For centuries, clairvoyant psychic readings enjoyed a notoriety usually reserved for circus performers and snake-oil salesmen. Psychic clairvoyance was considered a sort of "underground" activity and indeed, many practitioners could easily be found teaming up with the other fringe elements of society. Psychic performers were a mainstay of circus troupes and often may still be found on the side of what could politely be referred to as the fraudulent arts.

But in the late 20th century, psychics began to enjoy something of a media renaissance, largely due to their extremely close connection to the New Age movement and its application of everyday mythologies and quick-fix spirituality to people's lives. As New Age literature grew along with its adherents, a merchandising boom came along, carrying with it many other promoters of "naturalistic" approaches to life -- in particular the leaders of the non-traditional naturalpathic and holistic medicinal school -- who rushed to claim their place in line for the growing business monolith.

But somewhere along the way to staggering success, as the 70s self-help movement gave way to the 80s self-help-novel movement and the full-on 90s New Age ecumenical-tent movement, people seemed to have forgotten both the original stories of human clairvoyance and today's all-important questions of certification and validity. This is partly understandable, since anything known as "New Age" usually includes a healthy mix of faith along with reason, and it's also true that people who visit clairvoyants must undergo a suspension of disbelief. But if you're going to make a visit yourself, just what should you expect going in? And who exactly are clairvoyant people?

Clairvoyance can be defined as a human ability to see beneath the surface -- of a person, a situation, an intention or anything not seen by the human eye or easily deduced by human logic. Originally from the French, it can be translated as "clear sight" and is often also referred to as a "second sight." Clairvoyants can also be said to be "precognitive" or to possess a "sixth sense." Definitions of clairvoyant powers vary greatly, and demonstrations are always inconclusive. So while you may or may not believe in psychic ability, it remains very important to know what psychic ability is not. You must keep an eye out for frauds, and remember that you won't have to travel far into the "psychic community" to find them. Psychic con-men are everywhere and even have a rich history, dating back to the ancient practices of the "travelling medicine man" in India, which exists to this day.

So with so many psychic hucksters out there in storefronts, on television, and at travelling exhibitions, there's a lot to choose from but there will likely be very little to interest you until you get a practitioner with whom you feel comfortable. So take your time, never be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and if you're very careful, you may very well find your own "clairvoyant prophet."