Skeptic Spirit

No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.

- Albert Einstein

This is without doubt the hardest blog post I’ve ever had to write. I had a great ethical discussion with myself, and I came to realize, that I had to do this. The reason it is difficult, is because it involves other people. I don’t know them, really, but  it doesn’t take away my feeling of responsibility towards those, whom I may or may not have affected one way or another by doing picture readings.

A couple of weeks ago, my attention was lead towards the suspicion, that the empath ability in reality might be cold reading. I still need to do a couple of extensive experiments related to online readings, before I definitely can conclude anything. However I have reached as far as to rule out picture readings as having anything significant to do with being an empath. In my own case at least.

I started a discussion on empath community in which I requested for people who would like to volunteer for this experiment, giving the notion, that I were to evaluate my readings from a skeptical point of view. The readings were done the same way I usually do them.

A lot of people volunteered, but it only took me two readings to make my conclusion. I am convinced, that I am doing cold reading, and so from an ethical point of view I see no reason to go any further with the experiment. I do not wish to involve any more people, now that I have this awareness.

I intended to take the reading bit by bit and analyze it in here (I have permission), but I just can’t bring myself to do so. The link will take you to it, but for this post I will just explain why it is cold reading, and how I feel about it all this evening. As a last comment to this, I need to state, that I have not in any way intentionally tried to deceive people, not with this experiment, not in general. 

About the readings…

The first clue, that this was cold reading, came when I noticed, that a reading I had done for one, was mistakenly accepted by another. It resonated with them both, which can only mean one thing – it was a superficial, “one-text-fits-all” reading. 

On the second reading, I never gave any answers. When I look it through, not at one point did I mention any specific feelings. However, since I had a description of the problem (also a cold reading technique), I was subconsciously able to analyze, where she would need to look in order to find her answers. It is not about the empath ability.

Angel, dear, you really are an angel, and I can’t wait for you to realize it yourself! But you did this all by yourself! I never gave you any answers, I just pointed to the most plausible place for you to find them – and you did! All on your own. You need to take pride in that, not me!

About me…

I am a skeptic, not just in writing. I stand by what I write – I follow my own advice, even if it takes me down unpleasant roads.

I have an energy kick this evening, because I have had this nagging feeling for some time now, and the battle in my spirit between self deception and knowledge is over. For this part at least.

I am also curious. The human mind, the human perception fascinates me, and I have found new paths to investigate. New worlds to explore.

I am also a bit sad, though. Because during the analysis of the readings, I discovered, that part of why the readings have such an effect, must be due to the perception, that someone can feel your emotions. There is a willingness to accept the questions, there is a willingness to look for them. By publishing this post, I limit myself from doing picture (cold) readings any more. I can still give advice if asked, but it is what it is. So the spiritual openness, the willingness for people to find the answers has changed.

I guess I do want to help people more than I thought I did.