Psychic Ability

The word psychic

(pronouned from the Greek psychikos-"of the soul, mental")

 refers to an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception, or to people with such abilities. It is also used to refer to theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation and cold reading to produce the appearance of such abilities. It can also denote an ability of the mind to influence the world physically and to the telekinetic powers professed by those such as Uri Geller.

Psychics appear regularly in fiction and science fiction, such as the  The Dead Zone by Stephen King, or Jean Grey from the Marvel comic book universe. A large industry exists whereby psychics provide advice and counsel to clients. Some famous contemporary psychics include Miss Cleo, Sylvia Browne, and John Edward.

Skeptics have attributed the putative powers of psychics to intentional trickery or self-delusion. In 1988 the U.S. National Academy of Sciences gave a report on the subject that concluded there is "no scientific justification from research conducted over a period of 130 years for the existence of parapsychological phenomena. In a 1991 a survey of opinion amongst scientists in the National Academy of Sciences, 96% described themselves as "skeptical" of ESP, although 2% believed in PSI and 10% felt that parapsychological research should be encouraged^.

Early seers and prophets

Elaborate systems of divination and fortune-telling date back to ancient times. Perhaps the most widely-known system of early civilization fortune-telling was astrology, where practitioners believed the relative positions of celestial bodies could lend insight into people's lives and even predict their future circumstances. Some fortune-tellers were said to be able to make predictions without the use of these elaborate systems (or in conjunction with them), through some sort of direct apprehension or vision of the future. These people were known as seers or prophets, and in later times as clairvoyants and psychics

The Delphic Oracle is one of the earliest stories in classical antiquity of prophetic abilities. The Pythia, the priestess presiding over the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, was believed to be able to deliver prophecies inspired by Apollo during rituals beginning in the 8th century BC It is often said that the Pythia delivered oracles in a frenzied state induced by vapors rising from the ground, and that she spoke gibberish, believed to be the voice of Apollo, which priests reshaped into the enigmatic prophecies preserved in Greek literature. Other scholars believe records from the time indicate that the Pythia spoke intelligibly, and gave prophecies in her own voice. The Pythia was a position served by a succession of women probably selected from amongst a guild of priestesses of the temple. The last recorded response was given in 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I ordered pagan temples to cease operation. Recent geological investigations raise the possibility that ethylene gas caused the Pythia's state of inspiration.

Some people also believe that psychic abilities can be activated or enhanced through the study and practice of various disciplines and techniques such as meditation, with a number of books and websites being dedicated to instruction in these methods. Another popular belief is that psychic ability is hereditary, with a psychic parent passing their abilities on to their children.

Many people proclaim to have psychic abilities and some make a living as professional psychics or earn celebrity hosting their own TV or radio programs. Individuals such as Gary Spivey.

As the new century began, Gary Spivey began to become more serious about his psychic abilities. At various times, Spivey has indicated that his psychic experiences have included a wide range of events. Among them are such experiences as channeling spirits and providing communications from the dead to loved ones, communicating with angels, and engaging in astral travel to other dimensions of reality.

  John Edward (born October 19, 1969) is an American television personality, and purported psychic medium. He is best known for his TV shows Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, both of which are premised on Edward communicating with the spirits of the audience members' deceased relatives

Some psychics are first known by the public as celebrities; for example, rock singer and actress Danielle Egnew, who has made frequent radio and television appearances as a psychic, rather than a singer.

Types of 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 post cognition 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. Tarot card reading can be done either face to face, or over the telephone, email. or text. In some cases distant reading, the client asks a question by letter, and the tarot reader response at a later date.

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. 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 at all.

 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.

It is said, we all, to some degree possess the ability for psychic perception, whether we choose to use these skills, or talents its up to the individual.

Our psychic abilities are usually more pronounced, when we are going through major changes or upheavals in our lives. Or major changes are taking place around us or within our environment, such as giving up work, or moving home, it's a time when we step out of our set route, or routine, a transitory period, when we are leaving the familiar behind and about to embrace the new, no set pattern.

It's now more than ever, our sensory perception is charged, and we do not know the route therefore have to rely on inner direction, gut feeling, or instinct. You do not need to practice yoga, or a guru.

A classic example would be the first time mother; she knows instinctively when her baby needs to feed, or when the baby is in pain without any outward display, or action

We all have the ability, it is knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that something is not right, no logical, no reason, just a strong feeling. It can show itself as a niggling thought, something you have forgotten, some thing lying dormant in the subconscious, something you should do?

But the thought may only become clear when we are at our most peaceful, four o'clock in the morning; the niggling thought becomes glaring stark reality.

Psychic perception can show itself in waking dreams and sleep dreams but again these are often not clear, and we have to work with thoughts or dreams, to hinder or help a situation in reality.

It is, at these transitory periods, in our lives that we can develop, if we choose too, our psychic awareness. For some, success may come immediately, with others' it may take months, even years. For others, sometimes their ability is strong, at other times weak, like tuning in, like a radio, finding the right signal.