Name: Sandra Williams
Age: 32
Home town:New Orleans, Louisiana
Occupation: Psychic at Psychic Center of Chattanooga
No one knows exactly what the future will hold. Though, local clairvoyants like "Psychic Sandra" might be able to give you a clue.
Since inheriting "the gift" at an early age, the East Brainerd woman has been giving her clients the peace and assurance that comes with knowing what lies ahead - and a forewarning of the tribulations they've yet to face.
Still, the self-proclaimed psychic and life coach is no stranger to skepticism, so we asked her to give us some insight into her craft. Whether it's fact or fantasy is for you to decide.
» It started as dreams. I was about 10 years old, and I would see things in my dreams. Then, out of nowhere, I would see those things happen.
» One time, I saw a car accident happen behind our house in my dream. I saw crime scene tape around a home, and it was just it was not good. The next morning, I woke up and I saw it happen again. It was many times stuff like that happened to me.
» I believe I did my first reading when I was 13 or 14 years old. I believe it was over the phone. You know those psychic hotlines? It started off as that.
» From the beginning I was very shy. I did not want to do it. I knew I had "the gift," but I was very shy; just like any child at that age speaking to people. But my mom just said, "You should do it, you have a gift. You're gonna love it." Then, after I did it a few times, she was right - I loved it.
» This is what all [the women in my family] do. It's a gift, and we love helping people.
» I never had a normal job. This is all I know.
» Some people come just for fun and entertainment, but a lot of people come to me for help. It's mainly about their love life, about their career, their finances, if they're going to get a promotion. They just want to see what the future holds for them.
» A lot of people love the palm reading because that's more about their personal self. Each line in your palm tells a little bit about your past, about your present and about your future.
» I prefer to use tarot cards. Tarot cards just give a more in-depth reading. I just feel like it's a lot more accurate. It tells that person more.
» I still get shocked, even today, how, out of 72 cards, those cards come out for that person. The cards will show exactly what they wanted to know. And it's always right. Like I said, it still shocks me.
» On some things, it's not [an exact science]. A lot of people want to know if there's any infidelity, if their husband is cheating, if their wife is cheating. It shows if the person [they're asking about] is honest or not honest, but it's not showing exactly about what.
» That's the only thing that I don't like about it: When I have to tell some people, at times, what they don't want to hear. It's hurtful. People will be in tears, then I'll be in tears. But I try to help them and tell them in the most positive way that I can.
Sandra Williams» I don't know if other people agree with this, but I feel like [my ability] is a God-gifted power. I know some people may be against that, but I just have to say how I feel. I just know that it's a gift from God - that's how I feel.
» If people come here and they don't know God, sometimes I'll sit in here and I'll pray with them. Some people are just lost, they have no peace.
» You've just got to do a reading to see for yourself how it is. That's the only way you could judge.
» One of the main misconceptions is about death. People think we're going to tell them that they're going to die in two days, or something like that. It doesn't show that in readings. It usually never does.
» [Another misconception] is crystal balls. A lot of people think it's like the movies, that by looking through the crystal ball they're going to see something. [Laughs] But it's by energy.
» Crystals are just so powerful. They're Earth's elements. They absorb negative energy like a sponge. So the person will lay their palm on the crystal ball and leave it there for a few moments. Then I would put my hand on it, as well, and I'll read the energy on it from when they left their hand on it.
» You can feel if they're hurting, if they're not hurting; what they're going through. It's not exactly on point on what that person is thinking right then and there. But it gets better with age. And that's how it is with everyone who has psychic ability: The older they get, the wiser their gift gets.
» All the women in my family do this, but I'm going to let [my children] choose to do what they want. I have 7-year-old twins, and I have a 14-year-old daughter, Victoria.
» [Victoria] wants to do it, but she's at the point where she's got the shyness.
» The connection between me and her is so strong. Sometimes, we don't even have to talk. Like, I'll know what she's thinking. She hates it, though. [Laughs] My little girl will say something, then I'll say something, and she'll want to kill me because she was getting ready to say it.
» I know it sounds crazy. [Laughs]
» Ninety percent of the people who come through my doors are skeptical. I'm used to that. That's just normal. But when they leave, they totally believe.