The Petition for Scientific Testing of Mediums and Psychics By Law`
The Petition for Scientific Testing of Mediums and Psychics by Law.
The segments of society today who procure the services of an individual who allegedly ‘communes with the dead’ have a very good reason (in their own mind, at least) for doing so. This reason undoubtedly varies between individuals, but will at least touch on one of the following:
1. Grief. The need for closure after the loss of a loved one. Many people feel the need for one last conversation, or need an answer to a question or maybe even to say things that were left unsaid during their loved ones lifetime.
2. Advice. Psychics are often called on to give advice on all manner of very important issues, including personal, financial matters etc.
There are far too many other reasons to list here, but after making enquiries counseling and advice appear to be the most common.
In 1951, a new Act of Government was brought into Law in the United Kingdom. The aptly named Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 aimed to curb the multi-million pound psychic and medium industry from taking advantage of, and generally exploiting the naive, the vulnerable and desperate and the grieving. Very few people were brought to justice under this law, and therefore in October 2008 The Fraudulent Mediums Act was abolished, and the industry was then ‘governed’ by the new Consumer Laws.
For the unenlightened, (which again through my own enquiries I have found to be just about everyone in the country, including the officials that are meant to enforce the laws) the part of these laws that actually deals with psychics and mediums is the Unfair Commercial Practices Directives.
Mediums, Psychics, Clairvoyants… Call them what you will, allegedly offer a service for financial gain. For a Medium, Psychic etc to not actually breaking the law they must prove they are really providing the service they claim to be.
I would never claim to be a scientist. I have, however being studying unknown phenomena for over three decades. This does not in any way make me an expert, but does mean I have taken the time to find out a lot of facts. One of the most important facts I have found is that most people who fall into the category of Medium, Psychic etc. claim to speak to the dead. Another Fact I’ve also come across on a regular basis is that in all the years of research into the existence of any part of the psyche, personality, soul etc. AFTER the death of a living organism has come up with absolutely no evidence whatsoever, medically, psychologically or otherwise. This quite obviously means that no person practicing within the realms of psychics, mediums etc can prove they are providing that particular service, and therefore cannot legally charge for it.
There is, however, a loophole, and this loophole is now used extensively throughout the industry. All anyone need do is provide a disclaimer that the service, be it clairvoyance, tarot reading or any other type of psychic or mediumistic activity is actually for entertainment only. This then covers anyone under the current directive to basically say and do whatever they want.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t protect the consumer. As detailed before, the main reasons why people seek the assistance of psychics and mediums are grief and for advice. This means that the consumer in these cases are vulnerable and desperate, and in truth in most cases desperately hoping for a message from a loved one that has passed over. This in itself leaves the medium or psychic in a position of power that is all too easy to exploit.
Apart from the instances of cold and hot reading, and the instances where consumers have actually been researched before given a reading, there is the possibility that accurate information may be given to a consumer during a reading that would suggest that the reader had some means of gaining this information from an unknown source. This however does not rule out the possibility of some form of Extra Sensory Perception coming into play.
Another field where mediums and psychics have found a foothold is the area of paranormal investigation. It seems that the world is awash with unregistered and unmonitored individuals who are free to conduct whatever tests, ‘vigils’, and investigations whenever and however they choose to. Usually the most important source of information or piece of equipment these groups have is their resident psychic, medium or sensitive. The really scary aspect to this is that under present law anyone can gain access to peoples homes, inform them that there is an ‘evil’ presence, a ‘grounded soul’ or even a ‘Demon’ in their homes. Sound far fetched? Then read on…
During my years as an investigator I have come across many horror stories, enough in fact for me to now refer to them as ‘clean up cases’. A case that springs to mind is a public house in South Yorkshire where a medium had claimed that an upstairs cupboard was a ‘portal to the other side’ and ‘negative energy was cascading back into the house’. The medium then claimed to be able to close this ‘portal’ and charged the manager for the ritual. On another occasion, I was contacted by a lady from Rotherham, who having suffered from a variety of serious and very painful gynecological problems for which she had undergone surgery had ended up on strong painkillers and antidepressants. Due to a number of hallucinatory experiences she had, she contacted a medium who claimed the ladies fourteen year old daughter was harboring a demon. I referred her back to her GP, where her medication was altered and up until me losing touch with her last year she was receiving counseling and progressing very well. The case I’m working on currently involves 23 separate alleged paranormal phenomena, one of which is reputed to be a demon. When asked why the client thought there was a demon present, he replied that a mediums face had changed during a ‘trance’, and he had been told that the demon had caused this. He also claims this demon has influenced his moods since then…
I have no evidence to suggest that among the many frauds real mediums don’t exist. What I do know is that within the industry individuals are operating with less than average morals. Giving the vulnerable and naïve false information for financial gain is illegal. Psychologically damaging the already vulnerable and naïve for free is, it would seem, acceptable under current law. We propose a change.
From April 2009, The Petition for Scientific Testing of Mediums and Psychics By Law is available to sign on the British Government Website
http://number10.gov/PsychicTesting/
This petition is also being promoted nationally via the media and websites and similar causes, and calls for government legislation for scientific testing of all individuals who work or refer to themselves as mediums, psychics, healers or spiritualists etc. for financial gain.
The wording of the petition is as follows:
“We the undersigned petition Her Majesties Government to initiate an accreditation scheme for mediums, psychics, healers and other paranormal practitioners, which would determine whether a ‘psychic’ individual truly exhibits abilities unexplainable in terms of current scientific laws.
While the request for such assessment seems both outlandish and Draconian, we ask to raise this petition in recognition that many psychic practitioners charge substantial sums of money for their services to an often vulnerable customer base; most notably the elderly, the bereaved and the seriously ill.
It is noted that the Office of Fair Trading deems false psychic readings to be a major area of fraudulent activity – costing its victims around £140 million per annum…”
Please support this petition. It takes two minutes to sign at http://number10.gov/PsychicTesting/
And as it’s a petition we actively encourage everyone to support it in any way they can, or link to the sites.
More information can be found on the UPIA website or by contacting Dave Sadler, Kirst D’Raven or Steven Mera at the contact details available at www.upia.co.uk
Kirst D’Raven.
