It’s something many people think about but never actually do:
visiting a pyschic. We wanted to know if fortune-telling was fact
or fiction, so we decided to find out
By telling you what I’m about to tell you, I am canceling out two of the deepest wishes in my heart, dooming myself to a short and miserable life, and making everything I heard in my recent psychic reading null and void. My fortune-teller said so. But I’m willing to make this great sacrifice in the interest of shedding light on a practice many people seem curious about but few have actually experienced: visiting a psychic.
Almost all the psychics listed in the phone book are 1-800 numbers, but I managed to see one in the South Valley who, given the difficulty in getting an appointment, is extremely busy. This was, in my opinion, a good sign. I wanted to go to a pro, not just someone in a bad wig doing readings for $5 at the Renaissance Faire.
When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the fortune-teller wasn’t the stereotypical crazy-looking woman with a fake accent. She actually looked very normal. I was also surprised to find a large picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe among the candles and other religious icons scattered on a small table with two chairs along side it. Clearly, fortune-telling and psychic readings aren’t based on devil worship or other “evil” foundations as many seem to believe. The room was well-lit rather than dark, and the only things that did match my stereotypes were the lit candles and crystal ball on the table.
My psychic explained the different readings she did, including tarot card readings, palm readings– you can have one or both palms read depending on what you want to know–psychic aura and face readings, or you can get a reading from a specially altered deck of what appear to be regular playing cards. We settled on both of my palms, which she said would be about me as a person, and a psychic reading of my face and aura for general past, present and future information. The total for both readings was $100.
Before we started my reading, I made two heartfelt wishes out loud and then we began.
I hoped to come away being able to say for certain that fortune-telling was real and accurate or nothing but rubbish and hogwash.
It wasn’t that simple.
Things That Didn’t Jibe
There were two really big pieces of information that I expected my psychic to know or pick up on, but she didn’t.
First, my dad passed away when I was 13 years old. She had no clue. I eventually told her about halfway through the reading, and very suddenly she was able to tell me that my dad’s spirit still surrounds me.
Second, she never really pinpointed anything about what kind of profession I’m in. Seeing as I spend more than 40 hours a week working, I thought that she would be able to pick up on something about what I do for a living, even if it were only to say that my work required creativity or for me to meet many people, or that it had to do with words.
Instead, she told me that she saw me doing well in real estate. Unless it’s a calling I just haven’t tapped into yet (I don’t and never have owned property), I’m confused about where that reading came from. She eventually asked my profession, and I told her I’m a reporter for the newspaper.
After we established that my dad was gone, the psychic focused in a little more on my mom. She told me that a man was pursuing my mom, and he was either confusing or annoying her. However, my mom, who lives in Southern California, isn’t dating anyone, and a quick phone call later confirmed that no one was pursuing, confusing or annoying her.
The psychic also said that 1996, 1997 and 2004 were very difficult years for me and that something hard or bad happened to me in those years. And while each of those years had their ups and downs, the three years of my life that I would pick as particularly difficult years would be 1994, 1995 and 2003.
Things That Fit
My psychic told me that I was born an old soul and that I had a fairly strict, old-fashioned upbringing, which is very accurate.
She also told me that classes I’ve been taking are important and that I need to stick with them because they’ll pay off at some point. One of my co-workers has graciously been teaching me a computer program at work that could eventually help me with my career.
During the reading that described my face and aura, my psychic said that I’ve been stressed about work and that some days I’m very happy, others I’m sad, and still others I don’t know how I feel. All of this is absolutely true.
It was also interesting that she told me the last year has been one of great transition and confusion for me. Even though I told her I’d been living in the South Valley for nine months, she made sure to emphasize that it’s the last year that’s been full of ups and downs. This hit home because almost exactly a year ago, I moved back to the United States from England, where I had been living for a time. Moving back was really hard for me because I left behind friends and a life that I really loved and still miss very much.
My ears also perked up when the psychic told me I would be getting some good news from someone with the first initial “J.” My mom’s name is Judy.
I was impressed when the fortune-teller made a point of telling me I shouldn’t ever try to rush my love life. She said I shouldn’t be afraid of taking my time. I had just been commenting to a friend that lately I’ve felt like I’m lagging in my love life. In the last year, five of my good friends have gotten married, and through the magic of MySpace.com, I’ve discovered that many of my old friends from high school are already married.
Even though I’m in no rush to get hitched, this explosion of marriages has made me feel I’ve fallen behind. It was very comforting to hear the fortune-teller tell me not to worry about my single status.
Finally, the psychic told me I should have pink, blue and white candles in my apartment and should light them whenever I feel like it, making sure to have the white candle in the middle. Ironically, I happen to have white, pink and blue candles in my apartment already, but the blue one is in the middle. You’ve probably already guessed the first thing I did when I got home after the reading: I moved the white candle to the middle.
Things I Can’t Confirm
One of the first things the psychic told me was that I could expect to have a long life and a beautiful life. She gave me a few specific dates that I should see things start to change for me in terms of my career and my general position in life. She also told me that one day I would write a book that would help many people.
While I was happy to hear these things, I obviously can’t confirm whether those things will actually happen.
My psychic also told me three people would come into my life and play an important role, and all three of them would have the letter “G” in their first name. One, she said, would definitely be a “Gary.” Interestingly enough, I’ve been trying to reach a source for another story I’m working on, and his name is Gary.
I am also supposed to meet someone named Dave or David who will not be a romantic interest for me but who will become a life-long friend.
The psychic told me a few other things about my future marriage and children, all of which I hope are true, but won’t know for sure until it actually happens.
In the end, the experience was expensive and I didn’t come away with a definitive conclusion about fortune-telling. The psychic nailed several things going on in my life, but other things, she totally missed. I’m not sorry I went, and I’m certainly curious to see if some of the dates and names mentioned during my reading work out the way the psychic said they would. If you have the extra cash and you’re brave enough to sit across the crystal ball, I’d recommend going to a psychic in a heartbeat.
But remember, according to the psychic, all readings should be kept private or you break your heartfelt wishes and cancel out everything in the reading. So, don’t be like me and tell the entire South Valley about your reading. And never say I didn’t go the distance for a story: I’ve just doomed my whole future for this one.
Get your palm read – for free
As most people well know, there are countless psychic phone networks, Web sites, and carnival fortune-tellers. For free, non-professional palm-reading fun, check out www.ofesite.com and figure out what all those lines on your hand mean.
According to the site, my “head line” indicates I have a logical and direct way of thinking, which I suppose is true, although I think there are some very notable exceptions.
The site did confirm the psychic’s prediction that I will live a long life, but the site says my “life line” shows I tend to live a cautious life. I guess that’s a matter open for debate, but I disagree seeing as I ran off to live in England, I’ve jumped out of an airplane and eaten food from a distinctly questionable vendor at a bazaar in Morocco.
My editor argues that I have lived a cautious life because I think things through very completely before I act, so even if I make slightly crazy decisions, it’s not without contemplation.
The site says my “love line” shows that I’m an idealist in love. If being an idealist means I’m a sappy romantic, then I absolutely agree.
Finally, the site says the shape of my hand shows I’m an inventor and I’m good at do-it-yourself, mechanical or crafty projects. Most people who know me would laugh out loud at the very idea of me doing well at crafty projects. My self-assembled Ikea furniture is all slightly off center or a little loose at the joints. I can’t sew, I certainly can’t figure out mechanics and I’ve never invented a thing in my life.
I don’t think this site was particularly accurate for me, but several other people in the office got a kick out of the predictions and claimed they were very accurate. For a little free parlor-trick fun that can impress your friends, pay a visit and see what your head, life and heart line have to tell you.
