Psychic Blues

Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium is a memoir by Mark Edward about his time working as a psychic entertainer. Published in 2012, the book covers Edward's controversial career as both a performer and a skeptical activist.

Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium
Psychic Blues cover
AuthorMark Edward
Cover artistSean Tejaratchi
LanguageEnglish
SubjectsPsychic Reading
PublisherFeral House
Publication date
August 7, 2012
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages340
ISBN978-1-936239-27-6

Overview

Mark Edward gives the reader a look into the world of the psychic entertainer. From working the overnight shift answering the telephone for the Psychic Friends Network[1][2] to counseling the rich and famous at celebrity galas,[2][3][4] the author paints a picture of what it is really like to work in this profession. The book was published in paperback format in 2012 by Feral House. In 2015, Edward announced plans for the production of an audiobook version containing a substantial amount of additional material about his influences, personal life, and motivations.[5]

This book contains only my observations of the psychic world in its most likely paradigm: a terribly disappointing con.

— Mark Edward, page xiii

In 2019, the audiobook "Psychic Blues: New Expanded Edition" was released. Read by the author himself, Edward states he reverted to the original manuscript submitted to the publisher for his reading of the audiobook, as the paperback was substantially edited by the book's publisher to reflect the darker side of the psychic image.[6]

About the author
Main article: Mark Edward
Mark Edward at a book signing

Mark Edward (born Mark Edward Wilson)[4] first acquired an interest in performing and magic from his grandfather, who was a magician himself.[2] His career as a performer began in the 1970s,[4][7] and has included 14 years at The Magic Castle, where he gave palmistry and tarot readings and conducted séances.[2][8] He has also performed at a wide variety of venues, including private homes,[7][9] a spiritualist church,[2][10] corporate events,[11] celebrity parties (including a baby shower at Eddie Murphy's house and Buddy Hackett's 70th birthday party),[2][4][12] and large public gatherings such as Dragon Con.[2][13] His work with the Psychic Friends Network led him to the conclusion that all psychic entertainers were using only natural techniques, and that the public would be better served by his revealing these techniques.[1][2][4][7][14]

Reception
Photo Shoot for The New York Times

Mark Oppenheimer of The New York Times placed Edward's book in the tradition of other performers—such as James Randi, Harry Houdini, and Penn & Teller—who simultaneously "perform their crafts and debunk them".[4] Oppenheimer also commented on the "conflicted" nature of the book, saying, "there is something tragic about his own ambivalence. From page to page, he cannot decide which side he is on. Sometimes he is crusading against the mountebanks and charlatans. Other times he defends his work as pure entertainment."[4] He called the book, "A strange mishmash of self-pity, self-justification, and genuine repentance—and a compelling look at the disputed territory where entertainment meets religion, where some practitioners actually think they can practice both at the same time."[4]

The subject matter of this book caused ITV's program This Morning to invite Edward to speak about "supernatural swindlers" on May 1, 2014.[15]

A Carmel Pine Cone newspaper article noted, "The book has stirred up attention both in the United States and abroad", and, "His message is that so-called psychics don’t have supernatural powers—they're just master manipulators and are well versed in saying what people want to hear—and that most of them are simply frauds."[7]

Skeptical activist and podcaster John Rael[16] also recognized the dual nature of the book. Writing in a Skeptic.com book review, Rael chided Edward for continuing to perform as a psychic entertainer while still recognizing the value of the book itself. “The greatest tragedy of this book is that Edward seems to miss out on his own lesson, and it’s a really good one: . . . that we should listen to each other and talk to each other much more than we do."[17] Of the book, Rael said: "[D]o you want to learn about psychics? The people, not the tricks? Do you want to understand who psychics are and not just how they operate? Here is your book."[17]

Writing for Skeptical Inquirer, Ray Hyman acknowledged Edward's "ambiguous role in the skeptical community,"[18] stating that, "He is quite active in helping skeptical groups test psychic claims and debunk obviously phony psychics who exploit their clients. At the same time, Edward still performs as a 'psychic.' He does not claim to have psychic powers. On the other hand, he does not openly disclaim such powers."[18] Of the book itself, Hyman said, "Because it provides us a rare insight into a psychic's world, as well as raising some important ethical issues for skeptics to ponder, I highly recommend every skeptic carefully read and ponder this book's contents."[18]

See also

References
  1. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter II: The 900 Years". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 11–43. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  2. Derek Colanduno (July 3, 2012). "Skepticality Episode 186" (Podcast). Skeptic Magazine. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  3. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter X: The Celebrity Syndrome". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 195–215. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  4. Oppenheimer, Mark (August 31, 2012). "Pro Medium Repents for Life of Cons". New York Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  5. Tonio (August 20, 2015). "Aug 20 2015 Psychic Blues - Mark Edward Interview". The Magical Mystery Tour. Hardwick, VT. Event occurs at 45:43. WGDR. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  6. Palmer, Rob. "Mark Edward's Psychic Blues". Skeptical Inquirer. Center for Inquiry. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  7. Harmon, Rachel (September 21, 2012). "Secrets of Psychics to be Revealed" (Vol. 98 No. 38). pp. 12A. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  8. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter I Illusions Aside". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 1–9. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  9. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter VII Very Private Readings". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 157–166. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  10. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter VI The OC Occultist". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 111–156. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  11. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter IX Ladies' Night". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 179–194. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  12. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter X The Celebrity Syndrome". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 195–215. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  13. Gerbic, Susan (September 6, 2012). "James Randi Book Test @ Dragon*Con 2012". YouTube. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  14. Edward, Mark (2012). "Chapter III World's Greatest". Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium. Port Townsend, WA: Feral House. pp. 45–77. ISBN 978-1-936239-27-6.
  15. "A Supernatural Swindler". ITV. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. "About Us". Skepticality. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  17. Rael, John (August 21, 2013). "Inside the Psychic Mind". Skeptic.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  18. Hyman, Ray (November 2013). "An Inside Look at a 'Psychic's' World". Skeptical Inquirer. 37 (6): 57–58.
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