Sylvia Browne

[sybba_leigh]

I think she's a fascinating writer... but who thinks she's nuts for claiming her books are non-fiction (and who thinks her spirit guide francine is made up)? her theories are just so out there... like right now i'm reading her book about spirit guides and she says there's a whole big councel of judges and elders on the otherside and everyone turns 30 when they die and nobody has imperfections and everything is goodness and light.

i also caught some mistakes. the most notable are:

she says in the book that no one has more than 2 guides per lifetime... and then on the cd which comes with the book she says everyone has like 2 or 3 guides.

in another book she uses wicca and witchcraft interchangebly, which i think makes her seem ignorant and ill-researched. i'm deeming her an unreliable source. you?

[Ben Gruagach]

I agree with your opinion of Sylvia Browne.

However I think this thread actually belongs in the Books section and not in the Authors' Circle, which is really for authors who are members here at MysticWicks to talk about their own books and work. Sylvia Browne isn't a member here as far as I know.

Perhaps a moderator can move this thread over to Books for us?

[wintermagick]

I love her work and am fascinated with her, BUT I absolutely agree. She is definitely a bit out there... and her spirit guides are a bit too "detailed", if you know what I mean. What very little experience I've had with spirit guides you don't get enough interaction with them to know they are from an ancient Aztec society from 800 years ago... oy!

But I do agree with her basic views on God (masculine & feminine) and the message of Jesus.

[sybba_leigh]

I love her work and am fascinated with her, BUT I absolutely agree. She is definitely a bit out there... and her spirit guides are a bit too "detailed", if you know what I mean. What very little experience I've had with spirit guides you don't get enough interaction with them to know they are from an ancient Aztec society from 800 years ago... oy!

But I do agree with her basic views on God (masculine & feminine) and the message of Jesus.

i dunno if you read the book 'contacting your spirit guide' or not, but there's a chapter "written by francine." i want to know why francine talks exactly like sylvia.

[Evendusk]

Ya know, I've been to several channelers/mediums and it's always like that. While it's advertised that there are changes in facial expression and personality when a guide 'takes over' I've never seen it. Unless they're channeling something from Pluto and start talking in a high nasally voice the medium continues to speak and behave just as they had before.

I was really open-minded and actually pretty excited when I first started checking out channelers but now I can't believe anyone falls for their act. That they may be psychic intuitives I wouldn't doubt considering the things they picked up during readings but the rest of it came across as a hoax or self-delusion.

[Moonshine]

I too have been reading 'Contacting Your Spirit Guides' these days and although I find the material useful, there are some discrepancies when some of it is viewed in light of her other books. For one, in the CD that comes along with the book, she says she does not remember at all why she changed Francine's name, but in her book 'Adventures of a Psychic' she says she did not like the name Iena, so she changed it to Francine. I also did not like the fact that Francine trained 'specially' to be a communicating guide to a special person like her. According to Sylvia, it is rare that guides can 'speak' to their charge. Maybe this is true and I am just jealous... :) Or maybe this is not true. Whatever it is, I have not 'heard' my guides through my physical ears yet. :fpeek:

But all in all, I find Sylvia's style entertaining and her work informative...

[sybba_leigh]

I too have been reading 'Contacting Your Spirit Guides' these days and although I find the material useful, there are some discrepancies when some of it is viewed in light of her other books. For one, in the CD that comes along with the book, she says she does not remember at all why she changed Francine's name, but in her book 'Adventures of a Psychic' she says she did not like the name Iena, so she changed it to Francine. I also did not like the fact that Francine trained 'specially' to be a communicating guide to a special person like her. According to Sylvia, it is rare that guides can 'speak' to their charge. Maybe this is true and I am just jealous... :) Or maybe this is not true. Whatever it is, I have not 'heard' my guides through my physical ears yet. :fpeek:

But all in all, I find Sylvia's style entertaining and her work informative...

i think she's a capitalist whore with a great imagination. and she's getting too old to be consistant lol...

[David19]

I haven't read her books (i don't think i've even seen most of her books), but from what i've heard, it sounds like she's a really 'New Age' author (especially about the part where everything is 'love and light', that's not reality or nature).

[sybba_leigh]

I haven't read her books (i don't think i've even seen most of her books), but from what i've heard, it sounds like she's a really 'New Age' author (especially about the part where everything is 'love and light', that's not reality or nature).

i think you may be right that she's focuses mostly on fluffness and light (although she DOES acknowledge darkness)--- but how is that classified as 'new age'?

[Agaliha]

There are many threads about Sylvia on here.
I haven't read any of her books, I've skimmed some...but never read read.

My basic view of her: [from this sylvia thread] (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=119507)


I don't think she is a complete fake, but I don't believe everything she says.
I believe in spirit and animal guides, past lives, psychic abilities, and the spirit world, but I don't readily believe all her revelations, predictions and teachings.
Is "Mother God" named Azna? I don't know. If she is, she's never told me.
(thread I made asking about Azna: "Azna"-- your thoughts (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=129345) )
I think she has some abilities, but her ideas aren't for everyone.
I'd be curious to get a reading from her, but I'm not paying all that $.


I also wanted to add that I don't like how she shoves her beliefs down everyone's throat. Anyone know what I mean? I can't really describe it.
Like on Montel and such. I don't know. To me she doesn't even consider other views, just hers when reading for people. If I were in her position, I would be sensitive to everyone's beliefs and faith...but then again those there probably belief her stuff.

Sometimes she seems like a rude know-it-all to me because she has this info no one else does (like "Azna" and such). That annoys me.

Person from audience: Do I have a spirit guide?
Her: Of course (in an almost annoyed tone)
Anyone who has seen her on Montel has caught this a few times.

I just want to say to her that even though her guides tell her these things and she believes these things doesn't mean it's the truth. Everyone has their own truth, IMO. Perhaps what she is believing now is meant for her, but not everyone else. I just think she's counting on people beliving in her without question because she's a psychic.

I remain skeptical.

[sybba_leigh]

There are many threads about Sylvia on here.
I haven't read any of her books, I've skimmed some...but never read read.

My basic view of her: [from this sylvia thread] (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=119507)


I also wanted to add that I don't like how she shoves her beliefs down everyone's throat. Anyone know what I mean? I can't really describe it.
Like on Montel and such. I don't know. To me she doesn't even consider other views, just hers when reading for people. If I were in her position, I would be sensitive to everyone's beliefs and faith...but then again those there probably belief her stuff.

Sometimes she seems like a rude know-it-all to me because she has this info no one else does (like "Azna" and such). That annoys me.

Person from audience: Do I have a spirit guide?
Her: Of course (in an almost annoyed tone)
Anyone who has seen her on Montel has caught this a few times.

I just want to say to her that even though her guides tell her these things and she believes these things doesn't mean it's the truth. Everyone has their own truth, IMO. Perhaps what she is believing now is meant for her, but not everyone else. I just think she's counting on people beliving in her without question because she's a psychic.

I remain skeptical.

well she starts out most of her books (if not all) with at least a paragraph on how she doesn't want people to just take her word for it. she wants all of her readers to be open minded and consider all the different things before they decide what they beleive in. also, i have this cd where she talks you through a meditation... and she tells the listeners to picture their god or goddess or buddah or whatever they beleive in. i don't think she's completely unopen to other people's beleifs. she is however annoying on montel. she DOES at like a know it all, and i don't buy half the things she says. she could just be making up ghosts names and stuff! she has no credibility. and i have the feeling she's just telling people what they want to hear, i've never heard her say anything negative. for example... a man was on the show asking about his daughter... he said that she was strangled to death... and he wanted to know if she suffered at all... sylvia was like "no, of course not." how could someone being STRANGLED not suffer unless they were unconcious? if she was unconcious sylvia should've said.....

[Agaliha]

well she starts out most of her books (if not all) with at least a paragraph on how she doesn't want people to just take her word for it. she wants all of her readers to be open minded and consider all the different things before they decide what they beleive in. also, i have this cd where she talks you through a meditation... and she tells the listeners to picture their god or goddess or buddah or whatever they beleive in. i don't think she's completely unopen to other people's beleifs.

Ah, well I never read her books so I wouldn't know. Thanks for explaining.
I was refering more to on Montel with her readings where people ask her questions.



she is however annoying on montel. she DOES at like a know it all, and i don't buy half the things she says.
she could just be making up ghosts names and stuff! she has no credibility.
and i have the feeling she's just telling people what they want to hear, i've never heard her say anything negative.


I watch her sometimes on Montel, but its not because I believe everything she says.
You are right, she can just me making things up. I wondered about that myself.
The only reason I'd want to get a past live reading from her is to see if she mentioned anything that I know about my past lives or if she just would make some crap up.
But the thing is, people have to be careful how they ask her things.
If I would say to her: "I've been afaid of fires all my life and I have a fear of being bound and suffocating, was there a past life that could have caused that?"
She could just make something up using the info I gave.
I think people give too much away when they ask her things.



for example... a man was on the show asking about his daughter... he said that she was strangled to death... and he wanted to know if she suffered at all... sylvia was like "no, of course not." how could someone being STRANGLED not suffer unless they were unconcious? if she was unconcious sylvia should've said.....


Hum, yeah. Being strangled is not a fun thing. I would think there would be some suffering or discomfort. Then again there are many definitions of "suffering"
One definition is:

To permit; allowPerhaps she used that definition.
---Did my daughter suffer?
---No, of couse not. (because she didn't want to or allow, but failed to stop the stranguation)

I don't know.

[sybba_leigh]

Ah, well I never read her books so I wouldn't know. Thanks for explaining.
I was refering more to on Montel with her readings where people ask her questions.

i know, i was just trying to show you that she's not all bad. :-)


The only reason I'd want to get a past live reading from her is to see if she mentioned anything that I know about my past lives or if she just would make some crap up.

i loled so hard when i read on her website that a **phone** session with her costs $800+ dollars. the past life thing's a good test though, i've tried that with a fake psychic once. she told me i was a slain russian princess, which is completely not what i feel i was... and too bad the psychic had given the same story to my friend a few months before! boo to paying for readings.



But the thing is, people have to be careful how they ask her things.
If I would say to her: "I've been afaid of fires all my life and I have a fear of being bound and suffocating, was there a past life that could have caused that?"
She could just make something up using the info I gave.
I think people give too much away when they ask her things.

SERIOUSLY! i think i may be given montel tickets for christmas, and if i get to ask sylvia a question, i will be so sly about it and then defame her if she's wrong lol. i wonder if everyone's aloud to ask a question if they want to.



Hum, yeah. Being strangled is not a fun thing. I would think there would be some suffering or discomfort. Then again there are many definitions of "suffering"
One definition is:

To permit; allowPerhaps she used that definition.
---Did my daughter suffer?
---No, of couse not. (because she didn't want to or allow, but failed to stop the stranguation)

I don't know.

its weird to just say no though, she should have explained. but noooo, she has to rush things so she can talk to the most amount of people in one hour.

[Shamandura]

I have read one of Sylvia's books, called Book of Shadows. It pretty much explained dream types and how to keep a dream journal. I thought it was good, but I have to admit, the whole Francine thing can get kind of irritating. I believe people can have spirit guides, yet in Sylvias case, hers seems so characterized to be fake.

I have skimmed through two of her spiral bound books you have to send away for by mail and had to put them down as soon as it started sounding nutty. I think she is a confused women and pieces together her ideas as she goes. She believes in man and woman god, and levels of afterlife that come out as being very bizarre in her words. She references Christ alot, yet she has some pagan ideas....I can't make since of her!

I think she has a unique idea on life and its very personalized. She's got some smart opinons on good topics, but I think believing all that she says would be limiting yourself.

[Shamandura]

I have read one of Sylvia's books, called Book of Shadows.


Opps! Sorry called "Book of Dreams".

[calm under waves]

my mom is a sylvia browne fanatic. like, she's read everything by her. i haven't got into reading her, but i know she does talk about how you plan out your life before you live it and the God/goddesses are there if you need help but you make the choice before you live your life, which goes along with pagan views and part of the way i think. i definitely know she isn't some crazy person but ...yeah. lol

[Windygo]

My mom's a fan too. It gets kind of out of hand, at one point I had to tell her that she was acting less like a spiritual person and more like some fangirl, clinging to Sylvia's every word so specifically... which Sylvia herself discourages her readers from doing.

As for her attitude on the Montel show, well, my mom watched those regularly whenever she could, and honestly, people would come up and ask the same questions over and over again, ("Who's my spirit guide/soul mate/etc.) If you believe and teach that everyone has a spirit guide, people constantly asking you if they have one will get very annoyed as well.

[TheWomanMonster]

I was watching her on montel yesterday,
which I never do.
get out of my head you guys... :lol:

I've always thought of her as a talented person
(I think most of it is just good showmanship though),

but I just...
eeeugh...
I really get a creepy vibe off her.

[halfwaynowhere]

i see her on montel sometimes, and she contradicts herself a lot. sometimes she says that ghosts and EVPs are just imprints left behind of people who were there, then other times she says they are spirits communicating. one time a girl asked her "Are my parents ever going to be around me?" to which she replied, "yes, they are around you all the time, they are around you right now." The girl corrected herself, specifying that her parents were merely out of the country, and sylvia tried to cover herself by saying something like, "Yes, thats what i was saying, they will be coming soon." At that point, it was all it took for me to completely disbelieve everything she says...

[MysticWitch]

and she's getting too old to be consistant lol...

That was my guess :hahugh:

[Agaliha]

one time a girl asked her "Are my parents ever going to be around me?" to which she replied, "yes, they are around you all the time, they are around you right now." The girl corrected herself, specifying that her parents were merely out of the country, and sylvia tried to cover herself by saying something like, "Yes, thats what i was saying, they will be coming soon."
Ha. Interesting. She was replying like they were dead, I bet she just assumed and it backfired.
Stuff like that makes me wonder about her.

[MysticWitch]

I noticed that too.
When people ask.. Is my brother okay? Or Can you tell me if my brother thinks about us?
She will say.. "In what way honey?" She shouldnt have to ask that if she is psychic. :whatgives

[Agaliha]

Oh, I noticed that too!
I'm skeptical about all of her abilities.
She maybe psychic, but psychics do have limits.
She obviously has hers. :2G:

[Agaliha]

Oh, check this out! From Wikipedia, Sylvia Browne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_browne)



Montel Williams controversies
Critics such as Jon Donnis point to a number of inaccurate readings on the Montel William show.[22] In one incident, parents in the crowd ask Sylvia how their daughter died, Sylvia confidently replies "She was shot." The parents sit with looks of confusion on their faces, as they reveal that their daughter just dropped down dead in her room.[22] They reveal that the autopsy report revealed no gunshot wounds, no toxins in the blood, nothing.

Another incident which generated controversy occurred on the Montel Williams Show (original airdate not known - rebroadcast on August 16, 2006), when Browne gave a reading to a woman in the audience. The website YouTube has the video clip of the reading.

A transcript follows:
Woman: I lost my boyfriend tragically, um… a few years ago. (choking back tears) They never found him, and I've had such a hard time since. Every day.
Browne: The reason why you didn't find him is 'cause he's in water. And, find him in water… The woman looks confused.
Browne: (to Montel) it's like the girl that's missing in Aruba. [to woman] You can't find somebody…
Woman: (interrupting) Well, it was…September eleventh. There was no… He was a fireman, but…there was no…
Browne: Well no, you see, I keep seeing him in water. The woman shakes her head angrily. There is a pause.
Browne: Is there any way he could have drowned in water, someway?
Woman: [shakes her head] They never found a piece of him. Nothing.
Montel: (to Sylvia) From 9/11. Another pause.
Browne: 'Cause he's… he says he couldn't breathe and he was filled with water. Another pause.
Montel: Hmm.
Browne: Well, if they were trying to put the fire out, Montel… Montel points to another person in the audience, trying to move on.
Montel: They couldn't, you know, uh, yeah. Another pause.
Browne: No, they won't find him, but honey that's okay, because it doesn't matter if they find him or not, he's still over there. Another pause.
Montel: (indicating another woman in the audience): Yes ma'am.

Critics point to this reading as a clear example of Browne's use of cold reading, with the many pauses indicating Browne's trying to come up with some way to save what is an obvious and dramatic failure of her purported psychic abilities.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)]


I found the video on Youtube!
Sylvia Browne on Montel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBNp1Y7fiwA) -- the 9/11 one
01:08
Someone commented:

The way she reacted after the woman told her where her husband is at, was in a very defensive mood. That shows fear of the truth. She also asked for Montel's help by saying his name as if it would justify her response. I read her book and expected a good theory from her but all I got was a simple story of her life.

As for the 9/11 screw-up the only thing my mom and I could think of was:
1. Since the man was a firefighter, water was on his mind during death and it didn't translate right to her. OR that pipes burst and he drowned.
2. When you breathe in hot ashes and things like that you're lungs fill with fluid (edema?) and you essentially drown. This was seen in Pompeii and the volcanic ash. That would make sense, but that doesn't really fit with what she's saying.
3. She's clueless. We're thinking this one. Heh.

Here's another: --- the "she was shot" one.
Sylvia Brown screws up again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFNKsmwgw8w)
01:47

Ah, man. The look on those parents' faces. Priceless.
Sylvia was rude too, the parents were explaining how it wasn't a gunshot and she was like: "I don't care, but it looks like something hit her in her chest"
And then Montel saved her ass somewhat.
Heh.

[Windygo]

I think the problem Mrs. Browne is running into is one that any psychic who makes it big does... when they start doing big shows daily, they're more likely to start getting off. When I first found her, she was pretty good, accurate, interesting to follow, but now... it's like fame alone destroys any ability they actually had.

[Agaliha]

I just found this site about her:
Stop Sylvia Browne (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/)
Pretty interesting. They mention the two screw-ups of hers that I posted about above as well as other stuff.

&

Bad Psychics (http://badpsychics.com/thefraudfiles/modules/news/) (not just about her)

And from Youtube:
Part of an Anderson Cooper show.

Anderson Cooper takes on Sylvia Browne pt 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L9hki5Nlyo)
05:42
Anderson Cooper takes on Sylvia Browne pt 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_To4zmEdE)
09:13