Psychic Readings vs Cold Reading
Today I am taking on the die-hard "skeptics", those who - without reviewing the scientific research on the subject of psychic abilities - insist that all psychics do 
what the skeptics call "cold reading". When I was younger the term "cold reading" meant one thing: going into an audition with nothing prepared (cold) and giving a professional reading from whatever script was handed to you. The phrase had meaning in this context. However, over the past two decades the term has been hi-jacked by professional debunkers whose lack of evidence for their claims mirrors precisely their lack of knowledge of the solid research that has documented the reality of the human '6th sense'. What the de-bunkers mean by 'cold reading' is the ability of some people to reel off general statements, deductions based on the subject's manner of dress, expression, 'body language', eye movements, and other observable behaviours to project a plausible but unsubstantiated 'cold reading' of the subject. Are there such 'cold readers'? Of course, there are; they are usually 'stage psychics' who perform before an audience. The phony psychics - the 'cold readers' are dead easy to spot - if you listen closely to what he (usually cold readers are male) is saying and ignore the response of the subject. Because 'cold readers' rely on conventional interpretations of manner of dress, posture, hair styles, make-up, etc. their
'revelations' are commonplace - statements that would 'ring a bell' with most people. 'Cold Readers' say nothing profound, nothing that could be contradicted - they stick to the obvious and they study the subject intensely for signals of when something they say 'registers'. The other thing "cold readers" depend upon is speed. They never spend much time with any one subject so when they detect that they have exhausted the possibilities with one subject they ask another to volunteer and the whole process of close scrutiny by the reader of the next subject begins again. The point of speaking quickly is to deny the audience time to weigh the quality of what the reader is saying in terms of vagueness, general applicability, or sheer guess work. Obviously, the qualification for this line of work is being 'quick on your feet', speaking confidently, ignoring 'misses' and jumping from one topic to another without giving the subject time to reflect or ask questions.
what the skeptics call "cold reading". When I was younger the term "cold reading" meant one thing: going into an audition with nothing prepared (cold) and giving a professional reading from whatever script was handed to you. The phrase had meaning in this context. However, over the past two decades the term has been hi-jacked by professional debunkers whose lack of evidence for their claims mirrors precisely their lack of knowledge of the solid research that has documented the reality of the human '6th sense'. What the de-bunkers mean by 'cold reading' is the ability of some people to reel off general statements, deductions based on the subject's manner of dress, expression, 'body language', eye movements, and other observable behaviours to project a plausible but unsubstantiated 'cold reading' of the subject. Are there such 'cold readers'? Of course, there are; they are usually 'stage psychics' who perform before an audience. The phony psychics - the 'cold readers' are dead easy to spot - if you listen closely to what he (usually cold readers are male) is saying and ignore the response of the subject. Because 'cold readers' rely on conventional interpretations of manner of dress, posture, hair styles, make-up, etc. their 'revelations' are commonplace - statements that would 'ring a bell' with most people. 'Cold Readers' say nothing profound, nothing that could be contradicted - they stick to the obvious and they study the subject intensely for signals of when something they say 'registers'. The other thing "cold readers" depend upon is speed. They never spend much time with any one subject so when they detect that they have exhausted the possibilities with one subject they ask another to volunteer and the whole process of close scrutiny by the reader of the next subject begins again. The point of speaking quickly is to deny the audience time to weigh the quality of what the reader is saying in terms of vagueness, general applicability, or sheer guess work. Obviously, the qualification for this line of work is being 'quick on your feet', speaking confidently, ignoring 'misses' and jumping from one topic to another without giving the subject time to reflect or ask questions.Psychic Readings vs Cold Reading
By contrast, the quality of a psychic reading is determined by accuracy of detail, specific applicability of detail to the individual being read, and revelation of information that can be verified, such as names of those around the subject, physical characteristics of those around the subject, dates and places of events that can be checked in public records or in the historical record, use of nicknames used only within the family of the subject and intimate details about the manner and circumstances of death of the subject's loved ones. Any of these sorts of information would be impossible to ascertain by a 'cold reader' in front of a random audience. But what about "cold readings" of people in a one-on-one with a psychic?
Face To Face Psychic Readings
No two psychics work in exactly the same way so I can't generalize here; I can only relate how I conduct my psychic readings. As a general principle, for face-to-
face readings, I prefer not to have any information beyond the name of the client and most readiings are conducted on a first name only basis so as to preserve the client's privacy to the greatest degree. After greeting the client, we adjourn to my office. When the client is comfortable and ready to either record or take notes of the reading, we begin. I may gaze at the space around the client for a moment or two to 'read the aura'. Sometimes I see colours, sometimes I see scenes or objects, and sometimes I receive physical impressions such as areas of 'weakness' or vulnerability in the body that I then convey to the client. Often these are places where the client was injured or had surgery in the past. Confirmation of these sorts of facts re-assure the client that I am receiving information psychically not doing a "cold reading".
face readings, I prefer not to have any information beyond the name of the client and most readiings are conducted on a first name only basis so as to preserve the client's privacy to the greatest degree. After greeting the client, we adjourn to my office. When the client is comfortable and ready to either record or take notes of the reading, we begin. I may gaze at the space around the client for a moment or two to 'read the aura'. Sometimes I see colours, sometimes I see scenes or objects, and sometimes I receive physical impressions such as areas of 'weakness' or vulnerability in the body that I then convey to the client. Often these are places where the client was injured or had surgery in the past. Confirmation of these sorts of facts re-assure the client that I am receiving information psychically not doing a "cold reading".
In the next stage, those who have passed on but are around the client make themselves known by giving me their names. Usually these are people close to the client but sometimes it will be someone from the client's distant past or someone else who is still alive who is entering the client's space in the near future. I find that this phase of a reading reveals or instigates a chain of synchronicities such as the client having just recently heard from that old friend who had been out of touch for decades or unscheduled encounters with such people that occur after the reading. When I no longer detect the presence of such individuals, I move on to the next phase of the reading.
Trance Psychic Reading
At this point, I close my eyes and enter a light trance state. In this state, souls who were close to the client in life come through to me with information for
the client. Much of this information refers to the soul who has passed on so that the client can identify her or him. Next the soul may indicate the presence of other souls who want to communicate with the client. I pass on whatever I receive but the client is also free to ask questions of the soul who has passed on. Much insight is gained from these reunions and not infrequently the souls communicate information relating to challenges or crises faced by client in the immediate present or they may relate only the outcome of the situation to relieve the client's anxiety. Each soul withdraws when it has communicated what it feels is important and another may come forward. When I sense that there are no others who want to connect, I move on the next phase.
the client. Much of this information refers to the soul who has passed on so that the client can identify her or him. Next the soul may indicate the presence of other souls who want to communicate with the client. I pass on whatever I receive but the client is also free to ask questions of the soul who has passed on. Much insight is gained from these reunions and not infrequently the souls communicate information relating to challenges or crises faced by client in the immediate present or they may relate only the outcome of the situation to relieve the client's anxiety. Each soul withdraws when it has communicated what it feels is important and another may come forward. When I sense that there are no others who want to connect, I move on the next phase.
Client Questions
In this phase of a reading, the client can ask specific questions about matters of concern in any area of life: work, money, career decisions, family relationships, personal future, future of those around the client, outcomes of situations that are currently unfolding, etc. The client is in full control of this phase of the reading and I merely pass on whatever impressions I receive. It is important to remember 
that the information a good psychic conveys does not come FROM THE PSYCHIC; IT MERELY COMES THROUGH THE PSYCHIC. For the psychic this is an impersonal process no matter how intimate the information that is relayed to the client. Genuine psychics are not manipulative, we have no reason to be. Genuine psychics know that we are just conduits, like radio receivers, for information that is meant for others. The psychic's Ego does not come in to it because we are aware that whatever comes through is not coming from us but from - for want of a better expression - the Universe and that all power that exists comes from that same source not from a human. Having an amazing psychic reading is not an 'accomplishment' for the psychic; it merely means that on that particular day, at that particular time, the psychic's attunement to the Universe was such that the quality of information was extraordinary. It's not about US; it's about the information and how it can help a client in her or his life. If anything, being a party to this process is a humbling experience.
that the information a good psychic conveys does not come FROM THE PSYCHIC; IT MERELY COMES THROUGH THE PSYCHIC. For the psychic this is an impersonal process no matter how intimate the information that is relayed to the client. Genuine psychics are not manipulative, we have no reason to be. Genuine psychics know that we are just conduits, like radio receivers, for information that is meant for others. The psychic's Ego does not come in to it because we are aware that whatever comes through is not coming from us but from - for want of a better expression - the Universe and that all power that exists comes from that same source not from a human. Having an amazing psychic reading is not an 'accomplishment' for the psychic; it merely means that on that particular day, at that particular time, the psychic's attunement to the Universe was such that the quality of information was extraordinary. It's not about US; it's about the information and how it can help a client in her or his life. If anything, being a party to this process is a humbling experience.
The Real Deal Psychic
So what about my gripe with "cold reading"? As a professional psychic I would like to describe what I do as reading people "cold" - that is, without any personal information other than a name at the time I do the reading. However, since the de-bunkers have hi-jacked the term "cold reading", I am stuck with having to explain how what I do differs from the "cold reader". The less I know about a client, the better. The only exception is with the anxious, fearful, or somewhat hostile client whose negativity can disrupt or inhibit the flow of information. In such a case, the even more impersonal tool of numerology based on the client's date of birth helps to 'break the ice' and put the client more at ease so that I can proceed with the trance reading. I hope this clarifies the difference between the "cold reader" and the genuine psychic for those of you who want to have a genuine psychic reading as opposed to being part of an entertainer's bag of tricks.
The books cited in this article are available HERE.
© Delia O' Riordan 2012
