Criss Angel "Debunks" Tarot

In the first segment of this YouTube clip, popular "metal magician" Criss Angel Claims to debunk Tarot reading. But does he really? Watch the clip, and then read on for some insights into Mr. Angel's technique.

Mr. Angel's segment is based on a trick psychology class teachers use to debunk horoscopes.

The trick involves harvesting random phrases from sun-sign horoscopes in newspapers, assembling these into a one-page "custom horoscope," and then giving identical copies to dozens of people. Because the phrases found in most sun-sign horoscope columns are vague enough to apply to anyone, people who read the "custom horoscope" usually give the document very high marks for accuracy and insight.

Mr. Angel's new "twist" is to add a Tarot deck to this mix ... but does his experiment really have anything to do with Tarot?

1) The "readings" come from horoscope columns, not from the cards. Mr. Angel clipped phrases from horoscopes and (apparently) glued these to Tarot cards so he could read them to his victims. The generic readings he provides don't come from the cards ... they come from horoscopes! As a result, while this clip does confirm the generic nature of sun-sign horoscope statements, it has nothing to do with the validity of Tarot reading.

2) Were all readings really identical? For the old psychology class trick to be valid, every person must receive the exact same reading.

In the video, though, we hear Mr. Angel telling several women about their boyfriends. One wonders: when reading for the large African-American client seen on the tape, did he refer that that gentleman's boyfriend in the reading? If so, that's a video I'd pay money to see.

But if not, Mr. Angel invalidates his own experiment by shifting from the "generic horoscope trick" to the "cold reading trick," which involves reading clients (making comments based on their gender, apparent wealth, physical appearance, clothing, and so on) instead of cards. This, also, would have nothing to do with the validity of Tarot reading.

Conclusion: Mr. Angel's clip makes for dramatic television ... but as a "debunking" of Tarot, it falls short. And that's a shame, because a real test of Tarot reading wouldn't be hard to arrange:

1) Ask people to visit two Tarot readers. They should have in mind a question about a situation that will be resolved within the next two weeks.

2) The first reader is a legitimate Tarot reader. He pulls unique cards and renders a unique reading for each client.

3) The second reader is a stooge who pulls the exact same cards and says the exact same things to each client.

4) Immediately upon exiting the reading, ask folks which reading struck them as more accurate and insightful.

5) Two weeks later, ask folks which reading was more accurate.

One wonders: is the brash, trend-bending Mr. Angel brave enough to televise that challenge ... or is he only comfortable "debunking" when the deck is stacked in the magician's favor?

Comments

[Joe]

Watch the show again. He debunks psychics, not tarot. "How you can make people buy into something they want to believe."

[Janet]

Here's what I think:

1. Many who seek psychic readings are lonely, desperate females disappointed in love and wanting a soul mate (which is why I don't like these kind of readings and why I try to discourage them via the wording on my site. Happily, I mostly get the readings I LIKE to do...).

So, what Criss "predicted", especially in terms of disappointment and mistrust, was a no-brainer that anyone trained in Psychology 101 could discern.

2. Many people who seek out a psychic want other people to tell them what to do. Therefore, even if a psychic is "off", most don't have the cojones to tell them they're wrong. I think, for many, this stems from the childhood indocrination of "don't contradict those in authority".

3. Many are desperate to believe in something bigger than themselves--and will likely shut off their brains over their hearts during a "reading" because they so WANT to believe that their lives matter...and that Someone sees and understands them (i.e. God).

4. When someone pays for a reading, I think they're more likely to reason that it's accurate because they don't want to feel like they've been cheated. This is why, I feel, those who receive free decks for review may be more objective than those who have paid $ for them--because who wants to feel that they've bought into something that sucks?

Just some thoughts...

Janet

[Beth Owls Daughter]

In addition, you notice that at the beginning, there is a huge line of people, presumably waiting for their "reading."

How did the producers of this show decide which ones to show us? Wouldn't you suppose there were many others who (as I would have) refused to close their eyes when instructed to, or who challenged him on his banal reading? Or who completely disagreed with his assessment?

Of course there were. Someone needs to de-bunk Criss Angel.

-- Beth Owl's Daughter