Psychic
For a large portion of my life, I had never come into contact with a psychic. I was aware of those that claimed to be psychic, and had even heard stories of how a few of them had helped law enforcement in solving specific cases. But for the most part it seemed that psychics were often tied to clients from the entertainment and political worlds. There was a brief moment of shock and bewilderment when it was discovered that First Lady Nancy Reagan had her own personal psychic. Although the First Lady was criticized and lampooned for confiding in a psychic, it seemed to open a door of acceptance for some. Psychics soon became a part of pop culture, and the flow of 1-900-CALL-A-PSYCHIC type ventures quickly became a multi-billion dollar industry.
It is difficult now to go through daily life without coming across someone that claims to be psychic. I sometimes feel like the Haley Joel Osment character in the movie The Sixth Sense, only instead of seeing dead people, I see psychics. It has become vogue to possess psychic abilities. It is fashionable to claim to have discussions with spirits. Proclaiming to be psychic is yet another way for a generation of people to say, look at me, I am different; very much like what they had hoped their multiple piercings and tattoos would do. If by some chance you are not one of the gifted to be psychic, it only points out how dreadfully normal you must be…God Forbid!
Although I find it troubling that there is this sudden influx of psychics, I personally have nothing against psychics or pshychic-wannabes. If you are a psychic or know a psychic, I intend no disrespect. Even if you are not a psychic, but are claiming to be one, I see it as your business and as something you will eventually have to deal with. I do think that if I were a psychic myself, I would find it somewhat insulting that everyone and his brother is now claiming to have psychic abilities when it is obvious that many do not.
What is most disturbing is that for many of these self-proclaimed psychics their so-called abilities are not used to delve into their own truths or to further their own spiritual lives, but rather as a means to gain attention, provide amusement, and if possible, to make an easy buck.