talkmagic.co.uk

I got it a few days back, am really enjoying it!

I often wonder why people wish to learn cold-reading. What exactly do you hope to achieve with it, bearing in mind that for the main - it's replicating all those "evil and immoral psychics" people seem to imagine stalking the earth.

I would suggest to all of you who are considering it - to think again. If you wish to learn it, also learn to handle the outcome too. If you mention something that upsets that person - has them in tears, do you turn round smugly to the people watching looking pleased with yourself. Or do you have the wherewithal to deal with the situation you are responsible for?

And please think about it too if you're only learning it because of what you've seen on the television. And even more so, doing it with a psychological slant has to be scripted very carefully.

I agree with duplicity. Why do cold reading when you can do things for real using your intuition and divination ability?

The Ian Rowland book is a bunch of tosh anyway. Not a single psychic of my acquaintance uses a single technique from it. And neither does Ian Rowland for that matter. He has never done a single paid reading in his life.

The sample of a reading that he so proudly gives in his book is bloody awful. That is what happens when you fake things.

No. Do it for real as Magic Wand and Reverend Browning does. And as I do.

As for people becoming emotional that is part and parcel of being a psychic. It is your job to comfort and help that person. And although duplicity is quite correct when he says that there are a lot of evil and immoral psychics there are also a lot of genuine sincere people who use their gifts to help those who need it.

I do agree that you have to know what you are doing. I have done literally thousands upon thousands of psychic readings and walk an ethical tightrope all the time. You just have to make sure you don't fall off.

often wonder why people wish to learn cold-reading

You dont have to give readings, but with having the knowledge its very handy when in situations to determine what kind of person you are performing to and you can easily catergorise their reactions to the trick before you perform it, giving you more control.

I also find that with this skill in everyday life its very helpful, it can help you out of confrontational situations if you know wot makes the person tick etc, you can play to their better nature...I can look at most people and I can actually invisage them in my head how they talk, react with peers and wot they like dislike etc, its more a natural abiltiy but one that helps in so many situations...Its definatley worth learning about cold reading or the physcology of the human face as it helps your performance no end......

often wonder why people wish to learn cold-reading

I often wonder why people want to learn card tricks, how boring, who wants to see 52 pieces of paper being moved with dexterity that some sad person has take years out of their life to learn?

See my point! each to their own..

The Ian Rowland book is a bunch of tosh anyway

You cannot be a master of something until you have read understood and learnt all readings and teachings on the subject no matter how far fetched or wrong they may be, the more you learn and the vaster the knowledge then you have the insight to argue the case, until then you have not...Its not about whethe Ians book is any good or not, its how you interpret that information and use it to better you skill/life/performance....People cant be narrow minded when it comes to the study of others....

I know some people will scoff, but Lee Earle's The Gentle Art of Cold Reading CD and booklet is not a bad introduction if you're not sure how far you want to go.

It deals mostly with the twelve classic Forer statements (general statements that people tend to believe apply to themselves). But there is also good advice on basic observation of things like clothing, jewellery, apparent educational level, etc. In this way you can begin to expand on the Forer statements and spin them into a more personalised reading. There's enough in The Gentle Art to let you do relatively brief, shallow readings in situations like table-hopping or a fair booth.

If you want to get into meatier stuff, Tradecraft is good. It's available from Trickshop as an instant download.

Actually, I see that Trickshop is selling both Tradecraft and Robert Nelson's Art of Cold Reading as a bundle for a very tempting price right now.
http://www.trickshop.com/cold_reading.html#both

I must inform Magic Chris that he is wrong on two fronts. One is that card magic can be riveting and entrancing entertainment in the right hands. When I was young and enthusiastic I would perform card tricks for hours on end and keep an audience enthralled. I still can of course but the difference now is that people pay to see me.

With regard to reading I AM a master of the craft so I am qualified to comment on the matter. The trouble with incorrect information is that it can lead a student on the wrong path. The Rowland book is equivalent to the rather awful Henning Nelms book. When the authors have no experience with what they are teaching then what they say should be treated with great caution.

There is ONE course on psychic reading which is the BEST in the business. Mine. And I don't advocate a single technique of Rowlands.

lololololololol

who made him god

Mark Lewis seems to speak with authority. I on the contrary know little of this art other than what I learned from the Joe Riding manuscripts on the subject. I also own a cassette tape recording by Richard Webster on Cold Reading. I wonder what opinion Mr Lewis has of both of these.
I should also, in a wish to be fair, say that I am proud to own Mr Lewis´own sound recording and I consider him an expert in the subject.

I consider him an expert in the subject

how much did he just paypal to you account to say that lolol

I know sad isn´t it. But I do not even know the gentleman except by reputation.

I have been God on these matters for some considerable time. However I can indeed heartily endorse Joe Riding (especially for his work on tarot readings) and most definitely Richard Webster.

I have often said that anyone who wishes to learn the psychic business should read everything by Richard Webster.

Thank you. From my point of view as a complete novice on this field I thought that Joe Riding´s treatease was very comprehensive. The Webster tape made good listening. I became interested in the subject because people like to be told nice things about themselves and some of the effects we perform offer themselves to such remarks. I would never do a full reading, it is obviously a very specialised subject which has to be performed with sufficient confidence to present the obvious and the neutral to those who might be thought to enjoy and find satisfaction in such matters.