There have been many famous psychic mediums over the last hundred years, all were of course very popular and sought after for readings, but all were also very controversial as well as being talented intuitive in their respective fields.
One of the least known, yet most impressive mediums was named Leonora Piper, and lived and practiced at the end of the 19th century.
She remains to this day one of the most scientifically studied, analyzed, poked and prodded medium in the history of parapsychology research.
While the passage of time has relegated her name to the great pile of unknowns in our present, modern day society, she had a greater impact in the study of survival research (the study of life continuing after bodily death) than just about any other individual psychic reader on record.
One of the most salient and convincing aspects of her skills and talents weren't just the startling revelations she would share while in a trance state, but also - her own refusal to monetize or brag about her skills.
Ms.
Piper remained as curious about her talents as those who traveled vast distances to study her, never herself even sure as to what was happening (or what she was revealing to a shocked audience) while in her trance.
Leonora Piper and the readings she gave led to one of the scientists dedicated to exposing her as a fraud (Frederick Meyers)to do a complete about face in his skeptical beliefs, and write the seminal work on life after death - " Human Personality and it's Survival of Bodily Death" , in which he outlined his new theories on the soul and it's evolution beyond this world.
Today, we see mediums like Sylvia Brown, John Edwards, George Anderson and many others fill the airways with their prognostications about the lives (and deaths) of people who travel from near and far to see them.
Many look to these types of readings as a lifeline to loved ones who are no longer with us.
Others look at the very same mediums and their readings as opportunistic and exploitative in that they can be very expensive, and often seemingly take advantage of people who will give anything for another opportunity to "talk" to a lost loved one.
Everyone needs to make their own decision on this - my feeling is, I DO believe in the continuation of consciousness, have HAD my own experiences of the same, but WOULD NOT be comfortable charging five hundred dollars an hour to someone who needs to REINFORCE their belief that they will indeed see their loved ones again.
I would simply recommend that ANYONE who wants to learn the very same skills, do so - as they exist within us all.