Today it seems to be very fashionable to be involved, in one way or another, with the paranormal. Self-styled paranormal investigators and 'Ghost Hunting' groups seem to be everywhere, and if you are looking for a clairvoyant you have only to look in that section of the Liverpool Echo or weekly free paper to find one. Little wonder then why sceptics, psychologists and parapsychologists pour disdain and cynicism on mediums and psychics in general, when the whole concept of the psychic and mediumistic world has today gone quite crazy. They do put forward a valid case when, to be perfectly honest, none of it would stand up to close scientific and psychological scrutiny. I have come to the conclusion that we - that is, the mediumistic profession as a whole, leaves itself wide open to criticism, even though some of those doing the criticising need to make certain that they have vacated their glass houses before doing so. People often wrongly assume that because I am a professional medium, that I stand in the corner with all mediums. That is not the case. I have always had the reputation for being quite radical in my approach to my own profession. This was one of the very reasons I founded THE THOUGHT WORKSHOP, THE North West's very first Centre for Psychic and Spiritual Studies, back in 1983. Some of the UK's greatest exponents of mediumship visited my centre, then situated in Rodney Street. And so, it is only fair to say that I have seen some of the best mediums in the world, who came to work for me. Even though, I frequently receive emails making snide and extremely crass suggestions that I and others should use our 'alleged' psychic skills to find missing toddler Madaleine McCann. One well-known local author really surprised me when he also intimated something along the same lines. I have never been able to understand how any psychic can offer their services to the police, when we all know psychic abilities are unreliable and do not always work.

We have gone Psychic Crazy, but it would be totally unfare to judge all psychics and mediums just because the one you have seen did not impress you, anymore than it would to dismiss the whole medical profession just because a particular doctor did not inspire confidence in you.

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