Thanks for the original post. I'm from Australia too, and find it hard to get information about Australian mediums so word-of-mouth is good! With famous mediums like Allison Dubois, Theresa Capito, John Edwards and the guys from the 3 mediums show, it's relatively simple to youtube their actual Tv shows, examples of their stage shows, maybe an interview or Tv studio reading and then Google them to potentially find past controversies.... I find it really difficult to actually piece together an idea of what any Australian medium is like, or even recognise their name. While some people may say 'who cares, they're all fake' I'm genuinely interested in people who do this - their individual style, their approach, and why people are drawn to a particular one, and I think understanding these things help greatly in not only explaining to people that it maynot be real, but also in arming people to question their future responses to such people.
Anyway, thanks for the thread! Would love to see more clips, anecdotes, and feedback about Australian mediums!
Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Mar 23, 2015 17:13:24 GMT
Its hard since we are in the UK in general, so dont get to hear or see anything about Aussie mediums. I hope you are totally skeptical of any such claims
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
I guess that's the beauty of a forum - shared information on topics that might otherwise be hard to find. I am skeptical about such claims, but take a great interest in the people who make them. I really like the section on this site that has folders on individual psychics/mediums. While understanding the common techniques employed by all such people is important in order to explain to others how they're 'doing it', I think it's also good to collate information on specific people including comparisons with others that have gone before them. Even people who claim to be familiar with psychic reading techniques, can be blown away by someone who is extra charismatic or just simply 'better' at the game. Ultimately i'd like to see/ help collate comprehensive information on websites/videos etc. about the specific people who do these things, to balance out whatever 'testimonials' and promotional videos they have and I'm particularly interested in any Australians - although maybe they're just small fry.
Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Mar 24, 2015 12:20:23 GMT
Well we are always looking for info on mediums, but there must always be a fine line that we don't inadvertently promote them. That's why anything I publish I always try to have a run down, an exposure of their methods, a break down of the reading and so on, so that when someone does read it, they can make up their own mind as to what is more likely, eitehr the medium is real and breaking the laws of physics and Biology, or they are cheating using known and explain techniques.
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
I know this is an old thread now, but I found this site because I was looking for reviews about Amanda De Warren. I'll start by saying I have had many readings with different psychics over the last 8 years and I have found some excellent clairvoyants who I continually return to. The good ones don't ask questions every 30 seconds. They might ask one or two questions at the most in an hour - and usually none at all. Sometimes, they focus and meditate on a question and carefully give me a lot of detailed information which is incredibly accurate and helpful.
However, when I had a reading with Amanda De Warren about a month ago, I hung up not feeling very sure at all whether what she said would be true as she asked sooo many questions, question after question, which made me feel like I was giving her the whole story and hints and she was making up the most obvious ending. It was just like calling up a friend and them giving me their opinion on what might happen in the end. Whether Amanda's comments are true, time will tell I guess, but it was very useful to read about other people's experiences! I also found an interview with her on You Tube and it wasn't impressive at all. Again, lots of questions, very hit and miss. Hoping that she is legit this time though!
"I'm particularly interested in any Australians - although maybe they're just small fry."
I'm Australian and I have seen plenty in Sydney and one via skype in New Zealand. I've found the ones I would continue to go back to but there were plenty that were disappointing. I think that a lot of them genuinely do have a gift however they try to make a living out of it so they need a lot of filler talk for that whole hour, every hour for every person.
I know this is an old thread now, but I found this site because I was looking for reviews about Amanda De Warren.
First let me welcome you to the forum. We welcome all people with all opinions.
I'll start by saying I have had many readings with different psychics over the last 8 years and I have found some excellent clairvoyants who I continually return to.
What if I told you that they were all frauds, and that I could prove it, would you be interested to know more, or are you happy with spending money on something that has never been proven?
I only ask you this because you say you keep going back to them, this to me is an alarm going off loud. As you are wasting money on something I know to be false. I am prepared to not only show you exactly how they do it, but also help you get your money back.
Again if you are happy spending money on this despite the high probability it is faked, then that is cool with me, but the offer is always there.
The good ones don't ask questions every 30 seconds. They might ask one or two questions at the most in an hour - and usually none at all.
ALL mediums ask questions, some are just better at wording them than others. I bet you your favourite medium who has convinced you completely, asked you more than 10 questions in any single reading. Want to see if I am right?
Sometimes, they focus and meditate on a question and carefully give me a lot of detailed information which is incredibly accurate and helpful.
Yes that is how cold reading works, it is a psychological technique used to convince people they know things about them that they really should have no idea of. It is a skill that works best on people who dont know how the trick works.
Think of a magician, if you dont know how they do it, it seems really amazing right? Well now imagine that you know exactly how the trick is done, all the secrets etc, would you still be amazed as much? Now let me tell you something, I KNOW how mediums/psychics etc how they do their tricks. Not one medium in history has ever stumped me, not one, I have been able to expose 100% of mediums I have looked at. And I have taken on everyone from the end of the peer psychic, to world famous millionaire mediums. Remember if I lied just once, they would sue me, not one has ever dared try.
However, when I had a reading with Amanda De Warren about a month ago, I hung up not feeling very sure at all whether what she said would be true as she asked sooo many questions, question after question, which made me feel like I was giving her the whole story and hints and she was making up the most obvious ending. It was just like calling up a friend and them giving me their opinion on what might happen in the end. Whether Amanda's comments are true, time will tell I guess, but it was very useful to read about other people's experiences! I also found an interview with her on You Tube and it wasn't impressive at all. Again, lots of questions, very hit and miss. Hoping that she is legit this time though!
She is a fraud, 100%. But it sounds like her spiel has become lazy and she is not putting in the effort to hide the con. But then again you still paid her right! So regardless of what you think of her, she has won.
I look forward to your reply.
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
I myself have been to so many because I wanted to very objectively find out whether or not this concept could be real. I have decided it is entirely possible that it is real - so no I don't need an analysis because I know which ones I won't be going back to and why.
The best one I saw had her eyes closed the entire time, talked for the full hour without one question and handed me a recording at the end - the recording was full of accuracies.
Some listed here:
In relation to how my grandmother died, she told me she felt a massive headache in the front of her head (my grandmother died of an aneurysm) she told me that 5 years before that my grandmother had heart issues (yes she had a pacemaker put in). She told me that my grandmother had a son or brother that died at a young age and that she always felt punished, but now she understood why it needed to happen. (Yes her son died young) She could hear my brothers name being called, she could see my cousins name, and heard a song that has the same name as my mother and named my cousins child. She had a message for her daughters "Don't waste money on the flowers" the week before my mum and aunt were discussing buying silk flowers for the grave.
Earlier that month, I started lighting candles, praying, practising meditation and doing third eye exercises on You Tube - again to see if there was any truth in these concepts. Around this time when the lights were out, I started seeing a trail of sparkles travelling through my room on three different occasions. I checked my phone/window/laptop, everything was off or closed. I fell asleep and forgot about it and never mentioned it to anyone. During my reading, the clairvoyant told me this, ".....and those sparkles you have been seeing at night, don't think it's your imagination, it is spirits looking after you." She told me that my grandmother sees me praying with candles and that I should continue to work on my third eye and gave me a technique to try.
It was at this point that I believed without a doubt, because she specifically mentioned something that I hadn't told anyone and talked about things that I had been doing in my bedroom which I had never done before.
Don't forget she had her eyes closed the entire time, no questions asked and no, this information is not on google, it was pre-facebook days and my grandmother has a completely different surname to me and her name never comes up in a search either.
I even had a guy tell me that my stove wasn't working and I had just moved back home and hadn't tried it yet -he was right.
So yes you may have worked out the methods that a lot of people use, but some of them are truly gifted.
I myself have been to so many because I wanted to very objectively find out whether or not this concept could be real. I have decided it is entirely possible that it is real - so no I don't need an analysis because I know which ones I won't be going back to and why.
You seem to have gone quite defensive straight away. There really is no need, if you are confident that you know better than me, then why not find out? I am like you I want to objectively find out if mediums do what they claim, I have a deep understanding of how it all works, both the skeptical explanations and the believers explanations. I have completed a mediumship course, I have stood on platform and given readings, I really have done everything possible to investigate and understand everything in this genre.
The best one I saw had her eyes closed the entire time, talked for the full hour without one question and handed me a recording at the end - the recording was full of accuracies.
I recall a blind medium called Sharon Neil. I exposed her with ease. Being blind doesnt prevent you from cold reading.
If you give me the reading your received, I 100% guarantee you I can show you how they did it.
It was at this point that I believed without a doubt, because she specifically mentioned something that I hadn't told anyone and talked about things that I had been doing in my bedroom which I had never done before.
You were convinced by a clever trick. I know how that trick is done, let me show you, just give me the recording, I will get it transcribed, and I will go through it step by step and show you.
Don't forget she had her eyes closed the entire time, no questions asked and no, this information is not on google, it was pre-facebook days and my grandmother has a completely different surname to me and her name never comes up in a search either.
Yep mediums have been doing these tricks for hundreds of years, google, facebook etc is meaningless, many mediums today dont use them as it is too easy to be caught out hot reading.
I even had a guy tell me that my stove wasn't working and I had just moved back home and hadn't tried it yet -he was right.
Yep, that is a classic line, I have seen it written in handbooks passed about by mediums. Something that sounds specific, but is actually quite common, if correct it sounds amazing, if not it is instantly forgotten. For the record I have a broken stove right now.
So yes you may have worked out the methods that a lot of people use, but some of them are truly gifted.
I have worked out sucessfully the methods used in over 2500 readings I have analysed over a 14 year period. I have had 250+ face to face readings with mediums, and I have understood the method used every single time.
I am not saying mediumship is not real, I am saying it is statistically improbable. And I am prepared to back up and prove everything I say, and Put my reputation on the line every single day. In 14 years+ I have never failed, not once.
Now, either you know something I dont, you have been incredibly lucky and found real mediums when I have not, I somehow block the mediums powers with some kind of secret juju.
or, You were fooled, by known techniques.
Remember in history, 100% of mediums fail 100% of the time in credible scientific tests when the chance to cheat is removed.
Again I am not calling you a liar, I am just asked that you give me the chance to prove that mediums you believe are real, are fake. I believe I have the knowledge and experience to back up what I say.
Maybe I fail, maybe I cant explain them, and if that is the case, I will apologise to you, to them, and i will change my way of thinking, I would probably book a direct reading with them to further investigate what is going on.
Quick final question, do you know how every magician you have ever seen does his trick? Are you able to figure out pretty quickly how a trick is done by an expert magician? If the answer is no, what makes you think you haven't been fooled by a medium?
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
Always ask the medium who they are "talking to" in the spirit world. There should be no doubt who it is. None of this that the name might be this that or the other or son or brother etc. It they are really in contact they could give you the dead one's name and address and when they died etc.
The medium should NEVER have to ask questions of you. If they are genuine they should specifically tell you everything about those they are supposed to be in contact with in the spirit world.
Always ask the medium who they are "talking to" in the spirit world. There should be no doubt who it is. None of this that the name might be this that or the other or son or brother etc. It they are really in contact they could give you the dead one's name and address and when they died etc.
The medium should NEVER have to ask questions of you. If they are genuine they should specifically tell you everything about those they are supposed to be in contact with in the spirit world.
This is one of the reasons mediums ask their victims to only answer yes or no, this is a classic cold reading technique which allows the medium to control the reading, and also make it seem like they are not fishing for info, when the opposite is true.
Mediums hate to answer direct questions, and will use all manner of excuses to avoid it. Amazing that they can tell you about the important documents in the biscuit tin under the stairs, but cant tell you the name of the dead person giving them that info!
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
I have worked out sucessfully the methods used in over 2500 readings I have analysed over a 14 year period.
The problem with what you are saying is that with these two mediums mentioned above, there has never been a time where they talked about some strange thing that was totally irrelevant so what I am saying is it hasn't been a hit and miss situation at all. I don't walk away thinking 'well he was wrong about the stove problem' or whatever.
The things they bring up are always either coming up soon or have just happened. e.g. seeing those sparkles had only happened earlier that month yet has never happened again nor has it been brought up again in any other reading.
Further example, with the stove guy, I had just moved in and hadn't touched the stove, since I replaced the stove it hasn't been brought up ever again. As soon as I picked up the phone he said, "You're going overseas, exceptionally soon, like within a week, I feel like I want to put on a big warm jacket, you're going to the snow."
Now this was the middle of winter where everyone in Oz goes overseas to be somewhere HOT which would be the obvious guess for anyone - but no I had decided to go overseas somewhere even colder with snow and yes I was leaving that week.
He also said he could see a large orange piece of furniture in my house. At first I thought how ridiculous, who has a piece of ORANGE furniture but then I realised it was my orange portable bar and I had been thinking about getting that orange piece of furniture thrown out. Nobody else has brought up the stove or the orange furniture since - as these are no longer matters in my life.
Nobody has ever been specific about the area of my grandmothers cause of death (the medium felt a strong headache in the front of her head) - I have noticed the common guesses amongst mediums are cancer or heart attack - but no she died of an aneurysm and she specifically said she could feel pressure and headache in the front of her head in relation to how she died.
So my point is, it's not like there were half misses and half hits - there was just hits and things I could not verify such as who greeted my grandmother when she passed.
The things they bring up are always either coming up soon or have just happened. e.g. seeing those sparkles had only happened earlier that month yet has never happened again nor has it been brought up again in any other reading.
Ok show me the reading and I will show you how they did it, not sure what more I can do than that. I am 100% confident I know how they did it. And can show you.
So my point is, it's not like there were half misses and half hits - there was just hits and things I could not verify such as who greeted my grandmother when she passed.
You are relying on your memory, to recall an event, and what someone said. In a court of law, eye witness testimony is the WEAKEST form of evidence.
I am not saying you are lying, or anything like that, I am saying that you were conned, you were convinced by someone using known psychological techniques, and I can prove that if you show me the reading. I guarantee you with a knowledge on this subject that is unmatched by anyone else in the UK, that I know how they did it, and I can show you how. But I need to hear the reading, as its pointless me explaining your memories of an event. We know as fact that human memory is fallible.
Look up the moon illusion. I could put 1 million people in a line, get them all to look at the moon low on the horizon, and every single one of them would describe the same thing, that the moon is bigger, and every single one of them would be wrong, and provably so.
Point is, I can prove you were conned if you show me the reading.
If you dont want to know how it was done, or are happy with the delusion, thats cool too. But if you truly want to know if you were conned or not, I can help you, and after the sheer number of readings I have analysed, I have complete confidence that I know how they did it.
Now unless you have a Phd in psychology, are a member of the magic circle, are an expert investigator, I doubt that you have the correct knowledge base to make an informed decision.
Again not calling you a liar, or attacking you, I am just saying you were fooled, and if you have the reading I can prove it.
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
I will send it when/if I can find it again - I know the DVD wasn't long enough to get the last 3 minutes in but I was writing notes as well.
So how do you explain this.
I purchased a 'December 2017' outlook.....the purpose of her reading is to give you an overview of the year ahead - there were no questions asked and no info given - I just sent a photo of myself from an account with a 'fake name'.
She didn't send it to me until 3rd February 2017.
In the reading she breaks up the year into chunks of 3 months.
I was skimming through the reading, thinking it was all very boring unimpressive stuff which could have been a cut and paste for anyone. However, for October/November/December she said I would be having a baby boy and relocating/moving and starting a new chapter of my life. She said the boys name would have my grandfathers name in there. She said if it's not me, then someone else in my family is having a boy.
On 10th February 2017 (7 days later), I found out I was pregnant and the baby is due in October. It was only about 3 months ago, I was telling my parents if I ever had a boy, I want my grandfather's name to be in there. And yes, now I will need to move and get a new place if this all happens!
Early last year, in a one question reading asking "When will I have children?" I was told "October/November" there would be an 'announcement'.
Looking back at other readings, one guy said I will have a beautiful girl within 3 years. A year later, he told me I would have a child within 2 years. Now that there's under a year to go for his 'deadline' I am interested in doing a reading with him now to see if he picks up on the fact it's actually happening.
Another reading a few years back I was told it would be a girl in 'an October' but not for another few years.
So this is the first time in my life I am pregnant, these things can't be controlled, we will see if this all happens come October!!
Quick clarification here, I dont need to "explain" anything when all i have to go on is text on a screen, I have to trust you word, your recollection and so on. But I will give an opinion based on the limited information you provide.
I purchased a 'December 2017' outlook.....the purpose of her reading is to give you an overview of the year ahead - there were no questions asked and no info given - I just sent a photo of myself from an account with a 'fake name'.
Can we see the actually "December 2017 outlook"? Also with just a photo, I could find all manner of info about you, including you real name, home address, relatives info, people you live with and so on. Never assume you know more than the criminal who is conning you. This is the biggest mistake believers make. They assume because they could not figure something out that no one could. We have criminal forensics, and detectives can find out all manner of things about you with the tiniest amount of information. Again just because YOU do not know how a trick is done, does not make it real.
She didn't send it to me until 3rd February 2017.
How long did she take between you sending the photo and you getting the reading? How did you pay? Was it free? If free how can I get such an outlook?
I was skimming through the reading, thinking it was all very boring unimpressive stuff which could have been a cut and paste for anyone.
Yet you dont quote any of that? You cheer pick only the things that make sense to you.
If I tell you 100 pieces of information and 1 of them is true, and you only tell people about that 1 thing, then of course the reading sounds more impressive. Put it with the 99 wrong things and suddenly not so much do you agree?
Think of it like this, If I gave the exact same "psychic" reading to 1000 people. But none of them knew that other people were getting the same fake reading. Purely through statistics, at least 1 person would end up with a practically perfect reading. Now take that one person and that one reading, take it to someone and ask them explain it, without anyone knowing how it was done. Suddenly it seems pretty impressive right?
However, for October/November/December she said I would be having a baby boy and relocating/moving and starting a new chapter of my life. She said the boys name would have my grandfathers name in there. She said if it's not me, then someone else in my family is having a boy.
Can you not see how insanely vague all this is?
Ok lets look at this, you have given us no info at all on who the psychic is? What is the psychic known for? This all makes a difference. Next the medium then gave you a 3 month window for getting pregnant! That is NOT specific is it! They also cover themselves by saying if it is not you it will be someone else in your family! Wow this is awful! Ok, let me guess you are probably around that child bearing age, late 20s early 30s. So the photo you provided would show your age, so this is just a vague guess by the medium, whereby they give you a HUGE amount of time to have a child in, and if not spreads that to someone in your family.
On 10th February 2017 (7 days later), I found out I was pregnant and the baby is due in October.
Congratulations. The medium kinda got lucky, simple as that, but they were so incredibly vague, that this cant be considered a hit by any critical thinking person.
It was only about 3 months ago, I was telling my parents if I ever had a boy, I want my grandfather's name to be in there. And yes, now I will need to move and get a new place if this all happens!
I am Greek, and ALL boys are named after their grandfather, it is tradition, and many non Greeks also do this, sometimes as a tribute to a GParent etc, giving the middle name or something that that. Again not as specific as it sounds, since it is incredibly common to keep names going.
So guessing out of the whole reading since you posted that bit here that is the ONLY bit that was right, and even then it was quite the stretch.
Early last year, in a one question reading asking "When will I have children?" I was told "October/November" there would be an 'announcement'.
Well this is wrong, the announcement is February when you found out you were pregnant. Then a lot of people wait 3 months before ANNOUNCING they are pregnant, so May would also be time for Announcement. Perhaps you find out the sex of the baby usually at 4-5 months so an announcement could be June/July, And then the baby is born in October. And announcement could be made then. Are you getting the point here?
Looking back at other readings, one guy said I will have a beautiful girl within 3 years. A year later, he told me I would have a child within 2 years. Now that there's under a year to go for his 'deadline' I am interested in doing a reading with him now to see if he picks up on the fact it's actually happening.
Save your money, the man is a con artist. He literally said "Something will happen between now and 36 months from now!" That is a HUGE time frame. He would probably have had your record from the previous time you paid him, so he would have looked up what he said and followed it up to stay consistent.
Another reading a few years back I was told it would be a girl in 'an October' but not for another few years.
These fake cant even agree on the sex of the baby! If you see enough psychics and they all tell you slightly different things, purely by chance one will be right wont they?
So this is the first time in my life I am pregnant, these things can't be controlled, we will see if this all happens come October!
Well they can be controlled, by birth control, so there ya go.
Anyway from what you describe you sound slightly addicted to these psychics, and I wonder if by having people constantly tell you you are gonna be pregnant, that subsconsciously you have fulfilled the prophecy.
Bit like psychics telling you you will meet a tall asian man, and from that point on any time you meet a tall asian man you make more of an effort to get with them.
So anyway that is how I would explain what you describe.
Now please save your money dont see any more of these frauds!
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
Yeh you're right re: saving money - I really can't be bothered spending $100 on this guy - but like you, just also curious to work out what's going on and interested to see if he can pick up on it without me saying a thing.
I am dying to know the sex of the child and I have received completely different answers over the years - so of course half of them will be right.
I'm just going to have to wait for the actual scan
Yeh you're right re: saving money - I really can't be bothered spending $100 on this guy - but like you, just also curious to work out what's going on and interested to see if he can pick up on it without me saying a thing.
I am dying to know the sex of the child and I have received completely different answers over the years - so of course half of them will be right.
I'm just going to have to wait for the actual scan
From now on every time you want to see a psychic, stop yourself, put that $100 aside, and keep it for the baby!
And yes wait for the scan, and whatever sex the baby is will be good.
ps. I predict a Boy
A bad ass who will beat you like he's using the fists of god.
Ha, well I will let you know if you're right. I had the gender blood test on Wednesday so I'll know once and for all, all these years of wondering what will happen and here it is. I've been testing these psychics by showing up and not telling them I am pregnant and seeing what they come up with. Nobody has picked up on it. Surely someone with talent should be able to pick up on the biggest thing of my life going on right now.
One lady was reading my chart off her MacBook (!) and said she sees an instant family at the end of this year and sees a 'very powerful girl'. Strangely interesting that she got that from my birth chart. But the rest were a load of whatever e.g. boring 'career' and relationship talk etc. (meanwhile both relationships and career are going on the backburner for a long while). But still....there is one guy who I think will pick up on it though......tempting
Oh and one clairvoyant said 'they just put the word IVF in my mind, is that something you are thinking of doing?' so that was interesting too - again I didn't admit I was already pregnant (and via IVF) - I wanted her to work it out but she just talked about the idea of doing it instead.