5 Best Psychic Development Books

These five books are a great starting point for anyone new to parapsychology.

5 Must-Read Books for Anyone Opening Up Their Abilities

What are the most important books for developing psychic abilities? That’s an interesting question. It depends on a person’s natural abilities, skills, and talents — their core strengths. This is a very personal journey, and it’s usually best to start there first.

There are actually more than 26 different psychic abilities people try to train and develop, so the field is quite broad. Still, there are a few books that can help you get a better understanding of the field in general. Many users on Reddit/Quora consider them the best choice for beginners.

• Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn
• Everybody’s Guide to Natural ESP: Unlocking the Extrasensory Power of Your Mind by Ingo Swann
• Psychic Development for Beginners by William W. Hewitt
• Six Ways… by Aidan Wachter
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

#1 Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

Psychic Witch is a practical guide that combines meditation, energy practices, and work with “psychic senses.” The main idea of the book is that intuition can be developed through 93 useful exercises. The book is widely recommended within the community and related circles.

The book was first published in 2020 by Mat Auryn, a modern teacher and practitioner working in the field of psychic development. Many people consider it one of the best books for beginners. It is praised for its very practical format. As for exercises, you won’t need any physical tools or materials, this isn’t a recipe book.

By the way, even if you are confident in your psychic abilities, you will still discover something new, or at least an aspect you can refine and develop further.

#2 Everybody’s Guide to Natural ESP by Ingo Swann

This book was written by Ingo Swann, one of the most famous figures in the history of remote viewing and psychic research. He worked with the Stanford Research Institute during the Cold War and became widely known for helping develop the original remote viewing protocols later studied by the U.S. government.

Unlike many modern psychic books, Everybody’s Guide to Natural ESP feels more experimental and observational.

The book covers intuition, telepathy, clairvoyance, energy perception, and altered states of awareness. Many readers describe the book as strange, thought-provoking, and surprisingly practical despite being first published decades ago. It is especially popular among people interested in remote viewing, consciousness research, and the scientific side of psychic phenomena.

#3 Psychic Development for Beginners by William W. Hewitt

This is exactly what the title sounds like — a simple introduction for people who have little or no experience with meditation, visualization, or psychic exercises.

The book focuses heavily on basic practices like relaxation, concentration, grounding, and imagination training. While some advanced practitioners may find the material too basic, many beginners like it precisely because it does not overwhelm the reader with complicated terminology or spiritual philosophy.

The exercises are short, direct, and easy to practice daily without needing special rituals or equipment.

#4 Six Ways by Aidan Wachter

If you’re interested in an animistic view of magic and spirit work in general then we’d say this book is for you.

Six Ways is one of the more unusual literature on this list. Aidan Wachter writes in a very direct and grounded way that many readers find refreshing. The main focus is about changing perception, attention, and the way you interact with reality.The book has become especially popular among people interested in modern occultism, manifestation, energy work, and non-dogmatic spiritual practice. The author also gives a good-sized list of recommended reading.

#5 The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

At first glance, The Artist’s Way may seem unrelated to psychic development. It was originally written as a creativity and self-discovery program for artists, writers, and musicians. But surprisingly, many people interested in intuition and psychic perception recommend it.

Based on Reddit reviews, it is less of a traditional writing manual and more of a creativity-recovery program. Many readers say the book helped them reconnect with creativity after burnout, self-doubt, depression, or long creative blocks. The core practices — especially Morning Pages (three pages of free writing every morning) and Artist Dates (solo activities meant to inspire creativity) — are what people mention most often.

A lot of Reddit users say the book works best if you fully commit to the routine for several weeks. Some described it as surprisingly transformative, helping them become more consistent, less afraid of creating, and more aware of their artistic goals. A few people even said it changed their daily habits for years afterward.

At the same time, many readers struggled with the book’s spiritual tone. Julia Cameron frequently talks about God, the Creator, and creativity as a kind of higher force. Some readers connected deeply with that approach, while others found it preachy, overly self-congratulatory, or too similar to a 12-step recovery program. Several people also felt the book could have been much shorter and that the exercises sometimes felt repetitive or emotionally intense.