'No modern expert could help'

There are certain things in this modern world which cannot be explained by reason or logic alone. The clients of psychics are people from all walks of life, who come to seek solutions to their various problems.

Kurnia, 36, is an employee of a private company on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta. He lives in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta:

I consider myself a rationalist. But I used the service of a psychic some five years ago. No modern experts would have been able to solve my problems.

This incident occurred when my family moved into a house, which had been empty for about a year. We all liked the house but one night my maid started screaming, waking up all the family members who were sleeping. She looked frightened and said that she had just met a smiling female ghost.

We thought she was dreaming. But the following night, we all woke up because all the lights in the house were turning on and off and all the doors and windows opened and closed.

None of us could sleep that night. The next morning, a neighbor told us that the house was haunted and recommended that I see a psychic. I did.

The psychic confirmed that there was a family of ghosts living in my house. She later did a ritual for about three consecutive days. Fortunately, the disturbances disappeared.

I don't think modern experts would be able to manage things like that. It is beyond the rational mind; but it exists.

Henny, 27, is a waitress of a dangdut cafe in Blok M area, South Jakarta. She was formerly a sex worker in Anyer, West Java.

The services of psychics are a must for people like me, otherwise, I would not get many customers. I am a client of a psychic in Serang, West Java.

I don't wear a susuk (magic charm) to attract customers but I do a ritual she (the psychic) suggested. I have to bathe every Friday night in water mixed with a certain potion. She said it would make me more attractive and fresh.

I also do a certain ritual to keep my vagina fresh and healthy. Once a day, I wash it with another kind of potion she gave me and once a week I treat it with ratus (sweet incense).

Do I feel the magic? Of course I do, otherwise, I wouldn't visit her again. I am able to get enough customers, which gives me sufficient money to live on.

Endang, 19, is a maid who lives in Kemang area, South Jakarta. She came to Jakarta from Pemalang, Central Java, three years ago:

I have never visited a psychic, but I believe some of them have the power to help us. My father used the services of a psychic when he was sick.

The psychic said that someone used mystical power to make my father sick. After he found and "removed" several pieces of hair and needles from my father's stomach, my father recovered from his illness.

But I don't believe in psychics who claim to have the ability to make you rich. They are frauds.

--Muninggar Sri Saraswati