I am finally publishing an essay I have been sitting on for several years, an analysis of self-proclaimed "psychic" James Van Praagh. "Psychic Follies" (pdf file) dissects one of his performances from 2002. Instead of using a handful of examples to make a point about his methods, I deconstruct his whole hour of readings to demonstrate the falsehood and shamefulness of all these "psychics." Sylvia Browne and all the rest of them operate with the same dishonest tecniques. These people deceive. They do not help and they are not merely entertainers. They are shallow liars and should be denounced as such.