Psychic vs. Medium: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on November 10, 2023
A Psychic perceives information using extrasensory abilities, while a Medium communicates directly with spirits.
Key Differences
Both Psychic and Medium are terms connected to the realm of the supernatural and spiritual. A Psychic primarily has the ability to perceive information, events, or emotions that are not accessible through ordinary human senses. On the other hand, a Medium acts as a bridge between the living and the spirits of the deceased, facilitating communication between them.
The realm of a Psychic can be vast, ranging from predicting future events, reading minds, or perceiving distant occurrences. A Medium, however, focuses more narrowly on interacting with the spirits, often relaying messages or insights from the deceased to the living.
While some people approach Psychics to gain insight into their future, understand their present, or make sense of their past, individuals consult Mediums mainly to get closure, messages, or connections from loved ones who have passed away. Both roles require sensitivity, but while a Psychic senses information, a Medium communicates.
Interestingly, not all Psychics are Mediums, but many Mediums claim to have psychic abilities. This means a Psychic might perceive information using their extrasensory abilities without necessarily communicating with spirits, whereas a Medium always interacts with the spirit world.
Lastly, the tools and techniques employed can vary. Psychics might use tarot cards, crystal balls, or numerology. Mediums, in contrast, might hold séances, engage in automatic writing, or use their intuitive senses to receive messages from spirits.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Role
Perceives information through extrasensory abilities.
Communicates directly with spirits.
Focus
Future events, reading minds, distant occurrences.
Relaying messages from the deceased to the living.
Purpose of Consultation
Insight into future, present, or past.
Connection or messages from the departed.
Overlap
Might not communicate with spirits.
Often claims to have psychic abilities.
Tools/Techniques
Tarot cards, crystal balls, numerology.
Séances, automatic writing, intuitive senses.
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Psychic and Medium Definitions
Psychic
Psychic can perceive information hidden from the senses.
The Psychic revealed things she had never told anyone.
Medium
Medium is a person who communicates with the spirits.
The Medium channeled messages from her deceased grandmother.
Psychic
Psychic pertains to the mind or soul.
He experienced a psychic connection with the place.
Medium
Medium is an intervening substance or agency.
Air is the medium through which sound travels.
Psychic
Psychic relates to phenomena beyond natural explanation.
The event had a psychic significance she couldn't ignore.
Medium
Medium is a means of mass communication.
Television is a powerful medium for advertising.
Psychic
Psychic is someone with extrasensory perception.
She visited a Psychic to know about her future prospects.
Medium
Medium is a substance in which something grows or is embedded.
Agar is a medium used for growing bacteria.
Psychic
Psychic can influence events using the mind.
Some believe that psychic energies can heal.
Medium
Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
Psychic
A person apparently responsive to psychic forces.
Medium
A substance that propagates energy or signals through space via changes in its own state
Air acts as a medium for the transmission of sound waves.
Psychic
See medium.
Medium
The sparsely distributed gas and dust subsisting in the space between stars.
Psychic
Of, relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; mental
Psychic trauma.
Psychic energy.
Medium
Psychic
Capable of extraordinary mental processes, such as extrasensory perception and mental telepathy.
Medium
An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred
The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
Psychic
Of or relating to such mental processes.
Medium
A means of mass communication, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television.
Psychic
A person who possesses, or appears to possess, extra-sensory abilities such as precognition, clairvoyance and telepathy, or who appears to be susceptible to paranormal or supernatural influences.
Medium
Media(used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
Psychic
(parapsychology) A person who supposedly contacts the dead; a medium.
Medium
Pl. media(Computers)Any of various kinds of storage devices, such as hard drives or digital audiotape.
Psychic
(gnosticism) In gnostic theologian Valentinus' triadic grouping of man the second type; a person focused on intellectual reality (the other two being hylic and pneumatic).
Medium
Pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic.
Psychic
Relating to or having the abilities of a psychic.
You must be psychic—I was just about to say that.
She is a psychic person—she hears messages from beyond.
Medium
A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives.
Psychic
Relating to the psyche or mind, or to mental activity in general.
Medium
The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives.
Psychic
Of or pertaining to the human soul, or to the living principle in man.
Medium
A culture medium.
Psychic
Of or pertaining to the mind, or its functions and diseases; mental; - contrasted with physical.
Medium
A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved
The medium of lithography.
Psychic
A person apparently sensitive to things beyond the natural range of perception
Medium
The materials used in a specific artistic technique
Oils as a medium.
Psychic
Pertaining to forces or mental processes outside the possibilities defined by natural or scientific laws;
Psychic reader
Psychical research
Medium
A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency.
Psychic
Affecting or influenced by the human mind;
Psychic energy
Psychic trauma
Medium
(Chemistry) A filtering substance, such as filter paper.
Psychic
Outside the sphere of physical science;
Psychic phenomena
Medium
Occurring or being between two degrees, amounts, or quantities; intermediate
Ordered a medium coffee.
Medium
The material of the surrounding environment, e.g. solid, liquid, gas, vacuum, or a specific substance such as a solvent.
Medium
The materials or empty space through which signals, waves, or forces pass.
Medium
A format for communicating or presenting information.
Medium
(microbiology) A nutrient substance, commonly a solution or solid, for the growth of cells in vitro.
Medium
(biology, horticulture etc.) A substance, structure, or environment in which living organisms subsist, grow or are cultured.
Medium
A means, channel, agency or go-between through which communication, commerce, etc is conveyed or carried on, or by which an aim is achieved.
Medium
(engineering) The materials used to finish a workpiece using a mass finishing or abrasive blasting process.
Medium
A liquid base which carries pigment in paint.
Medium
(painting) A means of expression, in the arts, such as a material (oil, pastel, clay, etc) or method or style (expressionism, jazz, etc).
Acrylics, oils, charcoal, and gouache are all mediums I used in my painting.
Medium
Someone who supposedly conveys information from the spirit world.
Medium
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
Medium
One who fits an item of that size.
Medium
A half-pint serving of Guinness (or other stout in some regions).
Medium
(countable) A middle place or degree.
A happy medium
Medium
An average; sometimes the mathematical mean.
Medium
The mean or middle term of a syllogism, that by which the extremes are brought into connection.
Medium
(obsolete) Arithmetically average.
Medium
Of intermediate size, degree, amount etc.
Medium
Of meat, cooked to a point greater than rare but less than well done; typically, so the meat is still red in the centre.
Medium
That is medium the manufactured size.
Medium
To a medium extent.
Medium
That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity.
The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection.
Medium
See Mean.
Medium
A substance through which an effect is transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of sound.
Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.
I must bring togetherAll these extremes; and must remove all mediums.
Medium
An average.
A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.
Medium
A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper.
Medium
The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.
Medium
A source of nutrients in which a microorganism is placed to permit its growth, cause it to produce substances, or observe its activity under defined conditions; also called culture medium or growth medium. The medium is usually a solution of nutrients in water, or a similar solution solidified with gelatin or agar.
Medium
A means of transmission of news, advertising, or other messages from an information source to the public, also called a news medium, such as a newspaper or radio; used mostly in the plural form, i. e. news media or media. See 1st media{2}.
Medium
Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.
Medium
A means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
Medium
The surrounding environment;
Fish require an aqueous medium
Medium
An intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication
Medium
(bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organisms
Medium
An intervening substance through which something is achieved;
The dissolving medium is called a solvent
Medium
A liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
Medium
(biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
Medium
A state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position;
A happy medium
Medium
Someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead;
He consulted several mediums
Medium
Transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public
Medium
An occupation for which you are especially well suited;
In law he found his true metier
Medium
Around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures;
An orange of average size
Intermediate capacity
A plane with intermediate range
Medium bombers
Medium
(of meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside
Medium
Medium denotes something in the middle in terms of size or quality.
She ordered her steak medium.
FAQs
Is every Medium also a Psychic?
Not necessarily, though many Mediums claim to have psychic abilities.
What does a Psychic do?
A Psychic perceives information using extrasensory abilities.
How does a Medium differ from a Psychic?
A Medium communicates directly with spirits, while a Psychic perceives information.
How can one develop psychic abilities?
Some believe in meditation, spiritual practices, or training, though there's no guaranteed method.
Can a Psychic predict the future?
Some Psychics claim to predict future events, but accuracy varies.
Can Mediums connect with any spirit?
Mediums claim to connect with spirits, but the ability to reach specific spirits varies.
Do Psychics use tools for their readings?
Yes, some Psychics use tarot cards, crystal balls, or numerology.
Can a person be both a Psychic and a Medium?
Yes, many Mediums claim to have psychic abilities, but not all Psychics are Mediums.
Why do people consult Mediums?
Often to receive messages or closure from departed loved ones.
How do Psychics perceive information?
Through extrasensory perception, often beyond natural explanation.
Are psychic abilities scientifically proven?
Psychic phenomena remain controversial and lack consistent scientific validation.
Is there a scientific explanation for Mediums?
Scientific validation for Mediumship is limited, and it remains a topic of debate.
How can someone verify a Psychic's information?
Verification is personal; it depends on the individual's beliefs and the accuracy of the information provided.
Do all Psychics and Mediums charge for their services?
While many do charge, some offer their services for free or on a donation basis.
How to differentiate between a genuine Medium and a fraud?
Research, testimonials, and personal intuition can guide in making an informed decision.
Do all cultures believe in Psychic and Medium abilities?
Beliefs vary across cultures, but many have traditions or individuals with psychic or mediumistic abilities.
Is it possible to learn Mediumship?
Some believe it's a natural gift, while others think it can be developed with training.
Can Psychics read minds?
Some Psychics claim to have telepathic abilities, but experiences vary.
Why are séances associated with Mediums?
Séances are gatherings where Mediums attempt to communicate with spirits.
How do Mediums receive messages?
Through intuitive senses, séances, or automatic writing, among other methods.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
