Advice for the beginner psychic

When beginners are developing their gifts, says Ratcliffe, “they want to give readings to everybody. They’ll go up to a total stranger and say, ‘I have a message for you.’ We stress to everybody that these abilities are a gift, and they need to ask permission.” Likewise, if a beginner psychic gives a reading in a public tea room, and “something very personal comes up,” Ratcliffe advises, “ask the client: ‘Do I have your permission to tell you here?’ ”

Ratcliffe tells the story of once turning down a client who wanted to communicate with her dead father. “I can’t accept a session on that basis because I can’t guarantee that I can talk to her dad. A) he may not want to communicate. B) he may not know he’s crossed over yet. C) it just doesn’t work that way.” She explains, “When we do the Tuning In and Tuning Up class, we do a session on ethics. We tell them, ‘Make sure you’re not going to guarantee results.’ ”

Members are encouraged when they’re first starting their practice to “do it for free or as an energy exchange,” say Ratcliffe. “For instance, if they have a client who does massage or feng shui or accounting, see if they can trade services. When they’re feeling comfortable, we suggest they charge a dollar a minute. That’s the standard starting rate. It’s a business as well.”