Lies!

I realize this is going to sound a bit rich coming from a website about Rock Magic, but it needs to be said anyway: Most of what you’ll read on the web about the “energy” or healing properties of crystals and rocks is 100% made up. Like, right out of thin air. That’s because bad sellers don’t know or care one whit about the rocks they’re selling, they just want to sell them. They’ll claim any crystal at all has the power to bring you money, luck, healing, or love, and then sneer behind their smiles when you fall for it.

Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with selling or buying rocks, of course! There are SO many lovely rocks in the world to collect and enjoy, and thankfully lots of good, honest sellers, too. It’s just that it can be hard to tell the good from the bad, so you need to be on your guard. Buy all the yummy rocks you like, just do your research, know what you’re buying, and don’t take any claims at face value.

And remember: You don’t actually need to buy or own the rocks to tap into their magic! Buy them because you enjoy them, not because of what you think they’ll bring you.

AI Lies

I hate that I have to include this, but definitely don’t trust anything (ANYTHING!) AI tells you about a rock. And I’m not just talking about the magic nonsense it spews like a firehose, either. Time and again I’ve seen absolute nonsense asserted by AI as scientific fact. The sheer volume of misinformation boggles the mind!

This is exactly why The Rock Readers has a 100% AI-Free Guarantee. Everything here has been researched and double-checked by actual human rockhounds who know their stuff. We’ve listed a bunch of other trusted sources on our Learn More page as well, so you know where to go when you need genuine facts rather than a bunch of fake news.

Fakes!

Fake Rocks

Hoo-boy. There are so many faked, dyed, altered, mislabeled, and human-made “crystals” being sold these days, we’d need an entire page to sort it out. And an entire page is exactly what we’re planning, so look back here later this year for our Buyer’s Guide. We’ll also be adding a “Scam alert!” to the rock pages of all the rocks and minerals that are most often faked, so you know which ones to be extra careful about. In the meantime, we have a few reputable sellers listed on our Learn More page.

Fake Psychics

If you thought we were done with scammers, I’ve got bad news. There’s another kind you need to be on the lookout for: psychic scammers.

Skeptics say all psychics are scammers, but that’s not true. To me, if a psychic truly believes that they’re the real deal, and they offer their services in good faith, it’s flat out wrong to call them a scammer. But the ones who lie about being psychic, and know they’re lying? Ick. Avoid them like crazy. But how do you tell the real from the fake?

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

• Do they tell you something scary? Most legit psychics keep it positive.
• Do they say you’re cursed? Big “nope!”
• Do they offer to remove said curse, for a price? Yikes! Run!
• Do they tell you that if you don’t do something, you’ll have bad luck? Ack, NO!
• Do they try to sell you anything at all beyond the reading you paid for? Be on your guard.
• Are they sitting in a dark room filled with candles and incense, chanting over a crystal ball while decked out in an a culturally insensitive fortune teller’s costume? Well, that actually sounds pretty fun! Enjoy the entertainment, but don’t expect you’re getting the real thing.

AI “Psychics”

Finally, here’s where things have gotten really nuts: You need to watch out for not only fake human psychics, but fake AI “psychics” too! They’ve been popping up like poison mushrooms all over the Web. These are a complete waste of money. Now that you know about The Rock Readers you can get as many oracle readings as you want, all for free. Please don’t pay for a bunch of spewed out AI garbage!

Cults!

It might be a bit odd to have a warning about cults on a website about rocks, but it feels unfortunately necessary. Because people who are interested in mysticism, manifesting, and magic are seen as easy pickings by cult recruiters, so if you’re here reading this now, that means you need to be on your guard.

Unlike the fake psychics who’ll try to get you hooked by scaring you, a cult recruiter is likely to do the exact opposite. Always be wary if someone heaps you with praise and shows a ton of interest in you, right from the start.

And if someone–even someone you know and trust!–claims to have gained special insights or secret knowledge that “changed their life!”? Consider that a huge flapping red flag. And if they tell you that you need to go to a class or meeting to learn the secrets, please don’t go to that meeting. Seriously. It’s not that your friend is lying, it’s that they don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into.

Part of what makes this so tricky is that, in the short term, these classes, groups, and meetings really can make you feel fabulous! That excited glow your friend has as they gush about their new life-changing approach to life isn’t faked. They very likely have have a positive experience… for now. Like falling in love with an abuser, if it’s a cult, the problems won’t surface until later. Sometimes way later, only after a person is well sucked in.

Here are some warning signs of a cult. And do keep in mind the group doesn’t have to be spiritual or religious–cults form amongst political activists, fitness enthusiasts, and any other kind of special interest group. You can even fall into to a cult of one!

Warning Sign: They claim to have all the answers.
The Truth: NO ONE has all the answers. No one!

Warning Sign: They encourage people to overshare in front of a group of strangers.
The Truth: Please don’t do this. It can feel good, but it’s not safe. Share your intimate, private selves only with people who’ve earned your trust over time. This excludes small therapy groups run by licensed psychologists.

Warning Sign: The classes and workshops are run by unpaid staff.
The Truth: That’s a sign the real goal of the group is to exploit folks for free work so the people at the top can make a bunch of money.

Warning Sign: There’s a structure to the group where you have to work your way up to higher levels if you want access to extra special teachings.
The Truth: They know this is a sneaky trick to get smart, ambitious people very sucked in.

Warning Sign: You find yourself feeling confused.
The Truth: If a relationship, friendship, or group leaves you feel confused, muddled, or unsure of yourself, get some space and separation NOW. Confusion is often the first sign of losing connection with yourself or being under another person’s influence. If the person or group turns out to be healthy for you after all, they’ll welcome you back with no harm done.

Warning Sign: They encourage you to cut people out of your life.
The Truth: It’s hard to think of a bigger red flag than this. A healthy group would never try to isolate you from other people and make you think it’s for your own good.

If you encounter a group that has even one of these red flags, don’t just back away slowly: Run!

Yes, You!

I had to include this final section because I know most people reading this are smart, and smart people tend to assume they wouldn’t fall for scams or cults. They think it only happens to stupid or naive people. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, it’s now thought that smarter people are MORE likely to be victimized.

It makes sense if you think about it. If you’ve always been bright and capable, you’re used to being able to trust your judgment. And because you’re sharp, you assume you’re hard to trick. But it’s that very attitude that makes you vulnerable!

Worse, being smart also makes it way harder to get free once you’re hooked. Which also makes sense, because if your sense of self is built on being smart, admitting you got suckered will threaten not just your ego, but your entire identity. The shame of admitting you were scammed will be so great, you’ll even double down, getting you more entrenched than ever.

The bottom line is your high IQ won’t protect you. At all. You know what will? A little humility.

If you ever wonder if someone or a group might be acting “a little bit culty,” or even if you just find the whole topic of cults fascinating, you’ll find a whole bunch of resources and interesting stuff here, here, and here. And please note, these links are more appropriate for adults.