Psychic spirit

On the corner of Valley Road and Sixth Street in Reno stands a bright red building that seems oddly out of place when considered in the context of its drab neighbors. This is the office of Theresa Peacock, psychic and spiritual counselor.

Peacock has known that she was a psychic since she was 4 years old. She’s been a professional psychic for the past 28 years. Eight of those years have been in Reno.

There is a large waiting room with picture windows filled with thriving leafy green plants inside. The sweet smells of incense and laundry detergent are heavy in the air. A large dry-erase board on the wall has the inscription: Idea for the day, “Today I learned to give as I receive,” Lesson 158 from A Course in Miracles.

Once inside Peacock’s office, the greeting is warm and friendly. Her most striking features are her large cat-like eyes. Moving and talking fast with expressive hands, Peacock fans a deck of tarot cards across the table. There are typically 78 cards in a tarot deck, though Peacock uses the Jokers, as well. Each card has a specific name and picture depicting different events through history or mythology.

The person getting the reading picks 17 cards from the tarot deck. Those cards are shuffled by Peacock and laid one by one face up on the table. Once the first four cards have been laid on the table and the effect of these cards has been explained, the client has the opportunity to stop.

“The first four cards are free,” Peacock explains. “If I’m not making a connection, then there is no reason to continue.”

Should the reading interest the client, the last 13 cards are laid down in a design called the Celtic wheel, a pattern of Peacock’s own invention and a variation of the more standard design of the Celtic cross. The cards are explained, and Peacock allows the person getting the reading to ask any question “under the sun, moon and stars.” The entire process typically takes about 15 minutes and will cost the client $25. Should the client have more questions, they can stay for another 15 minutes while the meter runs and adds on an additional $25.

“Most people discover what they want to know in 15 minutes,” Peacock says.

The natural intuition that Peacock has had since birth was not accepted by her large Catholic family. She was scoffed at by her relatives and excommunicated by others—some even called her a witch, though she laughs at this idea.

“I’m not nearly dedicated enough to be a witch,” she says. “They have far too many ceremonies to attend. I’m just not that dedicated.”

Peacock uses many different methods to connect with people: crystal ball gazing, runes, horoscopes, and even simple physical contact. She has dedicated her life to this work so she can be free of her gifts some of the time.

“I used to read everyone, all the time,” Peacock says. “Now I have control over it, and I can just be a normal person when I’m not at work.”

Peacock believes that everyone is at least a little psychic, “It doesn’t matter if people believe it or not, all our minds are intricately connected.”

MUSIC
none
mellow
traditional
rockin’

SERMON
none
thought-provoking
informative
inspirational

FELLOWSHIP
none
cordial
friendly
welcoming