Both skeptics and believers sometimes ponder why psychics don’t use their precognitive skills to prevent more catastrophic situations. It’s a valid question with a lot of nuances that deserve thoughtful consideration.
Is Precognition Even Real?
When it comes to predicting the future, there is more challenge than what often meets the third eye!
Many psychics believe the future is a blend of potential outcomes shaped by both free will and external influences. While some practitioners might believe certain major events are predetermined, most agree that the details and outcomes can shift based on individual choices and collective actions. This means most psychics believe they are seeing the future path of highest probability, but this path is not set in stone.
Unfortunately, popular culture and Hollywood often dramatize psychic abilities, creating unrealistic expectations of pinpoint accuracy. In reality, many psychics may get glimpses of natural disasters or other major events, but these insights often come with nuances that can change. Additionally, many early-stage psychics might perceive such events in dreams and may struggle to differentiate between a true prophetic warning and a typical dream influenced by personal stress.
Not All Psychics Specialize in Precognition
It’s also important to understand that psychic abilities come in many forms, and not all psychics focus on predicting future events. Just like in any profession, different practitioners have different areas of strength. Some are especially skilled at feeling into the emotional layers of personal relationships. Others, such as mediums, may be more attuned to communicating with spirits.
Only a handful of psychics actually claim precognition as a specialty. Most psychics believe that the future is malleable — shaped by individual choices, changing circumstances, and the collective energy of those involved. Because of this, many practitioners focus more on helping clients make empowered decisions in the present rather than offering detailed prophecies.
Predicting large-scale disasters requires a very specific type of intuitive access (and even then, the information may come in fragmented or symbolic forms).
Where Do You Even Report a Psychic Warning?
Even when a psychic receives what feels like a legitimate prophetic warning, one of the major challenges is knowing where to take it. Authorities typically don’t have protocols for psychic tips, especially if the warning lacks specifics like timing, location, or exact outcomes. So, even if a psychic “sees something,” getting that information to someone who will listen (and take it seriously) can be nearly impossible.
On top of that, many psychics struggle with self-doubt. What if they misinterpreted something? What if the imagery was symbolic rather than literal? And what if speaking up (especially without all the details) causes unnecessary alarm or opens them up to ridicule? The fear of being partially wrong (or not taken seriously) can hold even experienced practitioners back, even when their intent is to help.
Unprecedented Events Are the Hardest to Grasp
Another significant challenge for psychics is predicting events that lie completely outside the realm of what even seems possible. For instance, when Hurricane Helene devastated my town of Asheville, NC in an unprecedented way on September 27, 2024, it was hard for anyone (psychic or not) to envision such an event. While there had been a catastrophic flood over a century before, the collective memory and typical expectations made it difficult to anticipate something of that magnitude. This highlights how challenging it can be for psychics to interpret visions of rare or extraordinary occurrences.
On a personal note, I knew there would be flooding from Hurricane Helene, but this wasn’t necessarily a psychic prediction. It was based on the fact that certain parts of town had experienced some significant (but not devastating) flooding within the previous decade, and weather forecasters had already warned that this storm would be particularly severe. Sometimes, a blend of logical inference and past experience can make it even more challenging for psychics to distinguish between a logical prediction and true psychic insight.
A Real-Life Example of Missed Meaning
I had an experience just before Hurricane Helene that highlighted the complexities a psychic can face.
A client visited me the week before the hurricane. He owned a business in Biltmore Village, which was later completely destroyed by flooding. When I tuned in to see how his business would fare, I sensed something cloudy and difficult to interpret. Logically, his type of business should have thrived in that location, so the fuzzy energy around it didn’t make sense to me at the time. I tried tuning in more deeply and even suggested a strategy to strengthen his business plan, since I couldn’t pinpoint what that cloudy sensation meant.
After the storm, when his business was wiped out, I realized that what I had sensed was the impending devastation. I reached out to him afterward and gave him a full refund for the session because I felt bad that I hadn’t been able to interpret the warning signs clearly. In hindsight, I wish I had at least vocalized to him that there was something cloudy and difficult to interpret. This was a learning experience for me, and I hope it will foster more transparent communication with stronger psychic interpretations moving forward.
The Role of Confirmation Bias
It’s also important to acknowledge the role of confirmation bias in how we perceive psychic insights. Often, after events unfold, people remember and emphasize the details from a reading that seem to fit, while overlooking or downplaying aspects that didn’t align as closely. By being aware of this tendency, we can approach psychic experiences with a more balanced and thoughtful perspective, recognizing both the value and the limitations of intuitive insights. This is another factor when we are considering the validity of precognition in general.
Psychic Insights Aren’t Always Literal
Another memorable experience involved a client who was considering a move to Asheville. During her reading, I strongly felt the energy of travel, but I sensed it definitely wouldn’t be to Asheville. Instead, I perceived it would be Florida or someplace tropical, with vivid images of flamingos, sea turtles, and dolphins. She laughed and insisted there was no chance she’d end up in Florida or someplace tropical, as her plans were firmly set on Asheville.
Later, in a follow-up session, she shared how circumstances (presumably influenced in part by the devastation from Hurricane Helene) had prevented her trip to Asheville. She’d ended up traveling to Florida and going on a cruise, where she saw flamingos, sea turtles, and dolphins, just as I had described!
This story (which I captured on video shown here) is a testament to how psychic insights can unfold in ways we might not initially expect.
Meaningful, Helpful, but Still for Entertainment Purposes…
In the end, psychic information can be helpful and meaningful… but it’s not foolproof, and it’s rarely intended to replace scientific forecasting or emergency protocols. Psychic impressions are often symbolic, partial, or easily misinterpreted, especially in emotionally charged or unprecedented situations. The most ethical psychics are honest about these limitations and continue to learn and improve from every experience (as I try to do myself).
Love & Light,
Psychic Medium Kelly Palmatier
Channeling White Light Towards a Better World
ChannelingWhiteLight.com
To be clear, I actually admire some of what Randi did. He exposed real frauds, especially con artists like those so-called faith healers who used hidden earpieces to manipulate vulnerable people. That kind of work is important, and it takes guts. There’s even a compelling documentary about him called 
A recent podcast called 
A Mecca for Spiritual Seekers: Asheville has long been a haven for individuals on a spiritual journey. Its vibrant spiritual community, encompassing a diverse range of practitioners, psychics, and mediums, contributes to the city’s reputation as a destination for transformative experiences. Visitors can explore an array of metaphysical shops, healing centers, and spiritual retreats, offering opportunities for psychic and mediumship readings that tap into the city’s energetic currents.