Everyone's heard the jokes about the psychic hot-line and how it's all just a big rip-off, but have you ever called or considered why, if it's such a rip-off, these things are still around? Sure, there are a lot of gullible people in the world, and some are just malicious enough to take advantage of that. However, don't you think someone would have shut down these "con artists" by now? Makes you think, doesn't it? Maybe there is something to these psychic and tarot readings.

The psychic hot-line aside, there are many legitimate and potentially helpful services out there. They make quite a bit of money not only from naive first-time customers, but from repeat callers who pay over and over again because the service they receive fulfills something they need. So, let's get a few things straight about what we're talking about:

First, a Tarot reading is not a psychic reading by definition. A tarot reading consists of the reader laying tarot cards in a pattern of their choosing and interpreting the message that is portrayed by them. This falls into a similar category to the I Ching and Dousing. That is, it is a form of divination using a tool or conduit.

A psychic reading is considerably more vague. This usually involves a reliance on the "gifts" of the reader. Most psychics claim to be able to see the future, speak with the dead, or perform some other seemingly impossible supernatural feat. A psychic's specific abilities and their supposed origin vary widely from psychic to psychic, but most claim som sort of divine inspiration.

The legitimacy of either of these things can and has been debated heatedly form many, many years. One thing that a psychic or tarot reading can do for you, though, regardless of your beliefs on the matter, is give some peace of mind. Some psychics and tarot readers will tell you that their service is akin to a therapy session. Indeed, many such people have taken courses on psychology and will do their best not only to answer questions but to help work through issues with you as well.

Whether contacting a psychic or seeking a tarot reading, it is important to understand that what you are receiving is a tool. A call to a psychic isn't going to solve your marital problems. A single tarot reading isn't going to show you the key to happiness in your life. What they will both do, though, is give you a start on the path toward what you are seeking. Take in everything you're told and keep it with you as you go through your days after the session.

A tarot reading is designed to answer questions. The nature of these questions is a bit complicated, though. A tarot reading will not give you a yes or no answer. In fact, it's not likely to give a straight answer at all. If that's what you're going for, grab a magic 8-ball because that's the only place you're like to get it.

Some tarot readers are specific about the types of questions they'll take, but others are a bit more lenient. Make sure you understand a reader's policy before making the call or you'll just end up wasting time and money on what will ultimately be a bad experience. Some readers will not do readings for relationship trouble. Other will only answer questions related to your career or financial situation. Make sure you find the right reader for you.

Finally, have at least the basis for your question in mind before you make the call. Don't ask, "Will Susie marry me?" Instead, ask, "What is it that holding me back from moving forward with my relationship?" I know, the second version is longer and more complicated, but you'll get an answer to it. The first one? Not likely.

The last thing to keep in mind when receiving a tarot reading is that the cards tend to be rather impersonal. They may not always bring good news or tell you what you want to hear. This isn't the reader's fault. It's important that you take what the cards tell you and try to understand what you need to do to improve the situation. Many times the cards give you a negative reading because you need to take action to change something in your life, and doing so will only make things so much the better.

So you're wondering exactly what a "psychic" is, right? Well, consider this exchange from the show Ghost Whisperer:

Mr Mallinson: You claim to be a psychic?
Melinda: No. Psychics see the future.
Mr Mallinson: What do you see?
Melinda: The dead.

This is very, very misleading. Some people may defien a psychic as "someone who sees the future," but that's mostly incorrect. Let's ask Dictionary.com:

"a person who is allegedly sensitive to psychic influences or forces; medium."

That's probably the better example. Now, this could easily refer to someone who sees the future, but it implies much, much more. Seeing or speaking to the dead is also considered a psychic ability. Clairvoyance, claircognizance, telepathy, and telekinesis all fall under the category of "psychic phenomena." So, the question is, "What are you looking for?"

For the sake of this discussion, let's assume you're interested in one of the divinatory types of psychic. That being the case, you're in luck. Most "psychics" you'll get on the phone or Internet are of the "see the future" or "talk to the dead" variety.

Many, however, don't actually do either of these things. They offer a personal introspective. That is, they do essentially what a tarot reading would, but through use of their own intuition or ability. The point of a psychic reading is to give you a better grasp of a situation that may be troubling you.

Most psychics won't give you the lottery numbers for next week or tell you when you'll meet Mr Right. They will, however, give you the tools you need to get yourself pointed in the right direction and moving toward a goal you actually want.