She is so talkative that I was reluctant to interview the "45-year professional" who has written her first book, "Gleanings From the Fields of Life: A Psychic's Guide to the Galaxy." It is a "culmination of what I have learned so far in doing more than 100,000 readings for people, the problems they have brought to me and the solutions I saw." In addition to giving brief answers here, Lordan did not spar with me the way she usually does — perhaps because we may have known each other as nuns in a previous life. Say whut?

We did not go to mass during our interview, but we visited the Minneapolis Farmers Market. Last year I posted a photo on Twitter of some candied jalapeños that intrigued her, so I thought we could do that to spice up my startribune.com/video.

I told Lordan that my biggest problem with her book is that it does not include the interesting, non-psychic-related stories about her jet-setting with celebrity friends. "That's not what this book was supposed to about," she said.

Q: Direct me to the pages in this book where I learn more about Ruth Lordan. For example, what religion are you?

A: Life isn't permanent, everything is evolving. Jew-Bu, Jewish Buddhist. I recently realized I was a Catholic nun in my last life, which is why I have to live with such structure and schedule. But I am constantly evolving.

Q: You wrote about being a psychic child, but how did you become a professional?

A: Don't laugh. I had my degree in philosophy and the next step was going to law school. I wasn't liking it. I was in New Orleans and saw a sign in the window that said, "Palm Reader Wanted." I took the job. I had been reading palms in college. I learned all the psychic skills and tools and toys. You don't need them, but they are fun. I believe you have to be born with it, although I see James Van Praagh is opening a school where he'll certify you. You need to work at it, develop it. You have to practice. People ask why I do short readings; it's like practice. If you are a pianist or guitarist you need an instrument to practice on, so doing lots of readings is like doing my scales.

Q: As a child you were nicknamed "Little Lucky Piece" by family members who benefited from your telling them which horse to bet on at the track. How much money have you won off horses?

A: Let's just put it that when those relatives passed on, I got to live happily ever after.

Q: What is your greatest challenge as a psychic?

A: Balancing the truth and being more sensitive to what people can handle. For much of my career I have laid it on the line. People know I'm blunt and I realize some people cannot handle it … so I'm learning to say it pleasantly.

Q: Who is a psychic you admire?

A: Hmm. Good one. Not many of them. None of them [who] are famous. This man. The Thai Buddhist monk who taught me the gift of meditation and has authorized me to share that. He has a school in Thailand in the jungle, which I do try to help support.

Q: Are there any psychics you enjoy?

A: Nah, I'm a Leo. I get jealous.

Q: Have you ever done a reading for Prince?

A: No, I don't know him. The only time I ever slightly read him was when you asked me about him.

Q: How many past lives have we shared?

A: I heard the word "two." I would have to put you in a meditative state and see you. Have you ever been drawn [to] or thought you were a nun? Maybe we were in that Catholic life together.

Q: How can you tell if a psychic is a fraud?

A: What I've found in Minnesota is there aren't as many frauds as there are people who truly believe they have it. And what they do have is intuition, but intuition is emotion-based, so it's not as pure. And if you are with someone who is asking for extra money …

Q: Have you ever cast a spell on an old lover?

A: I plead the Fifth.

A longer version of this edited interview is online. To contact C.J. try cj@startribune.com and to see her, watch the Fox 9 "Buzz."