Sylvia Brown busted?

[puchidevil]

The scene is set...........a very upset person getting a short reading from Sylvia Brown

Take a look - could she have gotten it any more wrong???

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/2006/12/psychic-busted.html

There are no excuses

[NiftyWings]

This isn't the only clip of her screwing up this bad. My problem with Sylvia Brown is that she refuses to acknowledge she's made a mistake. I think the way she shot that girl down and insisted she was right was just ridiculous.

No matter how skilled a psychic someone may be, none are infallible. When I do readings for people, I tell them "This is what I see", or "I'm getting a sense of.....". By no means do I present my own visions and intuitive senses as fact, because I am human and may be wrong.

[Cindlady2]

Sylvia never seemed quite "right" to me. Too high and mighty for starts, but all in all.... just not quite "real".
Your right in that she can't admit (or believe) she could be wrong.

[MerryBe]

Maybe it's just me, but I never could understand why Sylvia Brown becomes so adamant at times.
Personally, I couldn't believe that she was constantly "reading" as I have read for so many people in my time, but NEVER constantly!

As for me, I have never been wrong and never came off in such a fashion that another would get hurt by my demeanor. My perception alone would tell me that the person wouldn't want to hear what I had to say! In that case I let it alone, or say it's not coming through. For Pete's sake where was her perception then?

Like I said, maybe it's me, but I cannot read all of the people all of the time, thats the first thing. The second thing is even if it all came to me just flowing, I would be too drained and exhausted after doing so many at once!

There are others out there who are much better in my opinion. I'm not saying she hasn't the perception but I think she "wings" it most of the time and she can be unsympathetic to others' feelings in the process.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Kahlil the Heretic]

James Randi must be having a field day...

And rightfully so. I hate sharks that pray on the ignorant.

[Lauren Michele]

I always had a feeling about Sylvia that she was wrong alot. Wow, thank you for showing this clip! Now I know and my gut feelings were correct.

[wooleybob]

She's a fake.! That was so wrong to keep saying he was in water,when I was there to help,the deepest part of any water from spraying on fires was no more than few inches for as much as they used.The rubble and dirt absorbed it.

[gurlygurl2004]

I remember Sylvia from Montel Williams and as a young, impressionable teen I thought it was so neat. But after viewing her website a few times and learning more about psychic ability in my older years, I realized she's very fishy. I read a book recently that said most psychic readings are between $10-$100 a reading but hers it's like $750 for a personal reading, and I find it odd that she can predict things to a tee up to 2100. I'm sorry but even the best psychics can't do that. And I did contact her office recently and I asked a public interest question. Guess lol: I asked about Prince William and his recent girlfriend getting married and since I said I wouldn't pay it was public interest I haven't heard from her office or anything. I figured if she could predict up to 2100 about the changing of our climate and geography than she can predict that. LOL

[Lunar Raven]

I've always thought she was a fake. My mom hates her..when she's on TV, she changes the channel..Lol.

I believe in psychics...but she seems to get these "visions" awful quick. I'm not a psychic, but generally doesn't it take more time than just asking a question and immediately finding an answer? I could be wrong..but...it just seems so fake to me.

Here's another one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eFNKsmwgw8w

Hah.

[Kahlil the Heretic]

Owned.

[Shanti]

I've always thought she was a fake. My mom hates her..when she's on TV, she changes the channel..Lol.

I believe in psychics...but she seems to get these "visions" awful quick. I'm not a psychic, but generally doesn't it take more time than just asking a question and immediately finding an answer? I could be wrong..but...it just seems so fake to me.

Here's another one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eFNKsmwgw8w

Hah.

Omg!!!
That was so bad.

Sylvia:
"She was hit in the chest". Sylvia repeats Over and over again!!

Parent:
"Could it have been toxic shock syndrome?"

Syliva:
"Yes it could."

:spaceman:

[SoulFire]

Wow. How embarassing. :doh2: I abhor pop psychics :crystalbawho prey on the bereaved and gullible. Ms. Browne's last comment to the bereaved woman (paraphrase: "It doesn't matter how your husband died now because he's dead.") was just rude and uncalled for. But mostly I wish people weren't so gullible and undiscerning that they give all their power over to these alleged 'psychics'.

Twenty years ago, while traveling, I visited an occult shop run by a celebrity psychic who offered to read the cards for me. It sounded like fun, so I said sure, but I didn't tell her I was a Tarot reader and Witch. :tarotwitcHeh, heh... She spread her cards and said, "You had a rough childhood, did you not." I replied, "No, I did not." And she replied, "That's what I said, you did not." :foh:

[Lauren Michele]

:lol: I'm sorry to laugh Soulfire, but you struck me as funny!!

[blackroseivy]

I think that y'all are most likely right - though I saw her on Larry King once & she impressed me favorably; but it was only 1 appearance, after all - & that whole "celeb psychic" bit is really quite fishy!!! :p

:tub:

[puchidevil]

I think maybe she has clocked up more 'caught outs' then even Derek Acorah AND Colin Fry now lol

It makes me sick that they try to exploit people like this, and on TV too.

And the way Sylvia said "well, it doesnt matter how he died, cos he is over there anyway!"
I tell you, if I had been that grieving woman, i would have smacked her around her smug little face :), and on TV too :hahugh:

[gurlygurl2004]

So wait how long has this woman been in business? I remember her on that show when I was 13 or 14 years old. Either she was never psychic, or she was but old age has screwed with her abilities, lol. And she even has her son (who we never really heard about) who does readings too. Maybe a mother/son quack team?

[Sage Rainsong]

I never could stand that woman. She not only preys upon people in pain but she is a bitch about it to. I alway knew that she was a fraud.

[SilentDreams]

I've always been nice enough to not rule her out completey. I mean, she MAY have some psychic ability. But to the degree which she presents herself? No way!

World predictions up to 2100? Nope!

That's what bugs me most about her. If she does have gifts, use them! But don't make them out to be more than they are. Just offer the people what you have and if it isn't all that much, so what?! Most people are fascinated by any psychic ability, so there isn't much point in blowing yourself up.

[Teresa]

Most psychics are doing well if they are correct 40% of the time. Why not just be honest and say maybe I am mistaken. It happens. Many times it is their interpretation where things get flawed. You do not have to be rude to someone that comes to you seeking comfort about something and needs to know why or where etc in order to work inner healing from a tragedy.

[Shanti]

I've always been nice enough to not rule her out completey. I mean, she MAY have some psychic ability. But to the degree which she presents herself? No way!

World predictions up to 2100? Nope!

That's what bugs me most about her. If she does have gifts, use them! But don't make them out to be more than they are. Just offer the people what you have and if it isn't all that much, so what?! Most people are fascinated by any psychic ability, so there isn't much point in blowing yourself up.There is a very good reason for someone like her to blow it all up.....money!

[PoisonIvy]

She is soooo not psychic!
She was a Psychologist at one point in time. How hard is it to read body language? Not very!
Sylvia uses simple psychology on these people to make them believe that she's a psychic.
Gods I can't stand that cocky woman!!!!!



FAKE!!!!!!!

[SoulFire]

:lol: I'm sorry to laugh Soulfire, but you struck me as funny!!

That's okay; I was being cheeky.

[wooleybob]

:idea: I predict someone will post after me???((((((()))))))) lol

[H.P. Dolamite]

:idea: I predict someone will post after me???((((((()))))))) lol


Whoa! You made a believer out of me! Where do I send my money?

[wooleybob]

lol...keep it..its free readings...:lol:

[Meadhbh]

I can't stand that woman. She has got to be the biggest fake out there. I feel so warm and fuzzy after seeing her take that fall.

[NiftyWings]

lol...keep it..its free readings...:lol:


Yeah, it's our Introductory Special. After the wedding, we're gonna set up our own Psychic Family franchise!

[wooleybob]

:spaceman: You in my mind again dear?...lol

[NiftyWings]

:spaceman: You in my mind again dear?...lol


Well, DUH!! ... I wouldn't be psychic if I couldn't read your mind, right? :spaceman:

:rollingla

[wooleybob]

Thats not fair..lol..I'm taking my brain and putting foil around it so ya cant read it ...lol:lol:

[blackroseivy]

Oh I SO know THAT feeling!!! :p But then I'm bi-polar... :p

Ok everyone, is she going to have a career now, or wha? :D

[johenn123]

i dunno what I hate more, the fact that she lied or the fact that the poor girl sat down and she was still trying to defend this bogus crap pile she calls a psychic ability

[H.P. Dolamite]

i dunno what I hate more, the fact that she lied or the fact that the poor girl sat down and she was still trying to defend this bogus crap pile she calls a psychic ability

Or that people continue to look up to Sylvia Brown.

[adrianne]

:idea: I predict someone will post after me???((((((()))))))) lol

Someone get this man a spot on a daytime talk show! We're dealing with a true-blue psychic here. :lol:

As far as Sylvia Brown goes...don't even get me started. I have a really, really hard time taking the POWERZ of most psychics seriously, let alone the popular ones who makes tons of money off of it. -coughJohnEdwardcough- I love how Sylvia just blurts things out, as though she's on some corny game show.

[Kahlil the Heretic]

Who's next on the list...Uri Geller? Deepak Chopra? Edwards?

Speaking of Geller, does anyone have a link to that video where he was owned on the Johnny Carson show?

[Xentor]

Hm.

Whatever her level of ability, she knows how to exploit America's biggest virtue and vice: capitalism.

[Arion]

I've read about half of one of her books. She wrties in a very believable way, you almost trust what she's saying. Her ideas were way too far-fetched for me though:lol: She might have some ability, but no one has all the answers.

[gurlygurl2004]

I've read about half of one of her books. She wrties in a very believable way, you almost trust what she's saying. Her ideas were way too far-fetched for me though:lol: She might have some ability, but no one has all the answers.


Yeah I know what you mean, it like sucks you in8O

[Sothis*Crowfeather]

I am twice the psycic she is, and I don't charge! Weee! :spaceman:

[Caffiend]

Hm.

Whatever her level of ability, she knows how to exploit America's biggest virtue and vice: capitalism.
So true, so true. :hehehehe:

[ValD]

Just come across this transcript (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/05/lkl.00.html) of a recent Larry King show where SB took calls.
Reading it all the way through, you can see how she works - generalisations, guessing and cold reading. A lot of it is of the "Yes, your mother loved you very much and is not in pain any more" stuff that doesn't prove anything.
She tells at least two callers that there is a "tall, angular man with sharp features" around them. (Neither caller recognises the description.)
She tells at least two other callers that their relative died from a stroke, even though in both cases the caller flat-out contradicts her (one died from a heart attack, the other from liver cirrhosis). In both cases SB continues to insist that it was a stroke that finished them off .
She tells a caller that her relative had a "fast passing"; when the caller says the relative died from cancer, Larry King helpfully interprets: "She's saying she went fast when she discovered the cancer, wasn't long before she died? " and SB gratefully agrees (so who's supposed to be doing the reading here?).

There's lots more, but perhaps best of all is the exchange with the caller from Japan:

CALLER: I'd like to ask about my mother. We had some unresolved issues.
BROWNE: Yes. But I don't know if you could have had any resolved issues with your mother because she was so very difficult to deal with. And I'm not saying that to be cruel. So, you see, the thing that you got to realize is when somebody goes to the other side, everything is OK.
CALLER: But she's -- you can definitely see her on the other side?
BROWNE: Yes. Little. She's little.
CALLER: Yes, well, the last time I spoke to her, she was alive.
BROWNE: Yes, but see, I don't -- she's not alive now.
CALLER: She's dead.
BROWNE: Yes.
CALLER: You're telling me my mother has died?
BROWNE: Yes.
CALLER: You're sure about this?
BROWNE: I'm positive.
CALLER: OK. Well, I'll have to get back to you after I've called her.

[Lyntwyn]

omg! That would be funny, if she wasn't being so serious.

[Maverynthia]

Somehow I'd love to get to speak to her and ask her about my poor dead boyfriend that died in a scuba accident....

Pity all my old BFs are currently alive and none of them have ever taken up scuba diving.

[haw_thrn]

i think i recall her saying that we would make contact with aliens last year. i'm serously going to try and date one when they start working at wal mart

[PoisonIvy]

Just a week or two ago,there was a thingy about her on the news. Sylvia had told a couple,on the Montel Show,that their son was dead.
GUESS WHAT? The boy is alive and he's home now!:lol:

[aniraangel]

as a rule of thumb, I'm iffy about TV anythings. Cold reading? A six year old could do it, its merely manipulation, after all. *has a six year old sister, knows these things*

I used to watch montel and every time I saw here I entertained myself by out guessing her and working out when she was wrong. If she wasnt being a cow it would be all well and good, but eh.

Of course, I dont even like being phsycic half the time, it's creepy O.o

though, my friends dont try to suprise me that much anymore xD

[~Belladonna~]

Gods, she's enough to make anyone sick!!! Have you seen the other clip on there where she's saying this girl has been shot and she's so far off it's unreal - she collapsed in her own bedroom.

[inkywitch]

She seems like a bitch as well as a fraud... how cold was she when she said "yeah well dont worry, it doesn't matter if never find him, cause he's over there." Made me want to hit her.

The only TV psychic I can stand is John Edward... though tickets to go seem him are expensive, so he looses brownie points for that! I'm a cheap arse. I really like his presence, and I think he is definitely the real deal when it comes to TV-psychics.

[sybba_leigh]

what do you guys think of her constantly putting a christian spin on everything? i think she does this to make more money, to appeal to more people. pagans (some of them) pay attention because she's addressing pagan things, and christians (some of them) pay attention because its got that christian spin.

[~Belladonna~]

She seems like a bitch as well as a fraud... how cold was she when she said "yeah well dont worry, it doesn't matter if never find him, cause he's over there." Made me want to hit her.

The only TV psychic I can stand is John Edward... though tickets to go seem him are expensive, so he looses brownie points for that! I'm a cheap arse. I really like his presence, and I think he is definitely the real deal when it comes to TV-psychics.

That is one of the reasons why I believe she's a fraud, because she's sooooooo cold. I don't think anyone could say that unless they are a very hard faced, cold hearted person - like she is!
I was looking on www.stopsylviabrowne.com (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com) last night and the things that she has said to families who's kids are missings etc. is just WRONG (literally), she would be like "Yeah, his body can be found down a metal shaft. He was dumped their by his friends from the party he went to." Years later the body was found..... in a pond, he'd drove his van into it when he was drunk (nothing to do with a metal shaft or his friends dumping him there). I mean, WTF is all that about? How can she give families wrong information like that??? It's beyond me, the woman is sick, for real. Not to mention all the other wrong info she has given folk.

I haven't heard of John Edwards before (probably because I'm from the UK) and we don't really have that many psychics on TV.

I also think Montelle has a lot to answer for......

:rant:

[aniraangel]

the fact that there is a site dedicated to stopping her amuses me to no end, and also pleases me.

I hope she gets her desserts for upsetting all these people...

[sybba_leigh]

the fact that there is a site dedicated to stopping her amuses me to no end, and also pleases me.

I hope she gets her desserts for upsetting all these people...

ohhhhh what's the website!?

[~Belladonna~]

ohhhhh what's the website!?


www.stopsylviabrowne.com (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com)

[sybba_leigh]

www.stopsylviabrowne.com (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com)

lol i love it. reminds me of the anti-silver ravenwolf sites.

[aniraangel]

its a happy site, isn't it?! 8O

[sybba_leigh]

priceless.

[~Belladonna~]

lol i love it. reminds me of the anti-silver ravenwolf sites.

What, there is like a whole website dedicated to bashing $RW? Links please :lol:

[sybba_leigh]

What, there is like a whole website dedicated to bashing $RW? Links please :lol:

yup! there' a lot of them! lolz

http://www.ecauldron.com/opedtarnishedsilver.php

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/vanthal/608/id57.htm

any others, anyone?

[inkywitch]

That is one of the reasons why I believe she's a fraud, because she's sooooooo cold. I don't think anyone could say that unless they are a very hard faced, cold hearted person - like she is!
I was looking on www.stopsylviabrowne.com (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com) last night and the things that she has said to families who's kids are missings etc. is just WRONG (literally), she would be like "Yeah, his body can be found down a metal shaft. He was dumped their by his friends from the party he went to." Years later the body was found..... in a pond, he'd drove his van into it when he was drunk (nothing to do with a metal shaft or his friends dumping him there). I mean, WTF is all that about? How can she give families wrong information like that??? It's beyond me, the woman is sick, for real. Not to mention all the other wrong info she has given folk.

I haven't heard of John Edwards before (probably because I'm from the UK) and we don't really have that many psychics on TV.

I also think Montelle has a lot to answer for......

:rant:

It makes me sick to see her act like that. I feel so awful for the poor people going to her thinking she can help ease their pain! I dont know how she can still find work at all, let along on TV... i guess someone there thinks it amusing to have an obviously fake psychic to laugh at, and isnt think much of the people its hurting.

[Willow Rosette]

It always suprised me that Montel would endorse her as much as he does. I have always had this kinda creepy feeling about her. And to be honest her finger nails scare me to death!

[inkywitch]

And to be honest her finger nails scare me to death!

*cackles*

[~Belladonna~]

yup! there' a lot of them! lolz

http://www.ecauldron.com/opedtarnishedsilver.php

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/vanthal/608/id57.htm

any others, anyone?

*Rubs hands together, mwah ha ha ha ha* :yayah:

Thanks for those :)

[~Belladonna~]

It makes me sick to see her act like that. I feel so awful for the poor people going to her thinking she can help ease their pain! I dont know how she can still find work at all, let along on TV... i guess someone there thinks it amusing to have an obviously fake psychic to laugh at, and isnt think much of the people its hurting.

Exactly! It's terrible. Why can't these people see that she's making them look bad too - I'm pretty sure Motel's rating have gone down since it came out she's a total fraud...

[Willow Rosette]

Exactly! It's terrible. Why can't these people see that she's making them look bad too - I'm pretty sure Motel's rating have gone down since it came out she's a total fraud...

I still like Montel and will watch him when Im home, but what I dont understand is she has been around since the 70's. How has she gone this long with out being caught?

[wooleybob]

It always suprised me that Montel would endorse her as much as he does. I have always had this kinda creepy feeling about her. And to be honest her finger nails scare me to death!

The only reason her finger nails are like that..Is so she can keep a good grip on the money she makes off her lies..lol_inabox_ :lol:

[Willow Rosette]

Im sorry but I see those creepy things and I dont hear a word she is saying cause Im to busy wondering how on earth she wipes her a$$!!!

[Trithemius]

Im sorry but I see those creepy things and I dont hear a word she is saying cause Im to busy wondering how on earth she wipes her a$$!!!

:lol:

[~Belladonna~]

I still like Montel and will watch him when Im home, but what I dont understand is she has been around since the 70's. How has she gone this long with out being caught?


Gods only knows :idea:

I don't doubt the woman has some psychic powers and it probably all started out very innocent when she first came into the public eye, but I now think the whole thing has got out of control, she has become too big for her boots and messed things up for herself. Maybe people would be more compassionate to her if she would actually admit she is wrong sometimes (just like all psychics) but the way she answers people is just wrong in itself i.e. "No hunny, he is dead." etc. etc. She could at least say to those people before she does a reading for them "I'm not saying this is the truth but it is what I am seeing" or something along those lines, but she says nothing like it. Then she gets busted and wonders why there is all this bad press about her. Another case of a so-called celebrity thinking they're untouchable.

[Rainbow]

The only TV psychic I can stand is John Edward... though tickets to go seem him are expensive, so he looses brownie points for that! I'm a cheap arse. I really like his presence, and I think he is definitely the real deal when it comes to TV-psychics.

The last time I saw John Edward on TV he got somebody entirely wrong. He didn't prod and insist that they were lying, he pretty much admitted that he had been mistaken. It turned out he had the wrong person. I have a feeling were this Sylvia Browne she would have just run with it.

I don't know how often he is wrong, but seeing somebody actually admit it gives me respect for them, whether they're "real" psychics or not.

Sylvia Browne just makes me shudder.

[DoktorSick]

She is such a fraud!

[Fairy_Princess]

Isn't she just a white Mistress Cleo, only she came first.....

[ashla86]

I've always wondering.. I've bought a lot of her books too. I've always found them fascinating, everything she says about the after life. I hope that's not all wrong.

[Sequoia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR45pY_L8n4&mode=related&search=

The expression on the mother's face when Sylvia says, "She was shot," is priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRc4LkBRjIc&mode=related&search=

Yes. He drowned in the world trade center towers.

:eyebrow:

I don't believe in Sylvia Brown any more than I believe in the tooth fairy.

[Lady_Door]

Actually. When there is an access amount of smoke in the air the lungs will fill with fluid. You can effectively "drowned" from smoke inhalation.
I take everything she says with a grain of salt. I watch her mostly for entertainment value. I strongly dislike half the guests on her show. 85% of them don't have any common sense.

[love]

my sister worshiped this lady,:lol: you could not say anything bad about sylvia without my sister coming unglued . I knew all along this lady was fake. there are alot of people online saying she was totally wrong in her reading and her son too.

[DracoJesi]

The scene is set...........a very upset person getting a short reading from Sylvia Brown

Take a look - could she have gotten it any more wrong???

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/2006/12/psychic-busted.html

There are no excuses

link is dead :(


This isn't the only clip of her screwing up this bad. My problem with Sylvia Brown is that she refuses to acknowledge she's made a mistake. I think the way she shot that girl down and insisted she was right was just ridiculous.

No matter how skilled a psychic someone may be, none are infallible. When I do readings for people, I tell them "This is what I see", or "I'm getting a sense of.....". By no means do I present my own visions and intuitive senses as fact, because I am human and may be wrong.

I was always a bit skeptical at some of the things I've heard her say... but I had no Idea she did this.... it's disgusting.... it gives those psychics in general, a bad name.

you know, people like that are why I tend to keep my personal experiences my self :rotfl:

[CrimsonCat]

She seems like a bitch as well as a fraud... how cold was she when she said "yeah well dont worry, it doesn't matter if never find him, cause he's over there." Made me want to hit her.

The only TV psychic I can stand is John Edward... though tickets to go seem him are expensive, so he looses brownie points for that! I'm a cheap arse. I really like his presence, and I think he is definitely the real deal when it comes to TV-psychics.

Hate to bring this thread back from the dead - messy business - but I HAVE to comment on Sylvia Browne! I agree with inkywitch, she can be cruel sometimes, and it makes me want to reach out and slap the TV screen. I feel sorry for Montel. I believe he has MS, and he's associated with HER? I hope he runs into a real, nice, calm, doesn't-do-national-TV-or-phone-readings psychic.

I also like John Edward. My Mom is a stiff disbeliever (for the most part) in a lot of psychic stuff, and she really got into that guy. The fact that he was exhausted after doing his show (and looked the part) really changed her opinion on it.
Psychics like Sylvia just give the others a bad name.

[Djiril]

If all that weren't bad enough, she also said that real estate would be the best area to invest in 2007!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmNP6wZJg6A

[aranarose]

If all that weren't bad enough, she also said that real estate would be the best area to invest in 2007!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmNP6wZJg6A

Well, technically, if you'd invested in real estate in 2007, and sold before 2008... you'd still be okay :lol:

Now, though, actually IS the time to invest in real estate, if you can afford it. Because it's cheap. And eventually, the market will either bounce back and you'll be able to sell for a killing, or you'll have a lot of property that you can rent out for income :D

[Djiril]

Well, technically, if you'd invested in real estate in 2007, and sold before 2008... you'd still be okay :lol:
That would work if her exact words had not been "It will go back up next year!"

[Bansheekisses]

I have NEVER charged for a reading of any kind. I also don't say that I am always correct. I say right off that I am human and what I interpret may mean one thing to me, but be completely different for the person I am doing the reading for. I have never charged because if I do, my feeling is that the readings would become tainted and vague. I like where my ability is now and want to enhance it, not make it fade and blurr.

As for Sylvia Brown, she is a fake. I have never TOUCHED one of her books because I got bad vibes from it. Never watched Opera or any such show that has her on it. Don't buy her as a psychic for one minute. If she charged $10 for a reading, I would never pay it. Not worth it imo.

[Lunacie]

I have NEVER charged for a reading of any kind. I also don't say that I am always correct. I say right off that I am human and what I interpret may mean one thing to me, but be completely different for the person I am doing the reading for. I have never charged because if I do, my feeling is that the readings would become tainted and vague. I like where my ability is now and want to enhance it, not make it fade and blurr.

As for Sylvia Brown, she is a fake. I have never TOUCHED one of her books because I got bad vibes from it. Never watched Opera or any such show that has her on it. Don't buy her as a psychic for one minute. If she charged $10 for a reading, I would never pay it. Not worth it imo.

I don't understand how paying for a reading would make it "tainted and vague." I've been paid for quite a few readings over the years and feel they have been just as accurate as the ones I've done for free. But I certainly don't charge hundreds of dollars because that would be greedy and grubby and might signify that I'm doing it only for the money and not for the service of sharing my insights.

[Morgaine_cla]

Greetings,

Maybe I can be of help here... There are certain traditions (Faery Druidry amongst them) that prohibit you from charging for anything that comes from the Source, because what comes from the Source is freely given to all.

This does not mean that you cannot charge for anything (although that is the common assumption); you just can't charge for what isn't yours to give...

So if, for example, you are a traditional healer you can charge your expenses in making a remedy or preparing a charm and to offset the costs of any ongoing training you might have to obtain, but you cannot charge for your talent, for "the power of magic", or for direct inspiration in the moment because these are not your gifts, but gifts from the Source that flow through all Being...

Letting the gifts of the Source flow freely through is a form of service. Service is what we give in exchange for the Source's gifts. To charge for what we receive from the Source is like bottling the water from a sacred spring and selling it. The water is the gift of the earth mother. No one can "own" it. But... if someone wants you to provide it for them, you can charge for the vessel you provide to hold it and the transportation needed to cart it. Or, to take this back to your specific question, a reader could charge for expenses, but not for "talent", insight, or inspiration, because to do so would cause the Source to retract its gift and find another to serve

Whether this is what Bansheekisses was referring to I cannot say, but I thought you might find the information helpful in understanding more people's perspectives.

Blessings--

[Phoenix Blue]

So if, for example, you are a traditional healer you can charge your expenses in making a remedy or preparing a charm and to offset the costs of any ongoing training you might have to obtain, but you cannot charge for your talent, for "the power of magic", or for direct inspiration in the moment because these are not your gifts, but gifts from the Source that flow through all Being...
Why is that, though? I mean, reasonably speaking, if you have a talent, it's perfectly ethical to ask for compensation for your talent and your efforts. For instance, I'm a writer, and I earn money for doing my job. Writing is something that can be taught, but it also requires a certain level of talent. Likewise for photography -- plenty of people earn a good living as photographers for events such as weddings, etc.

Now, some of that money goes into paying for them to recover the costs of their education. Some of it goes toward materials -- professional-quality cameras aren't cheap! But there is money that goes toward things that the photographer wants to buy -- luxuries, if you will.

I do get that people shouldn't enter the service of the gods looking for a payday -- that way lies the excesses of the New Age movement. But if you can pay the rent with what you make through divination, healings, etc., then why not?

[BearDancing]

I do get that people shouldn't enter the service of the gods looking for a payday -- that way lies the excesses of the New Age movement. But if you can pay the rent with what you make through divination, healings, etc., then why not?

I am labeled "New Ager" and you know this as a fact my sweet...I DO not think so......another assumption
There are many from all traditions that go into the bussinness for the good of themselves I feel they actually do not have spiritual skills....because anyone who is of Spirit knows and would never be "in it" for the money..they are in it to share..whether they ask for money or not is of no ones bussiness...it is between Spirit and the practicioner....

MY MY we are so quick to judge Sylvie Browne....is there anyone here who "KNOWS" .... I have read one of her books and through out the books she states..."this is her experience as she knows it" We are all human or we would not be on this plane.....so easy to bark at someone else....tsk tsk

[carz990]

brown, edwards, praah= the 3 douches. If the dead are really talking to them then why the need for all the "im getting the initials J.A" or whatever why not just say the name. My cat has more psychic ability than them!

[Calliope]

I remember watching her all of the time when she was Montel. My only defense is that I was a tween/teen at the time and what else was there to do when there wasn't any school? Anyway...

I believe she was busted some time ago. Wikipedia (I know, I know) says that before she became the famous Sylvia Browne, she was indicted on security fraud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Browne

After watching her on all of those shows, there were certain things which made me believe that she had something. But by that same token, when you watch her really closely, you can tell that she could be just really good (and sometimes really bad) at cold reading. After all of the hoopla surrounding her, I have to say that I am more impressed with Van Praagh (and at least he doesn't have a criminal record).

[Glowingsun]

I have read a few of Sylvia's books. When you read them, she admits she's brash and highly outspoken. I think her personality gets in the way. I haven't heard anything about a criminal record on her before. But I think that she does a better job when she takes her time and isn't pressured by talk show time frames and fearing of people becomming impatient with her. Perhaps she is out for fame and I don't think she really enjoys the talk shows. She doesn't mention them much in her books. Not even for reference.
I have to admit, though, she looks creepy with those ridiculous long nails. And her voice is a bit raspy, but I don't think she can help that.

[carz990]

The problem with those shows is that they are highly edited, they show the best reads and cut the rest by pure odds and the generalisations these ppl use its likely they will make some sort of connection with somebody.
Edwards has been caught cheating more times than i can remember its all a con preying on peoples grief.

[feralmama]

I did not know much about her, just having heard a little now and then, and seen a few of her earlier books when I managed a very large occult/new age bookstore in the early 90s.

However, when I went to an X Files convention- it was the first one, actually, and I won tickets by telling them my own true spookeh story lol- I walked by a table where she was selling her books and readings, and she has got to have the worst vibe of anyone supposedly spiritual I've ever run into. And that's saying a lot. I hired and fired the psychic readers in the store I ran, and some of them were really very genuine and very good at what they did- they also tended to be the most modest about it. And then there were the arrogant, full of themselves, really no good (that were hired before it was my responsibilty! :p) psychics who just regularly made things difficult and you could feel how closed and high on themselves they really were, if you had an ounce of instinct or empathy. I did my best to weed those out and get good hearts in there. Of course, on occasion, there can be a cantankerous, nasty person who also does happen to be really very psychic- they usually don't apply for those jobs, though.

But dang that Sylvia Brown... she feels horrible. Horrible, like someone whose been angry and sick for a very long time. Which could make sense. She's got to be sick in some way to keep preying on people like she does, one way or another.