Tell me about Suzanne Northrop

[cmarcuse]

I have a friend who is into her and her readings of dead people. How does she do it? Any interesting information about her? Not all that much shows up in a Google search. Thanks.

[Garrette]

What's to tell?

Lots of claims with allusions of studies and evidence to support the claim, but nothing of substance.

As an example of how she is exactly like all the other alleged psychics, I give you this from her own website (http://www.northstar2llc.com/theseance/newsletters/2008_04_newsletter.htm):

I want to share a simple, yet profound, true story of just how miracles happen nowadays. I was doing my semi-annual radio show with Gary Craig at WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut — one of my favorite cities. I've known Gary since 1995 and have been a regular guest on his show since then. Gary was a staunch skeptic when I first met him, but over the years he has come to truly "get it" about my work. Indeed, a little of me has rubbed off on Gary, as evidenced during this last show!

While I was giving messages to my last caller, Gary out of the blue asked her, "Do you know a Phil or Phillip?" The caller, a very sweet woman, said no. I just looked at Gary, smiling, and said, "There is a reason you picked that up and I'm sure at some point you'll know why." He - in true Gary form - said, "I just don’t have the gift."

But the very next day, Gary shot off an email to me saying that he had gotten an email from a woman named Lea, which read:

Subject: the "Phil" name:

Gary, I know this may sound crazy, but I have to tell you this:
Yesterday I was talking to my friend at the club about my best friend's death and saying that I wasn't allowed to see him at the hospital. I felt like he didn't know that I wanted to see him, I was afraid that he was wondering where I was. I always listen to your show from 5:30 to about 9'ish. Then we started talking about a woman you have on your show that hears dead people and that I should try to call in. Then in the afternoon I hear a bit stating that she is on your show tomorrow morning. I could never call in; I am never near a phone long enough. Today I was listening in the morning and then had to get ready to take my mom to the hospital. I am usually in a pump class from 9:00 - 10:00 - and all morning I am thinking of my best friend. On the highway, I almost lost it. You are talking to your last caller and you butted in about a name that you had to write . . . you guessed it, my friend's name is Phil - do you think that it can happen that way? I am curious if anyone else has written to you about that name. It made my day - maybe he does understand that I wasn't allowed to see him. Thought I had to write this to you.

LeaLet's summarize what happened:

1. Suzanne speaking to caller (no mention of amazing hits here)

2. Radio host asks about "Phil."

3. Caller doesn't know any Phil.

4. Suzanne tells host he'll understand about Phil later but makes no specific comment about the meaning.

5. Listener emails saying she knows a Phil.

6. Suzanne says this is proof of miracles.

Wow. Someone somewhere knows a Phil, Suzanne didn't predict it, and it's proof of her amazing ability.

Her ability is no more real than any other faker's.

Want more? Check her fees. $500 for a phone reading. $800 private in person reading. $400 to be part of a seance.

[ExMinister]

We have John Edward to thank for much of Suzanne Northrop's fame. If I recall correctly, he endorsed her in his first book as one of the psychics who'd had a significant impact on his life, and since then she's come out with a few books and managed to make a name for herself. We can also thank Gary Schwartz, who included her in his book The Afterlife Experiments, which also gave her some publicity.

Reading her web site, I found her to be exceptionally vague. No ringing doorbells or angel feathers falling from the sky as signs for people - she just repeats back whatever is in the letters, spouts some nice things a counselor playing it safe might say, or answers, "I don't know."

[cmarcuse]

I have never seen her, but it was an open seminar, about 200 people. She started off with what was described to me as sounding like something a show hypnotist would do....getting her targets into a very relaxed and suggestable state.

Then she made some pretty accurate observations about my friend's deceased family member. My friend seems pretty convinced, and I'll admit even though I don't believe it one single bit, the observations were not vague and were accurate (to a degree). I believe pretty firmly that my friend remembers the series of events very well, as she indicated to me prior that she would be on the lookout for things...in fact, she wanted to report back that she was a fraud, but can't do it.

Thanks for the replies thus far.

[Garrette]

Then she made some pretty accurate observations about my friend's deceased family member.1. Did Northrop say: You there in the middle, yes you the young lady. You have a deceased cousin named Mary Jo. She died of an allergic reaction to peanut butter last July. She willed her diary to you. She was 19 and in pre-med at the Calcutta Institute of Homeopathy.

Or did she throw things out to the audience in general (or even to your friend) that your friend then fi to a deceased relative?

I'll wager on the second.

Even if the first, then you have to go to how the reservations were made, and whether there was any-preshow talk or filling out of forms, etc. etc. etc.

Then you'd have to study the transcript to determine how many misses there were and look at odds and etc. etc. etc.


My friend seems pretty convinced,Even those who believe wrongly believe strongly.


and I'll admit even though I don't believe it one single bit, the observations were not vague and were accurate (to a degree).You felt a need to put that "to a degree" in there. To what degree, exactly. Where is the cut off for accuracy.


I believe pretty firmly that my friend remembers the series of events very well,That's a mistake, though I acknowledge it is something very difficult to say to a friend without unintentionally offending her.


as she indicated to me prior that she would be on the lookout for things...Ah, yes. The unfoolable layman.

Do you know how often magician's fool magicians, even when the fooled magician is on the lookout for things to be fooled by?

This is perhaps the largest downfall of the believer community: I admit it is possible to be fooled, but since I admit that then it is impossible for me to be fooled.


in fact, she wanted to report back that she was a fraud, but can't do it.There is a universe of difference between an inability to prove fraud and proof of legitimacy.


Thanks for the replies thus far.It's what we do. Thanks for the questions.

[ExMinister]

Then she made some pretty accurate observations about my friend's deceased family member. My friend seems pretty convinced, and I'll admit even though I don't believe it one single bit, the observations were not vague and were accurate (to a degree). I believe pretty firmly that my friend remembers the series of events very well, as she indicated to me prior that she would be on the lookout for things...in fact, she wanted to report back that she was a fraud, but can't do it.

Garrette mentioned this (pre-show talk), and I also am curious, since I haven't known many people who have actually had a reading at one of these events, if your friend talked about her deceased family member in a waiting room or some other area prior to the event, where the specific signs or the general situation might have been overheard or otherwise elicited?

I have heard that certain mediums work that way. It's possible that might be part of what Suzane Northrup does, too.

[psychicwonderer628]

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to comment. I recently attended a reading or seance by Suzane. There were 13 other people there and I didn't know what to expect since it was my first seance. Nothing struck me as fake although I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. SOME things were a little vague but others were right on the money. She could not have known how my husband spoke and yet she caught his words and tone of voice perfectly. My jaw just dropped. It was like she was channeling him. He was the only one that she spoke the words for as he was saying them. I also did not say a word before the seance or anywhere in the bldg before the reading where she or an asst might have overheard. Yes she could have looked up the obit but how could she have spoken like him? She did not attempt to relax us or kind of hypnotize us beforehand. The lights were on in the conference room and we were not in a circle or anything like that. It seemed more like an interactive lecture like those on PBS.

[Hannibal]

"Your not listening to me, you're just hearing what you want to hear"
"Thanks, I'd love an omelette about now..."