Before I start my review, here is some info about me if you haven't yet read any of my other…read morereviews of psychics. In addition to being a scientific/engineering consultant, I'm a mystic, spiritual guide/healer and an intuitive. When I travel, I usually get readings from local psychics -- each a stranger to me before the reading -- wherever I visit. Since I'm a mystic and spiritual healer, my life is filled with Divine love and grace, and I'm happy and very much at peace. I want to stress the fact that when I make visits to psychics during my travels, I am not seeking help with any problems, nor answers to questions, nor am I seeking spiritual guidance. Rather, I visit them and ask for a general life reading simply because God asks me to do so, and to have a fun way of connecting with other practitioners in the realms of the metaphysical arts. So, when reading my reviews of psychics here, it may be VERY helpful for you to bear in mind that I did not visit them with any problems, serious questions, nor wishes in mind, nor with any "neediness". Due to this fact, your own experience with the same psychic might be very different from mine. In other words, your mileage may vary (from mine)! Further, my reviews of all psychics are for their psychic readings only, and never for any additional services that they might offer, such as healings, cleansings, or spiritual guidance. During a recent 7-day stay in Philadelphia, I did a search on Yelp and on Google for local psychics whom I had not yet visited, and who seemed interesting. The one possibility that emerged from my search was Helena; I called and made an appointment for a reading later the same day. Her shop is located in an office inside a small office building (located on a very tiny street) that normally keeps its front door locked, and so she told me that when I arrived at the front door, I should call her on my cell fone and she would unlock the front door and lead me to her office. So, it is obvious that Helena is not seeking to attract walk-in clients from the street, and rather, all of her client sessions must be by appointment only. Once I was seated in Helena's office, she told me that she offers both tarot and crystal ball readings, and that the price for each was $100, but since I was a first-time customer, I qualified for a half-price reading for just $50. I chose the tarot reading, but insisted upon paying the full price of $100, because I prefer to pay people a fair fee for their services. As I always do, I paid for the reading up front. As is always my practice when getting a reading, this was a totally cold reading: I told Helena, prior to the start of the reading, only my first name, date/place of birth, and that I was visiting Philly for a few days and staying in a hotel in Center City. I told her nothing more about myself until after the main body of the reading had ended. After I had shuffled the tarot deck, Helena threw quite a few cards for the reading. She told me immediately, and with perfect accuracy, that I was in very good health, that she could find no dramas or significant problems in my life in the past 20 years, nor in the future, and that my current life looked clear, and she proceeded to tell me (again correctly), that I was a scientist, an engineer, and an inventor, and that I seemed to write a lot, perhaps in the form of books or on the Internet/web (quite true in both cases). She also correctly reported that I was married, but that I had affectionate close relationships with other women as well, and I briefly confirmed that I was in an open marriage. Interestingly, Helena did not explicitly mention anything about my being a mystic or spiritual guide/healer, but did indirectly reference this fact with several of her observations, including the following comments: -- that I seem to be very healthy, happy and at peace -- that I seem to have no problems or dramas in my life -- my writing (much of it on spiritual topics) -- my frequent travels (all in connection with my spiritual work) -- (mentioning) that I am very intuitive (aka psychic) and would be extremely successful at investing if I were to ever wish to try my hand at it. As is always the case when I get a reading, I made clear at the start that I was not particularly interested in hearing predictions for the future (it is very hard to predict the future, for several reasons, including free will). Despite this warning, many psychics bravely proceed anyway to try to make lots of specific predictions for the future, but thankfully, Helena largely did not try to do so, beyond one or two statements about possibilities in my life in the next two years, and beyond the broad statement that my future seemed to be clear of problems, drama, and obstacles. Unlike many other psychics, Helena did not attempt any cons or upsells during the reading, and was very honest, clear and straightforward in all of her dealings with me. BTW, the reading lasted about 72 minutes.

After reading positive reviews of this psychic, I went for the first time, was extremely…read moredisappointed. $100 worth of services gets you a 20 minute reading - which was not related to my original question. The reading led to fear tactics to up-sell very expensive services. After paying for additional services, the additional services were never completed. Details below. Note: I've been to many wonderful psychics before who did not upsell, did not use fear tactics, and were very thorough and helpful. This was not one of those positive experiences. I went in with a specific question (she told me to think of a question, not say out loud) but the reading was about life in general - I will have career changes, move to a new city, meet my soul mate soon. It was very general and inaccurate, based on several statements that don't match my reality. She said I had spiritual blocks preventing me from achieving my dreams (noting that people find me needy and insufferable - and that's why I can't find love. (despite that I'm in a happy very long relationship) She recommended a (very expensive) spiritual cleansing. It was sales-y and fear-based, and didn't answer my original question at all. At the end I told her my question, but she said since she didn't see any of that in the cards, there must be a negative spirit attached to me, something evil that is following me. For more money, she could look into it and give me the answers I was looking for. I really wanted an answer, so I paid for more services and was told to call her the next day to follow up and complete it. I called but she wasn't ready, so she said call a few days later. I called, again she wasn't ready again - a few more days. A few more days later, I called - and she said I need to make an appointment to come in and pay MORE to get the answers I already paid for. She never took my number to follow up and provide the services I paid for - I had to keep calling over and over, only to be told to hand over more money. There are many reputable psychics out there who will help you and give you a full hour of their time - and deliver what they promise - without constant upselling and asking you to pay more. Don't bother here!