Many people tend to dismiss the abilities of psychics and mediums, often thinking they’re just fraudulent or that there’s a logical explanation behind them.
However, Rick Burgess, who runs the podcast Strange Encounters, believes differently. He argues that the supernatural forces involved are not only real but can also be “very dangerous.”
He acknowledges that there are “charlatans” out there who exploit others for financial gain, yet he insists that many psychics and mediums actually harness genuine powers—and not all of these powers are benevolent.
“There are certainly people who have power,” he remarks, but then adds, “that power does not come from God.”
“Things like tarot cards, palm readings, and even interpreting tea leaves…these practices are risky. This is magic,” he stresses.
Burgess warns that engaging in such occult activities can lead to one of two outcomes: you may either get “scammed” or have a “very dangerous and strange encounter” with evil forces.
To illustrate his point, he references a story from Acts 16, detailing Paul and Silas’s encounter with a slave girl who was said to be possessed by a “divining spirit” that provided her genuine—though harmful—abilities.
Upon seeing Paul and Silas, she shouted, “These are servants of the Most High God, proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” After a while, Paul, feeling “deeply troubled,” commanded the spirit to leave her in Jesus’ name.
The girl’s owners were infuriated once the demon departed; her powers vanished along with their source of income.
Burgess uses this narrative as proof that such powers of divination exist and stem solely from dark forces.
“When someone claims to possess a certain power, the best-case scenario is that they’re simply a fraud,” he says. “That’s the least concerning outcome since it just means you wasted your time and money. The worst case? They might actually possess power.”
“In that event, steer clear because that’s definitely not of God,” he cautions.
If you’re interested in further exploration of this topic, check out the episode linked above.
