Most Famous Psychics Of Historical And Modern Times: Do You Believe In The Magic Or In The Critics?

Psychic phenomena may not have universal acceptance as true occurrences, but it hasn’t stopped the world’s most famous psychics from making the news over the past centuries anyway. I myself don’t fully believe in psychic phenomena and claimed psychic powers, but I’m still familiar with figures from famed French seer Nostradamus right down to the contemporary medium Sylvia Browne.

What Are Psychics’ Claimed Abilities And Powers?

The word psychic comes from the Greek term “psychikos” meaning “of the mind.” It refers to a person who has been gifted with mental abilities that enable him or her to accomplish beyond what is considered feasible by natural laws. Psychics claim to have the capability to see and/or communicate with the deceased, read minds, predict the future, look into a person’s past, and physically affect the world through sheer mind power or will.

What Do The Skeptics Have To Say About Observed Psychic Phenomena?

Many psychics have performed in front of crowds and audiences to prove their claimed abilities. Some attempt to discern information without prior knowledge of a person, others try to connect and receive messages from the dead, and still others demonstrate moving an object without them or any other person touching it (psychokinesis). I have witnessed some psychic performances myself, and most of the time I am left astonished and baffled as to how the feats presented are possible. But apparently, the skeptics have the explanations.

Critics and skeptics of psychic phenomena have attributed such abilities to traditional mentalist techniques employed by stage magicians and tricksters. Some say psychics are able to glean information from the subject through cold reading, which is a technique utilizing a person’s body language, manner of clothing, and demographics to come up with guesses that are highly probable of being true, or ambiguous enough to be applicable to anyone.

As for claims of psychokinesis, skeptics have said that such tricks can be achieved though practiced mastery in sleight of hand and distraction techniques.

Who Are The Most Famous Psychics In History?

Among the most well-known psychics of all time is of course, Nostradamus. He was a seer who lived in the 16^th century, and he who wrote long-term predictions about major world events. Among those he is reported to have prophesied was the rise of Napoleon and Hitler, the September 11 terrorist bombings of the WTC, and the wars in Iraq. Even current news writers and journalists still refer to his works and try to make correlations of his predictions with significant current events.

Another name that prominently surfaced in psychic history is that of Edgar Cayce. He was an American psychic who was also known as “The Sleeping Prophet.” It is said that when someone asks for his help with regards to personal or health problems, he would lie down and enter into a deep sleep, during which he would deliver readings upon hearing the subject’s questions. He claimed to have no recollection of the readings he uttered during his state of trance.

Who Are The Most Famous Psychics Of The Modern Times?

Most Famous Psychics Of Historical And Modern Times: Do You Believe In The Magic Or In The Critics? John Edward and Sylvia Browne are two of the most well-known contemporary psychics of the 21^st century. Both claim to be psychic mediums, or intermediaries that can bridge the world of the living with that of the dead. They give psychic readings either face-to-face or over the phone, and even through the internet. Though challenged by many detractors, both have published best-selling books about psychic teachings and encounters, and mainly rose to be the most famous psychics of the modern times through media exposure in television shows and webpages online.