Farewell Psychic News!

Tuesday 27 July 2010

It was with great sadness that I learned on Saturday that Psychic News had published its last issue. I was a loyal subscriber to Psychic News and considered it an essential read to keep me connected to what was going on in the world of psychics, mediumship and all things paranormal in Britain and the world.

As is to be expected with such an event, the rumour mill has kicked into action to produce all sorts of supposed reasons as to why the paper suddenly went out of business. I am not privy to what really happened and at the end of the day it doesn't matter. What is clear is that a cornerstone of the psychic community is gone.

I wish I could say that this strikes me as unusual or even unexpected. But I have to confess that I'm not all that surprised. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I think that the newspaper should have folded. On the contrary, I used to look forward to downloading my online edition every Saturday morning with my cup of coffee in hand.

Still, I have to say that Psychic News always had the air of a strict headmistress about it. Being kind, I would say that it was traditional, stern and knew its mind about what was and wasn't the sort of thing that proper psychics and reputable mediums did. Being a little less kind, I would have to tend to agree with its critics that the paper had been left in something of a time warp.

To be sure, Psychic News had a new editor and a new online edition. It had even not so long ago introduced colour to its previously "classically vintage" black-and-white page. But there was still something of a bygone Victorian whiff to it. Me, I loved it. But it seems that not everyone else shared my nostalgic sentiment enough to subscribe.

All this has led me to recall another untimely corporate passing, Watkins Books.

For Londoners and visitors alike, Watkins was a wonderful treasure trove of new and secondhand books on metaphysics, astrology, tarot, witchcraft, UFOs - if it was paranormal, they had it. More than that, they probably had it in its first edition in the antiquarian section. But despite the vastness of its stacks, it too found itself stuck in a time warp and never quite in step with modern times. Alas, it too went out of business. (Personally, I thought having a yogi in the window to give readings would have pulled in the punters, but he did seem to sit there on his own too much of the time.)

It's clear that the public has spoken. It's not enough for a business to ride that paranormal wave if it doesn't take its customers with it while at the same time reaching out to new punters. They expect more than ever before in return for their custom. It's a shame these two veritable institutions couldn't have learned to sing for their supper fast enough to survive. Let's hope those still with us will!

Until next time,

Kindest regards,

Comments

Uncle Hannah
29 Jul 2010, 02:04

Sorry to hear that, Alan!

It always saddens me to see worthy institutions and businesses closing.

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