The Enduring Allure of Prophecy: From Ancient Oracles to Modern Mysticism

By Jon Donnis

Prophecy, or the claim to see the future, is a concept that has fascinated humanity for millennia. From ancient oracles to modern-day psychics, the belief in foretelling the future has deep roots in history and continues to influence people today. However, a critical examination reveals that many of these claims can be understood through a combination of historical practices, psychological factors, and a lack of empirical evidence.

One of the earliest and most famous forms of prophecy can be traced back to ancient Greece. The Delphic Oracle, which operated at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, was central to Greek society for centuries. The priestess of the temple, known as the Pythia, would enter a trance-like state, during which she was believed to channel the god Apollo. The prophecies she gave were often cryptic and open to interpretation. These vague messages were eagerly sought by city-states, politicians, and military leaders, all of whom believed that guidance from Apollo could shape their decisions. However, historians suggest that the Pythia's state was likely induced by the inhalation of gases emitted from cracks in the earth, which could explain the trance-like state she experienced. (Etiope, G.,λληνικά, Χ., Favali, P., & Piccardi, S. (2006). The geological links of the ancient Delphic Oracle (Greece): A reappraisal of natural gas occurrence and origin. Geology, 34(9), 821-824.)

Aside from the Delphic Oracle, other forms of prophecy existed in the ancient world. The Oracle of Dodona, also in Greece, was associated with the rustling of the leaves of a sacred oak tree. Priests interpreted these sounds as divine messages, often involving predictions about war, leadership, and other significant matters. Similarly, the Sibylline Oracles in Rome were collections of prophetic writings attributed to various priestesses, known as Sibyls, who were believed to have the ability to predict the future. These oracles held an important role in Roman religion, guiding decisions during times of crisis, particularly during wartime.

In both ancient Greece and Rome, prophecies were not only religious phenomena but also had political significance. Leaders often consulted oracles before making important decisions, such as going to war or choosing a ruler. However, it is essential to recognize that these oracles were often vague and open to interpretation, allowing them to be applied to a variety of situations. As with many religious practices, belief in the validity of these prophecies was largely a matter of faith, and their outcomes were often seen as divinely influenced, whether or not they turned out to be accurate.

Fast forward to the modern day, and the belief in seeing the future has evolved, but the essential claims remain largely unchanged. Today, psychics, astrologers, and tarot card readers offer a wide variety of services, each claiming to provide insight into a person's future. The rise of technology has brought these practices into the digital age, with psychic hotlines, online astrology readings, and apps providing a convenient way for people to engage with these services. Astrology, which originated in ancient Babylon and Greece, is one of the most popular forms of modern-day prophecy. Many people today turn to horoscopes, zodiac signs, and birth charts in the belief that the stars can offer guidance in their lives.

Despite the enduring popularity of these practices, scientific skepticism surrounding them is widespread. Psychologists and scientists have long pointed out the lack of empirical evidence supporting psychic phenomena. Many of the predictions made by psychics are vague and general enough to apply to anyone, a phenomenon known as the "Barnum effect." People tend to find personal meaning in statements that are broad and ambiguous, especially when they are told that they apply specifically to them. This is why horoscopes and tarot readings can appear to be accurate, even though they are based on chance and intuition, rather than any real foresight.

Moreover, cognitive biases play a significant role in shaping belief in prophecy. Confirmation bias, the tendency to seek out information that supports existing beliefs, can make people believe that a psychic's prediction is correct, even when it is not. People are also prone to the illusion of control, in which they believe that their actions or beliefs can influence events outside their control, such as the future. These psychological tendencies help explain why people continue to seek out psychics and oracles, despite the lack of scientific support for such practices.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the idea of psychic abilities or seeing the future, it is undeniable that the belief in prophecy has a deep cultural and psychological appeal. Whether through the ancient oracles of Greece and Rome or the modern-day psychics who offer their services online, the desire to glimpse into the future remains a powerful force in human society. However, it is important to approach these practices with a critical mindset, recognizing that they are rooted more in faith and psychology than in any proven ability to predict future events.

The concept of seeing the future has been around for thousands of years, beginning with the ancient oracles of Greece and Rome. While these early examples of prophecy had significant social and political importance, they were ultimately based on faith and interpretation, rather than any empirical evidence. Today, modern psychics and astrologers continue to offer predictions, but their claims are largely unsupported by scientific research. As fascinating as prophecy may be, it remains a practice that is best understood through the lens of psychology, cultural history, and skepticism.

Psychics and Mediums: The Legal Landscape in the UK

By Jon Donnis

Psychics and mediums have always sparked curiosity, fascination, and, of course, skepticism. From claims of contacting the dead to offering predictions about the future, many people believe in their abilities, while others remain doubtful. In the UK, there is no specific law directly regulating psychics or mediums, but they are still bound by general consumer protection laws, fraud regulations, and rules designed to protect vulnerable individuals. Let's take a look at how the law deals with psychics and their claims, and how things have evolved over the years.

Unlike some professions, psychics and mediums in the UK do not need any formal qualifications or licensing to practice. This lack of regulation means they can operate freely, as long as they do not make fraudulent or misleading claims. While psychics are free to charge for their services, the law steps in when claims become specific, falsifiable, or deliberately deceptive. For example, if a psychic says they can contact the dead and charge money for it, but it is shown to be false, they might be in breach of the law. The problem is that many psychics keep their claims vague, such as saying "I sense a presence" or "The spirits are guiding me." This leaves plenty of room for interpretation and makes it difficult for the law to take action.

One important law worth mentioning is the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951, which made it illegal for anyone to claim they could use spiritualism or other similar methods to deceive people for financial gain. In theory, psychics could be prosecuted under this law if they misled people into believing they had genuine supernatural abilities. However, the act had significant limitations. It was difficult to prove that a psychic was intentionally deceiving someone, and the law was rarely enforced. Over time, the Fraudulent Mediums Act was seen as ineffective and was eventually repealed in 2008, replaced by more modern consumer protection laws.

After the repeal of the Fraudulent Mediums Act, the UK introduced the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) in 2008. These regulations aimed to protect consumers from misleading business practices, including psychic services. If a psychic makes a claim that cannot be proven, like guaranteeing contact with a loved one from beyond, they could be violating these rules. However, just as with the Fraudulent Mediums Act, it is tricky to bring a case against psychics because their claims are often vague. If a psychic says "I believe I can help you find answers" or "I feel a presence," it is hard to argue that they are actively trying to deceive someone.

The Fraud Act 2006 is another piece of legislation that could apply to psychics. If a psychic makes false claims with the intent to deceive for financial gain, they could be charged with fraud under this law. However, again, proving that a psychic knowingly misled someone is difficult, especially when their language remains open-ended. Many psychics operate in a way that makes it hard to pinpoint clear deceit. They often say things like "I sense someone nearby" or "The spirits are speaking to me" without offering concrete proof, which makes it difficult for the law to get involved.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) also plays a role in keeping psychic advertising in check. If a psychic makes misleading claims in their ads, the ASA can investigate and ask for the removal or revision of the advertisements. This ensures that psychics do not advertise things they cannot prove, like promising to contact the dead or predict the future with certainty.

Another important issue in the regulation of psychics and mediums is the potential for exploitation, especially of vulnerable individuals. Many people turn to psychics in times of emotional distress, such as after the loss of a loved one or during personal crises. Psychics who take advantage of people's vulnerability by offering false hope or charging excessive fees for services can be seen as exploiting their clients. While there are laws designed to prevent aggressive or coercive practices, proving exploitation in the case of psychics is difficult. The line between providing comfort and exploiting someone's grief can be blurry, and as a result, psychics are often able to operate without facing significant legal consequences.

The legal framework surrounding psychics and mediums in the UK has evolved over time, but there remain gaps in regulation. The repeal of the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 in 2008 reflected a shift towards more modern consumer protection laws, but proving fraudulent claims or exploitation remains a challenge. The general approach of the law has been to focus on preventing misleading advertising and fraud, but due to the subjective nature of psychic practices, many psychics continue to operate without facing legal repercussions. With the rise of online psychics, there are growing concerns about the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework. Online psychics often operate across borders, making enforcement even more difficult.

While psychics and mediums are still allowed to practice freely in the UK, they must adhere to general consumer protection laws and fraud regulations. However, proving fraud or exploitation is often a complex task. As the popularity of psychics continues to grow, particularly in the digital age, there is increasing debate about whether the legal framework should be updated to provide stronger protection for consumers. For now, psychics and mediums continue to exist in a space where their claims remain open to interpretation, and the legal system is largely reactive when it comes to addressing deceptive practices.

The Numbers Preventing Psychics Being Real

I wanted to have a brief look at why we never see the headline "Psychic Predicts Lottery Win And Wins £100,000,000 The Following Day", now I am sure there will be a lottery winner somewhere in the world who claims they are psychic, purely by statistics this will either have happened or will happen, but one thing I can guarantee has never happened and will never happen, is for a psychic to predict they will win the lottery or some high odds gambling bet, and then win it! This is because no one can predict the future, since the future hasn't happened yet!

Here is a great story with the famous headline Psychic Wins Lottery
The problem with it is that she just happens to work as a psychic, and AFTER winning claimed she "had a feeling" Months earlier! Not quite the amazing story it tries to be is it! If this was considered proof of psychic abilities, than I bet you could ask every Lottery winner ever, and they would nearly all say they "had a feeling", sorry unless you make the prediction BEFOREHAND, I don't accept that.

In fact more convincing was Derren Brown's amazing trick whereby he picked the numbers "live" and then won the lottery! Watch below, and no don't worry Magic Circle, I wont expose how it was done, but for anyone curious there are plenty of debunking videos on Youtube




Don't get me wrong, I can predict the future and know I will be proven right, but I do that using common sense and logic, I am talking about predicting a future event that has very high odds.

So for me to say "I predict a member of the Royal Family will give birth to a baby girl within the next ten years", there is a pretty good chance this will happen, since it is a very big family, and people have babies. However if I was to say "I predict that on February 27th 2019, Prince Charles will become King Charles" that is incredibly unlikely to come true, (if it does people please remind me of this article!), And that is the problem with psychics and future predictions, it all comes down to odds, and realistically speaking, psychics never beat the odds.

Lets take a quick look at the odds of winning various Lotteries

Lottery Draw Country Odds of winning the jackpot

Lotto - United Kingdom - 1 in 45,057,474

Lotto - South Africa - 1 in 14,000,000

Powerball - South Africa - 1 in 24,435,180

El Gordo de la Primitiva Spain- 1 in 31,625,100

EuroJackpot - Europe - 1 in 59,325,280

EuroMillions - Europe - 1 in 116,531,800

La Primitiva - Spain - 1 in 139,838,160

Powerball - United States - 1 in 175,223,510

Mega Millions  - United States - 1 in 258,890,850

SuperEna Lotto - Italy - 1 in 622,614,630

I think you get the point.

Psychics convince people they have powers, by predicting things that have very low odds.

So they will tell you the sex of your unborn child. This is literally a 50% chance, or 1 in 2.

They will be right half the time. And the half of the time they are right, their clients will tell the world, "hey Jon the Psychic KNEW my child would be a boy" Where as the one who got it wrong, is soon forgotten.

So ok the lottery is way too hard for a psychic to win, as they would need genuine powers to do so.

Their usual excuse is that their powers don't allow them to make huge amounts of money! But what about smaller amounts of money, afterall they do take payment from people, £50 here, £20 there. It all adds up.

So surely the best place for a psychic would be a casino, at such a place they would be betting to win lower amounts. But what would the odds be in a casino if you do think you are psychic?

 Well if you wanted an easy game to win, Blackjack has the best odds, as you are only playing against the dealer. But that is hardly proof of psychic powers is it? 

Poker, nope that is no good, as not really a game of odds, but a game of skill.

What about Craps, well you are betting on the roll of a dice, so odds are about 50/50, again not good proof that you are psychic.

Now roulette, this is a game that you could prove yourself on. Lets forget about betting on red or black, as that is nearly 50/50 (don't forget the green 0)

So if you bet on a normal number it is 36 to 1. So how about this, if you were to get this right 3 times in a row, and you claimed your were psychic, I would find it incredible hard to say you weren't.

Now one name I always get thrown at me as proof of someone who could predict the future was our old friend Nostradamus, or Michel as I used to call him.

Not sure who he is? Read this from Skeptics Dictionary...

"Michel Nostradamus was a 16th-century French physician and astrologer. His modern followers see him as a prophet. His prophecies have a magical quality for those who study them: They are muddled and obscure before the predicted event, but become crystal clear after the event has occurred." Source: http://skepdic.com/nostrada.html

One of his famous quatrains is below.

The year 1999 seven months

From the sky will come the great King of Terror.

To resuscitate the great king of the Mongols. Before and after Mars reigns by good luck. 

So reading that, what do you think he is predicting?

So the year 1999, that's clear, then seven months, so that would be July.

Something happening in the sky, so that could be a plane crash, a meteorite, a huge storm, some kind of natural disaster. Something about a King?

Ok it is vague to say the least.

Many have claimed it predicted the death of John F Kennedy Jr.
On the 16th "John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette are killed in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. The Piper Saratoga aircraft was piloted by Kennedy."

So that is the year and month right, but JFK Jr was not a King, nor a King of Terror, and no link to anything else. 

On the 27th Pro Skater Tony Hawk is the first skateboarder to land a "900", he is the King of skateboarding? And a 900 is in the air I guess?

ANA Flight 61 was hijacked in Tokyo, Japan, on the 23rd, but it didn't crash. And Japan is about 3000km from Mongolia. So no connection there.

On the 23rd Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan is crowned King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the death of his father, but his father died of natural causes, so nothing really special there.

So the only thing that comes close is JFK Jr. And that is the problem with predicting the future, and especially when being so vague about it. Be specific and you will be wrong because the odds are simply against you. Be vague, and almost anything can be twisted to fit what you said, which is pretty much how ever prediction made by Nostradamus is treated.

The point is the psychic industry is clearly flawed, flawed to such an extent that it does not work, no psychic will ever predict a win on a high odds gambling bet, and then win. Whether it is the Lottery, a casino or an online casino site such as Lucky Nugget that offers a simulation of a real casino experience. No psychic has ever predicted a major future event and got it right.

Yes there are stories of people who have "drawn the future" but even when these are investigated, it is the odds that end up working in their favour. Draw or paint one picture that shows and event, if that comes true, then that would be impressive, but in every case, we always find out that the "psychic" has in fact drawn or painted hundreds if not thousands of pictures, and then when an event happens, they just try and find one of them that kind of matches what has happened! The more events you draw, the more you lower your odds of eventually being proven right.

So remember folks, you can't predict the future, it hasn't happened yet, you'd be better off spending your money on the roulette table, than predicting the future, as at least in the casino you have an actual chance of winning!

By Jon Donnis