Cold Reading Techniques First of all, let's define what 'cold reading' means. Then we can look at how it works. Every year, millions of people all over the world go for 'psychic' readings of one kind or another. The reading could be based on tarot cards, astrology, palmistry, peering into a crystal ball, graphology (i.e. a reading based on a sample of your handwriting), relaying messages from people who have 'passed over' (died) or some other divinatory system. Ian Rowland Cold Reading...