person says you’re cursed, and that only she/he can remove this curse.
• The person wants a ridiculous amount of money for a session.
• The person says you need more sessions to clear up your problem.
• The person says you must buy what I call “mystical trinkets.”
• The person tells you that you have no power.
A quick note: I have given readings where I have suggested to clients that they might want to carry a crystal or a certain stone on their person to help ground them. I have also suggested books for clients to read, like Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life, or Wayne Dyer’s Your Sacred Self. But there’s a world of difference between a $5 stone, a $15 book that you can also get out of a library, and $62 candles that, after burning, are supposed to make you feel better. Believe me, I feel plenty great after burning a $2 vanilla-scented votive that you can pick up just about anywhere.
If you have any questions or comments on this subject or on any other spiritual matter, feel free to write me at mail @ carolynmolnar.com. And please visit me again!