I recently registered this blog in a Skeptics Webring, and while looking around in the main Webring website, I came across a number of rings under the heading: Paranormal Phenomena -> Psychic Abilities. Obviously the temptation was so strong there was no way I would just pass by it!

It is truly mind-boggling how many such sites exist under these webrings. And I imagine there are thousands of others not listed in this or any other rings. Unfortunately the Internet makes for a very good vehicle for spreading irrationality. In any case, here are a few rings I found under that heading:

Divination & Psychic Network

Welcome! This web ring is dedicated to all forms of divination, psychic phenomena, parapsychology, and paranormal studies. If you have a site dedicated to the following, please join us! Ethical tarot readings, psychic readings, mediumship, astrology, numerology, E.S.P., remote viewing, paranormal phenomena, spirituality, spirit guides, and other areas related to these subjects. PLEASE - no sites that advocate or encourage Satanism or the “Dark Arts.”

OK, so there is “ethical” and “unethical” tarot readings. What separates these two? How do you determine which one is ethical or not? As far as I am concerned, both are made up blatant lies and generalities so in my book they all unethical. But that’s just me of course… At least they do not like Satanists or Dark Artists because, well, that would be *really* bad…

Remote viewing reminds me Remote Desktop for Windows but this is another story… And what the hell is spirituality? It has become a very common term but I do not know how people define this? Who is spiritual? Is it someone that believes in spirits? Or is it someone that *has* a spirit? A definition please? Anyone? You should have noticed that whenever something is being explained as “relying on the spiritual world“, or “regulating your spiritual powers“, or “aligning your body with your spirit” etc. it is 100% irrational woo woo.

example: What is Vedic Astrology - Vedic astrology is an age old astrological practice that originated in India in the vedic period. This astrology is even now prevalent in India and in fact it has experienced a renaissance in the last few decades. Millions of people are turning to Vedic astrology world wide to know about their fate.

I like the implied pattern in all of woo woo claims out there, where the fact that millions (billions maybe?) of people are turning to astrology/readings/psychics/etc. somehow adds to the truth value of such claims. This is the argument from antiquity and it is very common in such absurd belief systems. It is also an almost sure sign that there is absolutely no substance in the claims.

Metaphysical Web Ring

This ring is for those who take Psychic Phenomenon and the Metaphysical Arts seriously and approach it with a logical and analytical view. Tarot Readers, Astrologers, Wiccans, Rune Casters, Druids, Pagan Practitioners of all types and all those with a highly developed intuition are welcome to bring their sites to this ring.

Here only those with a “highly developed intuition” are accepted. Those with lesser amounts of this well-defined and totally quantifiable property are not welcomed.

I have a feeling that I will soon stumble upon even greater weirdness and ever more absurd claims… The Internet is huge! Watch this space for updates!