"Psychic" is a Dirty Word: Here's What I Call Myself Instead

Quick: List the first three things that come to mind when you hear the word “psychic”. 

Does your list contain any fictional stories, movies, or comics? A certain famous psychic reader from ‘90s commercials? People getting conned out of their money–or the people conning them? Maybe you just laughed and didn’t bother to list anything because you think it’s all just silliness.

Whether you’re a skeptic or nay-sayer, true-believer, or on the fence, we’ll explore what the word “psychic” means, how it's used (and who uses it), and what other words real psychics use. 

If you can’t already tell from the title of this post, I don’t call myself a psychic. It’s a word others may use, and I certainly have no problem with that. It’s the term my business gets lumped under by many platforms because of limited industry options to choose from. But “psychic” isn’t a word I typically self-describe as.

Stereotype #3: The Fraudulent "Mind-Reader" or "Scammer"

Yes. That guy. Oh, they’re real. And, yes, they prey on the vulnerable for their money. Those fitting into this category are the reason that business laws for Tarot readers and other psychic-related services tend to be unfair (more on this below!). 

These self-proclaimed “psychics” use techniques like “cold reading” (making high-probability guesses based on social cues) and “hot reading” (using pre-researched information) to exploit the vulnerable for money. 

This became a stereotype when people and whole communities began to believe that all psychics are charlatans and cynical frauds. Many people today falsely believe all psychic phenomena to be pseudoscience, despite real scientific research over the last century suggesting otherwise.

Psychism in Science

Modern science is an established, systematic way of exploring the world around us to make sense of it. Real science relies on the collection and analysis of quantitative (numbers) and qualitative (descriptions) data. Science teaches five basic senses–sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste–because these can be easily quantified and/or confirmed. It’s what we can test, so it’s what we gather.

But modern science doesn’t dismiss additional senses. In fact, science often confirms that humans possess additional sensory perception that we simply can’t quantify at this time.

For example, in my undergraduate studies, I suggested to my Biological Psychology professor and classmates that perhaps there is a genetic basis for Jung’s concept of the Collective Unconscious. Sure enough, years later, peer-reviewed research on intuition emerged, finding that instincts from the experiences of ancestors long ago are encoded within our DNA. It’s why we run from or jump at dangerous things we had no conscious knowledge of previously.

What I Call Myself (and Others Do, Too)

You’d think I’d be eager to identify with the word “psychic”. After all, the dictionary definitions and science support my understanding of my lived experiences. And let’s not forget that I’m a big fan of Mat Auryn’s “Psychic Witch” series of books.

As Mat Auryn states in his first book, Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation: “Psychic ability, on the other hand, is the processing of extrasensory perception that doesn’t rely on primary sensory information about one’s environment.” Throughout the book, with that definition as a basis, Mat completely changed my thinking about the word.

That said, he goes on to explain the difference between psychic and intuition while providing the examples of claircognizance (“clear knowing”) and clairempathy (“clear feeling”) on the intuition side of things. Guess which category my Tarot abilities fall under?

So, yes, while you can call me a psychic Tarot reader if that’s your understanding, I refer to myself as “intuitive”. My psychic abilities are rooted in my intuition and connection with nature. It’s just how my brain works.

And I’m not alone. Many Tarot readers today distance themselves from the psychic label, choosing other terms like intuitive, empath, clairvoyant, holistic, spiritual, and other words and phrases that are more grounded and free from so much stigma.

So, Is “Psychic” Really a Dirty Word?

Not really. The dirt comes from the reputation of the word and how negative stereotypes and bad actors have distorted its real meanings. While some are reclaiming it, I find power in a more precise language. I choose “intuitive” because it reflects the grounded, integrated nature of my work—a collaboration between spirit, mind, and practical guidance.

Take another look at your list from the beginning of this article. Would you change any of your items? Or do you see any of them in a different way now? I invite you to check your biases at the door the next time you come across a psychic reader, just to see what happens.

Ready to experience intuitive guidance, free from the stereotypes? Book an Embodied Tarot Session with me, where we focus on clarity and empowerment, not predictions.

In Light & Love, Evylyn Rose