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{{Short description|Self-described healer & medium}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
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| birth_name = Rosemary Edwards | birth_name = Rosemary Edwards
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| birth_place = ], England | birth_place = ], England
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{{Paranormal}}
'''Rosemary Altea''' (born '''Rosemary Edwards''') is a British author who describes herself as a ] and ]. She has appeared on various programs, including '']'', '']'', and featured in the series premier of '']'' alongside ] ]. She has written six books and claims to have a "healing foundation".

'''Rosemary Altea''' (born '''Rosemary Edwards''') is a British author who describes herself as a ] and ]. She has appeared on various programs, including '']'', '']'', and featured in the series premiere of '']'' alongside ] ]. She has written six books and claims to have a "healing foundation".


==Early life== ==Early life==
Altea was born Rosemary Edwards <ref name=janwong>{{cite book|last1=Wong|first1=Jan|title=Lunch With|date=14 December 2011|publisher=Random House LLC|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lu63nYXKOLUC&pg=PT90&lpg=PT90&dq=%22Rosemary+Altea%22+%22Rosemary+Edwards%22&source=bl&ots=ekc3ugJTI3&sig=BZPdWGjCDv7x1zrr3hIbEdE2Jj4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rB-rU4bxPOqr0QWhlYCYCA&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Rosemary%20Altea%22%20%22Rosemary%20Edwards%22&f=false|accessdate=28 June 2014}}</ref> in ], England to Lilian and William Edwards, and has two brothers and three sisters.<ref name="officialbio">{{cite news | url=http://www.wma.com/rosemary_altea/bio/ROSEMARY_ALTEA.pdf | title=Rosemary Altea: Biography | publisher=William Morris Talent Agency |year= 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =7 July 2007}}</ref> Rosemary claims to have had psychic visions from a young age, causing parents to threaten to commit her to a mental asylum.<ref name=janwong/> Her formal education ended at the age of 16 when she left school and then got married when she was 19. She has one daughter born in 1970.<ref name="officialbio"/> She divorced and fell upon financial hardship at age 35.<ref name=janwong/><ref name="officialbio"/> Altea was born in 1938 as Rosemary Edwards<ref name=janwong>{{cite book|last1=Wong|first1=Jan|title=Lunch With|date=14 December 2011|publisher=Random House LLC|isbn=9780385673488|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lu63nYXKOLUC&q=%22Rosemary+Altea%22+%22Rosemary+Edwards%22&pg=PT90|access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> in ], England to Lilian and William Edwards, and has two brothers and three sisters.<ref name="officialbio">{{cite news | url=http://www.wma.com/rosemary_altea/bio/ROSEMARY_ALTEA.pdf | title=Rosemary Altea: Biography | publisher=William Morris Talent Agency |year= 2007 | access-date =7 July 2007}}</ref> Rosemary claims to have had psychic visions from a young age, causing parents to threaten to commit her to a mental asylum.<ref name=janwong/> Her formal education ended at the age of 16 when she left school and then got married when she was 19. She has one daughter born in 1970.<ref name="officialbio"/> She divorced and fell upon financial hardship at age 35.<ref name=janwong/><ref name="officialbio"/>


==Career== ==Career==


In November 1981, Rosemary claims to have had a vision at night, after which she felt open to the possibility of a spirit world.<ref name=shermer>{{cite book |last=Shermer |first=Michael |date=1997 |title=Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYIkAkBE7tsC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Rosemary+Altea&source=bl&ots=TwOoWyu1ol&sig=qsEMot9ljnS8TtGAIHFpW-adqew&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RRerU7uXFeaK0AWplYCQCA&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBzhk#v=onepage&q=Rosemary%20Altea&f=false |authorlink=Michael Shermer |location=New York |publisher=Freeman |page3= |isbn=0-8050-7089-3 |accessdate=21 August 2014}}</ref> The same year, struggling to make ends meet and take care of her daughter, she began charging £3.50 per session for psychic reading and adopted the name Rosemary Altea.<ref name=janwong/> In November 1981, Rosemary claims to have had a vision at night, after which she felt open to the possibility of a spirit world.<ref name=shermer>{{cite book |last=Shermer |first=Michael |date=1997 |title=Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYIkAkBE7tsC&q=Rosemary+Altea&pg=PA1 |author-link=Michael Shermer |location=New York |publisher=Freeman |isbn=0-8050-7089-3 |access-date=21 August 2014}}</ref> The same year, struggling to make ends meet and take care of her daughter, she began charging £3.50 per session for psychic reading and adopted the name Rosemary Altea.<ref name=janwong/>


In 2001 Altea inherited a farm in ] from Llewella Day, an elderly cancer victim. Ms. Day changed her will shortly before she died, thereby cutting her family out and leaving the $740,000 farm to Altea, with the desire it remain a working farm. Altea successfully fought Day's family's attempts to invalidate the will, and—against Ms. Day's wishes—demolished the farm house to make the farm into "a healing foundation".<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Psychic appeals court ruling In 2001 Altea inherited a farm in ] from Llewella Day, an elderly cancer victim. Ms. Day changed her will shortly before she died, thereby cutting her family out and leaving the $740,000 farm to Altea, with the desire it remain a working farm. Altea successfully fought Day's family's attempts to invalidate the will, and—against Ms. Day's wishes—demolished the farm house to make the farm into "a healing foundation".<ref>{{cite news | title=Psychic appeals court ruling
| publisher=] |date= 10 September 2001 | first= | last= | accessdate =}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rahef.org/about/farm.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618160237/http://www.rahef.org/about/farm.cfm |dead-url=yes |archive-date=18 June 2007 |title=Altea's website |accessdate=8 July 2007 }}</ref> The family argued in court that Altea used "undue influence to convince a dying woman to change her will".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.morelaw.com/verdicts/case.asp?n=Unknown&s=VT%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&d=23694 | title=Rosemary Altea v. Mary Jane Osborne, Lynne August, and Rick and Geraldine Burnet | publisher=] |date= 10 September 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rahef.org/about/farm.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618160237/http://www.rahef.org/about/farm.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 June 2007 |title=Altea's website |access-date=8 July 2007 }}</ref>
| publisher=] |date= 3/9/2003 | first= | last= | accessdate =7 July 2007}}</ref>


On 26 January 2007 Altea appeared on '']'' with skeptic ]. When asked on the show to take the ], she argued that she " believe there's $1 million".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/26/lkl.01.html| title=Altea and James Randi |publisher=] | date=26 January 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 28 December 2006}}</ref> On 26 January 2007, Altea appeared on '']'' with skeptic ]. When asked on the show to take the ], she argued that she " believe there's $1 million".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/26/lkl.01.html| title=Altea and James Randi |publisher=] | date=26 January 2007 | access-date = 28 December 2006}}</ref>


In 2009, Altea learned that her bookkeeper, Denise M. Hall, had stolen $200,000 from her over a period of seven years, using four credit cards to obtain cash advances, forging cheques and giving herself unauthorised electronic paychecks all under Altea's name.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090714/NEWS02/907140368/1003/NEWS02 | title=Woman accepts guilt in defrauding psychic |publisher=] | date=14 July 2009 In 2009, Altea learned that her bookkeeper, Denise M. Hall, had stolen $200,000 from her over a period of seven years, using four credit cards to obtain cash advances, forging cheques and giving herself unauthorised electronic paychecks all under Altea's name.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090714/NEWS02/907140368/1003/NEWS02| title=Woman accepts guilt in defrauding psychic| publisher=]| date=14 July 2009| access-date=28 September 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717041859/http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090714/NEWS02/907140368/1003/NEWS02| archive-date=17 July 2009| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090611/NEWS04/906110370/1003/NEWS02 | title=Feds: Bookkeeper steals fortune from psychic | publisher=] | date=11 June 2009 | access-date=28 September 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614080455/http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090611/NEWS04/906110370/1003/NEWS02 | archive-date=14 June 2009 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| first= | last= | accessdate = 28 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090611/NEWS04/906110370/1003/NEWS02 | title=Feds: Bookkeeper steals fortune from psychic |publisher=] | date=11 June 2009 | first= | last= | accessdate = 28 September 2009}}</ref>


==Criticism== ==Reception==


Altea was featured on '']'' in the show's premier episode, "]." Kevin Christopher of the '']'' wrote that the segment on Altea "was a nice expose of Rosemary Altea during a taped reading arranged by ]. Viewers got a clear picture of how she worked the small group of people present for readings prior to the taping in order to glean information for later use. Skeptic and ] ] replicated the ] tactics she used and showed how her publicist, ], seeded the group with people whose biographies were already known to Altea in order to boost her on-camera success." a clear example of ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_3_27/ai_100755210| title=Penn & Teller series exposes paranormal B.S. and gains audience |publisher=] | date=May–June 2003 | first=Kevin | last=Christopher | accessdate = 28 December 2006}}</ref> Altea was featured on '']'' in the show's premiere episode, "]." Kevin Christopher of the '']'' wrote that the segment on Altea "was a nice expose of Rosemary Altea during a taped reading arranged by ]. Viewers got a clear picture of how she worked the small group of people present for readings prior to the taping in order to glean information for later use. Skeptic and ] ] replicated the ] tactics she used and showed how her publicist, ], seeded the group with people whose biographies were already known to Altea in order to boost her on-camera success." Critics describe Altea as a clear example of ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_3_27/ai_100755210| title=Penn & Teller series exposes paranormal B.S. and gains audience |publisher=] | date=May–June 2003 | first=Kevin | last=Christopher | access-date = 28 December 2006}}</ref>


Investigator ] believes modern day self-proclaimed mediums like Altea are avoiding the Victorian tradition of dark rooms, spirit handwriting and flying tambourines as these methods risk exposure. They instead use "mental mediumship" tactics like cold reading or gleaning information from sitters beforehand. Group readings also improve hits by making general statements with conviction, which will fit at least one person in the audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/john_edward_hustling_the_bereaved/|title=Investigative Files: John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved |publisher=CSI|date=Nov–Dec 2001|accessdate=12 May 2011}}</ref> Investigator ] believes modern day self-proclaimed mediums like Altea are avoiding the Victorian tradition of dark rooms, spirit handwriting and flying tambourines as these methods risk exposure. They instead use "mental mediumship" tactics like cold reading or gleaning information from sitters beforehand. Group readings also improve hits by making general statements with conviction, which will fit at least one person in the audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/john_edward_hustling_the_bereaved/|title=Investigative Files: John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved |publisher=CSI|date=Nov–Dec 2001|access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref>


Skeptic and author ] wrote in '']'' that, rather than deliberate deception, he believes Altea learned cold reading by trial and error, honestly misattributing her success to psychic ability. <ref name=shermer/> However, Shermer also alleges that during his appearance alongside Altea on '']'' in 1995, Altea used information obtained about a guest through an earlier discussion in a limo ride to the studio, an example of hot reading.<ref name=shermer/> Skeptic and author ] concludes in '']'' Altea learned cold reading by trial and error, and honestly misattributes her success to psychic ability rather than deliberate deception.<ref name=shermer/> However, Shermer also alleges that during his appearance alongside Altea on '']'' in 1995, Altea used information obtained about a guest through an earlier discussion in a limo ride to the studio, an example of hot reading.<ref name=shermer/>


==Bibliography==
Skeptical activist ] has summarized a number of techniques, which she believes are used by Altea and others to create their effects.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Ten Tricks of the Psychics I Bet You Didn’t Know|url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/ten_tricks_of_the_psychics_i_bet_you_didnrsquot_know|website=CSI|publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|accessdate=23 March 2018}}</ref>
* Altea, Rosemary; Altea, Samantha Jane (2015) ''Angels in Training An Inspirational Guide for Everyday Life'' self-published through ]
* Altea, Rosemary (2007). ''A Matter of Life and Death: Remarkable True Stories of Hope and Healing''. Jeremy P. Tarcher {{ISBN|978-1-58-542553-2}}
* Altea, Rosemary (2004). ''Soul Signs: An Elemental Guide to Your Spiritual Destiny''. Rodale Press {{ISBN|978-1-57-954948-0}}
* Altea, Rosemary (2004). ''Give the Gift of Healing: A Concise Guide to Spiritual Healing''. William Morrow & Company {{ISBN|978-0-06-073811-2}}
* Altea, Rosemary (2000). ''You Own the Power: Stories & Exercises To Inspire & Unleash The Force Within''. William Morrow {{ISBN|978-0-68-815276-5}}
* Altea, Rosemary (1997). ''Proud Spirit: Lessons, Insights and Healing Stories''. William Morrow {{ISBN|978-0-68-814998-7}}
* Altea, Rosemary (1995). ''The Eagle and The Rose: A Remarkable True Story''. Warner Books {{ISBN|978-0-44-651969-4}}


==See also==<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
==Books==
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

* ]
*Altea, Rosemary; Altea, Samantha Jane (2015) ''Angels in Training An Inspirational Guide for Everyday Life'' self-published through ]
* ]
*Altea, Rosemary (2007). ''A Matter of Life and Death: Remarkable True Stories of Hope and Healing''. Jeremy P. Tarcher {{ISBN|978-1-58-542553-2}}
* '']''
*Altea, Rosemary (2004). ''Soul Signs: An Elemental Guide to Your Spiritual Destiny''. Rodale Press {{ISBN|978-1-57-954948-0}}
* ]
*Altea, Rosemary (2004). ''Give the Gift of Healing: A Concise Guide to Spiritual Healing''. William Morrow & Company {{ISBN|978-0-06-073811-2}}
* ]
*Altea, Rosemary (2000). ''You Own the Power: Stories & Exercises To Inspire & Unleash The Force Within''. William Morrow {{ISBN|978-0-68-815276-5}}
* ]
*Altea, Rosemary (1997). ''Proud Spirit: Lessons, Insights and Healing Stories''. William Morrow {{ISBN|978-0-68-814998-7}}
* ]
*Altea, Rosemary (1995). ''The Eagle and The Rose: A Remarkable True Story''. Warner Books {{ISBN|978-0-44-651969-4}}
* ]
* '']''
* ]
* ]
* '']''
* '']''
* ] (Historic investigator of psychic mediums)
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Rosemary Altea}} {{Sister project links|Rosemary Altea}}
* – Official website * – Official website
*{{IMDb name|1667668}} * {{IMDb name|1667668}}


'''Transcripts''' '''Transcripts'''
* 15 March 2000 * 15 March 2000
* (Altea verses ]) 5 June 2001 * (Altea verses ]) 5 June 2001
* 13 December 2002 * 13 December 2002
* 26 January 2007 (Altea and James Randi) * 26 January 2007 (Altea and James Randi)


{{Spiritualism and spiritism}} {{Spiritualism and spiritism}}

{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altea, Rosemary}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Altea, Rosemary}}
] ]
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] ]
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Latest revision as of 16:00, 7 September 2024

Self-described healer & medium

Rosemary Altea
BornRosemary Edwards
Leicester, England
Occupation(s)Self-described medium and healer
Children1
Websitewww.rosemaryaltea.com
Part of a series on the
Paranormal
Main articles
Skepticism
Parapsychology
Related

Rosemary Altea (born Rosemary Edwards) is a British author who describes herself as a medium and healer. She has appeared on various programs, including Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and featured in the series premiere of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! alongside mentalist Mark Edward. She has written six books and claims to have a "healing foundation".

Early life

Altea was born in 1938 as Rosemary Edwards in Leicester, England to Lilian and William Edwards, and has two brothers and three sisters. Rosemary claims to have had psychic visions from a young age, causing parents to threaten to commit her to a mental asylum. Her formal education ended at the age of 16 when she left school and then got married when she was 19. She has one daughter born in 1970. She divorced and fell upon financial hardship at age 35.

Career

In November 1981, Rosemary claims to have had a vision at night, after which she felt open to the possibility of a spirit world. The same year, struggling to make ends meet and take care of her daughter, she began charging £3.50 per session for psychic reading and adopted the name Rosemary Altea.

In 2001 Altea inherited a farm in Dorset, Vermont from Llewella Day, an elderly cancer victim. Ms. Day changed her will shortly before she died, thereby cutting her family out and leaving the $740,000 farm to Altea, with the desire it remain a working farm. Altea successfully fought Day's family's attempts to invalidate the will, and—against Ms. Day's wishes—demolished the farm house to make the farm into "a healing foundation".

On 26 January 2007, Altea appeared on Larry King Live with skeptic James Randi. When asked on the show to take the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, she argued that she " believe there's $1 million".

In 2009, Altea learned that her bookkeeper, Denise M. Hall, had stolen $200,000 from her over a period of seven years, using four credit cards to obtain cash advances, forging cheques and giving herself unauthorised electronic paychecks all under Altea's name.

Reception

Altea was featured on Penn & Teller: Bullshit! in the show's premiere episode, "Talking to the Dead." Kevin Christopher of the Skeptical Inquirer wrote that the segment on Altea "was a nice expose of Rosemary Altea during a taped reading arranged by Showtime. Viewers got a clear picture of how she worked the small group of people present for readings prior to the taping in order to glean information for later use. Skeptic and mentalist Mark Edward replicated the cold reading tactics she used and showed how her publicist, Joni Evans, seeded the group with people whose biographies were already known to Altea in order to boost her on-camera success." Critics describe Altea as a clear example of hot reading.

Investigator Joe Nickell believes modern day self-proclaimed mediums like Altea are avoiding the Victorian tradition of dark rooms, spirit handwriting and flying tambourines as these methods risk exposure. They instead use "mental mediumship" tactics like cold reading or gleaning information from sitters beforehand. Group readings also improve hits by making general statements with conviction, which will fit at least one person in the audience.

Skeptic and author Michael Shermer concludes in Why People Believe Weird Things Altea learned cold reading by trial and error, and honestly misattributes her success to psychic ability rather than deliberate deception. However, Shermer also alleges that during his appearance alongside Altea on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995, Altea used information obtained about a guest through an earlier discussion in a limo ride to the studio, an example of hot reading.

Bibliography

  • Altea, Rosemary; Altea, Samantha Jane (2015) Angels in Training An Inspirational Guide for Everyday Life self-published through Lulu.com
  • Altea, Rosemary (2007). A Matter of Life and Death: Remarkable True Stories of Hope and Healing. Jeremy P. Tarcher ISBN 978-1-58-542553-2
  • Altea, Rosemary (2004). Soul Signs: An Elemental Guide to Your Spiritual Destiny. Rodale Press ISBN 978-1-57-954948-0
  • Altea, Rosemary (2004). Give the Gift of Healing: A Concise Guide to Spiritual Healing. William Morrow & Company ISBN 978-0-06-073811-2
  • Altea, Rosemary (2000). You Own the Power: Stories & Exercises To Inspire & Unleash The Force Within. William Morrow ISBN 978-0-68-815276-5
  • Altea, Rosemary (1997). Proud Spirit: Lessons, Insights and Healing Stories. William Morrow ISBN 978-0-68-814998-7
  • Altea, Rosemary (1995). The Eagle and The Rose: A Remarkable True Story. Warner Books ISBN 978-0-44-651969-4

See also

References

  1. ^ Wong, Jan (14 December 2011). Lunch With. Random House LLC. ISBN 9780385673488. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Rosemary Altea: Biography" (PDF). William Morris Talent Agency. 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  3. ^ Shermer, Michael (1997). Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. New York: Freeman. ISBN 0-8050-7089-3. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  4. "Psychic appeals court ruling". Rutland Herald. 10 September 2001.
  5. "Altea's website". Archived from the original on 18 June 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  6. "Altea and James Randi". Larry King Live. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  7. "Woman accepts guilt in defrauding psychic". Rutland Herald. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  8. "Feds: Bookkeeper steals fortune from psychic". Rutland Herald. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  9. Christopher, Kevin (May–June 2003). "Penn & Teller series exposes paranormal B.S. and gains audience". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  10. "Investigative Files: John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved". CSI. November–December 2001. Retrieved 12 May 2011.

External links

Transcripts

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