The Paradox of Psychic Predictions
“So much of life is a paradox. So much of life is neither one thing nor the other… It is both things at the same time.” – David Hyde Pierce
Psychic predictions are a source of curiosity and entertainment for many. It is common to see psychics come out and release their predictions for the new year. People who seek readings are often looking for predictive reading related to their personal lives.
Someone hears about an impending disaster and cancels a trip, or they hear the information about a potential timeline that causes a personal transformation and leads them to their ideal life and partner. The question often arises as to how predictions affect future outcomes, or whether they are even real.
Arguments against this type of reading include the idea that it is simply reading what someone desires to come true, or how once a prediction is spoken that it immediately changes the outcome. It begs the question, like the chicken and egg scenario, what comes first? The answer depends on several factors, but may also simply lie in the eye of the beholder. This is the paradox of psychic prediction.
The Theory of Paradox
Zeno’s Paradoxes are a set of philosophical problems generally thought to have been devised by Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea (c. 490–430 BC) to support Parmenides’ Doctrine that contrary to the evidence of one’s senses, the belief in plurality and change is mistaken, and in particular that motion is nothing but an illusion.
The Paradox in psychic readings is as to whether a prediction would exist if it weren’t first conceived in the mind of the one asking the question. Alternatively, do predictions speak to the existence of a pre-determined fate, or can it be altered?
Newcomb’s Paradox
Newcomb’s Paradox is a hotly debated philosophical area of what is called ‘Decision Theory’. In philosophy and mathematics, Newcomb’s paradox also referred to as Newcomb’s problem is a thought experiment involving a game between two players, one of whom is able to predict the future. Newcomb’s paradox was created by William Newcomb of the University of California’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
Fate vs Destiny
Whether something is fated or destined arises when giving or receiving a psychic reading. The reader will see what the readee’s spirit is showing them, but is this reflective of some predestined fate, or a form of wish-fulfillment? It raises the classic chicken and egg scenario. If the readee does not have a predetermined outcome at some future point in time, or a wish they seek to fulfill, would the psychic be able to read it? To consider this question, let’s look at fate and destiny.
Fate
It is a predetermined event planned by the supernatural power (God or else) that has to happen in one’s life regardless of any human interference. In some parts of the world, fate is regarded as something finalized by the creator for someone. The specific event happens in a similar way as scheduled at any cost. Generally speaking, we can say that fate is an event in someone’s life that is inevitable.
Fate is sometimes viewed as negative, however, it can also be positive in some situations as it unfolds an event which was much desired by an individual or worked as a hindrance in an event that later led to a faulty ending. According to the Oxford Dictionaries, fate is defined as ‘the development of events outside a person’s control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.’
Destiny
Destiny is the event that necessarily happens to someone in the future, though it can be changed with a person’s dedication, hard work, courage, and patience. The actual difference between destiny and fate is that latter can’t be changed, whereas the former can be changed with human intervention.
It is always taken up as in the positive gesture and makes one optimistic as he/she believes that they can change the certain happening on their own. Destiny is quite positively perceived and it is also usually said that destiny is the reward for one’s good doing. According to the Oxford Dictionaries, destiny is ‘the hidden power believed to control future events.’
Predictive Reading
Predictive reading is when a psychic reads what will happen in a person’s life. Some psychics can predict with specific information, others are able to see trends. There is some question as to whether the person hearing the information has the free-will to alter future events.
Would a prediction come true if it were not heard in the first place? How much does free will come into place when a readee hears predictive information? What is even more perplexing is that would a psychic be able to see information if it was not already predetermined to happen in some future?
Beliefs
Predictions are often manifesting according to a person’s belief systems. Personal belief systems affect how we react to events that unfold in our lives. They are the filter through which we interpret situations. Beliefs are what form what causes ‘confirmation bias’. In other words, we will only interpret what we can perceive is in alignment with our beliefs.
Confirmation Bias
Confirmation Bias is when we choose to search for data that will confirm our pre-existing beliefs, as opposed to looking for data that might challenge those beliefs. We actively seek out information that will prove ourselves right and ignore, even hard evidence, to the contrary.
Shahram Heshmet, Ph.D. an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Springfield states;
“Confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea/concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking. This error leads the individual to stop gathering information when the evidence gathered so far confirms the views (prejudices) one would like to be true.”
Teleologic Thinking
Teleologic Thinking is when the mind desires to find an explanation for something without any real facts or clear reason. This is also known as Cognitive Closure. If we are able to find this sense resolution, the brain will be happy with any known accepted explanation.
Paradox and Prediction
Does a question arise as to whether a prediction would have come true if the readee had not heard it? Information is not a fixed point, rather it reacts and changes. For a readee, sometimes hearing the information, or the ‘hello’ to their spirit is enough to set the wheels in motion for real transformation to occur. This is why it is ideal to read from a place of validation of the readee’s spirit so they may hear messages and feel empowered to take actionable steps in their life.
A Psychic Perspective
When reading it is helpful for the reader to blow roses to clear pictures, which may be viewed as bias and allow for greater clarity. Being aware of this allows for a more accurate reading that speaks to a person’s spirit.
When receiving a reading, a readee may keep in mind that they are receiving information through the lens of their hopes and desires, personal beliefs, and biases. Predictive reading is just that, a potentiality that when spoken offers the opportunity for the readee to make choices that in turn may change the trajectory of the events.
Being aware of the influence of the unconscious and shadow parts of the self both as the reader and readee allows for a context as to why you may be reading the information a certain way, and the readee is receiving or not receiving the information.
Some psychics will read through pictures, beliefs, signs, and symbols which impacts the validity of the information. Interpreting what you see is also another way of reading through a biased lens.
Addressing unconscious energy and the shadow self when giving a reading is the ideal place for growth to happen. As a psychic, blowing our pictures and getting clear, removing any conscious or unconscious beliefs, creates a clearer experience. This is why reading often is integral to psychic development as it dislodged stuck energy and pictures and allows more freedom in the body.
If you want to explore psychic tools, meditation, and psychic development, sign up for our Clairvoyant Meditation Free Open House to learn about course offerings or book a psychic reading or spiritual healing through The Psychic School.
