Minister turned Psychic offers glimpses into the future

Hypnosis, Psychic readings and supplies are available at Mystic Nirvana, a new shop in downtown Powell.

By MELISSA DILLEY

Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 5:38 PM EDT

When Brenda Posani closes her eyes, she sees things most people don't.

A psychic and licensed hypnotherapist, Posani has publicly predicted the recent nuclear disaster in Japan, the Silly Bandz fad, the death of the president of Poland, and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill -- all months before they happened.

The owner of Mystic Nirvana, the new metaphysical shop in Powell, said what she sees next is the discovery of ancient scrolls that will be considered an eighth wonder of the world and fault lines shifting in California. In her visions, the Eiffel Tower doesn't exist in 2012. By 2013, Posani predicted that people all over the world will have no tolerance for hate or crime.

While she admits her visions are sometimes random or vague and she can't choose what is shown to her, she maintains that predicting small events or tapping into someone's life is something every one is capable of.

"I believe everybody is psychic," she said in a native Kentucky twang. "I'm not special by no means. I've just gotten really good at listening."

Posani, who began experiencing psychic phenomena 25 years ago in college, said psychic development can be achieved simply by listening to one's own intuition and inner dialogue.

At her newest shop, 9216 N. Liberty St., Posani offers development classes in addition to readings and hypnosis. At 7 p.m. each Thursday, visitors try new techniques to exercise their minds. These techniques include reading other people through concentration or personal objects and meditation. The classes are $5 per student.

"It's a matter of learning how to listen to and trust your thoughts," said Posani, who believes that after one class, she can get anyone to prove to themselves that they have psychic abilities.

"We think we have intuition, but we don't put too much weight on it," she said.

Posani said reading books and studying the topic outside developing it is something she doesn't do, because she wants to make sure her experiences continue to remain genuine and not forced.

The first time she had an experience that made her realize she was different came in college. She said she could leave her hand still and it would begin writing messages on its own. Her peers were amazed by what they dubbed "The Pen" until she and a friend came across a library book about automatic handwriting. It was then that Posani discovered she wasn't the only one dealing with these seemingly extraordinary occurrences.

The former Pentecostal minister said one of her most powerful experiences came during an emotionally charged church service. One moment she was standing at the head of the church and the next, she "astral projected" out of her body to stand facing herself, she said. This is when she said she heard something in her mind before it was actually said for the first time.

She said her next out-of-body experience led her to realize the images, symbols, shapes and words she was shown when she closed her eyes would be a way to help people understand themselves, their lives and the world.

Based on what she'd read in the Bible, Posani said she had labeled herself a prophet. Soon after, she resigned as minister.

"People couldn't get by without a reason to talk about me," she said, "but I realized real quickly, people couldn't give a damn if I called myself a psychic."

In July 2010, Posani went under hypnosis and had a vision that she would own two stores. By November, she had the first Mystic Nirvana set up on Bethel Road. Posani packed up the business and moved to Powell recently, because she liked the open feel of the store being in a house near nature instead of on a commercial property, she said.

During her private readings, which can be scheduled online at mysticnirvana.com, Posani spends about 30 minutes telling the visitor everything she can see about their lives. She said she does this to build confidence and then allows for a question-and-answer period if she hasn't already answered what they came to find out.

She said the most common questions she's had recently deal with divorces, careers and finances.

As for the theory that psychics have a constant stream of visions coming in, Posani said it's just not true.

"I never turn it on unless I'm asked," she said. "When I just go to Walmart, I'm distracted buying butter, milk and bread; I'm not tuning in to your vibe."

The one-hour hypnotism appointments are divided into about half-hour under hypnosis, followed by 30 minutes of discussion about what was discovered during the process.

During any reading, Posani said it's important to keep in mind she will never offer bad news, because she can turn it into something positive so as not to instill fear -- after all, whatever it is, it hasn't happened yet.

"Psychic readings are your opportunity to change what you don't like," she said. "Just because I see it doesn't mean it's set in stone. You're still in control of your life."

In addition to the weekly psychic development classes, Posani said the store soon will offer yoga or tai chi, bi-weekly drum circles, outside meditation and grief classes. She said she'd also like the old farmhouse to serve as a gathering place during or after Powell's First Thursdays, where partons can listens to live music.

Although she doesn't use tools such as cards or stones in her readings, those and other items that aid in psychic development can be purchased in the store from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

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