Elizabeth Jones used to ask questions about relationships and family.
Now, Jones, a 33-year-old Gainesville resident, has been asking a psychic about her economic future.
"I don't know how I'm going to be able to afford to do everything I need to do," she said. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to buy Christmas for my daughter."
Jones talks to Pernel, a seer at Krystalnet Psychic Consultants, Inc., two to three times a week. She asks if she's going to be able to afford food and medication for her daughter and if she'll be able to get the jobs she applies for.
She might not be the only one asking. There's anecdotal evidence that psychics have become more popular during these economic times, according to an article in USA Today.
Two local psychics have noticed an increase in the number of people wanting to meet with them.
Jesse Lucas, a seer at Wild Iris Books, said his business has increased about 400 percent over the past two years, particularly in the past year and a half.
"The economy's been very good for my business, surprisingly enough," Lucas said.
Lucas said he has noticed a shift in the content of questions. He said the questions are becoming less about people's personal lives and more about their fiscal lives.
"It's probably the one thing that's on everybody's mind," he said. "It's been really hard on a lot of my clients."
Some are now destitute because the economy caused them to lose almost everything, he said. One of his clients, whom he considers a professional in the working world, became unemployed and homeless because of the economy.
"She called me seven times yesterday [Wednesday] because she needed answers," he said. "She needed a way out."
He said college students seem more worried about the economy as well. They ask him about how they can live on their budgets and if they'll be able to pay their bills.
"That surprises me," he said. "Students have always been preoccupied with relationships."
Theresa, of Psychic Readings by Theresa, didn't notice an increased concern in students about the economy, but about 20 percent to 30 percent more people have gone for readings in the past five or six months.
Students ask her about the choices they should make about majors and career paths. They want to know if they'll be successful and stay in their current fields.
Although Pernel said she has not seen a dramatic increase in customers, she has seen a change in the questions customers ask. Pernel said the most common questions she's asked are about love lives, but those about the economy are quickly catching up. She has also noticed more questions relating to stress.
"I think that has a lot to do with the economy," she said. "It's putting a high stress level on families."
Jones said Pernel has given her a lot of good advice about issues relating to money, her ex-husband and her daughter. But Pernel has assisted in more ways than one.
"By the time I'm done talking to her, she's really calmed me down and helped me a lot," Jones said. "She gives me a real sense of peace."
