Talk to the Dead Through Cold Reading
How do people like John Edward make others think they can talk with the dead? It's actually done through a technique called cold reading--being observant of people to make estimated guesses about them, and then asking very basic questions to make it look like you know what they're actually telling you. Cold reading has been used by psychics and fakers for years.
Instructions
Finding Your Mark
1. Start with a large crowd of different people. You want as many subjects as possible to pick up on. You could also use a large crowd as a confusion excuse if things don't work out in the end.
2. Throw out a generic name at random like Bill, Sue or Jim. Chances are, someone in the crowd will have this name or know someone who has it. Wait for someone to bring this up.
3. Change the name slightly if you get no response, like saying it may sound like the name you just mentioned. This widens the range further toward someone speaking up.
Reading Your Mark
4. Read your "mark's" speech for clues. If he has the name you asked, inquire about someone close who died, which he should reveal. If the name was someone he knew, he will often hint if it was a relative, spouse, friend or child.
5. Observe your mark's appearance for clues to the dead person. If it was a spouse or child to a young person, the death was likely unforeseen. But an older relative's death would have been foreseen and perhaps long-suffering.
6. Have your mark talk to you about the dead person while making it look like you're telling her. Talk with leading questions like "I'm guessing this death was untimely" or "Does (a certain time of year) hold any meaning?"
7. Repeat back what was told to you about who this dead person was and/or how he died. This makes people think you knew this all along without realizing it was told to you.
8. Give out small simple statements about what the dead want, usually saying what the living want to hear. If it was an older relative, say they shouldn't worry about the money (like inheritance). If it was someone young who died abruptly, say how they're no longer suffering.
