Getting the right vibes

FUNG shui men are getting a run for their money. The traditional geomancers remain deeply rooted in Hong Kong life, but there's been a cool wind from the West of late. Over the past few years, a slew of psychics, mystics and clairvoyants have descended on the territory, and many are booked out for the length of their stay, with waiting-lists for their workshops. Given this track-record it is not surprising they keep coming back. Among the recent arrivals have been Betty Palko, described as clairvoyant to the royals, and Jeanne Kent, reportedly one of Britain's top psychics. Sally Andersen, owner of the New Age Shop in Old Bailey Street where many visiting clairvoyants set up base, explains why they have been so popular. 'There is a need [for psychics] in Hong Kong because so many people here are in a state of indecision. They don't know what's going to happen, or where they're going money to move to. 'There are also lots of problems with relationships. A lot of women who come, if not all, ask about such problems. This may be an overseas posting for them, their husbands are travelling a lot and the women can be pretty dissatisfied.' For all its sophistication, Hong Kong is still a city built on superstition: fortune-telling, fung shui remain a part of contemporary culture. And Western clairvoyants have the added advantage of being more accessible to expatriates than the Chinese astrologers. 'We've had clairvoyants visiting Hong Kong in August when we assumed things would be slow, but they were still completely booked up,' said Ms Andersen. 'Psychics from overseas see this as a good market, and others want to jump on the bandwagon.' The craze seems to feed itself, with several companies set up in recent months offering the services of such mystics. But Ms Andersen said the curious had to be cautious before parting with their cash. 'Discernment is certainly very important. Some psychics are not as good as others and sometimes the only way you can find out is to go and see them.' Jeanne Kent, who is also a registered psychotherapist, said: 'There are a lot of charlatans out there, but it's nothing to feel bad about, because there is good and bad in everything. 'And there are so many gimmicks around that it is laughable.' Cynics might label this as a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but Ms Kent believes psychic phenomenon has managed to shed its sinister image and is on its way to being embraced as a viable practice by rational people. In fact, she believes that in the next decade, everyone will be able to use some degree of psychic ability. She regards clairvoyance as a non-sectarian, effective and gentle way to discover clarity and peace of mind. 'Some people love me, others won't be able to stand me. I just tell things as I see them, and teach people to do it for themselves,' she said. 'I don't tell people what I do. I'd rather show them.' Ms Kent looks surprisingly ordinary for a clairvoyant - no crystals, fringed shawls or mysterious amulets. She combines palm-reading with astrology and tarot to help outline a general path for the next few years. In her 45-minute sessions with clients, she reels off a list of images, names and personal details. Some are remarkably spot-on while others are a little vague. An accurate description draws a beaming smile, but she doesn't presume to know absolutely everything. 'There isn't a clairvoyant alive who can give a 100 per cent guarantee,' she said. But, throughout, she is chatty and clearly does not take herself too seriously. As the psychic adviser to the royals - most famously to Princess Diana - Mrs Palko has had her share of media intrusions. She has had the British press camped outside her door, trying to find out what she had seen in the futures of her royal clients. 'Royal psychic' Betty Palko said the huge wave of scepticism she encountered when she started practising almost 20 years ago is fast disappearing. 'There is some scepticism still, but nobody's mind is really closed to it. We all want to know a little bit about the future,' she said. Mrs Palko found instant fame when her name was mentioned on the infamous 'Squidgy' tapes - recorded telephone conversations between the troubled princess and her alleged lover, James Hewitt. Mrs Palko remembers Diana as being 'hurt and frightened' and in need of a lot of healing. Between 1987 and 1992, the clairvoyant and her royal client met as often as once a fortnight when the princess was especially troubled, and Mrs Palko has been offered thousands of pounds to divulge details of their secret meetings. 'I saw the split from Charles at least a year before it happened,' she said. Such was Mrs Palko's popularity with Diana, that before long the princess' royal relatives were also clamouring for her services. The clairvoyant now travels the world - she describes herself as an 'international medium' on her name card - to see clients in Norway, Israel, Germany and the US. 'The richer they are, the more problems they have. They have a lot more happening in their lives. When I was in Beverly Hills, I made those rich Americans laugh by telling them I was giving them a faith-lift. But I only ever tell people what I see, not what to do. They have to decide that for themselves,' she said. Her soft-spoken manner is reassuring, even to the most hardened of cynics. Small and round, she looks more like someone's favourite aunt than a dabbler in the occult, communicating with the spirits, helping to locate missing persons and healing your average heartache. But Mrs Palko believes she was 'chosen' for her work. She was introduced to the occult almost 20 years ago when a friend took her to see a medium to put her in contact with her late father. The medium also told her that she would one day 'be famous and travel the world'. 'I thought it was the biggest load of rubbish I had ever heard,' she said. Evidently, she was not sufficiently put off, for she began training in psychic development and found her sensitivity growing. 'It's like turning on the radio and hearing the news. I see images and hear voices which are intended to help people. You do get better at it. It's a matter of trusting and listening. We all have the gift of intuition but it's not always easy to listen to that,' she said. Mrs Palko's acute hearing has now made her the subject of British television and radio programmes, women's magazines. A hefty scrapbook is filled with press clippings, invitations, thank-you notes. The clairvoyant also keeps handy a memento of her sudden rise to fame: a letter from an interested reader addressed to her, simply at Surbiton, Surrey. In brackets was the hint: 'Clairvoyant to royals.' Not surprisingly, the letter got to her.