First let me state that I am very skeptical of people like Sylvia Browne that claim to be able to "reach into your soul". But that doesn't mean that Sylvia Browne doesn't have a gift. In fact, I try to be open-minded enough not to dismiss such claims especially since I have no concrete evidence to the contrary. But to me, the veracity of Sylvia Browne's claims was not the most intriguing part of the web site. No, I was much more interested in why people seek out mediums like Sylvia Browne?

As you may be aware, there are a significant number of individuals that are looking for something, anything to help them make sense of this odd, twisted, jumble of experiences we call life. One thing I am sure of, people need to feel comfort and safety. Who is to say what is real and what is a scam? If a person needs this type of reassurance, what difference does it make where they seek the knowledge? Is getting a reading from Sylvia Browne really any different than going to a minister or a rabbi or a cognitive psychologist to help us sort through all the things in our life that nag at us?

Before you dismiss my question, take a minute to think about it. Most people in the United States truly believe that their lives are directed by a higher power, whether it happens to be God, Allah, the druids or psychics. Many other individuals are secular humanists, put their faith in science or believe that aliens live spaceships parked behind the moon.

The common denominator is the need to make sense of things that make no sense. They crave answers to the questions in life that are absolutely unanswerable. All of us want to solve the great mysteries of life. What are valid vehicles to enlightenment in this regard? If I feel better because Sylvia Browne tells me that my life is on the right course, why shouldn't I feel comforted? Or if Sylvia Browne tells me I need to take positive action to get my life back on track, hasn't she performed a great service to me?

If we can't find the answers we are looking for from more traditional means, shouldn't we continue to seek guidance? If so, who are skeptics to say what valid discovery is? Who is to judge whether or not Sylvia Browne is for real? If she provides comfort and meaning to people that believe in her, who has the right to strip them of their spiritual guide? If you could factually disprove someone's belief system, would you do it? Really?

We have a saying in my line of work: "Perception is Reality". If people choose to accept the guidance of Sylvia Browne as reality, who are we to judge them? In my humble opinion, it is every individual's right to seek and accept comfort from any avenue available to them. Especially, if it helps them make sense out of life and it allows them to live productive lives. If you are unable to get satisfactory answers to your questions or you currently seeking spiritual guidance, why limit yourself to the road most traveled. If you need to make positive changes in your life, seek and find something that will help you find what you are looking for.