Among the most common alternative beliefs are those involving mediums and clairvoyants .
Mediums claim to have psychic powers and extra sensory perception .
They invite people to special meetings called seances where they demonstrate their ability to talk to the dead and convey their messages to the living. Clairvoyants claim to foresee events and have been known to offer their services both to famous politicians and members of royal families. There are many biblical examples of fortune-telling including premonitions such as Joseph's dream. Cynics maintain that accurate predictions result from the laws of probability and do not provide proof of special powers.