Body & Soul Feng Column - Psychics Schmyics
by Yasmin Boland

Several years ago I had a run in with a psychic, who called me to ask if I'd write a book for her. I agreed to help with the proposal - I thought I had nothing to lose and that it'd be fun to work with a 'see-er'. I got to know her quite well over the phone. She would call me once, twice, three times a day, to chat. At the time she called, I was involved in a doomed affair of the heart. In fact, the very day this psychic - let's call her Soozie - first rang, I'd decided to end the 'romance', as it was causing me more pain than pleasure. During that first phone call, though, Soozie cautioned me strongly against ending it, telling me this man was my soulmate and we just needed time. This was music to my ears - I was fond of him, despite myself. My friends - who'd heard about this guy's wily ways from me - thought he was a dog and that I was mad for continuing with him. My parents thought I'd taken leave of my senses, putting up with a scoundrel who made me so miserable. Even he thought I should ditch him, now I think about it. The long and the short of it was that he was unfaithful to me - several times - before I realised that the only person telling me to stay with Mr Dog was Soozie. Looking back cynically, I realise that she told me what I wanted to hear … while I tried to help her get her book published. Thankfully, during one beautiful, rational moment, six arduous weeks after I'd originally planned it, (and a few days after her book proposal had been rejected), I ended the relationship. Everyone I knew sighed with relief; I vowed that it was over for me and psychics and that henceforth I'd only ever listen to my 'inner voice'. One of the easiest ways to do this is through meditation. If you have a pressing question, and have been thinking about calling a 1900 number, try this first. Sit down in the northeast of your home - the inner knowledge section. Relax. Breathe deeply. Then take a pen and write to yourself, asking your (Higher) self what you need to know. Write whatever comes to mind. It's so crazy it might work … and it has to be better than listening to someone else's ramblings. You'll almost certainly know if you're faking it, which can't be said for dealing with paid soothsayers. Enough about fenging ... tell me about your book © Yasmin Boland 2001