What Is a Psychic?

A psychic is someone who can perceive information that cannot be logically explained through the normal five senses. They may also be able to communicate with the dead, see auras of others, or use tools such as Tarot cards, runes, astrology, and palmistry to channel their intuitive information.

Psychic abilities can be honed through practice and meditation, but it’s also possible to be born with innate psychic gifts. For example, you might be the family member who can communicate with pets or knows what everyone else is thinking—or perhaps you’re that go-to friend who always seems to have the right advice for a situation.

Many people report having psychic experiences throughout their lives. Some psychics report they’ve always had a gift, while others learn to strengthen their intuition through practice and by learning different tools, such as tarot or astrology. Intuitive gifts can be like muscles; the more they’re used, the stronger and more nuanced they become.

Some psychics are clairvoyant or claircognizant—they can see energy fields surrounding people, and even access the Akashic Records, a fifth-dimensional database of souls’ choices from past lifetimes. Other psychics may rely on psychometry, which allows them to sense the energetic imprint of objects by touching them.

Some psychics are telepathic, which means they can receive information directly from the spirit world through their thoughts or feelings. Still others are clairsentient, which is the ability to feel another person’s emotions. And then there’s telekinesis, which is the ability to move and manipulate things through the power of the mind.