Spiritualists draw tourists to Florida town

Balderdash, says James Randi, a Fort Lauderdale magician and professional debunker. "It's very convenient that they have a whole town to themselves and ... it's the only business in town," he said. Nor is he surprised that the mediums have many satisfied customers: "The average naive believer not only wants it to be true, but needs it to be true."

Randi said there are 15 different ways to move a table during a seance, starting with the red light, which blurs the eye's focus. The table can be rigged from the ceiling or the floor, he said. In some cases, the table is simply being pushed by the medium's feet.

"I have seen these all over the world. They are all the same thing," Randi said. He said mediums are nothing more than performers. "They don't tap dance, they don't juggle ... so they do this."

Randi is guardian of a $1 million prize earmarked for anyone who can prove supernatural powers. He said many hundreds have tried over the years, but the results are always negative.

"Spiritualists are not willing to be tested. They say it's the work of God and is not supposed to be tested. I require evidence," he said.

Vogenitz said the conditions Randi sets are too high. Besides, Vogenitz says, he doesn't do it for the money, but to help people.

"In Spiritualism we believe we will be taken care of," Vogenitz said.

And there are believers, willing to pay. Some came to the recent Cassadaga Fall Festival, which featured mini-readings and aura readings.

Lauren Taylor, 13, of Melbourne said her medium was "amazing." The woman told Lauren she would be going on a trip. Lauren says she is planning one for next June.

"She knew my hobbies," the middle schooler said. "She knew I was romantic."

Medium Georgie Kern told Vidal Fonseca that he has a good future, but he has had to struggle for it.

Kern, who has been at the camp 10 years, added that Fonseca's mother should get some vitamins or supplements into her diet.

The reading was very "on point," said Fonseca, 29, of Orlando. "My mom is not eating right."

Michael Shermer, the publisher of Skeptic magazine and executive director of the Skeptics Society, said psychics and Spiritualists don't have any real powers, although some may sincerely believe they do.

Instead, they are picking up clues from the person they are reading and getting information through the answers they receive to general questions, he said. As far as talking to those who have died, Shermer isn't impressed.

"Anyone can talk to the dead. It's getting the dead to talk back that's the hard part," Shermer said.

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