Life's taken an unexpected but fascinating turn these past few months
I thought maybe this would be my passion and a good outlet to vent my emotions and thoughts.
I started a new job two months ago, and it's become the most stable work I've had in years.
I'm a caregiver for a local company, and while it can be demanding at times, I find real purpose in the responsibility.
It's been great to work and have my supervisor see me as reliable.
There are a lot of hours to pick up, and I'm always needed.
It gives me purpose, and I am truly blessed to have this job.
My faith remains solid, but I've stepped back from church for now.
I still pray and read the Bible, but I don't feel drawn to sit through a 30-minute sermon in a church or other institutions.
You could say that I am Post-Institutional, leaning towards a Christian Mystic.
Lately, I've leaned into the "woo-woo" — stones, pendulums, essential oils, and even tarot cards.
It's not scary or mystical to me; it feels more psychological.
Collecting stones is cool — whether you believe they hold qualities or enjoy them as stones.
You could believe that each stone has qualities to enhance your life, or you could see them as cool stones.
Then there are the Tarot Cards and Pendulum.
Spooky.
It's well documented that there is a psychological effect at play regarding these practices.
For Tarot Cards, it's called the Barnum Effect.
What is the Barnum Effect?
The Barnum Effect (also known as the Forer Effect) is a psychological phenomenon in which people believe vague, general statements about their personality are uniquely accurate to them, even though the same statements could apply to almost anyone.
It's named after P.T. Barnum, the showman who supposedly said:
"There's a sucker born every minute."
A classic example is horoscopes, fortune-telling, or even some personality tests.
They offer statements like:
• "You sometimes doubt whether you've made the right decision."
• "You have a strong need to be liked by others."
Almost everyone can nod along because these traits are universal human experiences.
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Why does it work?
1. Vagueness + Relatability → The statements are crafted so broadly that everyone finds something in them.
2. Positivity Bias → People are more likely to accept flattering statements about themselves.
3. Selective Attention → We latch onto the parts that feel true and ignore the parts that don't.
4. Desire for Meaning → Humans naturally look for patterns, so we interpret vague input as personally significant.
Famous Study (Forer, 1948)
Psychologist Bertram Forer administered to his students what he claimed was a "personalized personality test."
• Each student got the same description (made of vague, Barnum-style statements).
• Average rating of accuracy = 4.26 out of 5.
They all thought it described them uniquely—when in reality, it was one-size-fits-all.
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How it Connects to the Tools
• Tarot, pendulums, stones, and even journaling prompts → often trigger the Barnum Effect.
• They work because your brain fills in the gaps with meaning.
• This isn't "woo woo," it's your psychology at work, and it can still be a powerful tool for reflection if you use it consciously.
Then there's the Pendulum.
When you use the tool, there's an effect called the Ideomotor effect.
Ideomotor effect:
Pendulums often move because of tiny, unconscious muscle movements in your hand — ones you're not even aware you're making.
Your mind has an expectation ("yes should be forward/back") and your body subtly nudges the Pendulum in that direction without you consciously doing it.
That's the ideomotor effect — the exact mechanism behind Ouija boards.
One of the things I've been thinking about is my identity - who I am today.
Out of curiosity, I recently went to a strip club with a friend.
I thought it might be exciting, or at least interesting, but instead, I found the whole experience hollow.
Even with the physical touch and attention, it felt empty — not what my heart was truly searching for.
In that moment, I realized I don't actually care about sex for its own sake; what I long for is connection at the level of soul.
That night clarified my vow of purity, showing me not just what I want to avoid, but what I deeply desire: love that carries weight, meaning, and authenticity.
And yet, I couldn't help but think, what a place for ministry.
Behind the lights and music are people carrying stories, wounds, and searching hearts.
Many may never step into a church or hear a sermon, but they still deserve to know they are loved and valued by God.
If anything, my brief experience there gave me a glimpse of how powerful it could be to bring the gospel to places where people least expect it.
Twenty years ago, I'd never have imagined burning sage in my car or experimenting with tarot.
But today, I'm Barnaby Alkire: post-institutional, curious, a follower of the Way, open to new experiences.