Between 1836 and 1844 the case of Sara Gayer, who was said to be clairvoyant while in magnetic sleep, caused a sensation in her parish and the wider public of the German Kingdom of Württemberg. The documents filed by the authorities, and the printed statements by supporters and adversaries, make it possible to reconstruct in detail the course of events as well as the different interests and interpretations regarding the “Seeress of Großglattbach” during these years. The contribution explores the different facets of contemporary perceptions of Sara: her roles as a clairvoyant in her parish, as a case of somnambulism for the physicians, as a lay prophetess for an adherent of Swedenborg, as a quack to the pastor and the secular authorities. Though Sara and her family were in dialogue with these protagonists, the power of interpretation was mainly on the latters’ side. However, without the support and protection of an educated Swedenborgian, Sara and her family would not have come into a position to develop their roles and influence actively the course of events for several years. As a conclusion, it is proposed that Sara's act of self-empowerment was to focus on her supposed ability to gather medical counsel from the spirit world and improve her economic position by offering this as a service until she could leave her role as a seeress behind and start a new life in the neighbouring state of Baden.