No encounters with mediums. I think they're charlatans, just like clergy.

Just a bunch of people that tell people incredibly vague things (that could apply to basically anyone). IF this thing happens the everyone gets all: "See it's real." I laugh at christians who go to them because seeing fortune tellers or getting into astrology is forbiden in the bible.

All mediums are frauds.

I had one telling me I'd be moving far away soon and to keep an eye out for a man with the initials RDJ

It's been 5 years and I'm still here and Robert Downey Jr has not come to take me away

Its all a load of BS. If they do their 'readings' for free, then they are well meaning morons. If they charge for their 'services' then they are charlatans preying on the vulnerable. Have no truck witrh any of them.

Seeing a loved one suffering is hard, my Nan recently passed away after a decade of dementia, alzheimer's, leukemia, strokes etc., so I sympathise, but don't let yourself be taken in.

I don't think there is any rational reason to believe in psychic phenomenon - particularly anyone who claims to see into the future. There are people skilled in manipulating your credulity, but that's the extent of their "abilities."

Some may legitimately believe that they have psychic abilities, but the sane ones are the lowest form of parasitic vermin.

It is just educated guesses based on what the pettioner reveals.

I have never had an encounter with one. I disbelieve in their supposed powers and would not pay hard earned money for them to share their vague-er-eese (vagueries). Wanted to use that word, but not sure how to write it. Bottom line: their vague predictions and other such nonsense.

I think any decent Medium would not share something like that, it's irresponsible. I have had mixed experiences but one of my friends is a superb Medium, told me things about myself no-one else knew.

Telling someone that their grandparent is gonna pass soon is not a psychic ability. It's a fact of life that old people die.

I went to cassadaga once for shits and giggles and was told that something was going on in my stomach area. I was of menopausal age so yeah, no shit. But that is such a vague comment that could be about anything from constipation to cancer.

There is a reason that they must take your hand; many health or behavioural clues can be gleaned from your nails and skin but the main reason is be able to tell when their vague comments strike a nerve.

As a paranormal investigator, I don't trust them. I've heard of some spot on but most just say things others want to hear and they have a way to draw that out of a person.

I believe it's fake. I suggest that you visit one but take a friend with you. Before the reading, ask your friend to take note of times when the medium was "cold reading" you without you noticing it. And ask your friend about the "cold reading" after the session.

However I sympathise with your sentiments. My mom, my sister and her husband are still semi Catholic because they believe that they'll meet their dead loved ones again. I can't take that comfort away from them.

Here is James Randi about psychics and "cold reading":

There are other videos on YouTube on "cold reading".

I have recently gone through a similar family situation. It is a grueling, painful experience. You are in an emotionally vulnerable spot right now. Look, I think psychics, mediums, whatever are total BS, but if it brings you some comfort, go for it. You can always revisit this issue later.

My emotions on this topic are clear. They are all negative. This pseudo (and not even that) "science" is complete bullshit. As has been said, mediums speak in generalizations that apply to EVERYONE. In your niece's case, she is being told exactly the comforting words she wants to hear.

I had a reading with a Jamaican lady named Rene who I met in the 70s. No charge for the reading of my palm. She was fairly accurate predicting my love for water, lakes, rivers, streams - my spending time near them and the mountains. I went to college two years later near Mt. Monadnock in NH and there was a lake there and rivers nearby. She was wrong about children. She saw 2 boys and a girl. Might have had a miscarriage early in my marriage, but I ended up having 2 girls. As I said there was no money involved. Believed her at the time, now no.

I saw a medium who came up with names and many things she said came true, however I believe mediums are not allowed to tell you stuff like someone about to pass or bad news in general....This is what I read...
Terminate any session that doesn’t feel right. No reputable psychic will ever predict your death, foretell a tragedy, give you winning lottery numbers or inform you that you have a curse put upon you and your family and that to remove it, you need to return repeatedly. A reputable psychic will also not keep increasing their fee with each visit, or expect that you buy ancillary merchandise from them on a regular basis. Run, don’t walk, from anyone who conducts business with you in a manner that does not feel authentic. On rare occasions, I may be challenged in connecting with a client. In the past ten years, this has happened about four or five times. In those situations, I will stop and ask the client how they’d like to handle it, an option of which may be to end the session at no charge to the client. An inauthentic psychic will bluff their way through for being focused on making a buck.

While some of these people may be well meaning it's just too big a jump to believe in them.

While some of these people may be well meaning it's just too big a jump to believe in them.

I was accosted by a "psychic" at a metaphysical store once who said I was molested by my dad when I was a child. Who just randomly says that to someone? It's not true, btw.

I believe in psychic ability. However, I do not believe in mediums per se, as they all seem to me to be con artists. Rather, I think most people with true psychic ability would keep quiet about it and use it only sparingly (if they have control of it), and never for money.

And really, if I may be blunt, if your mom has advanced dementia, she no doubt will be passing soon. There's nothing psychic about that.

I want to thank you all for your comments and your experiences. It really helps me in this situation. As I replied to somebody I was not taken in by the medium it was my niece. I would like to believe that she would pass soon just so that she would be at peace as well as the rest of us. Thank you all again for your comments it really is appreciated.

My mother believes anything, I would say totally ignore it.

I've never had experience with one and never really wanted any. I've always felt that it's only real in the movies. If a medium can tell me the winning lottery numbers for this week then I'll believe it.