The Curious Case Of The Eavesdropping Medium

I had a good laugh with a friend the other day as we reminisced about an odd encounter the two of us had with a psychic medium many years ago (which she has teased me endlessly about ever since).

We had inadvertently arrived an hour early for a mediumship demonstration by an amazingly gifted medium (according to my friend). Not having much else to do, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the venue’s snack bar before the event began.

Soon we were deep in conversation, enthusiastically discussing spiritualism and mediumship. A few tables away sat a mysterious dark-haired lady who made me feel a little uneasy. I suspected that she might be listening to our conversation.

The hour passed quickly and then the event began. To my surprise and confusion, the dark-haired woman from earlier stood up, greeted everyone, and introduced herself to the gathering. The ‘eavesdropper’ was the medium!

Then she suddenly looked around and said, “Right, who is Lucinda?”

My friend was very pleased with this remarkable development. “See, I told you — she’s the real deal!” she whispered with great excitement.

“No, she’s not,” I hastily whispered back, “she heard my name earlier in the snack bar…when you asked me what I wanted to drink!”

But my friend refused to share my skepticism, firmly convinced that the lady in question heard my name from the dearly departed. Her asking who “Lucinda” was simply had to be evidence of her incredible psychic abilities.

If we will begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we will be content to begin with doubts, we shall end in certainties ~ Francis Bacon

I, however, remained firmly unconvinced. In fact, I became even more skeptical when the medium left it at that. No further messages from loved ones were given to my friend or me. Spirit apparently told her my name…for no reason it seemed…and then nothing more happened, which only added to my lack of faith in the woman’s authenticity.

The demonstration dragged on for me and I even began to watch the clock. The sooner I could get out of there, the better, I thought.

Then, just as the evening was coming to a close, the medium suddenly stopped, started tapping on her chest (just like my late father used to do) and said, “I have a very anxious man here named Jimmy, who died of a heart attack.”

This certainly got my attention! Not only did the medium demonstrate my late father’s characteristic mannerisms, but she named him and described his personality to a T. He was indeed quite nervous by nature, and she even confirmed the cause of his death. She then told me that he was seeking my forgiveness, which resonated deeply with me, beyond mere coincidence.

I left the meeting now a firm believer in the woman whose abilities I had initially unfairly questioned. Today, in my own work, I often get names in readings and clients often ask how I knew. I simply tell them, “I honestly don’t know exactly how it works. I am simply repeating to you what I am receiving.”

Sadly, however, there are those who claim to be psychics and mediums who have no real abilities. The world of spiritualism and psychic reading is not without its share of charlatans who give the rest of us a bad name.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense ~ Buddha

So, how can you tell the difference between a genuine psychic or medium, and someone who is out to take advantage of you? Here are some tell-tale signs you should never ignore:

They don’t tell you, they ask you: A genuine medium (or psychic)  shouldn’t need to know too many details about you — beyond perhaps your name, date of birth and any questions you may have for the session. If they start asking too many personal, prying questions, it’s usually a sign that they’re fishing for information, rather than receiving it psychically. It is perfectly acceptable to clarify some information here and there as the reading progresses, to make sure that you are both on the same page in terms of clarity and interpretation. But if you find yourself doing most of the talking, that’s usually a red flag!

Don’t fall for scare tactics: Many years ago, I had a brief phone reading with someone I found online. Within minutes she called me back and insisted that I pay for more time with her, because I was in grave danger — especially regarding my love life — and that I needed another reading immediately. I politely explained to her that I was (and still am) happily married to a wonderful man for decades and that her attempts to scare me into paying for more readings were both inappropriate and unethical. Needless to say, she never contacted me again. Fear should never be used as a sales tactic.

Beware the generic guessing game: A reputable psychic or medium is able provide details so specific that they can’t possibly be guessed. They should answer your questions with clarity, not in vague generalities that could apply to anyone. Authentic psychics and mediums receive, they don’t guess.

Avoid the spell removals and curse clearings: I’ve had clients come to me convinced that they are cursed, or in need of an urgent, very expensive “cleansing” ritual. Let me assure you that the greatest magical force in your life is your own belief system. Your thoughts and emotions create your experience far more powerfully than any so-called curse. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — especially if they offer to “remove” the curse for a hefty fee.

They offer guarantees and promises: As the old saying goes, the only things in life that are guaranteed are death, and taxes! No authentic psychic will promise you a specific outcome, or brag about their 99.9% accuracy rate. They may tell you what they see unfolding based on your current path and energy, but the future is fluid and shaped by your free will choices. A true psychic will always encourage you to actively participate in creating your own destiny, not passively wait for it to happen to you.

They encourage dependency: No medium or psychic should ever make you feel that they are your only source of insight and well-being. True spiritual guidance empowers you; it doesn’t create dependency. A true reader will encourage you to seek readings from different practitioners, to explore different perspectives, and most importantly, to trust your own inner compass.

They don’t encourage your intuition: Every day, I remind my clients that their own gut is their greatest gift, for it is through intuition that spirit speaks to us. A fake psychic, on the other hand, may discourage you from trusting your inner wisdom, preferring that you rely solely on them for answers. If someone doesn’t empower you to connect with your own inner guidance and higher self, it’s a big red flag.

It’s important to only work with psychics and mediums who are reputable, ethical, experienced, and committed to authentic practice. This is why I love working on the Psychic Access platform, because every practitioner is thoroughly vetted through interviews, verification, and psychic ability assessments. These rigorous standards ensure that you’ll receive high-quality, trustworthy readings that empower, uplift and connect you with genuine spiritual insight.