From The Foxy Sisters to James V

From The Foxy Sisters to James Van Poop To Edward The Great:
The Television Mediums Who Converse With Dead People!
by Richard Busch

A few months ago, one of my correspondents asked for my thoughts on the current crop of rebirthed mediums who appear on television. While most post Fox-sister mediums did their performances seated tableside in darkness (because spirits are shy you know!), today's wonder workers like John Edward (most famous for his Crossing Over TV show) and James Van Praague (can his TV show be far behind?) stand up and receive messages from dead people in full view, or so it appears to the uninitiated. Here is an edited version of my "spirited" response plus a few extra opinions for your consideration. You are perfectly free to have yours. "

I could write/talk for hours on this hot topic. So briefly, here goes ...

What they are pretending to do is, in my opinion, harmful, absolutely!

Death is undeniably a part of life. It is natural. We all do it eventually, with the exception of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and Mickey Mouse, but they are just pretend, just like the "act" in question.

Death brings transcendence to human beings. To be born, to live, to die (this process I don't pretend to understand) is to be respected. It's sacred. It's G-d stuff, if you will.

But to mourners who are grieving, death brings a hidden gift, a chance to grow, to grow up, to learn, to elevate, to evolve. If help or therapy is needed, it can come from trusted friends, family, rabbis, priests, psychologists, medical doctors, trained counselors, etc. who can make responsible emotional, clinical, spiritual, and/or psychological decisions and not untrained pseudo-entertainers who use our methods to spiritually screw with people's heads, hearts, and so much more. This includes even those who "believe" (i.e.. are vulnerable and get fooled/taken) and later say they are helped. Old Father John's Good-For-What-Ails-Ya Elixir with a fancy label circa 1926 that was mostly alcohol and sold by a slick talker was taken off the market even though it did help lots of people too. The fact is, it was a false product/service. Professional help is available. We don't need charlatans. The world is not one cheap magic trick to be toyed with and profited from by childish, immature, selfish, egocentric actors/con artists who want and need to play and pretend they are oh so important, powerful, and of course, get rich and famous from it. Is there any end to it? Is anything off-limits? Is anything sacred? Is there any respect or dignity in sight? No. As long as it is profitable because people want it, it will continue to sell. For some, even in death lies a con, like a grave robber. And paradoxically, since the dead can not talk, they can not expose them! Pretty slick!!

What these slippery hustlers are doing is using the natural grieving/healing process and trivializing it with their familiar patter. A mourner doesn't need to be part of this act. A mourner needs to do what I suggested in the previous paragraph. This trivialization is harmful because it wastes the mourner's time and attention to realize what they need to do, come to grips with, and grow into. People of Edward's ilk steal the opportunity and take people in the wrong direction, to external false solutions instead of inner growth. As usual in our culture of too much external fluff, these people are guiding the vulnerable and ignorant at their weakest moment in exactly the wrong direction. Instead of coping with inner matters of process over time with respect and dignity according to their religion and/or personal philosophy, they pretend to deliver instant external pretense all because there was someone with the letter "M" sitting somewhere over in this direction. Good grief!

Psychic surgery trivializes the body. This act trivializes the soul, death, and life itself. It is a slap in the face, it's insulting, as in "How dare you?" Speaking of face, how do they manage to keep a straight one? It also suggests that a "middle-man" is necessary to talk to dearly departed grandma. Grandma must love and trust Edward more than her own family. This poses an insulting and psychologically harmful implication. It's filthy. Think about it.

These people are not entertainers on a stage who bring smiles as they entertain. This is not even entertainment at all, psychic entertainment or otherwise. Nor are they trained mental health counselors. Even if they were, ethical counselors do NOT parade their patients and clients to a television studio to profit from even legitimate tears and human suffering. That would be and is crass. They are instead spiritual con artists who use a mixture of our techniques to swindle and make millions of dollars. The goal is not healing at all. That's just the pretense. It's about money, and lots of it. $,$,$! And of course, them! Them, them, them!"

Since that e-mail, Edward tried to put a "show" together to further insult and profit from the memories of the victims of the September 11th tragedy by communicating with those who were murdered. What amazing gall! Nothing is off limits to these grave robbers. Fortunately, the show got canceled, at least temporarily.

Q. Why do they do it?
A. Money, fame, and ego.

Q. How do they do it?
A. In my opinion again, it is a mixture of our techniques. The skeptic and legitimate Psychic Entertainer in me has no doubt. It is just not one method, even though some skeptics naively claim it is. The "psychics" admittedly do it very well, Edward being the best at these multiple methods of ours. As with the scalpel, a doctor can use one to save a life, while a criminal can use it to end one. But I no more would endorse these brazen phonies than the surgeon would endorse the murderer just because we share many methods. That's irrational, and yet I see so many performers pretend it's OK because it might help their business, they do not want their methods exposed (with which I certainly agree), they do not see (or care about?) the exploitation and harm of it, and since they do not know 100% of the methods, they keep their skepticism in a closet and for a theoretical/theatrical 1% chance, will publicly say that it might be true. Sure ... and maybe Dunninger really did read minds because we do not know 100% of his methods?! The vast preponderance of evidence is enough to at least form a working hypothesis of doubt. Reality is rarely an "all or nothing" proposition. But not to worry, since he is dead, maybe Edward can now ask Dunninger exactly what all his methods were. What a great book that would be! After all, how could Dunninger turn down those sincere sparkling eyes that know the unknowable beyond your and my human limits, just like Superman? Hey, maybe the ex-ballroom dancer can fly too? Maybe he can talk to Jesus? And for a TV special during sweeps week, even the big man upstairs himself? Will a church with his name on it be opening soon in a city near you? If there is a line of no return, do these people have one?

Q. Will I expose the known methods?
A. No! I will not expose methods that legitimate, ethical performers use! In a scientific inquiry (which of course they are unlikely to be part of for all the humorous excuses that so many continue to fall for), duplication and controls would settle the matter. But because I'm against exposure, that doesn't mean I'm endorsing the inane lunacy behind this.

Q. Why is my mind so closed?
A. It's not. I (as do many) see through the various techniques being so skillfully employed. Well played indeed for an entertainer, but these folks are neither entertainers nor my colleagues.

And so, the con is on. Many of our public tastes are in the toilet. So many of us will watch anyone claim almost anything as we sit in front of our TV sets like unquestioning morons. We watch human suffering like pathetic voyeurs. Everything is "entertainment" for us to watch and the presenter to profit from. Dead people. Mourners. Thousands of terrorist's victims lying in microscopic bits and pieces of hair, teeth, and bone scattered all over Ground Zero in the shadow of blood and guts where evil and insanity so tragically revealed itself. Our armed forces are at war right this minute (as I write these words) to bring the guilty murderers to justice.

But I suppose it's OK now folks. We have Edward the Great and others on hand to save the day and let us all know that everything is really just fine and dandy, wonderful and beautiful. They and they alone can converse with dead people. Not you! Not me! So there! ... Hey, maybe if it's not too late, Edward can go back and contact the 6 million Jews who were shot, gassed and incinerated by Hitler over 50 years ago. Now that I'd like to see. If it was already on TV, I hope I can catch it on a rerun or maybe someone has it on tape for me. Great. I'll order pizza ...

It's a free country. Producers will continue to put on TV whatever they think will sell as we get "dumbed down" that much more. It's all about money and ratings, not truth. Mixtures of our secret techniques will be misused all under the pretense of "helping people ... because they care so much ... it's a gift from G-d", and so forth. Some poor fool will always be just around the corner to buy into it by watching it on TV, reading the book, or attending the latest standing-room-only seminar. It is a free country, but one pays in ways beyond the money. That's the least of it.

Personally, this act makes me nauseous! I am ashamed at the misuse of our techniques. They should hang their heads in shame. But why? Wink wink, the new book is coming out and the show's been picked up for another year. They say they care and look so Sunday-church-like and angelic. Their eyes sparkle. ... Hey, maybe they ask "who M is because Aunt Mabel forgot her name and can only remember her initial?" That must be it. Then I say, thank G-d for TV mediums! If it weren't for them, we would have an after-life of departed souls who didn't know their full names, just an initial! They would wander for all eternity aimlessly searching for their name ... that is until they dial up a TV medium. Oh happy days are here again! ...

Q. How can you tell if a TV medium is lying?
A. Watch and see if they move their lips. But I suppose they would only say that they were channeling the ghost of Shari Lewis the ventriloquist. Thank G-d! Hallelujah! Just look into their eyes and feel them sparkle. It really is an amazing gift to help people cope. Honest to G-d! So give thanks. Dig down deep and give a donation. Maybe for a little extra and if you really believe hard enough, one of these super heroes can channel Shari's hand puppet Lambchop while Shari drinks a glass of water.

Richard Busch
Psychic Entertainers Association, Columnist
Author, Peek Performances