In a world that prizes instant answers and personalized guidance, psychics promise exactly what many people seek: insight into the unknown, clarity about the future, and comfort amid uncertainty.
As we grapple with life’s challenges —such as uncertain job prospects, strained relationships, or personal suffering —it’s tempting to reach for any source of assurance. But when that source claims knowledge beyond what God reveals through natural and supernatural means, we must pause and ask: Whom am I really trusting?
But for Catholics, this pursuit carries spiritual consequences that go far beyond curiosity.
And the Catholic Church is clear on this issue. Turning to psychics is not just a bad habit; it is a spiritual danger. It undermines the very foundation of our relationship with God: trust.
Scripture’s Clear Warning: Seek God, Not Secrets
The Bible repeatedly and unequivocally warns against all forms of divination, including psychic readings. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states:
“No one shall be found among you who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, augur, or sorcerer… For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD.”
In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul committed the disobedience of seeking supernatural insight through forbidden means by consulting the Witch of Endor to summon the deceased prophet Samuel.
Instead of repenting, Saul sought supernatural insight through forbidden means. This decision sealed his downfall. The illicitly summoned prophet Samuel rebuked him with painful clarity:
“Why do you ask me, if the Lord has abandoned you?” (1 Samuel 28:16)
Saul’s sin wasn’t that he wanted guidance. It was that he sought it through the occult for selfish reasons, bypassing God’s timing and method. Like many who consult psychics today, he wanted control rather than union with God.
The Catechism Speaks: Divination Is a Grave Offense
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is just as direct:
“All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future… They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” (CCC 2116)
Psychics fall under this prohibition because they attempt to reveal hidden knowledge that God has not given us access to. Whether it’s tarot cards, palm reading, or astrology apps, the issue isn’t style, it’s source. Where does the knowledge come from, and why are we seeking it?
Why Psychics Aren’t Harmless “Fun”
Some people see psychic readings as harmless entertainment—something to do with friends or out of boredom. But even seemingly innocent spiritual dabbling can open the door to dangerous consequences.
The word occult comes from the Latin occultus, meaning hidden or secret knowledge. That is precisely what psychics promise. But knowledge isn’t inherently good; it must come from a trustworthy source. Trying to uncover the future through paranormal means isn’t neutral—it’s a rejection of our call to live by faith.
It’s important to distinguish between practices rooted in science and reason and those grounded in superstition or manipulation. Weather forecasting, for example, relies on observable data and the scientific method to serve the common good. Psychic practices, on the other hand, seek private insight into the future for personal gain by invoking unknown or spiritual forces. They are not rational or reliable—they are deceptive and spiritually dangerous.
Jesus’ Teaching: Trust Over Control
Jesus speaks directly to our anxiety about the future:
“Do not worry about tomorrow… Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
To seek the future outside of God’s hands is, in effect, to say, God, I don’t trust You to lead me. Psychic readings may promise peace, but they’re counterfeit. The Catholic Church teaches that psychic readings are to be rejected because they contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear owed to God alone 1. Even if some people believe them to be supernaturally conjured, the Church considers such practices illicit and potentially deceptive, often involving the intervention of evil spirits rather than divine power They bypass the cross. But Christianity doesn’t promise clarity. It promises Christ. And He alone is trustworthy.
Truth is for the benefit of all humanity. Because God is our Creator and I am a creature, I am not meant to acquire control of the future of my life, especially through methods of the occult. This would be selfish of me and quite prideful.
The Saints and the Supernatural
The saints throughout history have spoken clearly against seeking secret knowledge.
St. Augustine warned that seeking insight outside of divine revelation leads us into confusion. His famous words remind us:
“Our hearts are restless until they rest in You, O Lord.”
St. John Paul II, in Fides et Ratio, taught that faith and reason together lead us to the truth. Not all “spiritual” experiences are of God. Some may simply distract or deceive.
St. Padre Pio exhorted the faithful:
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
Not: “Pray, then check in with a medium.”
So What Should Catholics Do Instead?
The answer is not to live blindly. It’s to live faithfully.
Here are a few trustworthy ways to seek God’s wisdom and guidance:
- Daily prayer and Scripture reading, especially the Psalms and Gospels
- Spiritual direction from a trusted priest or Catholic counselor
- The Sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, which provide grace for discernment
- Silence and stillness, where God often speaks most clearly
- Reading the saints, like St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Louis de Montfort, who offer tried and true methods of discernment
God doesn’t hide the truth from us. He invites us to seek it in relationship with Him.
Final Thoughts: Real Peace Isn’t Found in a Psychic’s Office
Seeking psychics is, at its core, a temptation to control what only God should govern. It’s rooted in fear, not faith. But Catholicism invites us into something far richer: deep trust in the providence of a loving Father.
As St. Paul writes:
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
In a culture obsessed with secret knowledge, Catholics are called to a radical act of spiritual maturity: surrender. Not blind ignorance, but trusting openness to the God who knows and loves us infinitely.
So the next time life feels uncertain—and it will—don’t pick up the phone to call a psychic. Pick up your Bible. Visit the Blessed Sacrament. Ask for the intercession of a saint. And above all, repeat this simple prayer of trust:
“Jesus, I trust in You.”
