There are many misconceptions about psychics and their ability to predict future events. It is not always permissible to determine any "fixed" future events, as the entire subject is controvertial, especially from a parapsychologist's viewpoint. In parapsychology, various "psi tests" - in particular in ESP - are conducted to determine the capacity for "peering into the future", among other things. Where this information comes from is a different matter altogether, since most of it is based on perception. One psychic might say that it comes from "spirit guides", another might say God or a Higher Power, and another might say it's directly from the subconscious mind.
It is often not the case that predictions are guaranteed to come true, although certain dates will stand out strongly. Predictions can only be based on the current trend, whether the medium for the reading is spirit guides, or tools, or other forms of divination. The future is not carved in stone or fixed because our actions define the direction and course of the future event, which is always subject to change based upon the actions taken from now and then.
As an example, if a psychic predicts that you will go to the store tomorrow at a specific time, but it rained so heavily that the backyard was flooded. It would be the readee's choice whether or not to go to the store, rain or not. If they chose not to go, then essentially the prediction would be rendered inaccurate because the event did not come to pass as the psychic predicted.
Another example, which emphasises the efforts and actions placed to ensure that the prediction comes to pass, is the "automobile mechanic" scenario. A psychic predicts that the readee's automobile will need a tune-up, otherwise it will break down when least expected. If the readee subsequently does nothing and continues driving, if the car breaks down, then the prediction is true. If, however, the readee visits the mechanic and gets it fixed, the prediction will essentially be negated if it does not break down. One could look at this scenario as a warning against what *could* happen, not necessarily as something that *will* happen.
Predicting the future and future events is unreliable at the best of times, even for well-practiced psychics. It's often the case where information about the future is seen, but nothing can be verified until after the predictions have come true. Information is usually vague and cryptic in nature, so is open to interpretation.
A prime example is Nostradamus's quatrains, where cryptic imagery from his four-line verses could apply to so many world events, although at the time of him writing them, they were his visions only. Given that he mixed words from Latin, Greek and his native French, and given that he did not provide any solid timeframes per se, these quatrains can be applied to certain world events centuries later. Examples are the rise of Hitler (whom he saw as "Hisler"), World War III, the war in Iraq, and the falling of the World Trade Center. Yet those same quatrains could also apply to many other things. Some authorities believe that Nostradamus was actually writing about his own time during the French Revolution, where the events surrounding that period were purposefully made obscure to prevent accurate accounts of those turbulent times. Fear of persecution and becoming embroiled in the ongoing struggles were commonplace, so he would have been unable to write about it directly and needed to obfuscate the authorities somehow. (They would have most likely attributed the quatrains as the ramblings of a madman.)
The same can be said about psychic readings and future predictions. In order for those predictions to actually come true, in most cases it will take the effort of the readees to act on their own initiative and place forth the effort to ensure the success of the predictions. The events of 9/11 *might* have been prevented, based on psychic visions, and the World
Trade Center *might* have been safeguarded somehow, security *might* have been increased and other counter-measures might* have been used. There are several different scenarios, but only after that horrifying event actually took place could the predictions become "true".
Predicting the outcome of relationships follows the same path. It always takes two people to make a friendship or relationship and, if one is lacking in communication or effort or shows no interest, then the prediction could go both ways. The answer might be "Yes" if he starts putting forth the effort, but "No" based on the current trend.
Relationships can be equated to the auto mechanic again. If the automobile breaks down, the psychic could predict that it will be mended on such-and-such a date, but it would still be up to the readee to place the phone call to the auto mechanic or take the car into the garage. It will not happen unless the effort of communication is made because the mechannic is not going to automatically appear when the car breaks down.
One of the commonest questions we are asked is when an ex-lover will return or if so-and-so will call. The psychic can give timeframes, based on the current tred and any information obtained from his or her spirit guides, but the emphasis would still be on the efforts made by both parties in order to make it happen. The predictions are based on the assumption that the readee and the other person will at least *want* to place some effort on working towards the goal in mind. When nothing is done, then nothing will happen.
Some timeframes and predictions, however, do appear to come true without much effort. These are most often global events, natural disasters or other catastrophes that occur regardless of any countermeasures taken. Many psychics will be drawn to specific areas, where there are strong "hotspots" and where inclement weather hits. Many psychics saw the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and predicted the tragic outcome, but they could not have prevented them because no one can control the weather. (The real tragedy here, however, is that the devastating loss of life and property could necessarily have been prevented had action been taken beforehand for evacuation.)
Earthquakes and volcanoes are other instances of naturally occurring phenomena that many psychics can predict, although details are usually approximations only. Even with the proper measures for evacuation beforehand, they are still likely to happen on or around those foreseen dates, times and locations, but there is no guarantee that it will happen.
Psychics have predicted that the Yellowstone volcano would erupt within a certain timeframe, but thus far it has not erupted. (As with modern sciences, predictions are not exact and are approximate at best).
Thus, it can also be said that psychic predictions are also an inexact science, notwithstanding that sometimes the images seen in visions (and their accompanying emotions) are intense.
