Whether or not you’re a believer, there’s something intriguing about the world of psychics, mind readers, and mediums. Journalist and author Gary Nunn spent two years trying to uncover the truth about the influence these people hold, sharing his findings in The Psychic Tests. The book tour comes to Smith’s Alternative in Canberra on Tuesday 6 December, emceed by local journalist and author, Ginger Gorman.
After the sudden death of their father in 2015, Nunn’s sister turned to psychics to try and feel a connection with him again. Worried that his sister was being exploited while at her most vulnerable, he decided to investigate these people further.
Nunn was already curious after covering the biggest stockbroking collapse since the financial crisis, where it was revealed the executive chairman had a psychic on the books. The psychic advised the chairman on where to invest stocks and influenced hiring and firing.
“My new hunch was the people who sought out psychic counsel were not vulnerable and fragile, maybe they were, in fact, like him – which is powerful, authoritative, and responsible,” Nunn says.
This hunch took him on a journey into the quirky world of believers and their equally quirky counterparts, the skeptics. Both are treated with equal respect.
Each chapter takes a new approach to answer questions such as ‘can people speak to the dead; can psychics see into the future?’ Nunn seeks the services of mediums, psychics and tarot readers – even training to be one himself – and shares his experience.
He considers why people seek out psychics: is it more than trying to reach the dead or predict the future; do they alleviate loneliness or help depression? On the flip side, he also asks if they could be causing harm.
“Why seemingly intelligent, rational-minded people, why they need to believe, this exploration of faith and connection,” he says.
It is also the story of Nunn and his sister trying to understand each other better, see the world through each other’s eyes. Nunn tried to be less condescending while his sister stopped seeing mediums and hired a grief counsellor.
“I used to laugh and think they were less intelligent and foolish … by doing the book it taught me to nip that in the bud,” he says.
Nunn brings a guest from the book along on the night; Melanie Obeid, the one psychic who managed to completely transfix him. She will be joining Nunn on stage to answer questions, and will offer some free readings.
Uncover the truth in The Psychic Tests book launch at Smith’s Alternative, Tuesday 6 December; smithsalternative.com
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