What are your views on Derren Brown? (From Warrington Guardian)

What are your views on Derren Brown?

What do you think of Derren Brown's habit of discrediting psychics and exposing the techniques which underlie their trade?

James Cross, Wirral

Dear James, Like you I watch Derren but most of the time I know how he does his tricks. Not because I do them. It's simple - body language, planting words, colours and knowledge of how people tick and of course a bit of magic.

But to call his work by its scientific word... SALES. I have been in sales myself. I have qualifications in sales and sales management and I have read books on cold reading for stage work, and how you can turn a no into a yes.

But my reputation as a medium means more to me than the money you'd receive from exploiting people. I am a firm believer in life after death, and hope and believe that the information that I give does help people, and I will not hurt anyone with what I feel to be the truth.

I do a lot of free stuff for many organisations and the information and the confirmation, or proof, of spirit and the afterlife is always checked on. I feel I have quite a lot of positive feedback from these organisations and societies.

We as humans can be manipulated with many different sales techniques, with colourful words and lighting to basically get your money from you. Some people can vouch for this.

I have sat for hours trying to get a message from the other side and got nothing. But as soon as I have said ' well, I am not charging you' to the sitter, spirits have come through. I have done my job and then I refuse payment because I could not go back on my word.

As you may tell, I don't mind emails from anyone concerning the same issues as yours. It keeps me on my toes and prevents me from having an ego. It also helps me to develop my mediumship... not my magic tricks.