Psychometry

Psychometry differs from many other forms of scrying in that it is primarily concerned with seeing into the past ("retrocognition") rather than the future ("precognition"). Psychometry in parapsychology should not be confused with the psychological discipline of psychometrics which concerns testing and analysis of psychological traits.

The word psychometry was invented by US physiology professor Joseph R. Buchanan in 1842. It literally means "soul measurement" - from the Greek "psyche" (soul) and "metron" (measure).

The basis of psychometry is that the psychic takes an object and - usually as a result of physical contact - is able to "see" its past. This might take the form of knowing to whom it has belonged or simply feeling strong emotions connected with it. For example, has this weapon ever been fired in anger?

At its most effective, psychometry allows the psychic to gain a picture of the events surrounding the past of an object. If this information is accurate then it could potentially be of use in detection of crime.

How Does Psychometry Work?

Touch or, at the least, close proximity appears to be essential for effective psychometric reading. Many scryers have reported greater success with metallic objects - that could provide some clues to a possible scientific basis for the phenomenom.

Buchanan hypothesised that an object contained some form of "memory" of its past, a sort of soul, that psychics can read and interpret. Some people liken this to the theosophical concept of the Akashic reord.

Others have suggested that psychometry is in some way akin to aura reading.

Another theory is that psychometry is unconscious ESP. The object is essentially acting as a focus for the reader's psi power.

"Pseudo-psychometry" is an effect often presented by mind magicians ("mentalists") and there are many ways to achieve the effect of which the most well-known is probably Theodore Annemann's. As always, the fact that something can be faked does not mean that it is never genuine.