In Ukraine, a deputy from the Servant of the People, Sergei Grivko, presented a bill aimed at actually legalizing the activities of “esotericists.” Under the proposal, the Ministry of Education and Science would be required to maintain a register of "mentors" such as magicians and tarot readers, giving them the legal right to teach citizens. For this privilege, an annual contribution to the budget is expected in the amount of one minimum salary.
Friends persuaded us to approve the bill: what does the deputy propose?
OBOZ.UA addressed three “schools of astrology” and “institutes of esotericism.” It is their work that, if the bill is adopted, will be legalized. The “schools” that we were able to contact offer online training: the cost of classes ranges from 4 thousand to 14 thousand UAH for a course of several lessons. This is more expensive than a month of training in any specialty at the Kiev National University. Shevchenko.
“In Kyiv, our courses are taught by bioenergeticists, psychologists, and astrologers,” say the Institute of Esoterics. When asked if these were three different people, the representative of the “institute” replied: “No, two.” Payment for training is accepted on an individual entrepreneur card , and for a course of online lectures with 7 lessons you need to pay 4 thousand UAH. We are talking about recorded videos, which, after payment, are sent to future “bioenergeticists”, “astrologers” and “psychologists”.
The bill proposes to actually legalize education in the following areas : astrology, tarology, numerology, runology, extrasensory perception, witchcraft, healing, yoga and other areas of spiritual, energetic and physical practices. A “psychic” who teaches Ukrainians magic for money will be able to apply to the Ministry of Education and Science to be included in a special register. To do this, you will need to pay a contribution in the amount of 1 minimum wage (6,700 UAH). A new contribution is provided only a year later.
But for the 6,700 UAH paid, “psychics” receive not only the opportunity to be included in the register of the Ministry of Education and Science and thus seem to confirm their legitimacy, but also the right to conduct courses, trainings, and issue “stylized diplomas.” They also receive the right to be called “school of esoterics/esoteric school”, “institute of esoterics/esoteric institute” and “academy of esoterics/esoteric academy”.
That is, if the document is accepted:
- magicians, tarot readers, fortune tellers, psychics will be able to get into the state “Register of mentors in the field of esoteric education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine”;
- the state actually recognizes “esoteric education”, which has nothing to do with scientific views;
- The Ministry of Education and Science will have special employees who will actually deal with magicians and psychics.
The author of the bill, “servant of the people,” Sergei Grivko explains to OBOZ.UA: representatives of the “industry” approached him and asked him to legally legalize the market. They say that they are even listed in the list of professions, but their activities are not regulated by law.
“They seek clients based on their reputation. If the psychic helped, then they turn to him. According to esotericists, I communicated with them, this (legalization of their activities thanks to the bill. - Ed.) will help combat fraud. After all, in order to get into the register, you need to be a subject of economic activity (individual entrepreneur or legal entity) and pay taxes,” explains the people’s deputy. At the same time, Grivko agreed: the Ministry of Education and Science will not have any opportunities to check the “qualifications” of an esotericist.
When asked by OBOZ.UA whether Grivko himself uses the services of esotericists, the MP noted that he is not a client of any of the magicians, psychics, etc., but loves to communicate with them because of their “broad views on life” .
Let us note that in Grivko’s bill there is no increase in the liability of “psychics” for misleading their clients, for dishonest marketing, or for tax evasion.
Member of the Committee on Education, Science and Innovation Inna Sovsun (“Voice”) is sure that it is extremely difficult to imagine the adoption of such a bill by the Rada. Most likely, representatives of the relevant committee will not recommend accepting the document. It actually legalizes fraud, the politician is sure.
“Of course, this is absolute nonsense. This contradicts the basic principles of education, including educational legislation, which states that education is based on a scientific worldview. This is not just fraud, it undermines the rest of the legislation on education and the very principles on which public policy is built,” the deputy explained.
Is the scheme coming back? Previously, the Ministry of Health dealt with magicians
For magicians and psychics. For healers, the Ministry of Health was previously considered the “core” one. It was the enterprises and organizations of the Ministry of Health that could include “magic pyramids” in the register of medical equipment and medical products (and did so), and the “Committee on Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” actually issued licenses to healers for years.
“Magical” activities are unproven; it is impossible to confirm the qualifications of a healer or witch. Such certificates were issued in a non-transparent manner, without specific criteria. In fact, a scheme of extortion from psychics and magicians has appeared. The Ministry of Health even under acting. O. Minister Ulyana Suprun actually stopped this activity. Now, if Sergei Grivko’s bill is supported, the Ministry of Education and Science should take the baton.
And although there is little chance of Grivko’s bill being adopted, the problem does exist. A small part of society always has a tendency towards mystical thinking and will seek help not from certified psychologists and doctors, but from fortune tellers and healers. A full-scale war, the popularity of “magicians” and “astrologers” among the media, their legalization on television and the absence of any regulation led to the emergence of a large shadow market of fortune-tellers and psychics. Often they are approached by those Ukrainians who actually need at least psychological help, but instead pay for the information they want to hear.
And the fact that magicians, psychics and esotericists influence even some deputies of the Verkhovna Rada demonstrates their popularity in Ukraine.
