By Jon Donnis
Athos Salomé, a Brazilian psychic who has been dubbed the "Living Nostradamus," has gained significant media attention in recent years. He is frequently featured in UK tabloids like the Daily Express, where his supposed supernatural insights are presented with intrigue and speculation. Salomé claims to possess an extraordinary ability to foresee global events, drawing comparisons to the 16th-century seer Nostradamus, (hence the ridiculous nickname). However, a closer examination of his history, claims, and the evidence surrounding his predictions raises questions about the validity of his supposed psychic abilities.
Salomé's rise to prominence in the media has been driven by his bold assertions that he predicted major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. These claims have cemented his reputation as a modern-day prophet. He also asserts that his abilities stem from a supernatural gift, allowing him to perceive events before they unfold. Yet, there is little in the way of verifiable evidence to support these statements. Many of his predictions, when scrutinised, appear to rely on vague language and retroactive interpretations, a common hallmark of so-called psychic phenomena.
For instance, Salomé claims to have foreseen the COVID-19 pandemic, but his alleged prediction is steeped in ambiguity. He is reported to have mentioned a "global disruption" and "biological threats" in statements prior to the pandemic. However, such phrases are broad and could be applied to numerous scenarios. Crucially, there is no concrete proof that these statements were made before the pandemic began. In many cases, claims of prior predictions rely on unverifiable or undated sources, making it impossible to confirm whether they were genuine foresights or post-event fabrications.
The same can be said of his assertion that he predicted the conflict in Ukraine. Salomé has pointed to statements about "Eastern unrest" as evidence of his prophetic insight. Yet, political tensions in Eastern Europe have been an ongoing concern for decades, and the suggestion of unrest in this region could be viewed as an educated guess rather than a supernatural vision. Skeptics argue that such predictions are more a matter of probability and intuition than any genuine psychic ability.
More recently, Salomé made headlines by claiming to have warned King Charles III about potential prostate health issues prior to public announcements about the King undergoing treatment. While this claim has garnered attention, it is worth noting that health issues are not uncommon as people age, and a prediction of such a general nature does not necessarily indicate psychic insight. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence that Salomé communicated this warning directly to the King or that it was taken seriously by anyone within the royal household.
Salomé's predictions for 2024 included forecasts of global conflicts, natural disasters, and technological breakthroughs. While these predictions may capture public imagination, they are strikingly similar to the kinds of events that occur with regularity in any given year. Without specific details or verifiable evidence that these statements were made well in advance, they do little to substantiate claims of extraordinary foresight. The general nature of such predictions allows for significant leeway in interpretation, enabling them to be retrospectively aligned with actual events. For example I could claim that a Hurricane will cause great damage on the East Coast of America in 2025, and I will probably be right since that happens every year.
Scientific investigation into psychic phenomena has repeatedly demonstrated the unreliability of such claims. Studies on alleged psychics often reveal that their predictions are no more accurate than random chance. The human tendency to seek patterns and make sense of vague statements, known as the Barnum effect, plays a significant role in how people interpret psychic predictions. Salomé's assertions appear to fall squarely within this realm, relying on ambiguous language and the selective memory of his followers to lend them credibility.
Ultimately, Athos Salomé's claims warrant scepticism. While he has undoubtedly carved out a niche in the world of tabloid intrigue, the evidence supporting his psychic abilities remains unconvincing. His predictions, when stripped of their mystique, often resemble educated guesses rather than genuine prophecy. For those seeking to evaluate his claims critically, it is essential to demand clear, verifiable evidence and resist the allure of vague and retrospective interpretations.
