Mrs. Lynn (Lynn Ristich) has worked as psychic consultant for over 30 years. She’s been in the same location in downtown Chicago for over 10. Her work follows family tradition: Mrs. Lynn’s mother and grandmother were both psychic as well. Her practice offers a variety of spiritual services, including tarot card, astrology, and palm readings, energy clearing, soul mate uniting, and meditation classes. Mrs. Lynn says that the vast majority of her clients have sought out a psychic before. Most of her clients are repeat customers. She often becomes very close to her clients. She’s invited to many weddings and baptisms. Her office is filled with gifts of appreciation from customers she’s helped, like the large, soft-colored painting of the Pieta given to her by a grateful art student that hangs above the waiting room couch. Though her sign outside says “psychic,” Mrs. Lynn describes her practice as being more accurately “spiritual intercession…. Being able to know what is obstructing a person spiritually, whether that be a negative emotion or experience they’ve had, and being able to isolate and get rid of that problem, whether through prayer, meditation, or the person changing a certain situation in their life.”

A version of this audio portrait aired on the (now sadly defunct) Weekend America.