What most people in this field are *not* doing is offering this potentially life-changing work for free.
The people who are offering the work "free" are actually pretty rarely individuals. They are large companies whose owners believe that the "free" word will draw people's attention and traffic to the website, and so they throw it out there. You can probably think of two or three of these companies without even breaking a sweat.
When I have spoken with people about their experience when they've called those numbers to cash in their no-cost session, they generally tell me that at least three or four of those five "free" minutes are spent being shuffled about from one hold operator to another. They don't actually get to have more than sixty seconds of contact with a real person before someone starts charging them.
Pretty pathetic, right?
I don't think there is anything wrong with giving something away, if that is what you genuinely plan to do. But this doesn't seem to be part of the plan for the people who are throwing the word around left, right, and sideways.
Something that we will discuss another time is that offering these services is a business. We all know how business works: Business owners create a medium in which we exchange goods or services for money. Some people price their services more affordably than others do. Ultimately, each artist must decide what she believes is an appropriate price for her time and abilities.
Psychic services are spiritual gifts, offered as an extension of my spiritual beliefs. It was a painful and challenging process for me to accept and publicly discuss my abilities. Frankly, I can't imagine offering five free minutes, one free question, or any other kind of gimmick with relation to them. Doing so cheapens an otherwise sacred connection.
In addition to this--and maybe more importantly--scheduling a session is a commitment for both of us. We are both setting aside the time, and each of us pledges to attend the appointment with a viable level of energy. We are committing to sharing more than our time with one another: we share our vulnerability. We bring our whole selves. That deserves more than a gimmick.
Although my fees are modest on a scale from here to Sylvia Browne, I do understand that my time is not inexpensive. What I do offer is a period of adjustment: if, in the first five minutes, you do not feel that we are well-suited to each other, then your monies will be refunded, and you will not be charged for my time.
This is better than the "dine-and-dash" thinking of the "five minutes free" offer. It shifts the focus away from the gimmick (read: trick). It lets you know that I am genuine; and that I am looking forward to our time together; and it allows us to make a connection with each other. That is the goal, after all--it is through our connection that I can offer the information that you seek.
I offer psychic services as a way to share compassion and support. That is why we are all here, you know...to hold each other up. Life is so much richer when we can show up and share our authentic selves....we get something beautiful in return.
Are you ready to share something beautiful?