How to Do a Psychic Reading

Being a psychic (or mind reader or medium or any other clairvoyant term) isn't hard. It is easy to do what is known as a "cold read". All a psychic has to do is tell the client what he wants to hear. The cold read method has worked for centuries and continues to be a popular method of fortune telling today.

Things You'll Need

• Dramatic flair
• Props

Instructions

1. Set the mood with the client. Be friendly and chatty and make her feel comfortable with the situation.

2. Use props to enhance the feeling of otherworldliness. Crystal balls, tarot cards, candles and incense will all create an exotic feel to the session. Decorating a room with antiques can add a lot of character to a psychic reading--even the lamps with their beaded lampshades have a long and spooky history.

3. Start off by speaking in generalizations. Say things such as, "As a child you often felt different than the other kids," or "I can tell you think deeply about things but don't always know how to express yourself." By speaking in vague terms the client will remember the session as being spot on accurate to their distinct personality.

4. Make excuses to fall back on. Tell the client things such as, "I know you have loads of artistic talent within you, but you fear rejection so you don't share your talents with others," or "In some circles, you're known as the life of the party, but on the inside you're a little self conscious and can be vulnerable with certain people." This way if you're ever wrong about "reading" someones personality you've backed yourself up with an alternate interpretation.

5. Ask the client questions. "Did you come to me today for information on money? Love? Career?" That way the client can guide you in the right direction. Again, vagueness goes a long way. "Don't worry about the money. You can sometimes get into a panic about where the money comes from or where it's going but just trust that everything will be fine."

6. Dealing with a large group is even easier. Readings on large groups are easier than one-on-one readings because many people are wanting to hear that their deceased friends and family are doing well on the "other side". In a group, calling out vague details like, "Over here, in this corner I'm seeing a D. Like David or Dan, and he has an animal with him." Everyone knows a Dave and everyone knows an animal that's passed. Letting the people know their loved one is happy and watching over them can bring a client to tears.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes people just want someone to listen to them. The more the client talks, the easier the psychic's job becomes. The reader simply needs to agree with what the client says and make her feel better about her decisions.

• There is no right or wrong way to read tarot cards or a palm. Lay out cards in a complex formation and interpret them any way that seems credible.

• Psychic readings are for entertainment purposes only. Because fortune telling can be an emotional experience for the participants, be respectful of their feelings and try to deliver good news to them.