A psychic reading is one of the more unusual outings you can plan. A reader uses tarot cards, the lines on your palm, a crystal ball or just conversation to tell you about your personality, your relationships and what might be ahead. You'll find readers in small storefront shops, at street fairs and festivals, on boardwalks and tourist strips, and booked for private parties.

The right way to approach it is as entertainment, the same way you'd enjoy a magic show or read your horoscope. Psychic abilities have never held up under scientific testing, and a good reading is part performance and part sharp people-reading. Taken in that spirit, it can be fun, surprisingly thoughtful, and a great story to tell afterward.

The Date Activity

For a couple, a reading is a quirky date with a built-in conversation starter. Get readings together or one after the other, then compare notes over drinks: who got the more flattering future, and how much of it sounded like either of you. Tarot is a good first pick because the cards are beautiful and the reader explains each one as it's turned, so you can follow along.

It works best as one stop in a bigger evening. Pair it with a magic show for a night of mystery, or a comedy club to keep the mood light. In October, it fits right in with a haunted house or a ghost walk.

On Your Own / With Friends

Readers are a popular party act. Some will come to a birthday, bachelorette party or office event and give short readings to each guest, which keeps everyone talking. With friends, a group stop at a fair or boardwalk booth makes for easy laughs, and someone always gets a fortune worth teasing them about for weeks.

On your own, a reading can be oddly relaxing: half an hour of talking through what's on your mind with someone who's paying close attention. Go in curious and keep a sense of humor about it.

Good to Know

Agree on the price and the length of the reading before it starts, since some readers charge by the minute, by the question or by the card spread. Walk away from anyone who tells you you're cursed or offers to remove bad luck for an extra fee; that's a well-known scam. You don't have to share personal details, and you can end the reading whenever you like. Don't base real decisions about money, health or relationships on what you hear. If you want to remember it, ask before taking notes or recording.