Psychic reading

A psychic reading is a type of method used in an attempt to foretell the future of an individual or group.

Types of psychic reading

There are many types, methods and systems of psychic or extra-sensory readings employed by those who claim to have psychic abilities. A professional psychic may have one or more specialized areas of expertise such as psychometry, distant readings, Tarot reading, astrology or horoscope readings, numerology, palm reading, past-life readings, aura readings or any number of other methods.

Most psychic readings do not usually use any tools and can include face-to-face readings such as in-person readings at home, psychic party readings for a group, and the less detailed and shorter psychic fair readings. Distant readings include internet readings, phone readings and mail readings. In some rare cases, a method of psychic sensing known as remote viewing is used.

Distant readings

Distant readings are conducted many times without the reader ever meeting or speaking to the client. The client asks questions pertaining to his or her life and a psychic uses intuitive senses to determine a probable outcome or solution to those questions. At times this practice is similar to methods used for remote viewing and healing. This method dispenses with the possibility of the reader picking up on visual or verbal cues evident in face to face or telephone readings.

Psychometry readings

Psychometry is a form of postcognition which enables the psychic reader to receive information about people, events or objects associated with events that have already occurred, or are occurring in the present, by being in close contact with the area or object where the event took or is taking place. Commercial psychometry readers often ask the subject for their favorite and most meaningful objects, such as wedding rings, glasses, car keys, etc., for the reading. The belief is that objects which are in close proximity to a person for extended periods of time hold some of that person's energy; energy which can be detected. This method is often used to try and locate missing persons.

Aura reading

Aura psychic reading involves the observation and interpretation of auras around physical human bodies. The “aura” is a set of cascading colored outlines emanating from the surface of the body which differ from one person to another in terms of size, shape, intensity, and color. Aura readers claim to have the ability to see or sense this aura, observe each characteristic and interpret their meaning to the individual.

Tarot reading

Tarot reading does not need psychic abilities. A deck of 78 cards known as the Tarot is used to predict and interpret relationships, love, careers, etc. The tarot is also used for spiritual, esoteric, psychological, occult and divinatory purposes. Tarot reading tends to have a great deal of variation, since each card in the Tarot, as well as the order in which they appear, and their position within the 'spread' when dealt, have different specific meanings. The meaning of each tarot card is also open to the interpretation of the Tarot reader, and the same set of cards may have two different meanings to two different readers.

Numerology

Numerology is defined as the study of the occult meanings of numbers and their influence on human life. It is essentially a reading of an individual based specifically upon numerical values such as their date of birth, letters in their names, etc.

Numerology was once considered part of higher mathematics in the ancient world Fact|date=April 2007. Numerology is not a form of psychic reading.

Palm reading

Palmistry is another popular method of giving readings, involving characterization and foretelling of one's future through the study of the lines, shapes, wrinkles and curves on the palm. Palmistry can be studied and learnt and does not need any psychic ability.

Astrology

Astrology involves the reading of an individual and predicting of their future based upon their date of birth, based on the alignments of the planets and stars. Astrology is an ancient practice and pre-dates many scientific methods of astral observation. Astrology can be studied and learnt and does not need any psychic ability.

Rune Reading

Runes are an ancient alphabet used for divining the future. The runes are cast on a mat to discern future events or path a problem or issue will take. Runes are also considered magick and are used for spells and incantations by some witches.

Cartomancy or Playing Card Reading

The reading of playing cards is also a method some psychics use to conduct a psychic reading. This is done with playing cards that are shuffled by the querent and laid out in a spread by the psychic and is then interpreted by the reader. The difference between this and tarot readings is that a deck of regular playing cards are used rather than a tarot card deck.

Use of the term in religious doctrine

The term "psychic" is also featured in many variations of Gnosticism. For a brief treatment of the subject, and how psychics related to pneumatics and hylics in the Gnostic hierarchy, see hylics.

External links

* [http://www.spr.ac.uk/ The Society for Psychical Research] — Founded in 1882 to examine paranormal phenomena in a scientific and unbiased way
* [http://www.psychiccosmos.com/psychic_articles/Psychic-Reading-in-Vision-of-Brand-Art.asp Psychic Reading in Vision of Brand Art] Brands of Psychic Reading
* [http://www.the-psychic-detective.com/ The Psychic Detective] An exploration of psychic phenomena and a resource of paranormal articles
* [http://www.psychics.co.uk/psychic-forum/discussion/index.php The Psychic Forum] The Internet's first psychic community hosted by psychics for psychics with demonstrations of psychic skills, chat about psychic readings and debate about fraudulent practices
* [http://www.moonwhisper.com/ MoonWhisper] Psychic reading community and social network offering psychic readings and informationon the paranormal