Page 14 - 200903 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - March 2009

14 Psychics quizzed on economy 14 Psychics quizzed on economy Psychics quizzed on finances get tight -- hourlong readings reduced space to insert a credit card number was clear as Psychics quizzed on economy to half-hour ones. Some who started with a bell or, we might say, clear as “natural-born economy clairvoyant” Betty’s forecast based on “tarot shorter sessions have dropped out entirely. But the downturn has also brought in a steady flow readings, runes and her connection to spirit of new customers. guides.”) By Marti Maguire Patrons fear the future Fiedler said the advice most are giving is By Marti Maguire She does the reading before they ask any less what’s in the future than help in dealing Forget about love. questions and often finds financial issues with the present. One woman, who claims to As the Dow has declined, so has troubling them. have been a “seer since age 7,” when she amorous interest among patrons of area "About once a day I am reading for “foresaw an aunt’s death,” said she just tells psychics. What has replaced it? A dogged focus people who just lost their job or will be losing clients inquiring about the recession not to on cash. their job shortly," said McGill, who noted the panic. Everything gets worse before it gets "They want to know if they should take trend started just before the November better. their money out of the stock market or if they elections. "They are very fearful of what the And people are paying good money for should get out of a business or stay with a future will bring for them." this? Whatever comforts you, we suppose. business," said Rachel Johnson of the Psychic The woes span the globe and cross class There is some psychology behind the Studio in Raleigh. "People are coming asking if lines. rush to consult psychics, the newspaper reports. I can do a spell to help their finances." "I read for very wealthy individuals who “In times of uncertainty or stress, people tend to Johnson says she can read the future in have lost a lot of money in the stock market and rely on superstition or magic,” said a Baruch the palm of a patron's hand or with the flip of a for people who have circled around their whole College marketing professor. tarot card. lives waiting for their next paycheck," she said. One Dallas “soothsayer” does give She does not cast spells. McGill said her callers rarely ask for investment advice, relying on her “skills” to tell Such confusion about her abilities may specific advice on money. McArthur gets more clients which stocks to buy. There was nothing stem from another recent development -- a wave detailed questions but said she tries to keep her in the story to indicate if she took her own of newcomers seeking out her services. guidance general when it comes to a client's advice, but we assume that if she did, she Business had been up for a few years but economic choices. She's also doing her part to wouldn’t have a need to sell her services as a hit a fever pitch late last year, said Johnson, who boost consumer confidence by trying to free her soothsayer. has told fortunes for 18 years, following in the clients from the gloom of economic news. Most of what they peddle is just footsteps of her mother. Their business includes "I always tell people don't buy into the common sense, sort of like playing “Jeopardy” another mother-daughter psychic team in negativity," she said. "By thinking positive, you from your living room and basing responses on Smithfield who are their relatives. draw abundance to you." [] the categories’ titles or the inflections in Alex The stock market is a major point of Trebek’s voice. Profits in predictions patron concern, though many also ask when Profits in predictions But another business we thought would they'll find jobs. Romance has been the big be recession-proof is experiencing declines. loser, she and other psychics said. The Wall Street Journal reported in Anderson Independent Mail "People don't ask about their Anderson Independent Mail December that state lotteries are reporting relationships so much anymore," said Sophia decreased ticket sales. Nationwide, lottery sales Todd, a fourth-generation psychic who has seen Good news: We found another fell $215 million from July through September a modest bump in business at her two Durham profession that isn’t hurting despite the 2008, after several years of steady increases. locations. recession. Psychics are apparently foreseeing a But that trend could change again. She's seen a surprising increase in the profitable future for themselves. Surely if some of us are willing to consult number of business owners who come to her In these times of economic uncertainty, psychics to make investment decisions or even hoping to catch a glimpse of future profits -- or the business of giving advice with the help of to simply receive comfort about our financial losses -- for their enterprises. To help them, she “special powers” is about as recession-proof as prospects, we wouldn’t hesitate to plunk down finds herself spending a lot of time reading the the alcohol industry. Just as we wrote a few part of the payroll on the chance to win big in money line on her clients' right index finger for weeks ago about beer companies heading for a the lottery. signs of future wealth. boom year, USA Today reports that psychics, And these days, that could be easier to Why no lottery numbers? astrologers, palm readers and other “paranormal envision than job security — except in the She doesn't boast much skill in specialists” are all the rage with consumers in psychic business or the brewery. [] predicting the ebb and flow of financial markets an uncertain economy. Psychic Debate -- she says her psychic abilities apply to people, One Philadelphia psychic said her Psychic Debate not intangibles like the stock market. It's a customers ranged from executives who wanted distinction that answers a common question to know about their companies’ outlooks to The industry built around foretelling posed by critics of psychics: Why can't they restaurateurs who wanted to know what would predict lottery numbers? tempt people to eat out more to homeowners people's futures has gotten a boost from the slowing economy, some psychics report. "If I could do those things," Todd said, who want to know if their property values are But the scientific community claims to "I wouldn't have to work at all." secure. have refuted the idea that such paranormal But quick fixes are a big lure for people This is one of those stories that you have abilities exist. seeking a way out of financial distress, leading to wonder if it is a spoof, but apparently it’s on Last January, researchers at Harvard some to seek out help from lesser lights. the level. University published what they claimed to be Rosemary McArthur, the Colorado- Psychics even have their own marketing based founder of the American Association of experts, including Maryanne Fiedler, who the "strongest evidence yet obtained against the existence of paranormal mental phenomena." Psychics, said many of her members are represents an online network of 165 functional The researchers used reporting an increased interest in their services. clairvoyants. They only work via the Internet, magnetic resonance imaging to detect changes But, she said, the hard times have also buoyed so at least they are technologically savvy. But the popularity of psychic hot lines that don't the partners in Psychic Source don’t give to the brain caused by paranormal activity. They found none. compare in quality to the psychics who register investment advice, Fiedler is quick to point out. with her group. They only offer “reassurances.” Source: National Center for Biotechnology "People are vulnerable, and they're These days, that may be enough. If you easily taken in by people who tell them what can’t get comfort from your broker or your Information they want to hear," said McArthur, whose banker, why not try Moira or Maxine? Join Rob McConnell in The ‘X’ Zone moniker is "The Celtic Lady." (“Introductory” membership will get you a Monday thru Friday McGill said some of her regular reading for $1 per minute, but we couldn’t find From 10 pm - 2 am EDT / 7 pm - 11 pm PDT customers have cut back on their readings as anywhere on the site that gave regular rates. The www.xzonetv.com or your local AM/FM Station