| For centuries, clairvoyant psychic readings enjoyed a | | | | that people who visit clairvoyants must undergo a |
| notoriety usually reserved for circus performers and | | | | suspension of disbelief. But if you're going to make a |
| snake-oil salesmen. Psychic clairvoyance was | | | | visit yourself, just what should you expect going in? |
| considered a sort of "underground" activity and indeed, | | | | And who exactly are clairvoyant people? |
| many practitioners could easily be found teaming up | | | | Clairvoyance can be defined as a human ability to see |
| with the other fringe elements of society. Psychic | | | | beneath the surface -- of a person, a situation, an |
| performers were a mainstay of circus troupes and | | | | intention or anything not seen by the human eye or |
| often may still be found on the side of what could | | | | easily deduced by human logic. Originally from the |
| politely be referred to as the fraudulent arts. | | | | French, it can be translated as "clear sight" and is often |
| But in the late 20th century, psychics began to enjoy | | | | also referred to as a "second sight." Clairvoyants can |
| something of a media renaissance, largely due to their | | | | also be said to be "precognitive" or to possess a "sixth |
| extremely close connection to the New Age | | | | sense." Definitions of clairvoyant powers vary greatly, |
| movement and its application of everyday mythologies | | | | and demonstrations are always inconclusive. So while |
| and quick-fix spirituality to people's lives. As New Age | | | | you may or may not believe in psychic ability, it |
| literature grew along with its adherents, a | | | | remains very important to know what psychic ability is |
| merchandising boom came along, carrying with it many | | | | not. You must keep an eye out for frauds, and |
| other promoters of "naturalistic" approaches to life -- in | | | | remember that you won't have to travel far into the |
| particular the leaders of the non-traditional naturalpathic | | | | "psychic community" to find them. Psychic con-men |
| and holistic medicinal school -- who rushed to claim | | | | are everywhere and even have a rich history, dating |
| their place in line for the growing business monolith. | | | | back to the ancient practices of the "travelling medicine |
| But somewhere along the way to staggering success, | | | | man" in India, which exists to this day. |
| as the 70s self-help movement gave way to the 80s | | | | So with so many psychic hucksters out there in |
| self-help-novel movement and the full-on 90s New | | | | storefronts, on television, and at travelling exhibitions, |
| Age ecumenical-tent movement, people seemed to | | | | there's a lot to choose from but there will likely be very |
| have forgotten both the original stories of human | | | | little to interest you until you get a practitioner with |
| clairvoyance and today's all-important questions of | | | | whom you feel comfortable. So take your time, never |
| certification and validity. This is partly understandable, | | | | be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and if you're very |
| since anything known as "New Age" usually includes a | | | | careful, you may very well find your own "clairvoyant |
| healthy mix of faith along with reason, and it's also true | | | | prophet. |