Professional Psychics

There are many valid reasons for seeking out professional psychics. You may need a second opinion of your own readings, or have difficulty reading for yourself. You may simply need an outsider's opinion about an ongoing issue. Or you may just need guidance you can't find elsewhere. Whatever the reason you seek out a reader, there are certain things you need to be aware of before you begin.

Professional Psychic Readers To Avoid

There has been a vast increase in visibility among professional readers and intuitives in recent years. Unfortunately, most of this visibility has come with negative news stories attached to it. Far too many so-called professionals misrepresent who they are or where they learned their skills. This is mostly due to the fact that there is no reliable way to verify these claims. Unfortunately, the worst offenders also seem to be those with the highest advertising budgets.

Most intuitives use some sort of tool when trying to see into the past or future. There are a few professionals who work without these tools (some say "without crutches"). I am generally very leery of these individuals, for several reasons.

First off, I am a firm believer in "the right tool for the right job". As an extreme example, I wouldn't try to hammer a nail into wood with my bare hands, although some people claim to. Even if there are people who work hard enough to do so, most who demonstrate it have a small tool hidden in the palm of their had. The difficulty lies in distinguishing between the rare few who have worked hard to hone their talents and those who are trying to appear more impressive than they are. The same is true of psychics.

Cold Reading

There are stage tricks that can give one the appearance of these abilities. The most common of these is "cold reading". In this is a technique, the performer asks vague and leading questions, reading the body language of the audience members as a guide to how close to the truth they are. This type of performer is to true intuitives what stage magicians are to true witches. The put on a very entertaining show, but never reveal anything the audience didn't already know.

This cold reading technique is taught in some sales and business courses, and is used by some psychological therapists. It can sometimes be exactly what the client needs when visiting a professional reader. What I object to are those who use only this technique and do not train their intuition. Luckily, the vast majority of these remain honest, and truly do want to help or entertain their clients. And the vast majority of those who do this only for entertainment rather than spiritual guidance are very up front about it.

Con Artists in Disguise

More dangerous and insidious than these readers, however, are so-called professionals (really con artists) who will abuse their position to create a dependency on them. There are far too many con artists who will insist that you are cursed or doomed unless you follow their advise - and only their advise. They charge greater and greater amounts of money for their services, finding more and more dire treats to your well-being.

Anyone who advises you against this con artist is said to be a new threat, cursing you, or an "energy vamp" who must be immediately removed from your life. When you run out of money, or try bargaining for lower rates, the con artist will abandon you, giving you some bizarre reason for it (the real reason is they want to find someone who still has a good deal of money). This is the type of behavior that creates a massive negative image of all metaphysical practitioners in the eyes of the general public.

If you are ever with a psychic (or anyone else) and they insist that they, and only they, can help you - for a cost - find out what they think should be done. An ethical psychic will tell you. If they insist that only they can help - RUN! Run far and fast, and warn everyone you know away from them.

Professional Intuitives - Finding a Good Psychic

So, now that you've read the horror stories, should you avoid all professional intuitives and readers? Of course not! There are many good and ethical readers out there. The negative and dangerous are exceptionally rare, but they are dangerous enough that you deserved a fair warning about them.

The secret to finding a good reader is patience. You will have to spend some money. This is only fair - even psychics have to eat, right? You will want to find someone you feel will keep you secrets safe, and that you can confide in. You also want someone who will tell you the uncomfortable truth when necessary. Here are a few simple do's and don't for finding a good intuitive reader:

• DO keep an open mind. Just because the answers you want aren't given, it doesn't mean what you are told is not true
• DON'T question your reader's interpretation of a tool just because it differs from yours - these are not your tools
• DO ask questions about how the intuitive works. Most are happy to discuss their life's passion!
• DON'T play "trick the psychic". Much like lying to your doctor, you only hurt yourself - and you'll most likely be found out anyway. Some professionals take a very humorless view of this, and will refuse to do any further business with you.
• DON'T ask about specific dates in the future
• DO have questions ready to be asked when you walk in.

As always, trust your own intuition when it comes to picking a reader. Even if there is no danger, even if they are fully ethical and the most powerful in the world, if you are not comfortable with them, they will not work well for you.

Finding Psychic Readers Online

Even if your hometown has few or no professional intuitives, you can still find good and ethical readers online. Although most remote readings are by telephone, there are some services that offer email and Live Chat readings online.

LivePerson offers Psychic readings in several categories as well as advisors for spells and spiritual issues. This service also has advisors in more mundane aspects of life.

Keen offers advise for independent psychic readers by phone or email.

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