Ages & Stages: The Psychic

By Normal 0 Elizabeth Esse Kahrs  

We were at a writer’s conference, the two of us side by side at the book table. She had attended the same panel that I did, about the doom and gloom of publishing. We’d chatted on our way down to the lobby.

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I told her. “It doesn’t look good.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s all going to work out for you.”  

“Thanks,” I said, enjoying the sentiment. This woman knew nothing about me or my book. “But how do you know?”

            She smiled again. “I’m a psychic.”

            I tried not to look too skeptical. She had kind eyes, bright and blue, with a star of creases fanning out to the sides. And she was certainly no nutcase. In fact, just by speaking with her for a few minutes, I liked her.

            “No, really,” I said, returning the smile. “Do you have a card?”

            She reached into her purse and handed me one.

            Shamanic Practitioner and Psychic, it said.  Shamanic Energy Healing, Soul Retrieval, Karmic Clearing, Reiki, Plant Spirit Medicine, Intuitive Life Coaching HypnoBirthing.

            I knew nothing about any of this. But I wanted to know more.

            Years ago I would have quietly scoffed at this woman. I would have been polite and listened, but I would have immediately dismissed her as farce.

You see, I’ve always taken pride in appearing sensible and reasonable, rational and intelligent. Some of this, I’m sure, has to do with my upbringing—and then there is the fear of the unknown. But over the years, I seem to have become more receptive to alternative ideas. I like to keep an open mind.

Because really, who is to say what is reasonable and what is unreasonable? I think the real loss, for me, would be to dismiss something based on my own ignorance. I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn. And I think that’s a good thing because learning and being receptive to ideas is what keeps a person young.

And so I turned to the psychic and said, “Okay. Tell me more.”

And she did.