Whilst I do not wish to undermine those who have the psychic gift of mediumship, there are charlatans out there and this is what they can do...
Saw the whole Derren Brown show when it was on TV a few years back. He does a great job of highlighting how many people are taken in by charlatans. I remember being at such a gathering myself, and saw so many of these techniques being used and so many people being taken in by it.
p.s. in the whole show, he even does a performance himself using cold reading techniques, and the audience are taken in by it. It may even be on Channel 4 catch up still. (4OD)
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derren-brown-investigates/episode-guide
"Derren Brown Investigates: The Man Who Contacts The Dead"
Doesn't look like it's available to watch though. 🙁
Thanks...I wish more gullible people (i.e. those recently bereaved and seeking solace via a spiritualist church) could know about this cold reading. It is disgraceful preying on such defenceless people.