Symbolism

Introduction

While it may seem that psychics deliberately employ cold reading and hot reading in conjunction with making high-probability statements, as indeed some do, psychic readings using the Tarot, as well as those given via flower psychometry, and practices such as palm reading and aura readings, can also be given using symbolism. Unfortunately, this method nonetheless results in information that is vague, general and non-specific (cold reading) and may include information which the reader already knows about the sitter (hot reading).  

            Flower readings using symbolism   

The follow section is taken from that given for flower psychometry, but it will be discussed again.

Using symbolism for flower psychometry

Flower psychometry is just psychometry on flowers. If someone was to ask me to give them a flower psychometry reading, I would use interpretation of symbolism. That is also how I work for giving Tarot readings. It may seem unusual, but it's one technique that can be used for flower psychometry. Unfortunately, the readings are still 'cold reading' because the information given using this technique is non-specific and could relate to most people.

Symbolism

When you pick a flower, what catches your attention? The blossom? The stalk? The leaves? Do you like to pick freshly blossomed flowers, flowers with closed blooms, or flowers with buds that haven't opened yet? Do you have a preference for young, fresh flowers or for weary, limp, dead ones?  Now I will explain how symbolism can be used for flower psychometry. 

The blossom

Say you picked a flower. A young, spritely-looking dandelion. Imagine what its flower looks like. It is round with yellow 'teeth' around its edges. It feels soft and edible. Anyway, now ask yourself what the flower means for you. If you are aware of its history and uses you might find this easier. But what does it represent for you, if anything? Think about the shape: it is circular, like the sun is. The sun is what we need in order to live. Its light helps us to see ('enlightenment'); it is the opposite of the moon. The moon represents the feminine in spirituality whilst the sun represents the masculine. Once you get going with this type of symbolism, you can begin to understand it and apply that type of 'logic' or 'meaning' to the flower. It is not literal, but more metaphorical. A castle is like a human body, because it needs cleansing (think of all the spider webs it must have!). A garage is like one's own mind, because it is full of garbage, much of which we don't need anymore (outdated beliefs for instance - I'm sure some people still believe the Earth is flat and imagine how out-dated that idea is [I'm only joking!]). In the same way, we can use the image of the dandelion to represent something else, such as the sun. The sun is a symbol for enlightenment, or could be seen in that way. 

The stalk

     Hopefully you have got the hang on symbolism of the blossom, but now we will focus on the symbolism of the stalk. The condition of the stalk is important, because it represents one's life path. Not literally, but symbolically. If it is straight, then there isn't really much to say about the person's lifepath: their destiny-to-be is pretty straight-forward. However, if it is slightly bendy, then it could be interpreted to mean that their are some 'corners' to one's life path - some unexpected opportunities if after the bend the stalk goes upwards, or some set-backs if after the bend the stalk goes downwards. Usually, the stalk should be read going upwards from the bottom of the stalk or roots, up towards the flower itself. So if there are some bends downwards, these would be some downward bits noticed as you look up the stalk. If the stalk is weak, then it could be interpreted to mean that the lifepath is, currently faulty, poorly-established, or not substantially determined. Perhaps the lifepath followed at the moment is not the one it will be in the future. The opposite could be meant for if the stalk appears to be strong.

The leaves

Leaves represent opportunities in life. If the stalk has any leaves, their position may

be important. Their number is important. Symbolically, a few leaves could indicate a few different paths one could take. A couple mean only one or two different possible options. No leaves means that there are no other opportunities, regardless of whether the person knows what their lifepath is or will be. The shape of the leaves could also mean something, too. The positions though are of some importance symbolically, as well. If the leaves are at the top, then it might mean that the opportunities are towards the times when the person has found their destiny. Near the roots, they should have found their possible avenues early on in life.

The roots

The roots, according to a psychic whose circle I did a couple of years ago, are where the psychometry reading should start. They represent the beginning - not necessarily the person's birth - but rather, the beginning of their lifepath. Now, the condition of the roots may be important, as well as how many roots. The roots symbolise directions. Direction, that is, in life. Should I take Path A? Path B? Or Path C? Essentially, they represent choices. Some choices may be easier to pursue than others - such roots that may represent these would appear straight. More tricky choices are the roots that aren't so straight.

                                                

Using symbolism for Tarot readings  

A Tarot reader who uses symbolism for their readings may be seen to spend a considerable length of time in analysing the picture and the subtitle and status of the card (e.g. if a card is labelled as the High Priestess of the pack of Tarot cards, it is therefore a card of status which belongs to the Higher Arcana). 

      The deck of cards of each Tarot set have labels. A minority of the cards belong to the prestigous 'Higher Arcana' which consist of the cards labelled 'Death', 'Balance', 'High Priestess' and some others. These cards are of major importance because they are seen to represent major events or scenarios in the client's life that are to come. Meanwhile, the majority of the cards belong to the 'Lower Arcana' and belong to any of four suites - two of which are cups and swords. However, not only is the status of the card important - lower arcana representing mundane events or small changes and the higher arcana representing bigger ones - but the picture depicted on each card is important, too.

 A Tarot reading

Imagine that your name was Joan and you went to a psychic who was also a Tarot reader, because you were worried about what your future held for you and you wanted to have the advantage of having a glimpse into what might be in store for you. You arrive at the Tarot reader's door, who promptly lets you in. You pay her £20 for the reading before it commences. You are sat down onto a comfortable chair, behind a table, with the psychic in front of you.  

     She gets out her deck of Adorable Angels, which have caricatures of chubby winged children, who are supposed to represent angels. (I've made that Tarot deck up, for the sake of entertainment.) Once she's done that - let's call her Psychic Tiffany - she asks you to shuffle the cards for her. You shuffle them once. "No! Shuffle them two more times," she commands you. You do as Tiffany says. After that, you hand them back to her.

     In answer to your puzzled look, she explains, "It works best if my client puts their own energy onto my cards, because it makes it easier to tune into them psychically and so give a more accurate reading." You look puzzled still, because once you've 'put your energy' onto the set of cards and hand the deck back to the psychic, Tiffany then handles the cards by picking out randomly some of the cards from the deck and, in doing so, she infuses the cards with HER OWN ENERGY! This is confusing. Doesn't this pose problems for Tiffany, if her explanation is true? Won't she be picking up on herself psychically since her energy is also on the cards? You secretly write down this interesting observation onto the pad of paper you'd brought with you. 

     Tiffany is arranging the cards she's picked into a card layout. It is a Celtic Cross shape, with a long horizontal row of four cards, with a vertical row of three cards at the beginning and a longer, vertical row of five cards right at its end. The layout consists of exactly ten cards. You look on as Tiffany picks up the first card, which is located in the middle of the smaller vertical row. She's infusing the cards with more energy! You think. Shouldn't that affect her reading? 

     "This is The Emperor," the psychic tells you, as if it is something to be proud of. You'd noticed that that was the card before she'd even told you - it was so obvious. "You see the cherub is standing like that? He looks proud. He's holding a white stick in his hands, right in front of him. Behind him is the moon," Tiffany explains. "What's that mean? How can you relate the meaning of all that to me?" you ask. The psychic laughs to herself. "The Emperor looks proud of himself. He's got too much pride. So I think this card represents a problem with your pride," she elaborated. "I don't have a problem with my pride!" you retort. Tiffany smiles again. "Your ego thinks too much of its self. You have a great deal of pride. You are a very proud person." she tells you. Already, the reading sounds like a psychic reading. 

      Those statements could go for anyone. You think. I'm after really specific information about my future! Cold reading. That's all it is. Not psychic. Not really. Tiffany seems satisfied with that first card, because you proceeds to the next. The card is called 'Death'! "What's that mean?" you ask. "Nothing bad. This card represents changes. Natural changes, natural processes. Death is a fact of life. It could mean the end of an old project and the start of a new one," Tiffany assures you. "Anyway. This card represents the challenge which is currently affecting the current situation, which was represented by The Emperor."
       "What's your verdict?" you ask. "There are changes to come in your family," the psychic tells you mysteriously. "A birth of a child..." Wow! Incredible! You think sarcastically. What relations of mine will have the baby? What would the baby's gender be? The psychic does not elaborate on the details. Presumably, she has no more to provide you with. "So 'Death' does not symbolise negative changes at all?" you ask. Tiffany shakes her head. "No."
        Great! You think. How exciting! One of the problems of the psychic's statement is that she not only doesn't disclose details of what relative of Joan's will have the child, but also she does not inform Joan about the place or date of it. The birth is highly probable (so is a 'high probability statement') and could occur at any time during the rest of Joan's lifetime. The event could also be valid for someone else other than the psychic's client, Joan. Therefore, it is a cold reading. If Joan thought that the statement was uniquely attributable to himself, then the Barnum Effect is at work.

But, how can psychic readings be applicable to me?

Interesting question. Psychic readings done using flower psychometry, psychometry, mediumship, psychic abilities, etc. can "apply" to the person they are done for in the same way as psychic readings done using palmistry or astrology. Psychic readings could apply to the client, just like they could apply to the majority of the population. However, humans like to think that they are unique and special, so they may think that the psychic's reading applies only to themselves. After all, the psychic's reading is for the client (who's paying the money), so logically, the reading is surely only relevant for the client themselves? That's a logic that could be used. 

     Furthermore, if a medium claims to be picking up on an old lady wearing glasses, you may wish that the medium has noticed your Auntie Jasmine is in the same room. Yet, there must be a large number of people who are just as convinced that the medium is picking up on their own relative. But you can't be sure that the medium's reading is uniquely relevant for you because you need hard, solid, scientific evidence that it IS Auntie Jasmine the medium is describing. Specific information that you can verify should be given by the medium - such as where she lived (the address), her name and surname, the names of her immediate family, things like that. Auntie Jasmine knew where she lived as well as the names of her family members before she died, right? Logically, she should be able to give that information if it's her the medium is channelling. See also: Messin' with Mediums for more in-depth discussion on this subject!
        As mentioned earlier, one of the ways flower psychometry readings work is through cold reading.