Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium

People search for answers in different ways. Some go to Google, some go to a library, and some hope to find their answers in the supernatural. Enter the world of a mentalist with a guilty conscience.

     Mark Edward is as professional mentalist and on the editorial board of Skeptic magazine. In his biography, Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium, Edward describes how he became interested in human psychology and how he could exploit it. Starting out as a mere illusionist in dive bars, Edward learns the art of mentalism, the practice of demonstrating intuitive abilities. Mentalists appear to have clairvoyant, precognitive, and telepathic abilities, and are often referred to as 'psychic entertainers'. 
     Edward recounts the odd and often humorous tales of his 30-year career at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, his late-night shifts working the 900 hotline Psychic Friends Network, and his experiences as a (confessed) "fake medium" for the wealthy and bored Hollywood elite. Edward confesses that for most of his career, he exploited the believers that paid him in hopes of connecting with deceased loved ones, seeking answers to questions they believed only supernatural ideas could answer.
     In the 90's, there were plenty of psychic hotlines and late-night public access shows that claimed that (for a nominal fee) "real mediums" would be able to help people with supernatural advice. Miss Cleo and Psychic Friends Network raked in millions of dollars from their $3.99+/minute sessions. Sylvia Brown and John Edwards, self-professed psychic mediums, popped up on the talk show circuit and plugged their books and private sessions. Mark Edward watched America become obsessed with contacting spirits and recalled how this was not a new phenomenon. Edward recalls the scam seances of the Fox Sisters and other so-called "intuitives". Although he does confess he felt guilty about becoming yet another scammer, Edward decides to perfect his mentalism skills and advertise himself as the "greatest psychic medium" in modern America.
      At first, he tries to justify his exploits by making himself believe that he is helping people even though he is lying to them. If he makes someone feel better about their deceased relative, what harm is he doing? Eventually, Edward's conscience catches up with him and he begins to feel guilty about lying to people and being paid for it. He pleads to readers that people should become aware that they are being manipulated into shelling out their money to liars who claim to be mediums. Although mostly skeptic, Edward does confess that he thinks real mediums may exist, but they are few and most certainly not the ones making millions of dollars by hosting seminars and pricey private readings. Edward reveals the methods of psychic scammers, explaining how they are able to read a person and exploit the information that is revealed to them. Edward warns that most people who advertise themselves as psychics are scam artists who prey on the general human desire to believe in something, regardless if it is supernatural or not. He reveals the secrets behind the big business that is mentalism and how he was able to disguise his lies as vague truths. 
     While I personally do believe in psychic phenomena, I do not trust the alleged abilities of supposed psychics who seek financial gain for their 'abilities'. Reading this book confirmed many of the sentiments I had, but also explains how mentalists are able to make so many people believe in them to the point that I cannot blame anyone for believing in them. Talented mediums such as Mark Edward are well-educated in psychology, have strong observational skills, and are master manipulators. As Edward describes different readings that he provided, I almost forgot that Edward tells the reader that he is fake, because some of the things he says are so believable that you nearly accept that he actually is a psychic medium.
     Overall, this book was well-written, intellectual, and often times humorous.Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, this book was an intriguing read that explores the secret world of the modern-day medium.

Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium by Mark Edward is available on Amazon.com,  BarnesAndNoble.com, in retail bookstores, and is also available in Kindle and Nook e-reader formats.