Drakar Druella, 42, of Portland, OR is claiming that Cathy Stevens, owner of the Hawthorn Psychic shop swindled him out of $155,000 (which included taking out a loan to buy her a Hummer).
On the surface I’m thinking, Yeah. A swindle is afoot! But then I hear Stevens’ lawyer claiming that Druella was actually going into business with Stevens. Twist! Then there’s the amazing heading of the affidavit the police sent out that read, “Gypsies and Fortune Telling Fraud,” which leans ever so slightly on some old-school prejudices.
This all reminds me of what’s going on in Livingston Parish, LA where first an anti-fortunetelling law was finally overturned (youtube video included), followed by a group of Christians protesting a pagan festival set to happen, all wonderfully covered over at The Wild Hunt.
With regards to the Psychic Swindler case, I’m kinda foggy on where I stand:
- The libertarian side of me is like, “Dude, you’re an adult. If you think giving a psychic $155K is smart, then enjoy the ride. Don’t complain when you wake up from your haze.”
- But then the “liberal” side of me is like, “Shame. This poor guy was vulnerable. Obviously he was taken advantage of.”
- But then the reporter side of me is like, “There are two sides to this story, and perhaps Druella is just trying to get out of a business deal gone sour. Perhaps there is another angle here.”
- Then there’s the straight-up anarchist side of me that’s like, “Screw the lawsuit. Let the community decide. And if all goes against the psychic, then shun her shop. If all goes against Druella (which it won’t), than shun Druella. (as you can see, I’m somewhat sympathetic to shunning. Amish style. [At least this morning]).
- And then there’s the Onalistus Reveler side, who feels that this issue needs to be handled with care, since what’s at stake is the practice of occult traditions. If Steven’s is convicted of fraud, what’s to stop the slippery slope from getting even slipperier when people go to tarot card readers, or whatever else, and leave feeling less-than-great, and then want to sue for fraud? Not good.
In the end I kinda feel like this: Peeps is always trying to get money, and lots of it. Money, like technology, is not a neutral medium. Money comes with a whole truck load of semiotics, baggage, references, inferences, etc. To quote from a source not very friendly to the throwing of bones, but sound advice nonetheless:
“They ask you about wine and gambling. In it is a separation from the Divine, as well as a benefit. But the separation is greater.”
—Qur’an 2:219
If you’re not skilled enough to know how to handle its power, best try to do with as little bit of it as possible. Otherwise, it’ll sink ya.
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