When a psychic can't help: Information on psychic scams and frauds as well as resources for depression, suicide prevention, and domestic violence.

In either event, many psychics and non psychics alike who address the various types of fraud found in this profession tend to focus on the more intriguing cases. For instance, by now so many of us have seen or heard of the story on 20/20 about the gypsy fortune-teller who finds black bile, blood, bugs, or whatnot in an egg brought in by her client; whereupon the gypsy informs the client that what is contained in the egg verifies the existence of a "curse" that will require an exorbitant amount of money to remove.

This type of con is achieved by sleight-of-hand. The egg the client brings in is adeptly replaced by a pre polluted egg already in the gypsy's possession. Obviously, if the client could detect the replacement of the egg then the gypsy wouldn't be efficient at the scam. Otherwise, although on rare occasion strange "things" are found in untouched eggs, no ethical psychic or spellcaster would even remotely suggest this represents a curse the client must pay a fortune to be eradicated.

Additionally, few of these exposés offer help for the type of consumer inclined to succumb to such tactics to begin with (an individual who is depressed, desperate, suicidal, et al is more likely to be manipulated in such a manner). Therefore, this article focuses on the more subtle types of psychic and spell cons as well as providing resources (see links above) for those who would benefit more from mental/emotional health care or domestic violence assistance than a psychic or spellcaster.

No psychic or thaumaturgist (master of the magickal arts) can solve all of your problems - no matter how talented and sincere he or she may be - especially if you are suffering from a mental/emotional or behavioral disorder, serious illness, or involved in an abusive relationship. The majority of metaphysical professionals that I have encountered have been just that - professionals - who have possessed the highest ethical standards and a genuine desire to assist others. Still, I am well aware that (just as in any other profession) there are indeed some bad apples floating about; immoral and fraudulent individuals who prey on those who are in dire need of hope.

This is usually accomplished via making grandiose but impossible to fulfill promises, employing psychologically damaging scare tactics, charging inordinate fees, encouraging client dependency, and stroking the client's ego. Here is a list I compiled that you may find beneficial when seeking out a qualified psychic or thaumaturgist, whom I will simply refer to as "The Practitioner" regardless of the service being provided:

The Practitioner:

"Wow, there is so much negative energy around you/a curse on you! Only I can remove this for you for a fee of $_____." and "I see this terrible event arising, there is no way to stop it, unless you pay me $_____ to help you!"

You:

Run. First of all, no reading is etched in stone as that would negate free will. Although certain people and events may be predestined for this specific incarnation, these are based on a spiritual path that WE have chosen for ourselves. This means that we create our destiny and, as such, we do possess the means to change our lives for the better ourselves. Therefore, if a practitioner ever tells you that you cannot alter your present or future but that only he or she can then that's akin to saying, "I have more power over your life than you do," which is absurd.

Second, in most instances a "curse" is interpreted as encompassing any adverse conditions created as the result of one person using the "black arts" on another. Putting aside the fact that we are all subject to adverse conditions on occasion (as adversity can lead to greater personal and spiritual growth) we don't have to actually be the recipient of dark magick in order to experience negativity. All of our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions are comprised of energy and can have a profound impact on those around us as well as ourselves.

If we allow ourselves to then we can undergo certain periods in our lives in which we are susceptible to the influence of baser individuals or where we even send out our own little "curses" to others. Examples of these would be: A friend who moans and groans incessantly to the point where we feel completely drained, even depressed, at times. Or when we have thoughts to the effect of, "I hate that person! I hope their life is full of misery and woe!" We can also accrue negative karma as the result of our own words and deeds.

However, any of these are easy enough to remedy on our own! Suggestions would be: engage in creative visualizations, meditative exercises, and daily positive affirmations in order to attain balance, harmony, and peace within and around you. Do volunteer work. Say a kind word to another. Think thoughts of abundance and well-being for all. The list is endless but the point is loud and clear that if you choose to focus on your anger, pain, and sorrows then like will be inclined to gravitate toward you. Yet, if you choose to live in Love and of The Light then you will be surrounded by the blessings of Love and The Light.

By the same token, if you do indeed believe that black magick has been cast upon you - or that some other matter requires magickal assistance - you do have the option to seek a qualified psychic to confirm or refute your suspicions and/or a qualified High Priestess or Priest to perform a ritual on your behalf. Still, you don't have to use either of these professionals. You can simply utilize your own intuition and buy an inexpensive book on rituals so that you can create some magick of your own in your life ;-)

The Practitioner:

"Oh, no, dear. Please don't worry about breaking up your lover's marriage, devastating his wife, and ruining the lives of his children! As long as it's something you want then go for it! You deserve to be happy!" and "Yes, yes, all will come to be exactly as you desire! You'll see!" (when such claims are not based on genuine psychic impressions).

You:

I'd run, but you certainly have the option to seek consultations with immoral practitioners or those who "yes" you to death just to make you leave a reading session happy (irrespective of Universal truth). I don't judge clients' choices or actions and I love nothing more than to impart positive premonitory information, simultaneously, I am opposed to stroking a client's ego by either egging on less than honorable behavior (psychics who do this have their own issues to contend with as there's a big difference between being "non judgmental" and "encouraging" immorality) or by telling clients only what they want to hear if the psychic revelations I receive are contrary.

An example of the first case would be the psychic who has had an affair him or herself and, as such, makes statements to the client to the effect of, "Girlfriend, I had an affair, too, and it was the best thing I ever did! He's now my soulmate! You should think of yourself first and foremost! What would make you happy? Pursue that because nothing and no one else matters!" Sorry, but when I conduct reading sessions I have the attitude of, "Just the facts, ma'am." I will tell you the most likely outcome of an affair, good or bad. I am not going to tell you to either "go for it" or "drop it." That choice would be yours.

An example of the second case would be, "Honey, you can have anything you want! All will come to pass as you desire!" - even if the psychical input supports the complete opposite! Psychics who employ this latter methodology can establish repeated clientele easily enough (after all, who doesn't always want to hear that any and everything they want will come to be simply by sheer desire?). However, over time, such psychics usually end up with disgruntled customers when, in fact, they don't get all that they want.

The Practitioner:

"I have many degrees in metaphysics and the paranormal. I deserve to be paid $150 per consultation."

You:

Check it out, then maybe run. Education requires time, effort, and money. I do believe that a practitioner who has spent years educating themselves should be able to charge higher prices for their services. At the same time, even though owning certain degrees is impressive on the surface, this does not necessarily guarantee that the practitioner is truly knowledgeable or talented either.

There are some certifications that anyone can get as long as they pay the necessary fees - or not, lol. I was fascinated by this church I encountered years back called the Universal Life Church that offered to certify me as an ordained minister for free, with no studies or tests whatsoever. Likewise, one who is certified as a tarot master, for example, may possess full knowledge of the symbology behind each tarot card but simply not be skilled when it comes to drawing cards that apply to your future accurately. In this type of scenario it's always best to seek out testimonials or examples of readings or spells that verify the practitioner's ability to provide a good quality service or product.

In addition, as a general rule, most qualified practitioners (putting aside those who work for a company in which the company sets the rates or takes half the earnings, for example) do not charge more than $75 or so per hour. Anything beyond that, please investigate prior to making a purchase. Ask questions such as, "How long is the session?" If the session is going to be two hours or more in length then $150 is not unreasonable, yet, that still might be too expensive for the average client. Therefore, make sure you shop around so that you can find a psychic who accommodates your financial status.

At the same time, you usually do get what you pay for. In that, those $10 and $15 tarot readings are likely not going to be real lengthy, detailed, and simply astound you. If you want quality readings you are usually going to have to be willing to invest more. On a final note, yes, fame does have its perks! A "famous" psychic like Sylvia Browne can indeed charge several hundred dollars or more per session because that is what the public is willing to pay.

The Practitioner:

"In order for this spell to work, the spirits need money from you as a good-faith gesture. Lots of money..."

You:

Run. I cannot remember a spirit ever approaching me and demanding money! It's not like they need to purchase food, clothing, and residency. However, psychics and spellcasters do need money for said. This is how they earn their living. This is also why so many practitioners get frustrated with those persons who continually ask for "freebie" readings and spells, when those same persons would refuse to work their own job for free. In either event, whatever amount you give to the psychic or magickal practitioner you can rest assured that they are not going to be dividing it with ghosts. They will be using it to pay their own bills, business expenses, advertising costs, et al. because they need to live just like everyone else.

Additionally, I am still trying to ascertain how a spirit determines you have "faith in the universe" by asking you to part with significant sums of money when you are seeking a spell to enhance the financial prosperity in your life. Theoretically, that's an oxymoron. I mean, if you were seeking spellwork to enhance your health would you drink poison to prove your faith in the magick? Yikes! Hopefully not. It's true that giving to charities, for example, helps us accrue good karma but only because the intent is pure - to assist others - not to prove anything to anyone.

At any rate, NO spell is worth $120 or more unless it is a Seven Day Power Ritual or necessitates expensive ingredients, for instance, so tell the practitioner to jump on their broom and take a flying leap if he or she tries to charge you that much! The same price principles apply to spellwork as readings except that the practitioner may also reasonably charge for ingredients such as candles, oils, roots, and herbs. Which means, a spell should not typically exceed $75 for the work itself, plus usually $15-$20 for the ingredients (again, save for hard to procure items which are more costly but vital to the success of the spell).

A spell can require a great deal of energy so it is extremely rare that a practitioner would spend more than an hour on a singular spell. Even if I tell a client I spent an hour on their spell that also includes preparation/clean-up time and the time necessary to type/edit the report I send to them afterward. Here, too, certain spells might be too costly for the average client so shop around and be sure to ask what you will be getting for your money. Yet, bear in mind that - just as with readings - the extremely cheap spells for $15 may not produce great results.

The Practitioner:

"I certainly hope you do not do anything without consulting me first! I think it would be best if you scheduled an appointment with me as often as possible."

You:

Run. This is a major yuck with me. Of course all of these scams distress me but for some reason I have the utmost aversion to a practitioner creating an atmosphere of dependency with a client. The practitioner should always encourage you to make your own decisions, and should discourage those clients who have the tendency of becoming too dependent on readings and spells. One client might need a metaphysical consultation or ritual but once every six months, whereas, another might prefer guidance more frequently.

As a general rule, however, not more than once per week for a reading and once to two times per month for a spell is usually sufficient. It's common sense that - just as one cannot exercise for a month and expect dramatic, lifelong results with no further exercise - so, too, "booster" spellwork might be required in some instances. Likewise, certain situations with loved ones or other trying dilemmas can alter sufficiently enough to warrant more than one psychic reading a week, for example.

Yet, the most important thing to remember is that it should be YOUR choice. If any practitioner starts talking about pre scheduling frequent spells and/or reading sessions with you against your desire or if he/she attempts to manipulate you into thinking you are incapable of making your own decisions and solving your own problems - drop that practitioner like a hot potato! Psychics and spellcasters are intended to enhance our lives, not take control of our lives for us.

The Practitioner:

"I am the Grand Pooh-Bah of all psychics!" "I am always 100% accurate!" or "I satisfy all clients!" or "I have incredible powers! I can cast a spell to cure your disease, make you filthy rich, force your lover to return..." (Hey, can you part the Red Sea and walk on water, too? Ahem).

You:

Run. I make a point of never making any outrageous claims to anyone regarding my psychic and magickal abilities. No one can always be 100% accurate (save for God/dess) or satisfy all clients because in the latter case some clients are very displeased if a psychic is just honest with them, "No, I don't receive confirmation that George is going to return to you," for instance. Likewise, I am vehemently opposed to forcing a former lover to return to a client or compelling a current lover to commit to a client. Why? Because any spell a client requests and any spell I perform for a client affects both of our karma. Such magick is considered the violation of another individual's free will and, therefore, a karmic no-no. Would you want someone you find unappealing to make you love them (even if this won't last indefinitely)?

It's not only misleading but emotionally unhealthy to encourage clients to use spells in order to control others, yet, you will find such claims all over the Internet, "I can make your lover come back! Guaranteed!" However, irrespective of the fact that I receive numerous complaints from clients who buy such rituals from other practitioners because the magick turns out to be entirely ineffective, the fact is that using "Control Magick" only lasts for so long anyway. The only time it is acceptable to violate the free will of others ritually is when doing Protection Magick in order to defend yourself or others from attack.

Otherwise, if a partner truly desires to be with you, yet, he/she is fearful of commitment, then a spell geared toward helping him/her overcome this obstacle can work wonderfully. On the other hand, if a partner really does not want to be with you then forcing him/her to do so anyway would not only create a "false" love but would only endure for a limited duration because eventually their free will will dictate who they are romantically involved with - not you and not any spellcaster.

You know the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is? Well, that's definitely applicable to this type of scenario where a practitioner expresses that he or she is omnipotent (possesses God/dess-like powers). It's an awesome gift to inspire hope and faith in others but it's shameful to mislead people by boasting of having abilities that are equivalent to those of our Higher Power.

Pay careful attention to the wording the practitioner uses. Saying, "I am a reiki master and I can contribute to your healing," is perfectly acceptable. However, saying, "I am a reiki master and can cure you of your terminal cancer," is a no-no. A thaumaturgist who claims, "I can assist with alleviating your financial burdens and increasing the financial abundance in your life," is acceptable. But a thaumaturgist who professes, "I can make you filthy rich! You will never have to worry about money ever again!" is full hooey. If they had such powers, they wouldn't need to sell spells in the first place!

Please remember that PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is essential in life. Although these practitioners must take responsibility for their unethical promises and behavior, likewise, you must also take responsibility for how you spend your hard earned money. Be wise and investigate prior to making a purchase whether it be for psychic services, auto repairs, medical treatment, and on into infinity.

Blessings...

And take care of you!

Morgana

Copyright © 2000; Revised 2005 Morgana T. Taylor