Not long ago, I had a woman come in for a reading.  Well-dressed, educated, well-spoken  — and absolutely terrified.  It seems that she’d been to another reader earlier in the week, and was told that she’d been “cursed.”  She hemmed, hawed, tried to laugh it off, because, really, who believes in those things….

Yeah, she could've really used a Xanax.
And this was after a couple Xanax.

But as much as she struggled to brush it away, she was quietly freaked out.  Then she handed me a small piece of amethyst crystal and told me that the reader had promised her that this stone would help start to dissolve the curse. Operative word, “start” — she’d need new ones to keep it going (of course).  This little stone sold in our store for five bucks;  that reader had charged her — wait for it — four hundred American dollars.  And she’d paid it!

And it was about this size, too.  Pitiful.
And it was about this size, too. Pitiful.

Well, I spent the better part of our session comforting her, telling her that there are no such things as curses, except to the extent we let someone else in our head.  It’s a strong suggestion that we take to heart, and ultimately, make happen. A “curse” is the ultimate way of giving your power over to someone else.  And sadly, there are some who know how to work it like a drag queen on the runway.

"You betta work...."
“You betta work….”

These unethical readers can be very good at conning people (its too damn bad they don’t put those dodgy people skills to a good use).  They know how to zero in on your soft white underbelly.  Four hundred dollars later, you’re wondering what happened and feeling like a world-class idiot.

They'd be so much easier to spot if they really dressed like this.  But they don't.
They’d be so much easier to spot if they really dressed like this. But they don’t.

Please don’t blame yourself.  When you come for a reading, you’re at least a little bit vulnerable.  There’s something going on in your life that you need help with.  If someone’s going to take advantage of that, just know that there’s a special place in Hell reserved for them (its located next to that person who bores you to tears with pictures of their license-plate collecting hobby. Only here, you can never get away!)

My rule is this:  it’s perfectly acceptable to pay a fee for a reading. You’re paying for the reader’s time, energy and talent.  But once they start tacking on “extras” or giving you a sense that your life will totally derail without there special help, leave.  One of the cardinal rules of the metaphysical world is that we all have free will; a reading should encourage you to use it to advance your life in a positive direction.  Every esoteric system that I know of also emphasizes embracing one’s own power — so if someone is attempting to make you feel powerless, dependent, helpless, frightened, tell them to pound sand.  They don’t have your best interest at heart, just your wallet.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation,  don’t beat yourself up: take it as a reminder from the Universe to embrace your own power and not give it over to a psychic.  Or anyone, for that matter (as in crappy bosses, loudmouthed partners or your bitchy mother).

As for that store-front swindler that freaked out so many of my clients, well, she suddenly moved on.  I hear the cops shut her down (ya think?); unfortunately for her — and anyone like her — the Universal Cop will also come calling at some point, as well.   And no 400-dollar crystal will help them.

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2 Comments

  1. I truly agree with everything your wrote. It’s terible what people do to others with lies and cheating.I am in the same paranormal field and I use compassion because of wanting to be treated the same way by others. I also do a lot of readings for nothing to help people help and believe in themselves and their angelic/heavenly guides. But what goes around comes around eventually.

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