New Age Gathering

The Controversy Over Charging for Psychic Services


The Controversy Over Charging for Psychic Services

by Julia Jablonski


The issue of psychics (and energy healers) charging for their services is a controversial one. Over the years, I've received a few messages through my personal site that complained that psychics and mediums should never charge for their work. In researching this article, I spent some time in an online chat room that advertised free psychic readings, and I asked for people's opinions on the matter. The topic certainly sparked controversy.

Those who oppose psychics charging for their services argue that a psychic gift is a gift from God, and gifts from God should never be used for profit. This breaks down to two issues when we examine it closely. The first issue is whether or not psychic ability is a "gift from God," or is different from other gifts and talents, and the second is whether or not one should ever profit from a gift from God.

Perhaps some psychic gifts are "gifts from God," in that they are abilities a person was born with, or received spontaneously. I've known few psychics, however, who haven't taken their innate abilities and worked and studied for years to hone their spiritual faculties. Many have invested in lengthy schooling and training, and lead a lifestyle as disciplined as an Olympic athlete's in terms of meditation, habits and focus in order to maintain clear access to subtle energies and information. I see little difference between the training and education of a doctor or teacher or artist and that of a psychic or medium.
We are all unique, divine creations. We have different strengths and talents. Some have a gift for mathematics, others an affinity for painting, others the height and coordination to play professional basketball. These are all "God-given" gifts. People profit from their God-given gifts all the time. Those who make a living doing that which they are most gifted at are said to have found their "true calling."

Whether or not one is using a "God-given gift," there is always the issue of resources and time. Though that which flows through the artist may be inspired by planes beyond, the artist must spend her precious time in this plane creating the art. Living in the physical means we must meet physical needs of food, shelter, clothing, etc... Though the "gift" may come from "God," we should value the time and energy people put into that which we desire and benefit from.
Everyone has physical, practical needs. People exchange their products or services for the products and services others offer. Money is the medium that allows for an easy transfer of "energy" in such exchanges. Bartering is a great idea too. I have a client who is a talented artist who barters her art for readings. In cultures that have healers and shamans, the tribe has always taken care of its wise men and women, whether through gifts of food, housing or other goods or support. Our churches support their ministers and priests in many ways, including providing them with salaries. An equal exchange of energy is necessary, and natural law ensures this one way or another.

There is also the issue that people tend to value something based on what they pay for it. If something is free, people tend to feel it's not worth anything. In such a case, both the reader and the recipient are wasting their time and energy. If I did not charge for my reading work, I would be booked for years in advance with curious clients with frivolous questions, questions that the askers weren't willing to invest anything in exploring. I would not be free to work with people who are genuinely seeking answers to burning issues in their lives.
Even I tend to get upset when I see a "famous" psychic charging hundreds of dollars for his or her work, but I also have to remember that no one is forcing anyone to pursue a reading with that person. We have to take responsibility for our own lives. If we want a Porsche, we don't walk into the dealership and complain that the car is overpriced so we should get the Porsche for half price, or for free.

When I compare the many psychics I know to other professionals, most readers stand out for their generosity and compassion. Many readers go to great lengths to create avenues for those who can't afford a reading to be able to obtain a free one. Several sites, including this one and my own (MuseNet), offer story contests with free readings as prizes. If a person is meant to have a reading, the Universe will find a way to make this happen, whether it's through creating the funds for purchasing the service, or through the free contests and avenues that are available.

Often it is the people who can most afford to pay for a reading who balk at it. Others are not doing themselves any favors by setting up a "debtors" balance with the universe, for by expecting more than they give, they only increase the lack in their lives. To take without giving back is to create a debt that must be repaid eventually, one way or another.

Many readers are doing empowering and healing work, bringing through comforting messages from loved ones in spirit and guidance to help people to create what they want in their lives. If they were not compensated for it, most readers would not be able to afford to continue this work. A product or service rendered deserves compensation. I try to give more than I receive in my work, as do many sincere and compassionate readers. Of course, the Universe ensures that all things balance out in the end.

Payment for psychic divination does appear in the bible as you will see below:

Numbers 22:5-7

22:5 And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river in his native land, to summon him, saying, “Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me.

22:6 So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.

Samuel 9:6-9

9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

9:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

9:8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9:9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

Question: Is getting a psychic reading or working with angels evil?

Some of you belong to faiths where the minister tells people not to have anything to do with psychics because they may not be getting information from God or angels. Or they must not try to contact spirits because it's dangerous. They are absolutely correct in saying that. People are born with natural protection around them. Unless their gifts are naturally open, their psychic channels usually remain closed and the natural protection exists. Many people who don't do the protection work and first forging a strong connection to the Divine are not actually contacting angels, they could be connecting with low-level entities or earthbounds who have their own agenda.

Anytime one chooses to contact God or the angels, they must first create a sacred space and ask to be protected by the Light. The intention must be to only connect directly to the Divine or high level spirits such as angels. We are all naturally protected, but once the psychic channels are open, our free will to open them makes us a beacon of light for not only our guardian angels and guides assigned by God but also any old entity floating around our realm. These types of low-level entities fill people with fear and tell them terrible things are going to happen. And, channelers who don't use high intentions may unknowingly relay messages from these low-level entities who say the world is going to end and tell people that their husband is going to die next month or to be careful while driving because they see a car accident.

These people are not contacting high-level benevolent spirits but dark entities or earthbounds. (I explain this in vol. I, issue 2 of my newsletter). A good book to read on this subject is "Psychic Protection" by John-Rogers. He explains further on these low-level entities that are a part of our realm and we must always have intentions for only our highest good.

Angels and high level teachers and masters will never tell anyone what to do, where to go and who to talk to. Many people buy readings because they don't want to bother taking a risk or doing the leg work themselves. They want their angel to tell them what company to apply for, what school to attend, what job position to go for, who to call for an interview or the name, address and phone number of their soul mate. Angels do not relay this type of information and never will. They are bound by God to only counsel and assist humans and are never allowed to interfere with our free will.

They may give us suggestions about our career or love life but, except in extreme circumstances, they never give an ultimatum. Our free will gives us the gift of choice and then the gift of accountability for the choices we make. If a psychic tells someone they are going to marry someone named 'Rick,' then that person will be alert to anyone named 'Rick' and probably will marry someone with that name because it's planted in their mind. That doesn't mean it was their destiny and that marriage may leave them unfulfilled and maybe mad at the universe for sticking them with someone so unsuitable.

I'd like to also clear up some misconceptions about the powers of angels. Angels are not mind readers. They pick up on the thoughts we send out to them. They do not invade anyone's privacy. Talk to your angels, outloud or mentally. And, a lot of people think that maybe angels are like cosmic vending machines but don't realize that if the wish is fulfilled that there will probably be some kind of lessons attached, especially with money requests (i.e., they win the lottery but then make a bad investment because they did no research and lose it all). Angels can never interfere with the Divine Plan (i.e. they may be able to assist in miraculously healing someone who is not meant to die from the disease but if that is the way a person is supposed to pass then there is nothing an angel can do).

Posted by Cougar Tuesday, June 13, 2006 (02:13:17)