Sylvia Browne

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Sylvia Browne (born October 19, 1936) is a bestselling American author on the subject of spirituality who describes herself as a psychic and medium.^[1] She is a weekly guest on The Montel Williams Show and hosts her own hour-long show on Hay House Radio, discussing paranormal issues and giving callers advice in her role as a psychic.

Critics, such as James Randi, say she is not a psychic but a cold reader, and uses mentalist techniques to produce the illusion of mind reading and clairvoyance. Reporters in the media have been critical of Browne's claims, calling some of her claims "embarrassments" and stating "she clearly can’t do" the supernatural feats she claims.^[2][3][4]

Contents 1 Personal life 1.1 Marriage and children 2 Paranormal claims 3 Television and radio 4 Books, business, and church 5 Legal issues and criminal conviction 6 Criticism and controversy 7 StopSylviaBrowne.com 8 Books authored by Sylvia Browne 9 References 10 External links 10.1 Official 10.2 Predictions 10.3 Media/transcripts 10.4 Court 10.5 Critical of Browne

[edit] Personal life

Born Sylvia Celeste Shoemaker in Kansas City, Missouri, she is the elder of two daughters of Bill and Celeste Shoemaker.^[5]

Her father, Bill, was Jewish and Celeste was an Episcopalian.^[6] Bill had many jobs including mail delivery and jewelry salesman, and served as vice president for a major freight line. Browne’s maternal grandmother, Ada Coil, also claimed to be a psychic medium, was a devout Lutheran.^[6] To establish stability, the family decided to convert to Roman Catholicism and they were all baptised together when Browne was a young girl. She said that visions started appearing when she was three years old and that her grandmother Ada Coil, helped her understand why she had them. Browne also asserts that her great-uncle also claimed to be a psychic medium and was “rabid about UFOs”.^[7]

Browne asserts that she received a master's degree in English/Literature, and taught English in a Roman Catholic grammar school for a few years before working as a psychic full-time.^[8] However, her ex-husband, Gary Dufresne, says that is not true and at most she has one year of freshman level undergraduate work and some night school classes from University of Notre Dame in Belmont.^[9] Gary further stated, "There's no way that Sylvia could possibly have any kind of degree. She can't have a four year degree. She can't have a two year degree! It just... it doesn't fit. None of it would fit."^[9] Concerning being a teacher, Gary said, "She couldn't get a job in the public school system in California because she did not have a teaching credential and she did not have a degree on anything. . . Um, in California out here, when we were married, she uh, she worked the Catholic school system because they didn't require a degree like the state did."^[9]

In a March 2001 interview with Larry King, Browne stated that she is Jewish.^[10]

Browne began giving psychic readings in 1974 and has attracted followings of supporters and detractors.^[5] She has given thousands of one on one readings and with a wide variety of groups and individuals. Browne claims to have provided information to police departments and the FBI.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Marriage and children

She was married to Gary Dufresne from April 1959 until 1972, and is divorced from Kenzil Dalzell Brown. Sylvia acquired the surname Brown during the third of her four marriages, and enhanced it with a final e for her professional name.^[11]

Her son Christopher also claims to be a psychic, and Sylvia attributes this to a genetic predisposition. Her website says "If Sylvia is the best psychic around - then Chris is the second best."^[12] Gary Dufresne, said he does not believe his son Christopher nor his exwife-Sylvia have paranormal ability.^[9]

[edit] Paranormal claims

Browne says she knows what it is like in Heaven. In her book Life on the Other Side, she says the temperature is a constant 78°F (25.6°C), that there are no insects (unless one wants there to be), that pets go to Heaven, and that one can build one's house wherever one wants unless it obscures the view of a river or some trees, in which case one needs permission.^[13] She asserts that the "other side" exists approximately three feet above ground level and at a "higher vibrational level" and so is difficult for humans to perceive. However, like other psychics, she claims to have been born able to perceive a wider range of "vibrational frequencies".

Browne declares that she can see angels and that they look similar to depictions in paintings, but have different traits depending on their "phylum". Her granddaughter, who is purportedly psychic, claims to have witnessed the angels that Browne states come around humans.^[14] She also once claimed on Montel to be able to tell people the time and manner of their death, and will reveal it if a person wants to know; she claims most people simply do not want to know.^{[citation needed]}

Browne professes the ability to speak with her spirit guide, "Francine," and has given details of fifty-four of her own former lives as divined by her.^[15]

Browne identified herself as having abilities beyond communication with spirits. During a Larry King Live discussion which included James Randi on 3 September 2001 she claimed to have "...helped child (sic) with seizures, that I cured a child with seizures. That I worked with 350 doctors. I mean, you don't know anything about this."^[16]

[edit] Television and radio

Browne is a frequent guest on US television and radio programs. She has appeared numerous times on Larry King Live as well as the Montel Williams Show and Coast to Coast AM. In 2005 Browne told Newsweek Larry King, a believer in the paranormal, asks her do private psychic readings.^[17] During these appearances she usually discusses her abilities with the host and then performs readings of audience members or callers.

On some occasions other guests at her appearances have included skeptics, with James Randi being one of the more frequent. These shows often feature verbal sparring between the two, with both trying to convince the audience that the other is wrong. In March 2004, their feud escalated on the popular St. Louis radio program, The Paul Harris Show, when Randi came out and called Browne a liar, referring to her claims about Randi's Million Dollar Challenge and other statements she had made about Randi.^[18]

Browne has also appeared on the television soap opera The Young and the Restless as herself in December 2006.^[19]

[edit] Books, business, and church

Browne has written a number of books. She is the head of the Sylvia Browne Corporation, and the founder of a church in 1986 in Campbell, California, known as the Society of Novus Spiritus. According to its website, the church employs forty ministers, and refers to itself as "Gnostic Christian."^[12] It states that it follows the same traditions and teachings which Jesus himself followed, yet does not exclude Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. The society teaches the Biblical works of Jesus Christ while also incorporating the Gnostic Gospels (ex: Gospel of Mary Magdalene), and says that while the Bible is a "marvelous book" and should be used as a teaching tool, it is not the "unaltered word of God".^[20]

[edit] Legal issues and criminal conviction

In April 1988 Browne declared bankruptcy^[21] and in 1992, Browne and her estranged husband were indicted on several charges of investment fraud and grand theft.^[22] The Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California, found that Browne and her husband sold securities in a gold-mining venture under false pretenses.^[22] In at least one instance, they told a couple their US $20,000 investment was to be used for immediate operating costs. Instead, the money was transferred to an account for their Nirvana Foundation for Psychic Research.^[22] Browne pled no contest to securities fraud and was indicted on grand larceny in Santa Clara County, California on May 26th 1992.^[21]

On June 6, 1992, the San Francisco Chronicle noted that "Sylvia Browne claimed to have strong psychic 'feelings' that the mine would pay off."^[22] Browne excused her inability to foresee her own conviction by claiming that her psychic abilities do not work on herself and calling her critics 'ignorant'.^[22]

Court documents show that Sylvia and her estranged husband Kenzil Dalzell Brown pleaded no contest to a felony charge of "sale of security without permit," made restitution, and received one year probation each.^[22] Dalzell's disposition included "County Jail 4 months with credit for time served of 21 days," while Sylvia's included 200 hours of community service.^[22]

[edit] Criticism and controversy

Main article: Criticism of Sylvia Browne

Browne has come under extensive criticism. Among her critics is her ex-husband of 13 years, Gary Dufresne, who categorically denies many of Browne's claims.^[9] When Gary asked Sylvia how she can tell people things she knows are not true, he claims she replied, "Screw 'em. Anybody who believes this stuff oughtta be taken."^[9] Gary also said that what she does damages people and what she does to "unsuspecting people that are in crisis situations - is just atrocious."^[9]

In terms of her predictions, critics claim that she is a fraud who uses cold reading and other techniques. During the 2006 Sago Mine disaster while Browne was on Coast to Coast AM, a report that 12 of the 13 trapped miners were still alive didn't surprise Browne as she stated that she knew that they would be found alive. While she was still on the air the initial news report was found to be incorrect, 12 had died and only one survived. A number of critics castigated her such as FOX News reporter, Roger Friedman, in a critical piece entitled, "TV Psychic Misses mark on Miners".^[23] Skeptic James Randi wrote on his website "For anyone not familiar with the methods of these charlatans, this would appear to be a calamitous failure, a blow-out, a total screw-up - but not to anyone familiar with the callous lies of Sylvia Browne".^[24]

Randi has also repeatedly offered Browne the opportunity to take the James Randi Educational Foundation's $1,000,000 challenge. On September 3, 2001, Browne stated on Larry King Live that she would accept the $1,000,000 challenge to demonstrate supernatural abilities in a controlled scientific test.^[25] However, as of 2007, Browne has not taken the challenge. Despite her claims to have not received notification, Randi has a delivery receipt showing the package was refused on delivery.

Browne has also been involved in several failed predictions about missing people during her weekly segments on the The Montel Williams Show, including the case of Shawn Hornbeck, an abducted child, whom she said was dead. Hornbeck was found four years after his kidnapping and reunited with his family.

[edit] StopSylviaBrowne.com

Since November of 2006, Robert Lancaster has examined the claims, predictions and behavior of Sylvia Browne on his website, StopSylviaBrowne.com. The public scrutiny of Browne that followed her failed Shawn Hornbeck prediction resulted in increased attention to his website, and interview requests from such media outlets as the New York Daily News, Fox News, Anderson Cooper 360, The Howard Stern Show, The Penn Jillette Show, The Dr. Dean Edell Show, and a number of other radio shows around the United States.^{[citation needed]}

On several pages of his site, Mr. Lancaster solicits information regarding any instance in which Ms. Browne actually aided in locating a missing person through one of her predictions, and offers to post that information if he is able to verify it.^[26]

On 2007-01-26, Sylvia Browne's attorney sent a cease and desist letter to Lancaster, citing alleged trademark violations. Lancaster asserted that this represented an attempt to silence a critic by shutting the website down, and stated his intention to continue.^[27]

[edit] Books authored by Sylvia Browne

• Browne, Sylvia; & Antoinette May (1990). Adventures of a Psychic Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 0-7394-0178-5
• Browne, Sylvia; & Harrison Lindsay (1999). The Other Side and Back: A Psychic's Guide to Our World and Beyond New York, NY: Signet. ISBN 0-451-19863-8
• Browne, Sylvia; & Harrison Lindsay (2000). Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife Dutton Adult. ISBN 0-525-94539-3
• Browne, Sylvia; (2000). God, Creation, and Tools for Life Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-56170-722-8
• Browne, Sylvia; (2000). Astrology Through A Psychic's Eyes Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-56170-720-1
• Browne, Sylvia; & Harrison Lindsay (2000). Blessings From the Other Side New York, NY: New American Library. ISBN 0-525-94574-1
• Browne, Sylvia; & Harrison Lindsay (2003). Visits form the Afterlife New York, NY: New American Library. ISBN 0-525-94756-6
• Browne, Sylvia; (2003). Book of Angels Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0193-X
• Browne, Sylvia; (2004). Mother God: The Feminine Principle to Our Creator Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0309-6
• Browne, Sylvia; & Harrison Lindsay (2004). Prophecy: What the Future Holds for You New York, NY: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-94822-8
• Browne, Sylvia; (2005). Contacting Your Spirit Guide Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0532-3
• Browne, Sylvia; (2005). Secrets & Mysteries of the World Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0458-0
• Browne, Sylvia; (2005). Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know About the Paranormal New York, NY: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-94911-9
• Browne, Sylvia; (2006). If You Could see What I See: The Tenets of Novus Spiritus Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0648-6
• Browne, Sylvia; (2006). Exploring the Levels of Creation Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0891-8
• Browne, Sylvia; (2006). Insight: Case Files from the Psychic World New York, NY: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-94955-0
• Browne, Sylvia; (2006). The Mystical Life of Jesus New York, NY: Dutton. ISBN 0-5259-5001-X

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Find more information on Sylvia Browne by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
	Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
	Textbooks from Wikibooks
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	Learning resources from Wikiversity

[edit] Official

• Sylvia Browne official website
• The Society Of Novus Spiritus -Browne's church
• Sylvia Brown's Online Talk Show at HayHouseradio.com
• Go Sylvia Browne Sylvia Browne's approved fan-based response to www.stopsylviabrowne.com.

[edit] Predictions

• Wayback Machine - Past predictions appear here
• Browne's predictions for the year 2000 Still viewable directly from her site.

[edit] Media/transcripts

• Video: Browne's predictions analysized January 19, 2007 Live with Anderson Cooper on CNN. (CNN Video)
• "Official transcript: Are Psychics Real?", Larry King Live, September 3, 2001. (Browne and James Randi)
• "Official transcript: Are Psychics for Real?", Larry King Live, March 6, 2001. (Browne and John Edward)
• "Official transcript: Psychic Powers Debunked in Shawn Hornbeck Case", Anderson Cooper, January 19, 2007. (Browne's manager and Randi)
• "Official transcript: Psychic Psychic Reality Check", Anderson Cooper, January 30, 2007. (Browne's manager and Randi)

[edit] Court

• Browne's indictment (image)
• Browne's indictment (text)

[edit] Critical of Browne

• StopSylviaBrowne.com, a site critical of Sylvia Browne
• Chronology of the feud between Browne and Randi from the Skeptic Report
• Sylvia Browne and James Randi's challenge from James Randi Educational Foundation
• Sylvia Browne's predictions as listed on "True or False", an online psychic watchdog
• King of the Paranormal from Committee for Skeptical Inquiry July 31, 2003 - NOTE: The article is about Larry King but also includes information regarding Sylvia Browne after the section about the 1947 Roswell incident.
• Her "predictions" are no better than educated guesses -- and often a lot worse
• Friedman, Roger (2006). "TV Psychic Misses Mark on Miners." FOXNews.com.
• Video of Sylvia Brown - Sylvia Brown Tells Woman Whose Fire Fighting Boyfriend Died On 9/11 That He Drowned
• Video of Sylvia Brown - Sylvia Brown Tells Parents Their Daughter Was Shot, When In Fact She Dropped Dead
• Crystal Bawl Salon.com article by Janet McDonald, "I blew $700 on a famous psychic whose best talent was predicting my gullibility."