Skepticblog

Don't Let the Tarot-rists Win!

I just finished a delightful podcast with the latest dynamic duo in the podcast world: Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy. These two IIG members have banded together to create a whimsical 45 minute show that manages to trump all the rest of the skeptical podcasts by being both highly entertaining and dedicated to avoiding all mention of the dreaded “S” word: SKEPTIC. Their byline is “We show up so you don’t have to.” Their casual approach to looking into all things wooish is working for them. Forget de-bunking. Those days are over.  Ross and Carrie want to have fun with all the wackiness we encounter in the paranormal world and like The Odds Must Be Crazy www.theoddsmustbecrazy.com website that I mentioned in my last post, using humor and good taste to coax the inquiring minds that shun the dickish approach to thinking rationally, Oh No, Ross and Carrie!” www.ohnopodcast.com treats all subjects with an open mind, paving the way for wider exposure and a surer footing in The Big Pictur

Carrie Poppy

While sipping hot tea (a pre-requiste for the show’s stars) and sitting in front of the fireplace in what Carrie described as my “blissfully creepy” living room, we discussed a bit of my background in magic(k) and what brought me to the slippery precipace of woodom, where I had to once and for all make the leap from playing both sides of the psychic/skeptic track and settle into what is now a much more manageable position as an writer and investigator of all things weird. I’m somewhat used to being interviewed and after having played the role of a medium and psychic entertainer, I have learned how to parry with both skeptics and believers who may attempt to maneuver me to come over to their side, or worse; get me on the defensive.

I’m happy to say, this didn’t happen with Ross and Carrie. Both are warm-hearted individuals and that’s what comes across in their podcasts. Both also know me from my work in the IIG so they didn’t push my guilt buttons either way. I’m still quite happy to do readings of any sort.  In fact I enjoy it more than ever. Time has taught me many things and as I told Ross and Carrie, the more you interact with people by talking with them in the context of the “psychic” persona, the better you get in learning how to understand human nature. This is why when paying to sit with an old gypsy woman for advice, it’s not so amazing that at once she seems to know the most uncanny things about you: she’s basically an old wise woman who has probably talked to thousands of lonely and confused people. There’s nothing supernatural about that, unless you count our society’s reticence to communicate anything but surface bullshit in our day to day interactions as something supernatural. We are not used to opening up to anyone except perhaps our spouses or therapists – and even that is frequently difficult. A total stranger, especially when given the “spiritual advisor” placard above their door, is usually much easier (and cheaper) to deal with than either of the former. The key is that most experienced readers will LISTEN when nobody else has either the time or inclination to do so.

Believe me, when you talk to dozens of sitters everyday or do a gig where you speak non-stop for four or five hours without a break – you learn the skill of listening. You have to! Your vocal chords need the rest!  I have found that while my mind and the thinking process involved with giving a good reading becomes more lucid and free-flowing as the hours drag on, my body begins to show signs of stress – especially my throat!  I learned fast to let the sitter rattle off whatever is on their mind if possible, nodding wisely and mirroring back whatever you can glean, adding in a splash or two of some wise platitude that has been gathered from years of reading and testing out what gets the best reaction. Psychic readers of any stripe are superior story tellers –  and not much else. Anything supernatural comes from the sitters expectations and their natural proclivity towards the psychic’s best friend: confirmation bias.

In the Lair of Mystery

Please give a listen to Ross and Carrie’s show.  This is a positive direction skepticism and rational thinking should be taking. Take a few minutes to listen to my show and learn about the psychology and secrets of the psychic while getting a verbal preview of my book “PSYCHIC BLUES” that will be hitting the stands in April.

And if I may be so bold;  If you are interested in knowing the truth about the psychic racket, (and make no  mistake – it is a racket) I suggest three books that should be on every skeptic’s book shelf:

1) “The Psychic Mafia ” by LaMar Keene

2) “Nightmare Alley” by William Lindsay Gresham

3) “Psychic Blues” by Mark Edward (due out in April 2012)

My Own Designs for Contemporary Tarot Cards

* You can join the Facebook fanpage for up-dates and alerts on PSYCHIC BLUES publication at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Psychic-Blues/281703748518095