These Articles are designed to guide readees and clients alike for a better understanding on psychics and psychic readings. Many psychics and readers may also be able to benefit from them too.
This article, which is tied in with the
Simulated Readings, gives details of some of the more "unorthodox" methods of psychic reading through techniques that are designed to simulate readings. (This article has been modified, in part, to reflect the complaints of copyright violation, presumably in reference to the section entitled "TV Psychics".)
Note: This article has been modified from its original form due to (unfounded) claims of "copyright violation" regarding cited material.
A "simulated reading" is a technique that is frequently used by "mentalists" and some fraudulent psychics to obtain the same results that a "cold reader" might obtain using different means. Simulated readings are also often employed by parapsychological researchers in their "psi tests" or to determine the mechanisms behind psychic readings.
During the Victorian era in particular, simulated readings were practised by many "spiritualist mediums", who were more interested in earning some fast cash. The Victorians were enamored of the psychic realms and would sometimes pay large sums of money to a medium in order to speak to their loved ones from the "Other Side". These fraudsters needed to come up with some ingenious methods to ensure that their readings were convincing and real-seeming, so they contrived and employed a wide range of techniques for that purpose. (This is not to say that *all* mediums of the time were fraudulent, but because the population of charalatans outnumbered the genuine ones, it eventually led to their exposure, thereby giving mediums in general a bad reputation.)
Séances were very popular during the Victorian era, where a group of like-minded people gathered around a table, held hands, and attempted to contact the spirits of loved ones from the "Other Side". A single person, the medium, acted as a spokesperson for the spirits, who were thought to possess the medium's body and speak therethrough. Or the medium would invite spirits to manifest themselves in front of the assemblage as proof of the medium's abilities or of the existence of spirits.
In a typical séance, the medium would sit at the head of the table, encouraging participants to hold hands to form a circle. The lights in the room would be dimmed and the atmosphere would be quiet. Then the medium would invoke the spirits by saying something like, "Are there any spirits here tonight? Knock once for 'Yes' or twice for 'No'." Most of the time, there would be a single eerie knock, apparently indicating the presence of a spirit.
Table Rapping
One of the techniques used here was "table rapping", where the medium attached a small metal plate (hidden under clothing) to his or her knee. Unseen by the participants, the medium could tap the underneath of the table or on the table leg and, in the darkened room, sound traveled and warped, completing the illusion.
Table Tipping
Another common technique was "table tipping", where wedges or pedals were placed underneath the table legs. Sometimes, they were interconnected by a device that would allow the medium to "lift" any of the table legs at any time. During the séance, the medium would depress the pedals to simulate a rocking table - much to the astonishment and alarm of the other participants, who became convinced of spirit communication.
Ectoplasm
Ectoplasm was meant to be the plasmic residue from a manifesting spirit, which was believed to emanate directly from the medium during the séance at the time of possession.
The above information and definitions are cited from my work-in-progress, the Parapsychology Dictionary, so is, therefore, copyrighted Companion Wulf.
With the advent of television, numerous psychics and mediums have utilized the "power" of the media to convey messages apparently from the "Spirit World". Perhaps some of the most well-known TV psychics are Sylvia Browne, John Edward and James van Pragh.
While the focus with some TV networks is on ratings and quantity, others focus on information and quality. The following is not true of *all* TV psychics; it is presented only as a typical scenario for some of these types of TV shows. Audience members are invited onto the set, where they are asked to fill out questionnaires before the show, including names and brief descriptions of the loved ones they would like to contact or the questions they would like answered. During this time, they are also introduced to some of the "staff members" apparently working "behind the scenes". Sometimes the conversation steers towards their loved ones or specific questions.
Employees posing as staff members gather the information from audience members prior to the show. Sometimes they will pose as members of the public and engage audience members in conversation. (People are more likely to reveal information to people who are non-descript or appear as "one of them".) These types of people are known as "plants". Other forms of
plants are:
- Surveyors - These hand out the questionnaires to audience members before the show starts and then collects them afterwards. Surveyors are often synoymous or the same as hoppers.
- Lurkers or Lookers - These are the observers, who will sometimes work in collaboration with hoppers, targeting specific "types" of people for information-gathering purposes.
- Huggers - Staff members ("hoppers") who linger along the edges of the studio, gathering information from the audience's conversation, body language, etc.
- Hoppers - These are the information-gatherers, using the same types of techniques as tele-marketers; they often work in tandem with surveyors. It's easy to gather information from the clothes a person wears, their hobbies and interests, subscriptions to magazines and book clubs, etc., but at the same time (through masterful conversation) also garners information about names of family members, recent births or deaths, etc. Sometimes, hoppers will appear as members of the public, eager to watch the TV psychic in action, but shortly before the show is scheduled to start will leave and relay the information either to the psychic or the "behind-the-sceners".
- Groupers - These act as members of the public, sitting among the audience, but give prearranged signals to the TV psychic, such as nods, subtle body movements or inconspicuous hand signals. The TV psychic can then use key prompts, such as statements like, "A person on my left knows the name beginning with 'M'...Maureen? Maurice? Moira?" The TV psychic searches for these groupers and their signals to indicate that the psychic is on the right track. Groupers mostly overhear information, names, or snippets of conversation before the show, but do not actually interact directly with audience members, as the hoppers do.
- Shadow Workers or "Behind-The-Sceners" - These are the employees and plants (incuding editors, cameramen, directors, producers, etc.) who ensure that production of the TV show runs smoothly.
After the initial information-gathering, the questionnaires and snippets of information are collected up and reviewed. While the audience is guided towards their seats, it gives the staff members and the TV psychic a chance to study the questionnaires and additional notes for any utilizable information. The TV psychic can then relay the memorized information to targeted members of the audience, or can be guided by signals and prompts.
Another technique is where the "behind-the-sceners" relay information about the targeted audience member through an earpiece. The TV psychic then emulates talking to spirit guides and translates that information in the form of a reading.
Not all TV psychics utilize such deceptive "hot" methods for their readings, as some will give direct answers to any questions being asked, without any prompts. Some TV psychics can receive specific names and information, but not necessarily knowledge of the targeted member of the audience. Sometimes, certain words need sounding out before being confirmed, since names and place names are often unfamiliar to the psychic.
The above has been provided by an "inside source", who wishes to remain anonymous (for legal reasons). The information and definitions are "informal slang" and are also freely available on the Internet and through various other resources. This article also complies with the "Fair Use Statute, Section 107, of the Copyright Act, 1976", notwithstanding that this is an original work by Companion Wulf.
An equal amount of "fraudulent" psychics exists as "genuine" psychics. There will always be fraudsters eager to capitalize on psychic and paranormal phenomena, which is a formula guaranteed to work. The genuine psychics usually work in the background, overshadowed by believable fraudsters, but who are caring and compassionate enough to help in any way they can.
In this hurting world we live in, people want answers. They seek guidance, reassurance and confirmation, so who do they turn to? Psychics! Because people
want to believe that there is life after death and turn to psychics for their answers. Psychics are often seen as some omniscient being who can channel into the spirit realms to speak with dead relatives or loved ones that have passed away. People
want to believe that their loved ones have gone to a better place; it offers closure and comfort to them, outside their "normal" beliefs and daily routines.
In the end, however, whether a reader practises hot or cold methods, or whether they work online or offline or on TV or radio shows, as long as people are willing to believe, there will be a market for psychic readings. The popularity of psychics is on the increase, as with the Spiritualist Mediums of the Victorian era, but perhaps more so now than then.
It's more important to consult a reader with whom you have a rapport than one you feel uncomfortable with. Treat each reading, whether hot or cold, as advice and take the most relevant, salient points of that reading to apply it to your life. To cling onto every word that the reader says, without putting forth effort and action, is a recipe for failure. Psychics are only human, trying to eke out a living in a very competitive world, and can only do so much. But psychics will help in any way they can, however they can, and using whatever method they feel most comfortable with to convey your answers.
This article has been modified from its original form due to claims of "copyright infringement" and all direct citations have been removed. All information provided in this article is an original work written and composed by Companion Wulf to clarify the misrepresentations arising from the original forum post. This article also complies with the "Fair Use Statute, Section 107, of the Copyright Act, 1976".
