'My psychic is more like a psychologist to me'

Believe it or not, but many people often visit psychics when they encounter problems in life. Some of them share their experiences with The Jakarta Post.

Esmiralda Tambunan, 34, is a nurse at a hospital in Central Jakarta. She once visited a shaman to heal a broken leg:

It probably sounds weird but I once used the services of a shaman despite my profession as a nurse.

It was in 1997 when I fell from the second floor of my house and broke my left leg. Doctors said that I must undergo surgery to insert a metal pin to support my leg. I refused because I knew the operation would probably be unsuccessful.

I later went to see a shaman in Bogor. He moved his hand over my leg while saying a mantra. I felt warmth in the leg. Then he pulled my leg just like that. It was so painful, but the next day my leg got better and I could walk slowly.

I paid him only Rp 350,000. The surgery would have cost millions of rupiah. Two weeks later I had totally recovered, I could walk normally and even run as though I had never been injured.

Well, mysticism can be useful. It's only how we use it. I myself have never use the services of a psychic for romance or marriage. That is carrying it too far.

Natalia, 49, was an officer with a foreign investment company. She left her job four years ago and is now a full-time housewife, living with her family in Ciputat, South Jakarta:

I thin psychics or mystics are fine. I believe in invisible things around us.

I admit that I regularly visit a psychic. She is more like a psychologist to me because she listens to my problems. I see her whenever I feel unhappy in my life without knowing the reasons -- I don't know why because I don't not see anything wrong with me.

About a year ago I bought a susuk (a small piece of gold or diamond inserted in a part of the human body as a magical charm) from her. Well, I feel better.

Sukimin, is a police officer who resides in Bekasi with his wife and son. He comes from Yogyakarta and has been living for 19 years in the city:

I used to believe in magic powers and the supernatural. I remember an experience I had when I was in a senior high school. I visited a psychic with friends. I intended to get a magic potion or something to make me smarter and pass my exams.

However, now I think that it's useless. It was just nonsense! I was able to pass the tests because I studied hard. I believe in what I did myself, I did not rely on the mantra.

It's better to work hard to improve your life.

Well, I believe that there are magic and mystical powers but I don't believe that they can change my fate.

Abas, 50, is a worker in charge of maintaining the decorative lights along the city streets. He lives in Depok, West Java, with his wife and seven children:

I don't believe in magic and mysticism because they are misleading beliefs that are potentially harmful.

I only trust good beliefs that motivate me to be a good person.

I studied spirituality in an Islamic school and I learned to accept my fate. It helps calm my worldly desires. Therefore I don't need to rely on any external power other than God.

However, I understand that many people today seek advice from psychics because life is tough. They don't know what to do and need an immediate solution for their problems.

I wonder why we don't believe in Almighty God who is more powerful than any supernatural power.