24 December 2023

ARTICLE: A look at the history of Psychic and Mediums


By Jon Donnis
Throughout history, the allure of the mystical and the supernatural has captivated human imagination. From the famed oracles of ancient Greece to the modern-day psychics who claim to communicate with the spirit world, the history of psychic and mediumship claims is a tapestry woven with threads of skepticism. In this exploration, we'll journey through time, examining the dubious nature of these claims and questioning the legitimacy of those who profess to possess otherworldly abilities.

Ancient Oracles:

The Oracle of Delphi, situated at the Temple of Apollo, was a renowned center for divination in ancient Greece. Supposedly endowed with the ability to communicate with the gods, the oracle provided cryptic messages that were open to interpretation. Revered by the ancient Greeks as the most powerful oracle, this sacred site held immense influence over political, military, and personal decisions, shaping the course of history through cryptic messages uttered by the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo.

The Oracle of Delphi was part of the larger sanctuary dedicated to Apollo, a god associated with prophecy, healing, and music. Pilgrims from across the Greek world flocked to Delphi seeking answers to pressing questions about their future, decisions, or conflicts. The sanctuary, with its impressive architecture and stunning views, provided a sacred space where mortals could commune with the divine.

Medieval Mystics and Renaissance Charlatans:

Moving through the centuries, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance saw a proliferation of mystics and seers who claimed to possess supernatural insight. Many of these individuals were, in fact, opportunistic charlatans preying on the fears and uncertainties of their time.


The Rise of Spiritualism:

The 19th century witnessed the emergence of spiritualism, a movement centered around the belief in communication with the spirits of the deceased. Mediums held séances, claiming to channel spirits and deliver messages from beyond the grave. While some believers were genuinely convinced of the authenticity of these mediums, skeptics argued that the phenomena observed during séances could be explained by natural factors such as the power of suggestion, suggestibility, and even outright fraud.

Twentieth Century and Beyond:

As we progress into the 20th century and beyond, psychic phenomena have found a new home in popular culture. Television shows, books, and movies perpetuate the mystique surrounding psychics and mediums. However, skeptics continue to question the validity of these claims, pointing to the lack of scientific evidence supporting the existence of supernatural abilities. Many purported psychics have been exposed as frauds, casting a shadow of doubt over the entire industry.

The Scientific Skepticism:

One of the primary criticisms from skeptics is the absence of empirical evidence to substantiate psychic and mediumship claims. Despite numerous investigations, controlled experiments, and challenges, no conclusive scientific proof has emerged to support the existence of supernatural abilities. Skeptics argue that if these phenomena were genuine, they should be replicable under controlled conditions, yet time and again, such conditions reveal the limitations of psychic claims.

Conclusion:

The history of psychic and mediumship claims is rife with instances of skepticism, fraud, and exploitation. From the oracles of ancient Greece to the modern-day psychics who grace our screens, the allure of the mysterious persists. While believers find solace in the idea of a connection with the supernatural, skeptics maintain a critical eye, urging a demand for evidence and scientific scrutiny. As we navigate the murky waters of psychic phenomena, the skeptical viewpoint serves as a reminder that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Until such evidence is presented, the veil of mystery surrounding psychic and mediumship claims remains intact.

31 October 2023

Most Haunted: The Stage Show - at the Aylesbury Theatre - October 2023 - The Reviews are in!

For those of you unaware, the Most Haunted team have launched a Stage Show! You can hear the crackling of knees as people rush to their landlines to ring up the ticket office.

Unfortunately the show at the Aylesbury Theatre has finished, and as sad as that is, we do have access to the official reviews of the show! Not from the critics, but from the loyal fanbase who turned out in their tens to support Most Haunted and enjoy this new experience.

Lets take a look at the verified reviews direct from the Aylesbury Theatre website. (Feel free to check the site out for yourself, although I suspect they will have the reviews deleted at some point.)


3.0 star rating Mags from London, England

MOSTLY CLIPS FROM TV SERIES

Was OK but was surprised that Karl was very smutty from word go, bit cringy to be honest...think they were trying to inject humour into it but maybe it doesn't need this sort of humour... lots of clips from TV series. Yvette good host and clearly enjoys it.


2.0 star rating Amanda from Stoke-on-Trent

MOST HAUNTED STAGE SHOW

Very disappointing. Most of the show is spent watching clips of previous Most Haunted Shows!


2.0 star rating Lew from Lancashire, England

UNDERWHELMING

I saw this last night and I agree, too many clips and not enough investigating. They needed to use more equipment and do more hands on. Use all the equipment and show through it how investigation can bring things forward then the scary bit people were craving for can "come forward" Clips I'd seen and I didn't need to see so many again. The first half was, dare I say boring!!!! It needed more. Use a spirit box, motion sensors, voice recorder, and motion detector that shows bodily lines on screen. This needs revamping otherwise I can see people not believing. Less clips more investigation.


Ok I know those reviews are not great, but that is just page 1 of the reviews, surely page 2 will be full of great reviews.


2.0 star rating Lil from London, England

SEXIST & HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS RUINED SHOW!

Show was on the whole entertaining and fun. Cast were great except Karl who kept making really gross innuendos & also put on an effeminate voice when talking to the audience? Felt really awkward and uncomfortable as an audience member but you could tell Karl thought he was hilarious.


2.0 star rating Maria from London, England

HILARIOUSLY BAD

I mean, I went being utterly cynical and hoping to rip the piss out of this and I wasnt disappointed in that regard. The highlight was Carl's really laddish/smutty humour (how much had he had ???) and the low point was the endless clips from the show- come on you cant promise a live show then just show old episodes?? there was a live seance right at the end but there needed to be way more actual hands on stuff with the audience. Of course its all performance, so make it more of a performance! Dont pretend its anything other than a comedic satire of paranormal investigating,


2.0 star rating Jay from London, England

MOST HAUNTED THE STAGE SHOW

Disappointing overall, yes lots of old clips, although didn’t mind too much about that and Yvette holds things together well. The live investigation went nowhere however. Most jarring though we’re the antics of an unfunny Karl, who for some reason thinks it’s a good idea to rev up the smut level repeatedly and insult the audience. Yvette mock tells him off for this, but really should have a serious word! Large parts of the audience where I was sitting were clearly annoyed by him.Oh dear,maybe someone once told him he was funny and he believed them!!


2.0 star rating Tone from London, England

MOST HAUNTED LIVE

Well, Ive always enjoyed most haunted (not a believer but enjoy it still) and looked forward to the show for a bit of fun. However anything enjoyable was ruined by Karl. Smutty, crass and unfunny, including acting camp when talking to the audience. Yvette was very proffesional. Yes , there are clips but it was for me a but if fun. Karl needs to turn it down a bit or not be in it.


1.0 star rating Anon from London, England

SADLY A NIGHT OF WATCHING CLIPS I COULD HAVE WATCHED IN YOUTUBE

This had promise, but sadly we just watched numerous. Lips we could have watched in YouTube. And then was subjected to Karl’s very smutty and somewhat inappropriate inuendos and homophobic mockery.


1.0 star rating Ball from Cornwall, England

DISAPPOINTING

Basically watched a load of clips, smutty language from cast member, overall rather boring. Certainly did not deliver on what they are advertising.


1.0 star rating Dave from London, England

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH

Save your money. An absolute rubbish show. Basically watching clips from the past and thats it


Erm.. what about page 3???


1.0 star rating Claire from London, England

CRASS AND LEWD

When Carl thought it was appropriate to talk about "pulling out" of an audience participants mother the scene was set from the off. He was a pillock most of the night. Yvette did her best to hold it together, but we missed Derek, Richard, Cath. There was so much more they could have done, even with just the replays. You will have so much fun just getting a bunch of mates round, a few glasses and MH on TV. You don't need to go to the live show I'm afraid


1.0 star rating Anonymous from London, England

MOST HAUNTED

Very disappointed by tonight’s performance. Lots of unnecessary smutty comments including a downright rude comment, directed at an audience member made just minutes in to the show. Lots of ‘highlight’ clips, with repetitive narration from the cast. So much scope for better content & I have left with a very low opinion of Karl.


1.0 star rating ANON from London, England

AWKWARD!

I enjoyed the show and didn’t even mind watching old clips back as I hadn’t seen all of the tv show episodes. Karl (the presenters) behaviour was very offensive throughout. It was clear he was very drunk (slurring words etc!?) from the beginning. Crass, sexual innuendo jokes directed towards audience members totally ruined the night and so unnecessary.


1.0 star rating James Welsby from London, England

THE SCARY PART IS THAT I CAN'T GET A REFUND

I came to the show as an excited believer but it made me leave as a cold skeptic. I agree with the reviews, meagre, tedious content: essential a selection of YouTube clips. Think bare bones vs any fresh meat or, bone-chilling information. I really was hoping for more audience interaction and genuine frights vs death by PowerPoint. The first half felt like an eternity, the 'ghost hunt' had the most potential, but kept cutting away whenever something interesting 'happened.' Yvette was a consumate professional and kept the defibrillator on the corpse of the evening. I wish I could say the same about Karl. Karl’s language and ‘humour’ was vulgar, obscene, ranging from sexist to homophobic. Karl's lack of respect for the spirits, I can only imagine Karl enjoyed a few of these himself before the show, and the contempt for audience participants in the seance section, e.g. asking one lady, 'do you not know your own name?' was the final nail in the coffin. With Halloween approaching, I hope this is one show that gets exorcised. 1 star.


1.0 star rating Mr Roberts from London, England

CASH GRAB, POOR AND CRUDE

Nothing but clips edited together that make no sense, this was 70% of the show while an arrogant, crude and homophobic Karl lounged around on stage talking about the clips and thought he was funny. Some audience members went off to find nothing and the ouija board was a joke too. An obvious family cash grab as most cast are related!


1.0 star rating Embarrassed from London, England

POOR SHOW

Most Haunted was the show that opened up the Paranormal. Sadly it has not progressed over the years. The show was reliant on old clips. Karl was rude, but he thought he was funny. It was an embarrassment. Stop flogging a dead horse.


1.0 star rating Ash from Manchester

MOST AWFUL

It’s a few hours of my life that I’ll never get back. Mostly old clips of the programme which wouldn’t have been so bad but they were edited really badly so it was minutes of chaos and screaming. Karl was like an embarrassing old sleazy uncle that hardly gets invited to family get togethers when there’s young girls or gay relatives. He clearly has no filter but doesn’t care in fact he probably finds the negative reviews hilarious. The so called seance was laughable and the behind the scenes night vision section seemed pointless. They could have done this so well but did it so badly. They asked the audience if they are a believer? Yes I am but definitely not in them. We left early but tried not to catch the eye of Karl who spent what time he could amongst the audience being rude, homophobic and crass. I’ll stick with uncanny and leave most haunted in the past where it belongs



So there you have it, the reviews for the Stage Show are pretty damn clear.

Did you go to any of the shows? If you did feel free to leave a comment below with your experience, good or bad, but please be detailed.

Screengrab of some of the reviews below. And archives HERE and HERE


13 October 2023

Correcting Yvette Fieldings latest revisionist history over Most Haunted

 


By Jon Donnis

It is 2023 and for some reason I am still having to correct stories put out there about Derek Acorah and Most Haunted.

Yvette Fielding is currently on a Podcast tour as she tries to promote an upcoming Most Haunted Tour thing, and they have some big venues lined up, so are desperate to sell tickets.

I will address some of the claims Yvette made on the "Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did." Podcast.(No, I never heard of it either, guessing it is a show for washed up celebs, past their prime, desperate for any attention.), which are also being "picked up" by some tabloids. (These are paid for, placed articles in the papers, trust me, no reporter gives a damn about what a 90s Blue Peter presenter is saying on a podcast that no one listens too.)

"It used to really upset me. I mean, when we found out that Derek was a fake, I think I cried the first time because I had told him things about my deceased relatives and he told me things back," Yvette Fielding.

First quote I want to respond to, Yvette Fielding KNEW Derek wasn't a genuine medium from the very first episode, if not before, they hired him because he was charismatic and entertaining, and probably the biggest name on the growing psychic circuit at the time, he had TV experience under his belt. But the idea she "found out" he was fake, years after him being on the show is a nonsense. Especially when you consider on this very website we were exposing him week in week out. HE GOT POSSESSED BY A CHIMP IN THE FIRST EVER EPISODE!


"And also, being on camera and him, you know, going into these alleged possessions and becoming very threatening to me and the team members to the point where he'd actually hurt us and we just thought that, 'Nah, there's something going on,' this is so bad, so that was upsetting." Yvette Fielding.

Ok, this is a very specific claim and one I had never heard of before. In all the years of Most Haunted I never heard anyone say that Derek Acorah hurt them. I have heard about other cast members doing things, which I wont say here and now, but never Derek.

So I decided to find out, and who better to ask than a person who was there on nearly every shoot. Derek's wife Gwen.

I asked Gwen straight, was there ever any complaint or report about Derek hurting someone in mid performance. She replied as follows.

"I was at more or less every filming and there was never a complaint.  The possession stuff was welcomed and embraced because it pleased the audience and therefore pleased Living TV which in turn swelled the Antix coffers." Gwen Acorah.

I then decided to ask Gwen if Derek had ever been physically hurt by a member of the crew, her reply is as follows.

"The only person ever physically hurt was actually Derek when Stuart (during a live seance) threw a tumbler at Derek which resulted in him having a cut hand. It actually went out for all to see (I think Berry Pomeroy?).  Stuart claimed that a spirit had made him do it." Gwen Acorah.

On the Podcast Yvette also addressed the fact that OFCOM had ruled that the show was "For Entertainment Purposes Only" and that it was obviously "Not a serious investigation".

She said.

"Then the Ofcom ruling came in, they watched the show and, because of Derek and the fakery, they watched the show and they said, 'No, we've decided that is for entertainment purposes only.' That was absolutely soul-destroying for us because it is real, it's a real investigation, we don't make it as a television show." Yvette Fielding.

I need to make a few things clear here. When the show started it was myself and various members of the BadPsychics family that sent in many complaints to OFCOM regarding MH, our aim was for them to either label the show as Entertainment Only, or to have it taken off the air, as clearly the show was faked.

OFCOM replied to us, that it was OBVIOUS that the show was not a serious investigation, and that it was clearly for Entertainment Purposes Only. Not long after that, such disclaimers had to go up regarding pretty much anything that involved the "occult".One of the reasons was actually do to with the show that Most Haunted copied, the BBC Parody show Ghost Watch. Which although labeled as satire, a lot of people thought was real. People watching had various mental breakdowns, I think someone killed themself, and basically the BBC got into a ton of trouble, and replays of the show were banned for a long time.

OFCOM labeled the show as not real, because the show was not real. Yes Derek was a part of that, as he was the star, but the show was clearly filled with trained actors and performers. Jason Karl in series 1 was an actor employed to play the part of a parapsychologist, ironically he was the best one they ever had on the show. The same with Ciaran O'Keeffe, regardless of his real life PhD, he was employed to play a part. Yvette Fielding, also a trained actress.

Keep in mind that we were exposing the entire show as faked, not just Derek. We showed many times from our "Most Haunted Mole" videos, what was really going on. Yvette is clearly rewriting history here.

For example I released the "Mary Loves Dick" video. This was a pre-record that they actually aired in a fake night vision filter on the live show. I got hold of the original tape that included what went on after they had "cut" the scene.

Another thing that needs to be addressed is the false notion that Derek Acorah was fired from Most Haunted after the "Kreed Kafer" thing. This is simply not true.

"We tell people everything is real, then it turns out he was a fake, so he had to go." Yvette Fielding.

As I have repeatedly stated on here, Derek was NEVER fired, his contract was up and he was leaving regardless. And luckily for me Gwen Acorah just 24 hours ago wrote about that on her social media, confirming everything I have said for years.

Here is what she wrote.

"I would like Antix to cast their minds back to a date in October 2004 when a meeting was requested in Manchester by Derek’s then agent, Stuart Hobday, at the Antix offices.  

In attendance were Derek, Stuart, Karl, Yvette, Richard Wolffe and Clare Hollywood (both of Living TV).

The purpose of the meeting was for Derek to tender his resignation from the programme Most Haunted.  Derek was feeling the strain of being involved in the programme and no longer wanted to continue being part of it.  

An agreement was reached whereby Derek would complete one more series of the programme (Series 6) and 2 or 3 more lives, the last one being Halloween 2005.  

A further arrangement was made that a member of Livingtv staff would be present at every filming to give Derek peace of mind that he would not be mistreated nor undermined. Those four people were Richard Wolffe, Claire Hollywood, Steve Jones and another lady who worked closely with the Living TV production team. 

Richard Wolffe also promised to create a programme specifically for Derek and this is how Derek Acorah’s Ghost towns came about.  

Filming commenced but by the time Spring 2005 came around Derek was on his knees with stress and at Sinai House he walked out of make up and away from the programme for the last time.  

Claire Hollywood was in attendance and he told her that he was finished, that he’d do the last live at Halloween but that was it. 

Gordon Smith was brought in to complete a short series 7 to make up the shortfall of series 6 programme numbers." Gwen Acorah.

Now what Gwen doesn't mention here is that the Mirror Article with the Kreed Kafer thing was released the day before (or the same day) that the Most Haunted Live was to air. The Mirror article, by the way, which had stolen a LOT of material from this very website, without crediting me.

The article was ONLY supposed to expose Derek, Karl and Ciaran had worked with the journalist to give him the story. But the journalist wanted a bigger story so used information from BadPsychics to pad it up. (I was in contact with him at the time, unbeknownst to Ciaran and Karl).

Living TV producers were beyond furious, as Karl had basically flushed the entire show and format down the toilet just as a way to try to bury Derek as he was leaving, remember as Gwen mentions Living TV had a new show lined up for Derek. The hilarious Ghost Towns.

Living TV bosses made it clear that if Derek didn't want to go on MHL he didn't have to. Keep in mind that Living TV were also concerned that Derek would sue them for breach of contract etc. If Derek did not appear on the live show, Most Haunted was finished, that would have been the end of the show.

Amazingly Derek decided he WOULD do the show. And literally stand face to face with people who had just stabbed in in the back and tried to ruin his post MH career. By doing that he literally saved Most Haunted from being cancelled for good.

The irony being that Derek saved Most Haunted, after they nearly self destructed.

That is the truth. Now please don't waste your money going to any Most Haunted show. 


18 August 2023

Unveiling the Haunting Enigma: A Review of the 1992 BBC TV Special "Ghostwatch"


As we mourn the death of Michael Parkinson, I thought we should take a look back at one of his most memorable performances. 

In the realm of horror, where imagination dances with the unknown, the 1992 BBC TV special "Ghostwatch" emerges as a chilling masterpiece that forever changed the landscape of televised horror. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, "Ghostwatch" takes viewers on an unprecedented journey into the eerie, dark corners of the supernatural.

Set in the cozy backdrop of a live television program, "Ghostwatch" presents itself as an innocent exploration of paranormal phenomena, guided by respected TV personalities. Michael Parkinson, Sarah Greene, and Mike Smith lend their familiar faces to this ambitious endeavour, drawing viewers in with their affable charm. As the clock ticks closer to Halloween night, the show's façade begins to crack, paving the way for a hauntingly immersive experience.

What sets "Ghostwatch" apart is its ingenious use of realism. The show employs a mockumentary format, utilizing familiar elements of live television, including call-ins and on-the-spot reporting, to create an aura of authenticity. As the supernatural occurrences escalate, the tension mounts not only within the narrative but also within the living rooms of its unsuspecting audience. The blending of fictional horror with genuine audience reactions is a stroke of brilliance that induces a sense of shared fear and disbelief.

The narrative unfolds within a seemingly ordinary suburban household, once occupied by a troubled mother and her children, who are tormented by an elusive entity known as "Pipes." As the TV crew investigates, events take a sinister turn. Shadows loom, poltergeist activity abounds, and the line between reality and the paranormal becomes progressively more blurred. The anticipation and psychological torment that the characters experience begin to seep into the viewers' subconscious, fostering an unforgettable sense of unease.

"Ghostwatch" thrives on subtlety and the fear of the unseen. It masterfully crafts an atmosphere where every creak, every flicker of light, and every fleeting shadow sends shivers down the spine. The show's ability to exploit the viewer's imagination is its greatest strength, as it's often what is left unsaid that carries the most terrifying weight.

However, the audaciousness of "Ghostwatch" cannot go without controversy. The boundary-pushing nature of the production led to public uproar and claims of irresponsibility on the part of the BBC. The delicate balance between entertainment and deception became a topic of intense debate, shedding light on the ethical considerations surrounding horror and the media's power to influence.

In retrospect, "Ghostwatch" stands as a trailblazing example of its genre. Its influence can be felt in found footage horror, mockumentaries, and reality TV horror programs that followed. The way it exploited the intimacy of the home through television and blurred the lines between reality and fiction became a cornerstone for modern horror storytelling.

In conclusion, the 1992 BBC TV special "Ghostwatch" remains an enduring and enigmatic masterpiece that polarized audiences and solidified its place in horror history. With its innovative approach to blending the mundane with the macabre, it redefined the boundaries of televised horror and left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those brave enough to experience its haunting allure.

Watch Ghostwatch in full at https://amzn.to/3sfnBDR


14 July 2023

The Truth about John of God: A Controversial Figure Unveiled

By Jon Donnis

Introduction

In recent times, the spiritual healer João Teixeira de Faria, popularly known as "John of God," or "João de Deus" has gained significant attention worldwide for his alleged miraculous healing abilities. However, behind the veil of fame and adoration lies a troubling truth. This article aims to shed light on the controversial aspects of John of God's life and practices, based on documented reports and investigations.

Early Popularity and Charismatic Appeal

John of God rose to prominence in the small town of Abadiânia, Brazil, where he claimed to channel the spirits of deceased doctors and perform miraculous healings. Thousands flocked to his Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, seeking hope and relief from various ailments. His charismatic appeal and alleged ability to diagnose illnesses without prior medical knowledge made him an attractive figure to many desperate individuals seeking a cure.

Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

In 2018, the facade of John of God's spiritual persona began to crumble when numerous women came forward with allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation. These brave individuals accused him of coercing them into engaging in sexual acts under the pretense of spiritual healing. The testimonies painted a disturbing picture of a man who had abused his position of power and preyed upon vulnerable individuals seeking solace.

Legal Action and Investigation

Following the initial wave of allegations, Brazilian authorities launched a thorough investigation into John of God's activities. Law enforcement agencies searched his properties and discovered hidden rooms filled with cash, firearms, and personal belongings of his victims. The evidence collected strengthened the case against him, and in 2019, he was ultimately sentenced to 63 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Exploiting the Vulnerable and Peddling False Hope

John of God's case serves as a reminder of the dangers of blind faith and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in search of hope and healing. Many of his followers had invested significant sums of money in his healing sessions, only to discover that their trust had been manipulated for personal gain. The promise of supernatural powers can easily deceive those who are desperate and willing to believe in miracles.

Questioning the Supernatural

While some followers continue to defend John of God's alleged healing abilities, it is crucial to approach such claims with skepticism. The revelations surrounding his criminal actions expose a pattern of abuse, manipulation, and the misuse of faith for personal gain. The exploitation of vulnerable individuals under the guise of spirituality tarnishes the reputation of genuine healers and discredits the important work done by medical professionals.

Moving Forward: Holding Abusers Accountable

The case of John of God highlights the importance of speaking out against abuse, regardless of an individual's perceived spiritual status. It also emphasizes the significance of thorough investigations and legal action to ensure that victims receive justice and perpetrators are held accountable.

Conclusion

The truth about John of God is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with blind faith and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. While he once captivated the hearts and minds of thousands with his alleged healing abilities, his criminal actions exposed a disturbing reality. It is crucial for society to remain vigilant and question claims that seem too good to be true, ensuring that those in positions of power and influence are held accountable for their actions.

In a fateful courtroom scene on July 10, 2023, a blend of anticipation and despair permeated the air as João Teixeira de Faria, the infamous Brazilian faith healer known as 'John of God,' was handed down an additional sentence of 99 years. This severe punishment was a direct consequence of his abhorrent sexual crimes.

By Jon Donnis

13 June 2023

The Enigmatic Art of Mentalism: Unraveling the Mind Reader's Illusion

The realm of mentalism has long captivated audiences with its seemingly supernatural abilities to delve into the innermost thoughts and secrets of individuals. The enigmatic performers, known as mentalists, possess an uncanny knack for convincing their spectators that they possess the ability to read minds. This article will delve into the techniques employed by mentalists to create the illusion of mind reading, exploring various examples of their craft. And remember the only real difference between a Mentalist and a Psychic, is the label they refer to themselves.

Psychological Manipulation:

One of the key tools in a mentalist's arsenal is psychological manipulation. Mentalists skillfully exploit cognitive biases, perception, and suggestibility to steer an audience member toward a desired conclusion. By understanding the human mind's vulnerabilities, mentalists create an environment that facilitates the illusion of mind reading.

Example: Cold Reading

During a performance, a mentalist might engage an audience member in what appears to be an impromptu conversation. By carefully observing body language, facial expressions, and verbal cues, the mentalist can make educated guesses about the person's background, personality traits, and experiences. This technique, known as cold reading, gives the illusion of accessing personal information from the depths of the individual's mind.

Nonverbal Communication:

Mentalists are adept at decoding nonverbal cues, as these can provide invaluable insights into a person's thoughts and emotions. By honing their skills in micro-expressions, eye movements, and body language, mentalists create the impression that they possess an uncanny ability to perceive hidden information.

Example: Eye Accessing Cues

Through the observation of eye movements, mentalists can infer the thought processes taking place within an individual's mind. By linking certain eye movements to specific thought patterns, a mentalist might accurately guess a person's preferred sensory system (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) and further tailor their performance to exploit this information.

Verbal Techniques:

The power of suggestion and linguistic manipulation lies at the core of a mentalist's ability to convince an audience of their mind-reading prowess. By carefully choosing their words and utilizing linguistic patterns, mentalists can subtly influence the thoughts and decisions of their subjects.

Example: The Barnum Effect

The Barnum Effect, named after renowned showman P.T. Barnum, refers to the tendency of individuals to accept general, vague statements as highly accurate descriptions of themselves. Mentalists employ this technique by making statements that are applicable to a wide range of people. By using ambiguous statements with enough conviction, mentalists can convince individuals that they possess intimate knowledge of their innermost thoughts.

Pre-show Research:

Before a performance, mentalists often conduct extensive research on their audience members or specific individuals they plan to involve. This research helps them gather specific information about people's lives, interests, and experiences, creating the illusion of mind reading.

Example: Social Media Mining

In the age of social media, mentalists have unprecedented access to personal information. By meticulously analyzing individuals' online profiles, posts, and interactions, mentalists can uncover a wealth of details that they can later use during their performances. When a mentalist reveals such information during a show, it appears as though they possess an extraordinary ability to access private thoughts.


Conclusion:

Mentalists possess a remarkable skill set that enables them to convince audiences of their ability to read minds. Through a combination of psychological manipulation, nonverbal communication analysis, verbal techniques, and pre-show research, mentalists create a captivating illusion that leaves spectators in awe. While the art of mentalism is not based on supernatural abilities, its practitioners demonstrate a deep understanding of human psychology, making for an enthralling experience that blurs the line between reality and illusion.

22 May 2023

The Demise of the TV Psychic Industry: The Vanishing of TV Psychics in the UK

Television psychics, once a popular phenomenon, have gradually faded into obscurity over the years. As we reach the middle of 2023, it is evident that the TV psychic industry in the United Kingdom has completely collapsed, with no TV psychics remaining on air. Let us try and explore the factors contributing to the downfall of the TV psychic industry and how societal changes and increased skepticism have ultimately led to its demise.


The Rise and Fall of TV Psychics:

TV psychics emerged in the late 20th century, capturing the public's fascination with the supernatural and their alleged ability to communicate with the spirit world. These psychic mediums gained widespread popularity, attracting large audiences through their shows, where they claimed to connect with the deceased, provide personal readings, and predict future events.

In the UK names like Colin Fry, Derek Acorah and Sally Morgan gained huge popularity, but as their careers came to the natural ends, either as their popularity plummeted or they simply died, there didn't seem to be anyone to step up and take their place.


Exploitation and Controversy:

While some TV psychics were rumoured to genuinely believed in their abilities, the vast majority were driven by financial gain, exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking answers and solace. Several high-profile cases of fraud and deception involving prominent TV psychics came to light, damaging the industry's already ropey credibility. The exposure of fraudulent practices eroded trust, even from the biggest of believers and raised doubts about the authenticity of these psychic abilities from within the very communities they served.

This very website was responsible for exposing pretty much every British psychic medium that gained any kind of fame from 2003 onwards. I would like to think we had a huge part in collapsing the industry through education, and exposing of the tricks to the masses.


Increased Skepticism and Critical Thinking:

Over time, society became more skeptical and demanded a higher standard of evidence and proof, thanks to sites like BadPsychics. The rise of the Internet and access to information allowed individuals to scrutinize claims made by TV psychics more effectively. Skeptical communities, including scientists, psychologists, and rational thinkers, actively debunked the claims of psychic phenomena, exposing the lack of empirical evidence supporting their abilities.


Evolution of Entertainment Preferences:

The advent of digital media platforms and streaming services provided viewers with a plethora of entertainment options. As audiences diversified their interests, the once captivating allure of TV psychics began to lose its charm. People sought more engaging and intellectually stimulating content, shifting away from the passive consumption of psychic readings and predictions.


Alternative Avenues for Psychic Services:

While TV psychics have dwindled in popularity, the demand for psychic services has not disappeared entirely. The decline of TV psychics coincided with the rise of online psychic platforms and independent practitioners who offered their services via the internet. These platforms provided unfortunately made it all the more easier for people to be conned, after all it only takes a minute or two to look online and find out almost anything about someone, and fake psychics have quickly become adept at doing that. Where as your classic psychic medium, like a Derek Acorah would rely on cold reading, as well as the odd hot reading, in general their "skills" could be taken anywhere, as they had the charisma and personality to glean all the info out of someone face to face. 

Do you really think some online facebook psychic would be half as good as they appear if they didn't have access to all the info on the internet at a moments notice?


Regulation and Legal Scrutiny:

In recent years, the TV psychic industry faced increased regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges. Advertising Standards Authorities and broadcasting regulators imposed stricter guidelines, requiring psychic claims to be substantiated by evidence. Legal frameworks aimed at protecting consumers from exploitation further restricted the practices of TV psychics, diminishing their ability to operate within the constraints of the law.

This is actually something I have written about before, and something that many skeptics refused to even address, as in some ways it acts as a defence to the TV psychic, I even had an article published in the Skeptic Magazine whereby I highlighted the restrictions faced by psychics, using a leaked contract I had obtained.

I posted a photo of that article on my Twitter account recently, go see if you can find it, and have a read for yourself.


Conclusion:

The demise of the TV psychic industry in the United Kingdom can be attributed to a confluence of factors. Exploitation, controversy, increased skepticism, evolving entertainment preferences, alternative psychic services, and regulatory scrutiny all played a crucial role in eroding the credibility and viability of TV psychics. In 2023, the absence of TV psychics on air is indicative of a society that demands more substantial evidence and critical thinking, and seeks entertainment options that reflect its changing interests and values.

Whatever you think of psychics and mediums, as far as I am concerned, not having them on the TV is a very good thing. I just wish there was a way to stop the Facebook psychic, but they make too much money for Zuckerberg it seems.


By Jon Donnis

28 April 2023

Crossing to the Other Side with Mae Martin - Taskmaster Series 15 Episode 05

 

Crossing to the Other Side with Mae Martin - Taskmaster Series 15 Episode 05

The task is to create something fake, so Mae performed as a fake psychic medium.

22 April 2023

The Jon Donnis Show - Psychics Help or Hinder?



An short original Documentary made for www.badpsychics.com, part of "The Jon Donnis Show" Network

Hot Reading in the 21st Century - How the modern medium cheats!


Recently I have written articles on a number of topics, in the hope of educating people and helping people fight back against the scam that is the psychic reading and/or Mediumship.

Catch up on those by clicking the links below.
How to expose a medium yourself.
and
Spiritualist Church Medium Secrets.

Today I want to take a closer look at how modern mediums will hot read their victims using modern. technology, and how you can take steps to prevent this, if you are still determined to visit these grief vampires.

In the Church Mediums article I spoke about "The Blue Book" method of hot reading, well this very old fashioned method works great in Spiritualist Churches, when you have the same people attending every week. But what about when a medium hires a function room in a hotel, or a library, where they will most likely be faced with people they have not seen before. Well many more experienced mediums will just stick to cold reading, especially if they have gig after gig every night of the week. It is simply not worth the hassle and time to employ stooges, use recording equipment and so on. Just go on stage, use a few pre-prepared characters which always seem to hit, like the young man who died on the motorbike, or the old man with emphysema, and so on. Go to enough shows and these made up characters seem to appear rather regularly.

It has been alleged that Sally Morgan employs various methods as well as cold reading, one being to get everyone to leave a message for a dead loved one in a bowl, which she will then pick out later in the show to connect with. Use your imagination here, and you can figure out what could possibly be going on. Not to mention the whole scandal of the ear piece which she denied using, then there was video of her removing this non existent ear piece, so she said that was for stage direction, and so on, a legal case against the Daily Mail, big pay out cause they couldn't prove it and so on.

Regardless of that, any time you see ANY medium perform using a madonna style headset be warned, despite what they claim, there is usually more going on. I saw that first hand at a Simon Peters show, when his mic picked up the secret feed he was getting in his ear.

No medium needs a head set, or head phones, or anything like that. They can hold a mic. It is real easy. Also beware of mediums with long hair, that also covers a multitude of sins.

These are all old school techniques, but I want to show you the new school techniques.

So you are on Facebook, and you hear of a new up and coming medium, he or she has been getting rave reviews, so what do you do? You go follow a page or join a group set up by said medium, you might add them as a friend on facebook, or you might end up making friends of other people in the group and you add them.

Suddenly your entire history is available to that medium should they want it.
And what do you do when a show is announced? You click "going" to show you are going to the show.

The moment you joined that group, followed that page, or added anyone vaguely connected to that medium, you lose all right to say "they had no way of knowing......"

Even the most careful of facebook user will not have covered every base when trying to protect their data.
You know those little games you play, those apps you give permission to, to give you a horoscope reading, that data is for sale. For all you know a medium you follow created that app, and guess what, when you gave that app permission, you gave it every detail on your account.

So right now I want you to go to Facebook. Using the menu, find the link to settings, then click on APPS.
You should end up here
https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=applications

Now have a look through your apps. Is there a lot there? Yeah I thought so. My advice, remove the lot.

Next go to Timeline and Tagging Settings
Now to stop a nosy medium from snooping on your page, if they are not connected as a friend, then you need to tighten up these settings, have a look through and make them as secure as possible.

Next go to Privacy, again if needed make these settings much more secure.
The most important one to secure is your friends list, and you want to make it so that only you can view it.

Now why would I suggest this?
Well let's say I am a dodgy medium, maybe your photos are all private, your timeline is pretty secure, there is really nothing I can see on your profile unless I am your friend, so how can I gather info on you, well the first thing I would do is go to your friends list. I am gonna start by searching for people with your surname, that is the easiest way to find siblings, children, parents and so on. And what happens when someone dies who had a Facebook account? It ends up being left as a tribute page. So if I am a psychic and find the page of your dead relative, I can end up finding out everything I need to know to pretend they are coming through in a reading.

Other things you can do if you have access to someones friends list. You can look at profile pictures, maybe your best friend has you on their profile photo, this is gold to a psychic, for it gives them another way to research you, and if that friend doesn't have a secure enough account the psychic can look through photos and see what places you go, what you do and so on. It all helps when building up the reading. For example, is there photos of you in fancy dress at Halloween? The medium could say.

"They are telling me how much you like dressing up, they are showing me blue paint, would you understand that?"

Guess what, you dressed up as a Smurf for Halloween, but the medium had no possible way of knowing that did they?

Another setting to tighten up is the one about who can search for you using an email address. Even if you don't follow a mediums page or are in their group, maybe you book tickets to a gig online and use your email, guess what, that email just exposed your facebook page. 

One time I pointed that out to someone, and they said "but I didn't use my real email address" upon some slight investigative work, they had a @hotmail.co.uk address for facebook, but used a @yahoo.com email for booking tickets, but the bit before the @ was the same on both. And on both it was their full name with a dot and numbers. So even if you don't give your name when you book, you are giving your name in your email address. Search for that name, their location, check their likes and it is pretty clear if you have the right person.

The only way you can be safe with an email address is if it is a brand new one, never used anywhere before, and does not contain your name within it. This really should be common sense, but sadly so many people make this mistake.

So now your facebook is nice and secure, what else is there. Well of course there is Instagram. Again if your account is public, and your username is your real name, or anything easily searched for, you have just given the medium another way to find out info on you. You Gran died, what do you do? You put a RIP message on your Instagram, a photo of you with her and so on. And who will comment? People who knew her, and suddenly the medium has a load more people to use to find information about this dead relative.

So just two pieces of advice here, make your profile private, that will stop people seeing your photos as well as your friends list, and change your username to something completely unconnected to you, your real name or anything that could be guessed. DO NOT PUT YOUR REAL NAME ON YOUR INSTAGRAM!

Twitter, again same advice as above, check your permissions, now consider what you use Twitter for, the vast majority of people will have a public account on Twitter, so your entire history is now view-able, and can be downloaded in it's entirety in a matter of seconds. Imagine the sheer amount of data a medium can pick up from there. They have everything you have ever posted in front of them in a simple document file. Thousands of tweets, well they are unlikely to read through them one by one, but they can always do a search for keywords like RIP, Dad, Mum, Gran and so on. And very quickly a picture can be built up of someone. 

If you are on Social Media, unless you are incredibly careful and private, it is almost impossible to stop someone researching you. And however much you convince yourself that you cant be found from just a phone number or an email, try and google your own details, google your name, then click the images tag, google your email address, see what comes up. This info is all available to a medium who knows you are going to his gig and wants to hot read you.

Let's get away from social media a bit. In the old days when a medium would arrange a gig in a town, they would send someone to a local shop, buy the local paper, and look up the obituaries. In 2018 you don't even need to do this.

A random medium, Derek Acorah, he has a show tonight in Brierley Hill in Dudley, England.
Google "Brierley Hill obituaries" and you get multiple links to local papers that have a list of obituaries in them.


Many of the sites will even have a search function.
So I know that Steve McBobberson has booked a ticket for my show, or perhaps has clicked on the "Going" link on my facebook page. But I can't be bothered to search through their social media page, instead I can search for their surname on the obituaries for that local area. Maybe I get lucky and the name matches up. These obituaries will not only have the name of the person who has died, but their age, their relatives names, what they did for a living and sometimes even how they died.

If I am a medium, I am not interested in the 91 year old who died peacefully in her sleep, because it is unlikely that any of her relatives will feel the need to visit a medium. No I am interested in people who died at any age under 65, as that would be considered too young to die.

And now these obituary sites even have comment sections for each person who has died whereby people can leave messages. This is gold for a medium. So they go through names of people they know will be attending their show, they scan obituaries for surnames that match, they match up names of the living to that on their list. And if all of this is matching up, and if the person died young. Perhaps the obituary says something like "They were taken from us too young", then the medium can assume this person was in an accident, or even killed, and now the medium as the name of the dead, their relatives name and so on, a quick google search for "Bob McBobberson Accident" and it was probably covered in the local paper, and now you have the name and how they died as well as the names of all their relatives.

And all this from Steve McBobberson clicking "going" on a facebook event page, or from steve.mcbobberson@"£$%.com email address.

We live in a world where nothing is private, we moan about excessive CCTV cameras filming us everywhere, yet we invited the world into our living room through social media.

And criminals are taking advantage of this. You are making life easier for mediums than it has ever been in history. Yet you then tell me some medium told you something they had no way of knowing!?

Before you think the medium had no way of knowing something, ask yourself, what is more likely? Is it real, or were you fooled.

There is no shame in being fooled, it has happened to all of us, even me, but there is shame that after you are fooled you keep being fooled by the same trick. And if you do not do anything to prevent being fooled, especially in this age of technology and living our lives online, then you have to seriously question yourself and ask why you invite this upon yourself.

If you post on a forum, the webmaster can see your email address, they can see your IP, on some forums they can even read your private messages. However much you convince yourself that no one can research you, I promise you, you are wrong. And if there is a possibility that someone can research you, even if you consider that chance to be small, it is still infinitely more likely than your dead granny telling a medium that she thinks your new kitchen looks lovely.

Be smart. Try it yourself, research yourself. And then try to tighten up that security, it will never be perfect, and if someone is knowledgeable enough then can still figure things out, but ask yourself, if you make it really hard for a medium to cheat, then they are less likely to try and cheat you.

But of course my final piece of advice is simply to save your money, don't go to that medium, don't take the chance you will be conned.

By Jon Donnis

21 April 2023

The secrets behind the Spiritualist Church Mediums


A few days ago I published an article in the hope that people could start to look at readings from Psychics/Mediums and by using some basic knowledge start to figure out what was really going.

If you haven't yet, please read that article by clicking the link below.
http://www.badpsychics.com/2018/03/a-start-in-how-to-expose-fake.html

That article made a few assumptions, the main one being that the medium had no prior knowledge on any person being read, and was not being fed any information either before or during the reading.

One of the problems I face is when someone emails me and they say they saw a medium in a spiritualist church, and they never asked for any money, yet they were incredibly accurate. How do I explain that?

Well firstly just because a medium does not charge, does not mean he or she is not making any money, many spiritualist churches will pay mediums to perform, and of course the bigger the name, the bigger the paycheck. All spiritualist churches will ask for donations, so even if you only have 20 people in some small room above a library in Dudley, that can quickly translate into some money, I've witnessed pensioners throw £20 notes into the collection tray before.

But often Spiritualist churches are just an easy way for a medium to drum up trade so they can sell private readings which is where the big bucks come in. It also gives them a way to appear more spiritual, more honest, after all we are told that all mediums are only in it for the money right? So a medium doing a gig in a spiritualist church whereby he might only get his travel expenses covered, he must be the real deal?

But like I said, it is all about selling those private readings, and what better way than in a spiritualist church whereby many of the readings are scarily accurate. So accurate that you simply cant put it down to cold reading. But how is this possible when then medium may never have even performed at that Spiritualist church before?

The answer? Something called "The Book", also known as "The Blue Book", "The Data", "The Info", "The Run Down", and many more names.

In Lemar Keenes book "The Psychic Mafia" he referred to "The Blue Book", this was where all the information was kept on the regular attendees.

In my investigations over the past 15+ years, one thing I have realised is that pretty much every Spiritualist Church will have this book. Now please understand, that the word "Book" will conjure a very specific image in your head, instead you need to see this as not just a book, but a collection of information, this could be a notepad with hand written notes on, a Rolodex with individual cards on, a USB stick files with info on. I even heard of a single document file being held on a google drive and that being "The Book" of that Spiritualist church. It varies from Church to Church.

One person at each Church will be in charge of the book, often it is not the official secretary, or treasurer, or even the President of the church, usually it is someone who they themselves claim psychic powers, but they will often lead proceedings in the Church, and often are in charge of booking the mediums to perform.

If you are a regular experienced medium, and you are to perform at a Church, you will be contacted by the booker, and given the date, and if everything is agreed, when you arrive at the Church, before the service, you will require some private time to do some meditation, this is usually when the medium is given the book, so they can prepare for the show.

If you are a newer medium, you will need to be introduced to the right people as you go along. This is why often young mediums will have a mentor, or seem to be hand picked, they are literally being groomed and told the secrets. But since these are secrets, everything is done very privately, and you need to earn your trust, and as such younger, newer mediums would not even be told of the existence of the book, and instead just be expected to go out there and cold read, to earn their stripes.

I know of people who worked very high up at the SNU, in administerial positions who were never let in on the gig, and they went their whole lives believing that mediumship was real. People who ran the Churches would not be in on it. This is why the SNU (Spiritualists' National Union) would always want to control and be in charge of any Spiritualist Church, they would literally confiscate the deeds to Churches, and ban any of their mediums from performing at any non SNU Churches. Of course I would never claim that any SNU Affiliated Church would ever use the Book, or use any means of prior research on their congregation.
Although I once attended a SNU Spiritualist Church and someone realised who I was, and the medium who was due to perform, mysteriously had to leave and the service was left without a medium. Very strange coincidence.

You thought Scientology was a secretive organisation, trust me Spiritualist Churches are way more secretive.

So you can understand that a medium can sit down for 30 minutes before a show, look at the book, and have enough information to go out there and have an incredibly accurate performance.

But how is this book collated I hear you ask?

Well first of all have you ever been to a Spiritualist Church? if the answer is no, then DON'T, stay away. Don't even go for a laugh or because a friend wants you to see what it is all about. Do not waste your time.

If the answer is yes, have you ever noticed they have a big remembrance book that you can leave a message to your loved ones in spirit?

"I miss you Grandpa Joe, your Grandchildren all love you, and are happy you can now walk again in spirit. Lots of love from Peter, Lucy and Steve"

It is full of messages like that. So instantly you have a fair bit of information about Grandpa Joe and his family, right. Imagine how much information you could collect on a regular attendee who comes every single week!

Have you ever tried to sit in a chair right at the front? You will often be told these seats are reserved. They are reserved for the regulars, and yes they will sit in the same chair every week. And guess who often gets the readings. Yep the people at the front.

These people aren't plants, they are not in on the gig, they are just the most loyal followers of the Church. These will be the people who will have the most information recorded about them in the book. They will also be the most generous financially to the Church, and they will be the ones most addicted to the drug of mediumship, and getting that one final message.

An example of how information might be stored on someone.
Dora McMichaels, Seat 1C
Age 89, Widow to Bert McMichaels, died aged 74, Heart Attack. Liked toy trains. Irish Accent, scared of spiders, liked Whiskey and Cigar.
1 of 5 sisters, Gertrude (Gertie), Margaret (Margy), Susan, Elizabeth.
4 Children, 8 Grandchildren. Grandson Michael (Motorbike Accident, 24)
Irish/Scottish Backgroud. Singer in youth.

From just that, a medium could easily drag out a 20 minute reading, create stories, describe characters and so on. And as this reading goes on, someone is talking notes seeing if she gives any new info to add to the book.

In one Spiritualist Church I went to, I spotted hidden microphones, one in the middle of each line of chairs. And before the show started as people were all kept waiting, what were they doing? You guessed it, they were talking about who they hoped the medium would bring through from spirit.

So one security camera on the ceiling, hidden microphone, and someone sat in the office with a notepad and pen, and you suddenly have another level in information collection, this is especially useful if you have first time visitors.

In the old days they would have a stooge at each service, who would pretend to be one of the people attending, they would strike up conversations, listen in on what people were saying, and then make little notes when no one was looking.

So you don't need fancy technology, although it helps, just ask Simon Peters, he is still wearing that headset even after I exposed him. Oh well.

The point of all of this is that often when you go to a Spiritualist Church you are seeing hot reading, ever wondered why some mediums have such a high accuracy rate at their local Church, but as soon as they are away from that and doing hotel function room shows, their accuracy rate plummets and they are back to asking endless questions. Well now you know.

The Spiritualist Church is just another way for you to be fooled by people peddling promises of immortality, but at the end of the day you will just end up poorer.

Stay Away.

By Jon Donnis.

20 April 2023

A start in how to expose a fake psychic/medium.


Pick a psychic, any psychic.

For the sake of this article, I will use the word psychic as a catch all word to describe anyone who claims psychic, paranormal or medium powers. So please no comments about me not knowing the difference.

One of the problems I face, is that I receive a lot of messages, either by email, or through social media. They usually go something like this.

"Have you heard of psychic Bob McBobberson, he is such a fraud, I wish you would expose him."

(Disclaimer: Bob McBobberson is a made up name, however if there is a real world, self proclaimed psychic by that name, I guarantee you he is a fake.)

I then face a dilema, if that psychic is a small time internet only psychic, with a few hundred followers, if I expose him, and put his name on this site, I will inadvertently give him publicity, and he can then claim to be in the same league as many of the big name psychics I have exposed.

I have literally seen psychics use being exposed on this site, as a badge of honour to say to their followers to gain sympathy. So as you can imagine, the last thing I want to do is help give a psychic publicity, even if I am exposing them along the way. You see believers will see such an article, and not read it, they will instantly dismiss it because it is written by me and published on this site. And clearly that is not a good thing for me, or for skepticism in general.

For bigger name psychics this is not a problem, as their names are already out there, and often I will get such a name thrown at me as someone who has never been exposed. Usually when I hear that, I will find a clip of them, and expose how they do it. Job done. My site ranks very highly in google, and their fans tend to read such articles.

It is much easier to reveal the truth to a fan of Gordon Smith for example, than a fan of Bob McBobberson, for the fan of Smith will have invested a lot of time and money in that psychic, going to shows, buying books and so on, so they will want to prove me wrong, and will try to find flaws in what I write, so will actually read my article. Of course the hope is, by doing that they realise they were fooled, get angry and never spend a penny of that psychic again.

Whereas fans of Bob McBobberson will be the types of believer that jump from one psychic to the next, again and again, trying to get that "fix" to feed their addiction.

So what I want to do here, is try to help people understand how to expose a psychic themselves, and at the very least, see through some of the tricks they would have previously fallen for.

And with that I am going to try to talk you through my thought process when I am faced with exposing a medium.

If you read through my replies to comments on this site, or on the forum, you will notice that I always offer a challenge to someone who is defending a psychic. That challenge is always the same.

Show me an unedited recording/video or a psychic you are 100% convinced is real, and I guarantee you 100% that I can show you how it is done.

Now the first thing you should notice here is what I am asking for, I am asking for an unedited recording. The reason is I understand how television works. When Colin Fry used to record his TV show, he would record for a few hours, but the final show would only be 25 minutes. His readings would seem incredibly accurate and the responses of the people being read, would completely validate what he had told them, whether that was in post show interviews, or even the affirmative nods on their faces during the show.

When making television, all entertainment shows need certain reactions from the audience. On X-Factor for examples, the warm up guy will often ask the crowd to give a standing ovation that can be filmed and used later. And peoples reactions will be filmed and shown out of order. There is no difference when it comes to psychics and their TV shows.

If a woman is shown nodding affirmatively to something the psychic has said, or crying, or some other emotion, you never truly know if that is a direct reaction to what the psychic has said, or if that has been edited to make the psychic seem more accurate. You are witnessing an edit, and every time the camera switches, there is a chance you are not seeing something in real time. So when I ask for an unedited recording, all that means is that it hasn't been professionally produced.

Often I will take such unedited records direct from a psychic's own youtube page. Because often they themselves are proud of their own work, and know that 99% of people who watch it, wont realise what is going on.

So when judging a psychic that you believe is real, or at least think are doing something you cant easily explain, make sure you are not watching something with multiple cameras, edits and cuts. So forget professionally produced TV shows.

One thing to note here, there is always a chance of hot reading, whether that is researching someone who has booked a reading using their name, email, whatever, there are endless ways to research someone. Just look at the latest Facebook scandal with data being sold. There are so many ways to find out about people in the world of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on.

But let's assume the person has not been researched and the psychic really has no idea who they are and has no prior knowledge on them, this reading could be one on one, or it could be someone picked out from an audience. How do we start to spot a fake?

The absolute easiest way to spot a fake psychic is if they tell the client to only answer yes or no. This is the oldest trick in the book, a psychic does this so they can claim that they are not fishing for information, or that the client is telling them things and so on. The truth is the complete opposite, the psychic by forcing the client to only answer in one of two ways is taking complete control of the reading, they are able to frame it in such a way that most times regardless of how the client reacts, it will end up being a hit.

Let me give you a simple example.

Psychic: Did your Grandfather smoke?
Client: No
Psychic: Yes he is telling me it disgusted him.
Client: Correct.

So the person then comes away thinking the psychic knew that your Grandfather didn't like people who smoked. Let's try again.

Psychic: Did your Grandfather smoke?
Client: Yes
Psychic: Yes I can see him sat in his favourite chair smoking and having a whiskey.
Client: Correct

Now regardless of how the client reacts, the psychic can follow it up with a statement supposedly from the dead Grandfather.

Now if the psychic hadn't ordered the client to only answer yes or no, they may have added information in their answer, which then would have taken away what the psychic said in reply.

Psychic: Did your Grandfather smoke?
Client: Yes, he would enjoy a smoke with a glass of whiskey in the evening.
Psychic: Yes he is showing me that now.
Client: ok.

Can you see the difference, now the client has given the psychic more information, which gives the psychic less to repeat back, of course sometimes this does happen, and the psychic will simply repeat back the information the client told him perhaps later in the reading.

So this is a good place to start, if the psychic is controlling the reading completely they will tell you to answer yes or no, so if you hear that, they are a fraud, time to go home. Game over.

Now if they don't tell you that, then you need to keep track of what the psychic says, and what the client says.

This is why I will always have a reading transcribed, it makes it much easier to keep track.

Now if you do this yourself, the easiest thing you can do is count how many questions the psychics asks. Simple as that.

A real psychic would not need to ask any questions at all. Not even "would you understand that?" By asking "Would you understand that?" The psychic is FISHING, they need to know their reading is going the right direction so they can continue, if they do not know, then their reading could go in the complete wrong direction and they end up looking a fool.

If the person reacts in a negative manner to that question, it allows the medium to change directions, they can tell the client that they need to "take that home with you", this basically is their way out, they are getting rid of you. They then change the direction of the reading or end it completely. You go home, you ask your relatives a version of what the psychic has said, if it is vaguely right, then you are amazed because there is no way he could have known about it, and he couldn't have picked it up from you, if he is wrong, it is just forgotten about. Either way the psychic doesn't have to deal with the result.

In the inner circle, this is known by psychics as the "Take Home Escape", and pretty much all psychics use it. Think of it like a fishing net, you have a small net. Psychic asks you if you understand the number 50. You have no idea. So you go home and ask your parents, because there is two of them, their net is twice as big, so a wider chance of success. That number 50 might be the number of the house someone lived in 40 years, the year someone was born/died, joined the army. If your parents don't know, they ask their siblings, their net is double the size for each added person to the question, and so on.

One of the reasons it is called "fishing for information" is the wider you cast the net, the more chance you will catch a fish.

So as you transcribe the reading, every time a sentence ends in a question mark, note it down, and count them up. Then at the end of the reading, just read through them all, and ask yourself, why is the psychic asking question after question.

It might look something like this.
Would you understand that?
Is your mother still alive?
Did he work in the steel industry?
I'm getting the number 4, was he 1 of 4 children, or did he have 4 siblings?
Did he die of something to do with the chest area?

Next, take out everything the psychic says, and only read the responses from the client, note down all the information they give the psychic. This truly is the easiest way to see how much the client says compared to how much the psychic says.

Notice how often the client will ask no questions at all. How strange is that when you really think about it? You pay to see a psychic, they claim that they are speaking to your dead relative, yet you never ask a question or at least never get a direct response to a question, yet the psychic asks you question after question.

If you can separate what the psychic says and what the client says, this really is a great way to see the direction the information flows, and it is never from the psychic to the client.

Of course there is much much more that can be analysed in readings, but this truly is the easiest way to expose a psychic and a great way to start doing it yourself.

So to summarize.
1. Write down and count how many questions the psychic asks.
2. Write down all the information the client gives the psychic.

Compare the two. Does it still look like the psychic told the client everything? Or does it seem more like the client gave the information and the psychic just repeated it back and elaborated a bit.

Now I have given you a starting point, why not use this knowledge. You want to expose a psychic. Do as I suggest. Find that unedited raw recording, transcribe it, and go through it.

You can open on a free blog on Blogger.com or Wordpress or something like that, and publish it.

You can even drop me a line and ask me to look it over first, to make sure it all looks good, I will happily do that, and even give you advice and help you.

The more we expose psychics the better, but this is just one site, I would much prefer an army of 100s of people all with their own little blogs, all publishing articles, exposing the methods.

So you have a choice, sit on your backside and do nothing, or help me to help you and others.

By Jon Donnis