Best Famous Psychics: Sylvia Browne, Psychic Healers

Arguably one of the world's best psychics, definitely the world's most famous psychic, is Sylvia Browne. A practicing reader since 1974, Browne has become one of the clairvoyant community's most controversial figures. Viewed by her apostles as a remarkable clairvoyant, church founder, and best-selling author, she has also drawn extensive, sometimes harsh criticism from the skeptic community. Her detractors insist she is a con-artist, "almost certainly a fraud.”

Although the famous psychic has moved beyond one-on-one psychic readings, she has not left behind her work as a one-on-one psychic. Popularized by her show on Hay House Radio, the famous psychic regular appears on TV talk shows like “The Montel Williams' Show,” and guest appears on programs like “Larry King Live.” Browne has gone on to do work as a famous psychic detective, reveal psychic premonitions, and a host of other psychic feats. Although a famous psychic very much in the limelight, Browne (as well as her son) still makes herself available for one-on-one readers.

According to Browne, a reading with her is like "meeting with a long-lost friend whom you loved deeply.” She is able to "[reach] into your soul, [wash] out your pain, [repair] the damage,” and offers her clients the "courage and direction to continue your journey through life.” The famous psychic claims it is her gift "by the grace of God.” Among a list of predictions, the world's most famous psychic claims the ability to select the "best path among several choices,” "scan for health warning's (the famous psychic does not claim to have the abilities of psychic healers and also suggests to see "your physician too")” and "contact deceased friends and loved ones.”

Critics of Browne have pointed out that the famous psychic is nothing but a "con-artist.” Skeptics claim that Sylvia is nothing more than a "cold reader,” that the famous psychic "[simulates] psychic abilities and preys on the grieving, the ill and the spiritually needy.” Much has been made of the fact that the famous psychic has been embroiled in legal wranglings as early as 1992. At the time, the famous psychic was under investigation for actions stemming from accusations of investment fraud, based in part on psychic predictions regarding a mining venture.

Recent instances of premonitions and predictions made by Browne have been wrong and heavily scrutinized by the skeptic community. Included are controversies surrounding the famous psychic and predictions regarding the Sago Mine accident, a host of inaccurate readings on the Montel Williams' Show, and psychic premonitions made regarding two kidnappings, one involving Shawn Hornbeck, the second involving Opal Jo Jennings. It is important to note that these controversies are only representative of a long list of fraud claims leveled at the famous psychic.

Critics of the famous psychic Browne are quick to point out that no substantial, significant evidence has been discovered in support of the abilities claimed by famous psychics. Perhaps Browne's most vocal critic is James Randi, a magician-turned-debunker, skeptic, and creator of the James Randi Educational Foundation. He has long challenged Browne specifically and a list of other famous psychics to accept the JREF $1,000,000 Challenge. The famous debunker's website features a counter that keeps track of the time elapsed since challenging Browne to demonstrate her alleged psychic abilities in a controlled, scientific environment. Today the counter still ticks, closing in on six years. The offer is still on the table.


Sources:
Home-Main Page . 2006-2007. Robert S. Lancaster/ StopSylviaBrowne.com. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://stopsylviabrowne.com/home/>.
About Sylvia/ Chris. Sylvia Browne. 2007. Sylvia Browne Corporation and Hay House, Inc. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://www.sylvia.org/home/about.cfm>.
Psychic Readings. Sylvia Browne. 2007. Sylvia Browne Corporation and Hay House, Inc. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://www.sylvia.org/home/readings.cfm>.Friedman, Roger. “TV Psychic Misses Mark on Miners.” FOXNEWS.
COM. 5 Jan. 2006. FOX News Network, LLC. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180681,00. html>.
James Randi. Wikipedia. 21 Feb. 2007. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi>.< br />Sylvia Browne. Wikipedia. 21 Feb. 2007. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_browne> .
Sylvia Browne's Clock-Update. 2007. James Randi Educational Foundation. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://www.randi.org/sylvia/index.html>.