| Excerpted from the book, Can You Turn It Off? - A | | | | in your imagination, the doll would probably give you |
| Diary of Psychic Awakening | | | | psychic information." |
| "You sure you wouldn't like some wine, Derek?" | | | | The ladies still gaze at me blankly. |
| "No, thanks." | | | | I continue, "See this white mannequin over here with |
| My client is enjoying herself. She's invited three of her | | | | the oriental dress? In my imagination, she's raising her |
| friends for an afternoon of psychic readings at her | | | | finger to me. She says, 'I have something to say!' Her |
| clothing boutique in Honolulu. Dresses, purses, jewelry, | | | | voice is quite firm in my mind. She reminds me of that |
| and shoes are all tastefully displayed. A little cheese | | | | drag performing artist, Rupaul. Do you know her?" |
| tray has been laid out, along with some nuts and olives. | | | | They all burst out laughing. They do know her. Rupaul |
| It's a quiet Saturday and, though the store is open, no | | | | is an actor, model, and songwriter, an iconic |
| customers have come in. I have the sense she owns | | | | gender-bender, and race-bender. He's black, but |
| the business to outfit her friends more than anyone | | | | performs as more of a blond white woman. |
| else. | | | | "It's funny," I say. "I know it makes no sense, and is |
| For the last two hours, the women have listened in on | | | | strange, but you have to accept it regardless, and |
| each other's readings. I've kept the psychic insights light | | | | assume there's something psychic about it. She wants |
| and fun. These women keep no secrets from one | | | | to say something to you, Arlette." |
| another; they've had fun watching me pick up on each | | | | "Me?" |
| other's personality traits and little secrets. | | | | "I'll interpret what I see her saying and doing. She's |
| After the last reading, one of the women asks, "Derek, | | | | flashing wide, white eyes. She is presenting herself to |
| how do you get your information?" | | | | me as a black woman, but made up blonde, like she's |
| "I interpret information from my imagination. I let myself | | | | trying to be white. She's standing on the coffee table, |
| play, and go wherever my intuition guides me. | | | | really confidently. She's wagging her finger at you, |
| Sometimes answers come from the walls or the | | | | saying, "Girlfriend! Why are you letting your so called |
| things in the room. I'll allow the 'real' physical world | | | | boyfriend run the show? If he's so bad, as you like to |
| around me to morph into an imaginary dreamscape. A | | | | say, why don't you leave him?'" |
| kind of waking dream emerges, an alternate reality | | | | The women all laugh. One says, "She has you pegged, |
| that I give the same credence as the conscious reality | | | | Arlette." |
| you and I know. | | | | "The psychic dreamscape is fun to explore. The |
| "For example, you see that gecko brooch there?" All | | | | characters we meet there are clever. Let's break the |
| eyes move to a colorful brooch made with rubies and | | | | symbols down a bit. This model, or mannequin, appears |
| other gemstones. "Gecko's have a definitive stare. | | | | African American to me. Why? To me, a black |
| When they look at you, they draw you into trance with | | | | woman, as an archetype, represents strength and the |
| one eye. Have you noticed how they do that? The | | | | quest for equality. That's why she's speaking to you |
| next time a gecko stares at you, try mentally entering | | | | about owning your power. Drag queens are another |
| the eye to see what it is saying. This one says to me, 'I | | | | archetype. They live their lives on their own terms, |
| have a dream for you! I will share some of my talent | | | | nobody else's. They don't care what people think and |
| with you!' I'm not quite sure what this means. Well, | | | | often make decisions that defy social norms or |
| actually, maybe I do know. Lizards are the keepers of | | | | conventions." I say this to Arlette as if it might apply to |
| dreams. I think he's saying I will have a psychic dream. | | | | her. |
| Maybe that he will come to me in a dream. Or that a | | | | She smiles knowingly back at me and says, "It's so |
| dream of mine will have some correspondence in | | | | amazing, how that message applies to me." The two |
| reality." | | | | other women exchange looks of disbelief. "I'll say," the |
| The ladies all stare at me blankly. Derek, your example | | | | owner of the store says, but apparently for a different |
| is too abstract. Not everyone understands your | | | | reason. "This is so freaky, Derek." |
| psychic language. | | | | "Why?" I ask. |
| "You have to think like a child to capture psychic | | | | "The other day, we painted that mannequin white. I |
| insight. When you were all kids, you no doubt played | | | | didn't think that outfit looked right on her with her natural |
| with dolls. You briefly lived in an alternate reality. It was | | | | dark coloring. Underneath, she's really a black |
| real to you. Well, if you were to ask a doll for psychic | | | | mannequin. |
| information, then carry on a conversation with that doll | | | | |