John Edward rocks. I like the guy, he seems very down-to-earth and honest. I think John Edward is a great psychic, and has helped millions of people understand spirits' and the afterlife/other side better. You can read some of his newest popular book, One Last Time, here:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0425166929/ref=sib_rdr_next1_3/102-9433382-8928103?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S00L&ns=1#reader-page

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0425166929/ref=cm_rev_sort/102-9433382-8928103?customer-reviews.sort_by=-OverallRating&x=1&y=12&s=books

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0749919795/customer-reviews/ref=cm_rev_sort/202-3779269-0416664?show=-rating&Go.x=16&Go.y=3&Go=Go


If you guys' want an honest book about spirits and the Other Side, you need to get this book. I couldn't put it down. Right off the bat, the least thing you'll get out of it is that John is a real person. Each chapter is down-to-earth and mind-boggling at the same time. At the end of the book, he gives advice on how to develope your own psychic skills and a visualation technique for meditating which could even lead to an astral projection.

In one chapter, he speaks of a spirit (astral/celestial body), talking to him from a distance in Frence during his honeymoon with some hot high school chick I believe. It was honest and mind-boggling at the same time. He writes as if spirits in the spirit dimensions, God, and the Other Side is as normal as birds flying by outside. It will make you believe we have been alive forever in the spirit world and will be for eternity. My girlfriend read the book and she said it felt like someone hit her with a spiritual/Heavenly hammer.

If anyone has an interest in spirits, astral travel, the spirit world/other side, God, ect, you must read John Edward's newest book. Just check out the great 5-star reviews it got on Amazon.com websites. It's a really cheap book and I bought mine for $8 bucks at the mall. Thanks. :) ;)

Thanks for the review.  Maybe his book his better than his TV show:

 Um,   "I'm thinking of a number  - "3"  Yes "3"  and the letter "d" is coming in loud and clear from this part of the audience.   "My son Doug died at age 3, it must be him."  "No wait, my wife Diane had 3 daughters, it must be her."  

What a gift.

Compare that kind of "cold reading," to George Anderson, who sketches but comes across with complete conversations and sentences!  Day and night difference.

Matthew

Every psychic perceives the spirit world differently.  Why do they have to do readings according to what WE want? Or what WE think is acceptable.

Namaste,
Mairlyn ;-)

wrote on Feb 6^th, 2006 at 12:59pm:

Every psychic perceives the spirit world differently.  Why do they have to do readings according to what WE want? Or what WE think is acceptable. Namaste, Mairlyn ;-)

Because they charge 800 pounds per conversation  ;D

Its true that every psychic may get different impressions or communications.  But come on.  Watch Crossing over, and see him stand in front of an audience.  "I'm getting a "d" name or a number "4".  Add that in to an audience desparate to have it be them and well you get the idea.

If you want to put yourself on TV and do that, you should be a lot better than the guessing or "cold reading," technique that Edwards shows.  George Anderson, Leslie Flynt and others have either channeled spirits in literal conversations, or related conversations back.

If John Edwards didn't seek notoriety with a syndicated TV show (Crossing Over), I would be a lot less tough on him, though I suspect Spitfire would not.  

So, Marilyn you are right (as usual), in that psychics don't have to have the same mode of operating or hear complete conversations, etc.  But this guy puts himself out there in the limelight.

Matthew

wrote on Feb 6^th, 2006 at 1:46pm:

Its true that every psychic may get different impressions or communications.  But come on.  Watch Crossing over, and see him stand in front of an audience.  "I'm getting a "d" name or a number "4".  Add that in to an audience desparate to have it be them and well you get the idea. If you want to put yourself on TV and do that, you should be a lot better than the guessing or "cold reading," technique that Edwards shows.  George Anderson, Leslie Flynt and others have either channeled spirits in literal conversations, or related conversations back. If John Edwards didn't seek notoriety with a syndicated TV show (Crossing Over), I would be a lot less tough on him, though I suspect Spitfire would not.   So, Marilyn you are right (as usual), in that psychics don't have to have the same mode of operating or hear complete conversations, etc.  But this guy puts himself out there in the limelight. Matthew

The biggest problem that I can see with modern day mediums is that their money-making egos obscure their gift.

It shows you how Flint and Anderson are few and far between, although there may be more mediums like them who keep a low profile

Actually, Jambo, Anderson charges near 1200.00 per reading, although I think he does charitable work and also lets 4 or 5 family members come together for around 2000.00 American dollars.  

He is, perhaps one of the best mediums in the world, and he charges like it.

wrote on Feb 6^th, 2006 at 2:51pm:

Actually, Jambo, Anderson charges near 1200.00 per reading, although I think he does charitable work and also lets 4 or 5 family members come together for around 2000.00 American dollars.   He is, perhaps one of the best mediums in the world, and he charges like it.

Are you telling me that if you were a good medium you would not use your gift to make your life more financially secure?

They're only human at the end of the day  :)

I am rethinking money and money matters.  We are all brought up to think "money is the root of all evil."  Images of Judas' blood money given to betray Christ.  So it seems, that anyone with a gift for mediumship should share it with the masses, right?

No, actually I think that while a great medium should do volunteer/charitable work, and help the masses, they should charge for their services.  I don't begrudge them this, even if I could not afford it.  Making it reasonable makes sense to me.  

Evenso, they are living on earth too.  If they charge 1200.00, I won't be seeing them any time soon, but more power to them.  If they charge that much, they better do more than shout out "I see the number 4!"

Matthew

Spit wrote:

Quote:

Because they charge 800 pounds per conversation

So every psychic/medium is supposed to change the way they perceive according to the way YOU want it?  It just doesn't work that way.  That's why there's forums like this where one can learn to contact the other side themselves.

Namaste,
Mairlyn  ;D

Marilyn is right, SF.   Our expectations won't change how a medium perceives.  

The J. Edwards thing for me is about him showcasing/showboating on "Crossing Over."  If he wants the attention of a syndicated show, then he will be up against more scrutiny by some.


M

Hey,

what we have to remember however good or bad is these people are giving people hope and faith and whatever way they are doing it its helping. We know there is some kind of exsistance after death but too many who can't find for themselves, or rather don't know how too yet its a relief and a welcomed thought and its exciting and joyful so their work is good.

I must admit some i wouldn't want to see because all they do is employ the cold reading technique and although this helps some people it isn't real and therefore defeats the object, plus too many who can see through this it adds another chink in the amour of not believing.

i honestly believe John Edwards in a genuine medium, but like said before everyones skill is different, not everyone can communicate to spirit in a normal conversation, some get images so therefore I don't think "abilities" differ, as they can all communicate but i guess i don't know what they word is but some have the level required to be able to communicate at ease.

i like the comparison of Bass playing (or any instrument its just i'm a bass player lol). So for example there are many bands out their who have bassist awho are good at their instrument, and can play and the song is good and many people like. But there are some (victor Wooten and Flea - sorry massive Red hot chili peppers fan here) who know how to communicate in notes like we do in words and can play what they what an have amazing skill and can put this across. Both have abilities but some are more special that others. Thats down to innate talent and skill and commitment and lots of learning and practice. I hope that bit makes sense!

I do agree freuds should be banned, but not everyone is because they cant communicate clearly as the rest. I do like John Edwards he seems very sincere and humble in his approach, even if his abilites aren't as direct as others.

Also a post before about his being a showman in another thread, to some extents yes but then some people prefer to be less in the public eye (even though they still are) like Gordan Smith (sorry i think thats his name, just seems wrong for some reason). But others like John Edwards by having his own TV show has communcated the message to millions, and I think this is worthy of praise. Specially under pressure when he "has" to get something for the show which i think is where this cold reading shows a little. We all know communication can be rough sometimes, like on our mobiles, not always so clear.

i think we need to look at both sides and see where they are coming from. I hope my point has come across in this once again way too long post lol.

Ryan

wrote on Feb 6^th, 2006 at 2:56pm:

Are you telling me that if you were a good medium you would not use your gift to make your life more financially secure? They're only human at the end of the day  :)

This is an easy question.  I would make money with my gift by using it to make winning investments with inisider info or win an occasional lotto, not charge those who may be desparate for help.  I would accept gifts from them, but not ask for anything.  Giving someone other than what they expect for the same $ not only gives psychics a bad name, it rips off the person seeking help because now they have useless information, or should I say information that has too many interpretations to be useful.  Charging for readings is not good for the karma imho.  Be more like the street muscian, open your guitar case and start playing - if you're any good, the money will come on its own.

The meaning was, the more someone charges the more you expect from them.

At 800 pounds an hour, i would expect him, to do tap dancing while communicating with my dead relative.

what do i expect, from a psychic? good question, we all want the same thing, dam good evidence.

i see a d and a 4, type of evidence, is pants.

i have a young man here by the name of fred, died in a car crash, your his mother doris ar'nt you? he said look after jim his old jack russel, is very good.

Evidence is evidence. It speaks all language's.

Why cant all psychics give evidence like gordon smith? almost anyone can be taught to drive a car?

i'll tell ye why, because almost all of them are completely fake, devoid of talent, blood sucking vampires, who leech off your grief.

Keep in mind, the customer is always right!

Craig,  

Go get 'em.  I agree with your sentiment but acknowledge certain exceptions.   For those, stay tuned to my medium thread.   Recently a woman went to a medium who implied that I was a positive spiritual influence for her.   I still wish the woman had not gone.   Too many traps and pitfalls, like getting accurate predictions about trivial things, predictions that set the sitter up for depressing disappointments when the major events predicted prove to be flim flam.

Don

Spit have you ever noticed that the greatest mediums are few and far between?

What does that tell you?

Beserk you are sassuming that mediums are like carnival gypsies who predict the future.

Most honest mediums that I know of would not even try to predict the future as the future is not set in concrete however certain mediums can "advise" a person if they are heading towards something.

Jambo,

In my experience, many mediums routinely try to predict the future,  with mixed results that badly confuse and even terrify their clients.  The greatest mediums who have been rigorously studied also display precognitive talent and I will later be posting on this research in my medium thread.  

Just one personal anecdote.   When I was a doctoral student,  I reluctantly accompanied my date to the New England Flower Show (not my cup of tea, I must say!).   To my surprise, I noticed a Tarot Card reader sitting next ot a playing card reader.   My date sneared, "What a bunch of crap!" and moved on to inspect more flowers. Already "flowered out", I decided to give these readers a shot.   The Tarot Card reader charged $35 and the other gal charged just $5; so I chose her.   I drew 3 boring cards from her deck.  The first thing she said was, "Well, I'd sure dump that chick!"   This amused me because I think she had overheard my date's disparaging remark about card readers.   The reader then made two predictions: (1) that I was good with children and would soon be actively working with them; (2) that in the next few days I'd get a job offer from an exotic place, which I'd be well advised to decline.  

Both predictions seemed absurd.  I was a busy grad student and the last thing I wanted was the distraction of working with a bunch of little brats.  I was single and wanted no children.  The second prediction also seemed silly. I was working on my dissertation and had not even applied for a job.  I'm sure the card reader sensed my skepticism.

Two days later, I received a job offer to for a summer professorship at a university in St. John's, Newfoundland, a job for which a professor had recommended me.   I turned it down because I was not sufficiently close to completing my dissertation to leave Cambridge.   But Newfoundland seems like a pretty exotic place by my standards.

A few days later, I received a call from my thesis advisor pressing me for an overdue chapter.  I made the usual excuses, but soon realized that he was just manipulating me to comply with an unrelated request.  He was the commisioner of the local youth soccer federation.   He knew I had played soccer in Canada and asked if I'd be willing to coach an under-12 boys' team.   This was the last thing I wanted to do, but how could I refuse my thesis advisor.  

My 3-year experience of coaching those boys was one of the highlights of my life.   They all became like sons to me.   We eventually made it to the county final for Greater Boston.   Again, the card reader's prection proved correct.  In retrospect, I'm in awe over her gift and wish I could track her down to thank her.  Yes, I know she was a card reader and not a medium.  But I consider these two gifts to be related.

Don

wrote on Feb 6^th, 2006 at 11:54am:

Thanks for the review.  Maybe his book his better than his TV show: Um,   "I'm thinking of a number  - "3"  Yes "3"  and the letter "d" is coming in loud and clear from this part of the audience.   "My son Doug died at age 3, it must be him."  "No wait, my wife Diane had 3 daughters, it must be her."   What a gift.

John Edward does NOT give a reading like that. You're just saying something dumb like that because South Park on TV called Edward a fraud. I'm sure you had the cartoon in your mind when writing that most.

John Edward in real life usually talks about specific names and sometimes events accociated with the family/person he is reading. He even brings up specific objects the person's family has in their house or purses sometimes.

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 2:27am:

John Edward does NOT give a reading like that. You're just saying something dumb like that because South Park on TV called Edward a fraud. I'm sure you had the cartoon in your mind when writing that most. John Edward in real life usually talks about specific names and sometimes events accociated with the family/person he is reading. He even brings up specific objects the person's family has in their house or purses sometimes.

I think matt, was just using his tv show "crossing over" more then anything to base his judgement upon him, and while it may seem impressive at the time, but his style of psychicness if probley one of the easiest styles of cold reading.

I dont think he could match up to the like of gordon smith, not to mention "crossing over" will have alot of the bits he does'nt get right chopped out from it. [standard proceedure]

Did you see him in real life?

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 4:49am:

Did you see him in real life?

I know of friends who went to see John Edward years ago in NYC, and they got a great reading. That's what interested me in the afterlife to start with.

I somehow doubt Mr. Edward would be so popular and on TV if he wasn't a good psychic.

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 5:05am:

I know of friends who went to see John Edward years ago in NYC, and they got a great reading. That's what interested me in the afterlife to start with. I somehow doubt Mr. Edward would be so popular and on TV if he wasn't a good psychic.

True, and to be honest I am not in a position to make a fair judgement on Edward.

Does anybody know of weblinks that have videos of Edward?

Ryan,

I have never seen South Park's episode.  I have seen about ten episodes of Crossing Over.  He does things exactl like described.  His technique is called "cold readings," and it may be real in his case, but it is a notoriously easy con.

In college in a psychology class, we were each given a fake secret reading that was "psychic" said to be crafted to our birthdates.  In reality, everyone got the same reading.  Everyone rated the accuracy, and surprisingly the entire class gave high marks to the psychic.  The readings were designed that way.  Statements crafted to please anyone.  "You are fun and outgoing, although you can be introspective or shy at times.  "You have a great sense of humor, but you won't laugh at just anything."  The demonstration showed people how, if they are told things they want to hear by an "authority," may validate it in their own mind.

With regard to Edwards, he has had some good validations about family heirlooms, etc.  However, my point about his large readings was that it is unfair in some ways to say "I'm getting the letter L, is there anyone here with an L in the audience?"

Deanna, who saw a man in church who said her grandfather was there right then and there and mentioned the peg legged chicken had a much more affirming reading.

Do I think John Edwards is a fraud?  No.  But his patchy communications are not for my taste; there are far better mediums out there like George Anderson, if you want a real full conversation reading.

M

Actually, Ryan, I was thinking of it, and want to put it another way.  I don't doubt that Edwards may have a good gift.  But if you are going to mass market this on television, you should be the best of the best, or people will not believe it.  We are at a cross roads where science and spirituality are trying to meet.  

If someone could show a truly verifiable afterlife, it would profoundly change life on earth.  Many would think twice about their purpose, and about inflicting harm, or other negative things.  

So when Edwards cold reads "the number 7 is coming in loud and clear," part of me wants to tell him to not make it so vague if he is in front of cameras.  

He was on a special once with either two or three other mediums who were all tested with the same people to read, and all came up with similar communications.  I forget who filmed it, but it was quite well done.  

He also told a person once that after his daughter died, he was in a train rest stop, and crying and took some bubblegum she loved and squished it into a wall as a tribute to her (bizarre), but this was verified by the father.  So yeah, he may have a gift.  But publicizing the cold readings of numbers or letters does not impress much.

Matthew

I have to agree with the general opinion here that mediums are not all the same in how they receive information.  Sure, J Edwards is a bit of a showman, but so what?  The guy at least had opened the minds and hearts of thousands of people to the idea that they too can communicate with their loved ones that have moved on to spirit.  Just that in itself is worthwhile IMHO.  

He has managed to raise the consciousness vibration of so many people and that's really the point isn't it?  To raise the consciousness of the masses to better understand themselves and their spirituality.  He's making it okay to believe in the spiritual, regardless of the listener's personal spiritual practices, they are understanding it's possible.  That is what's important.

Blessings,
happygrl

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 12:44pm:

I have to agree with the general opinion here that mediums are not all the same in how they receive information.  Sure, J Edwards is a bit of a showman, but so what?  The guy at least had opened the minds and hearts of thousands of people to the idea that they too can communicate with their loved ones that have moved on to spirit.  Just that in itself is worthwhile IMHO.   He has managed to raise the consciousness vibration of so many people and that's really the point isn't it?  To raise the consciousness of the masses to better understand themselves and their spirituality.  He's making it okay to believe in the spiritual, regardless of the listener's personal spiritual practices, they are understanding it's possible.  That is what's important. Blessings, happygrl

But what if he's fake? does he have the right to screw with peoples grief?

say you lost a leg, would it be ok for me to tell you your going to regrow a new one in a week, and find out i was lieing? and that i charged to a fortune for that lie?.

How does, communication with the afterlife, raise your conscious vibration?

For every psychic whos geniune, theres 1000 who ar'nt, the full area is full of bogus people with false face's.

When a psychic go's live in front of a crowd of 100,000 people, gives up wealth, and does readings purely to prove they can contact the dead, then it's worth listening/putting your faith into them.

If i could see the afterlife, and i could understand all the hippie love power that goes on there, why would i be intrested in gaining material posessions?

Spirtualness, is looking beyond the physical and embracing a higher cause, almost all psychics are the complete opposite, money bleeding vampires, with no talents.

John edwards, aint as bad as most by a long shot, but theres something fishy about his readings.

i think john edwards is a very genuine medium and gordon smith as well i trust every word they say and derek acorah as well and its right what mari said all phycics see the spirit world in a different aspect ,its how they see it  and they tell us how they see it i dont have to pay the mediums i see  at the spiritualist church  and i,ve had some very genuine messages  deanna

One of my daughters had 2 co-workers who went to see John Edwards. Out of 3,000 people there, he tuned in on spirits that were there for the 2 co-workers. They said it was absolutely amazing as he couldn't have known anything about them before hand. I truly believe in him. ;-)

Love, Mairlyn ;-)

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 2:35pm:

i think john edwards is a very genuine medium and gordon smith as well i trust every word they say and derek acorah as well and its right what mari said all phycics see the spirit world in a different aspect ,its how they see it  and they tell us how they see it i dont have to pay the mediums i see  at the spiritualist church  and i,ve had some very genuine messages  deanna

derek acorah is definetly fake,

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16303507&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=spooky-truth--name_page.html

I gotta say this is starting to go round in circles now. Everyone has their personal opinions and I think this is getting in the way now of what is actually going on.

These people have gifts, some are better than others, doesn't mean those who aren't as good aren't in contact. Also communication isn't always perfect so sometimes they may be off. They are under pressure specially John Edwards with a TV show and a reputation to live up to on it. We can argue whos fake and whos not but at the end of the day i think happygrl summed it up the best.

Also I believe have a medium come through for you does raise your vibration, you start to accept, you look positive. If we look at in in a non spiritual kind of way, a person who always moans, complains more than likely has a lot of bad stuff happen to them. By being positive and not letting people get to you, helping others, doing what you enjoy raises your vibrations up (remember im not refering to spiritual here) and well guess i dont need to go on.

These people have helped... whether we care to admit or not and we gotta be thankful, the world is changing, hopefully for the better although with recent events it doesn't seem like for a long time yet...

Ryan

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 4:01pm:

I gotta say this is starting to go round in circles now. Everyone has their personal opinions and I think this is getting in the way now of what is actually going on. These people have gifts, some are better than others, doesn't mean those who aren't as good aren't in contact. Also communication isn't always perfect so sometimes they may be off. They are under pressure specially John Edwards with a TV show and a reputation to live up to on it. We can argue whos fake and whos not but at the end of the day i think happygrl summed it up the best. Also I believe have a medium come through for you does raise your vibration, you start to accept, you look positive. If we look at in in a non spiritual kind of way, a person who always moans, complains more than likely has a lot of bad stuff happen to them. By being positive and not letting people get to you, helping others, doing what you enjoy raises your vibrations up (remember im not refering to spiritual here) and well guess i dont need to go on. These people have helped... whether we care to admit or not and we gotta be thankful, the world is changing, hopefully for the better although with recent events it doesn't seem like for a long time yet... Ryan

You are missing the point ryan, almost all these people dont have "any" gifts, and because they have no talents, they get there kicks from supposedly contacting peoples dead relatives.

Now, it's my personal oppinion, that you do not mess around with peoples grief, it's taboo. If i told you, that your gonna be dead next week, and you believed me, you sell your house, gave all your money to charity and by the time next week comes and somehow you survived, id taken your cash, sold you a lie and you have no posessions and no were to live, you would be beyond pissed, am i right? thats what fake psychics do, but they do that with peoples emotions, and the worst part is, the suckers charge you for this dis-honour.

Alot of mediums, abuse there body's, with drink and cigarettes and food, and yet they have higher vibrations then someone who  has the will power to resist temptations?

while, i agree a positive attitude is very useful, someone who has been beaten down by circumstances beyond there control, does not deserve to have more bad stuff to happen to them.
Until you experience what they have been through, i would'nt judge so harshly.

Have psychics helped people? i think so, does the number of fake frauds operating do more dmg then the good psychics do? i believe they easily do.

The world is full of selfish people, seeing goodness in every situation, is likely to lead to a world of pain.

Life is a casino, you play the odds, you have a choice wether you put all your chips on 1 number, or you be smart and put a few chips on each.

Look at mediums as a whole, to get the best perspective, instead of looking at one, and saying there the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Toodle pip.
Craig

the spiritualist church i go to has a medium eyery week and they do it for nothing stephen who is a very genuine medium charges 10 pounds for a private reading which he gives to charity and he also records the reading on tape for you  god bless juditha

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 5:31pm:

Look at mediums as a whole, to get the best perspective, instead of looking at one, and saying there the greatest thing since sliced bread. Craig

I have craig, and there are many bad apples in the basket.  But how can you explain the talents of mediums such as Gordon Smith, Leslie Flint, Helen Duncan, Doris Stokes and hundreds of others like them who have not pursued fame and fortune.

Then again mediums like Smith could be having us all on and could be extremely good at cold reading?

Have you ever thought the reason why most mediums avoid sharing their abilities?

Its because they would be scoffed at with a big scoffing stick.  Most people adopt the Rhandi style of judgement where as if one mediums fake the rest are which of course is bull.

But you cant make an exception for one and an exception for the rest as like you said with the bible, you can't believe one thing and not believe another.

Randi is a pathetic skeptic. Infact it is a shame that the word is associtated with the way he works.

He's drive to disprove anything is a kind of madness in a way. He is as dishonest as any of the biggest fraudulant mediums *cough Derek Acorah cough*. Yet he becomes more popular as he becomes more dishonest.

That is the real problem. Dishonesty/popularity for a skeptic seems to yield exponential growth, but the true result should be that of a dishonest medium where dishonesty should result is descrediting.

However, on the subject of "dodgy" mediums, I hate the argument some people make that "yeah ok he may be a show man but if he makes people feel better then its ok". So does that mean if I pump you full of the drug ecstasy its ok? Its an illusion but you feel great so wheres the problem.

No. people who gain trust and honesty (Bruce Moen good example) deserve to be listened to.
People who are deemed dishonest should not be allowed to carry on.

The thing i dont get is now on before a programme like John Edwards starts now we get a "this is entertainment only" message. What does that mean?

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2006 at 8:14pm:

I have craig, and there are many bad apples in the basket.  But how can you explain the talents of mediums such as Gordon Smith, Leslie Flint, Helen Duncan, Doris Stokes and hundreds of others like them who have not pursued fame and fortune. Then again mediums like Smith could be having us all on and could be extremely good at cold reading? Have you ever thought the reason why most mediums avoid sharing their abilities? Its because they would be scoffed at with a big scoffing stick.  Most people adopt the Rhandi style of judgement where as if one mediums fake the rest are which of course is bull. But you cant make an exception for one and an exception for the rest as like you said with the bible, you can't believe one thing and not believe another.

People who dont share ability's either, dont believe in there own skills [thus theres no point we should believe in them], or they are cowards.

Evidence speaks for itself, Make the skeptics look like tits, by proving them wrong.

I think randi goes overboard, but then again he's probley seen more fake psychics then anyone.

Unlike the bible, you can recreate evidence, based on mediums. You can verify claims yourself,but then again, i can say mediums as a whole are a bunch of bums, who leech off people's grief, with the exception of a few, who ive researched/seen myself and i have belief in there ability's.

Ok fair enough oviously the majority are fake but we dont know really whos being true or cold reading (apart form the ovious cases). Thats what i meant in going round in circles discussing this.

I dont really follow pyschics as i wouldnt like to believe someone telling me im gonna be dead in a week because exactly, what if it was wrong, ive lost everything including my 30 quid or whatever for the reading.

Also im not just looking at one but fair comment i dont take an interest and it doesn't interest me whos right, whos wrong, whos fake, whos telling the truth. I enjoy watching the shows and hearing on them though as it gives me faith i guess.

And also for the record i didn't judge anyone, im just saying a positive outlook helps, but i also wont let people use, take advantage of me, there has got to be a middle.

Also i take that view that its helping awareness but i would be first in line to see fake mediums/pyschics banned whatever as in spoiling what maybe is real.

Ryan

Does anybody remember the Amazing Kreskin?  

http://www.amazingkreskin.com/

i went to see him once back in the 70s and he was, well, amazing!  However, he made it very clear he was a psychologist.  He did brilliant cold readings, mind reading, hypnotized people, all sorts of stuff.  After each thing he would explain the way it worked and how anyone could do it if they studied the same stuff he had and practiced.  Like one I remember he said to the whole audience: "okay think of a number between one and a hundred.  Make it an odd number."  First I thought of 37, then 35.  Of course he said "37, and the rest of you changed it to 35 after thinking of 37 first."  Incredible.  And then he went on to tell the statistical probablility that people will pick either 37 or 35 in such a situation.  It's actually abnormally high for no apparent reason, just like the occurance of 30s in lottery numbers - doesn't make sense, but that's the way it is.  Anyway, he's really entertaining.  

What's funny is that I think people dismiss him and embrace others because he tells them up front he's not psychic.  They want the same results, but from a real "psychic."  It reminds me of something my 7 year old son said once.  He was pressuring me to show him how an illusion was performed (I was an amateur magician in my youth and had a box of magic stuff).  When I showed him how the magic was done, he was soooo disappointed, and said, "that's not magic, it's a trick!"  

Just been watching John Edwards. In my opinion what he comes up with cannot be put down to cold reading.

matt what does cold reading mean exactly deanna

wrote on Feb 8^th, 2006 at 3:02pm:

matt what does cold reading mean exactly deanna

These are my own words, I expect others here can describe it better.
Skeptics believe that false pyschics or mediums can use two methods to get their hits.

Hot reading is acquiring the information via established means (such as other people, books, the internet, microphones etc). The medium/psychic then includes these pieces of information as part of the reading.

Cold reading is the technique of more or less letting the sitter give you the information.The medium would use what information is said by the sitter to build on hits. It is also the technique of going with common sense theories (young boy and middle age woman sitters = medium would hedge for a "older male figure" (father). The medium uses these techniques to get the hits.

After seeing John Edwards show tonight I would have to say that he could not do what he does with cold reading techniques alone...no way!

That leaves true mediumship or hot reading/ cold reading combo.

I cannot honestly believe that he would have lasted this long without a media/skeptic pounding if he is using hot reading. There was talk a while back of mic conversations but surely at least one sitter would have looked up and said during the show "hmm thats a little odd you have mentioned that as I was talking to another audience member about that... you are listening to the mic's!!"

So if hot reading is not being used AND since he cannot be doing it by pure cold reading techniques then if this a 3 horse race of :-

cold reading
hot/cold
genuine

If I was told I would win 5000 pounds if I picked the winner I would honestly go for genuine at this present time.

I just have to add my bit here as mediums are very important to me.
My family had a reading over the phone with George Anderson, and it was very good.
My family had a phone reading with Suzane Northrop over the phone and that was very good.
We went to see John Edward at a seminar of at least 3,000 people and my friend who really wasn't sure if she believed in him, got a reading and it was amazing. There was NO way he could have known what he came up with about her son that had passed, her son had some very rare disease, and John got it immediately, and named it.
The energy in that room was overwhelming.
My family had 2 readings with an unknown medium, and she was awesome, just mind boggling.
I recently had a live radio phone reading from Gordon Smith, and that one blew me away.
We also went to see John Holland at a very small seminar, and that was very good also.
They were all very good readings in their own ways. I would have to say that most everything that was said were true validations and none of these people had time to try and find this stuff out. These were spur of the moment readings.
I have had a few bad ones. I took a mediumship course so I know what to look for.

wrote on Feb 9^th, 2006 at 2:07pm:

I just have to add my bit here as mediums are very important to me. My family had a reading over the phone with George Anderson, and it was very good. My family had a phone reading with Suzane Northrop over the phone and that was very good. We went to see John Edward at a seminar of at least 3,000 people and my friend who really wasn't sure if she believed in him, got a reading and it was amazing. There was NO way he could have known what he came up with about her son that had passed, her son had some very rare disease, and John got it immediately, and named it. The energy in that room was overwhelming. My family had 2 readings with an unknown medium, and she was awesome, just mind boggling. I recently had a live radio phone reading from Gordon Smith, and that one blew me away. We also went to see John Holland at a very small seminar, and that was very good also. They were all very good readings in their own ways.

Sounds like you met some really good psychics and mediums, Aras. :) ;) I doubt most of the really good psychics have their own TV show, or even want one. They are probably just born knowing about the spirit world or able to see spirits.


You can learn more about psychics and mediums here:

www.spiritual.com.au/psychics_mediums.htm

www.spiritual.com.au/channeled.html