Mentalism & Spiritism in Magic & Conjuring

Written by Craig Browning for the sake of educating those curious about the art of mentalism as it pertains to the world of theatrical magic.

1st edition 2011, 46 pages.

This tiny ebook file contains 125 words and a revolutionary, never before thought-of, never before revealed, never before published principle that allows you to give amazingly accurate readings. With this principle alone, you could go to a psychic fair, set up shop, and let client do all the heavy lifting for you. (Okay, those two last sentences were hype!) This ebook may be shorter than others, but it provides you with the essential principle.

I offer this file to inspire people. I would be greatly interested in hearing your thoughts on the principle. You can reach me at the following email:...

Some theoretical thoughts on peeking and meaningful spectator interaction. In particular Julien Losa discusses what personal information to ask our spectators during a routine.

1st edition 2015, 4 pages.

Why would anyone purchase another eBook or watch another video on the subject of cold reading? What could possibly be new that hasn't already been said? I too would be skeptical. After you've read Webster, Dewey, Scryer and others, what else could there be? Drawing on my ten years as a Pastor and fourteen years as an Executive Coach (and zero years as a psychic), please, if you're at all curious, take a few moments and watch as I share my perspective on cold reading, how that perspective evolved, and then a quick overview of the model I'm recommending in my series of five eBooks soon to be released...

Cathy Shadows: Tarot on a Cold Afternoon is a poetical journey through the Major Arcana of the Tarot, composed by Paul Voodini and inspired by long afternoons spent chatting with his favourite psychic and reader, Cathy Shadows! This is a delightful little ebook, full of whimsy and poetical insight. For the experienced reader it is sure to raise a smile and offer perhaps some new insights. For the newcomer to the Tarot, it will open the eyes to the poetry and beauty of these much-misunderstood cards.

Each of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana are examined, and although this PDF will not teach...

The last few years have been a bit complicated for everyone, due to events that have influenced the lives of all of us, inhabitants of planet earth. We struggled, we resisted, we got out. And, I must admit, even with some positive notes! Our passion, Magic, has taken a few hits, from the point of view of activities and communications with the public; in some cases - as in mine - it has also acquired new operating methods.

Driven by friends and acquaintances, I started looking for effects to offer over the phone; to give them meaning, in addition to the difficulty of writing the story perfectly...

This booklet is indeed a bargain, with effects by Hewitt, J. G. Thompson and Annemann. Among the effects you will find the famous Mental Masterpiece from Annemann.

1st edition 1935, PDF 16 pages.

1. Annemann's Diabolo Pellet Reading
2. The Modern Mindreader (Hewitt)
4. Annemann's Psychic Writing
5. Annemann's Mental Masterpiece
7. The New Double Telepathy Routine (Annemann)
8. Greta Annemann's Eyes of the Unknown
10. 30th Century Television (Hewitt and Annemann)
11. Coincidence (Hewitt)
12. Penetrating Vision (J. G. Thompson)
14. The Impromptu Mind Reader
15. GETIT! (Annemann)

This booklet is included with every sale of a swami gimmick at Sam's Funtime shop. With this digital edition you will of course not receive any swami gimmicks. But you will receive all the information about how to use one, with routine ideas and other important information of how to practice and care for your gimmick.

• Introduction
• The Swami Gimmick
• Fixing the Lead in the Gimmick
• Learning to use the Swami Gimmick
• Presentation Angles
• Choosing a Spectator and making a Prediction
• Writing the Visible Prediction
• The "Secret" Writing
• Other Considerations
• Prediction Ideas
• Easy Predictions ...

Harry Houdini spent a good part of his life exposing mediums and 'unexplainable' phenomena. In this booklet he describes the case of the Boston "Margery" and the prize the Scientific American put up for true paranormal effects. He not only clearly describes and demonstrates the tricks of this very clever medium but also tells the difficulties surrounding the actual exposure. Houdini was world class in the role of the detective. It is fascinating to read how he sensitised his leg to be able to feel the slightest movement the medium made.

Margery or Mina Stinson (1888–1941) was born in Canada...

3 Invisible Keys of Wonder is the first edition of Coffee Break Mental Magic, a weekly Paul Voodini PDF publication featuring stunning routines that utilize commonplace tools of mentalism, and sold for less than the price of a cup of coffee. The emphasis on the routines is powerful storylines and simple mechanics, meaning that all can enjoy them and use them, from beginners to seasoned professionals.

Normally the weekly Coffee Break Mental Magic release will feature a single routine, but to celebrate its launch, this first edition '3 Invisible Keys to Wonder' features three original routines,...

Paul Voodini presents Multi-Dimensional Out Of This World, the second in the weekly Coffee Break Mental Magic series. This is the Christmas & New Year 2013 edition, and as such it features something a little bit special. It is Paul Voodini's take on the classic Out Of This World card routine. However, as you can probably imagine, in the hands of Voodini Out Of This World is shaken up and is turned into a 3 phase routine featuring a volunteer being appointed as the group's psychic, a message being delivered from the spirits, and a display of personal intuition that contains within it a subconscious...

The third edition of Coffee Break Mental Magic is a Sherlock Holmes special to celebrate the launch on January 1st of the third series of BBC TV's wonderful Sherlock programme! This PDF features a self-working card routine (the only equipment you need is a normal deck of cards) that explores the eternal dance between the Great Detective and the King of Crime, Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty! What is the unbreakable bond that links these two men? Why is it that they battle to destroy each other and yet neither can exist without the other? Holmes & Moriarty - the Yin & Yang of crime and...

This is the fifth edition of the Coffee Break Mental Magic series and features a spooky routine based around the ghost stories of author M.R. James! When a collector of occult and esoteric books visits a small bookshop in the English village of Castleton, he could not have predicted that a demon would later be sent to kill him! However as a student of the occult, the book-loving collector is not as easy to kill as might be expected!

This is an enthralling story-telling routine that utilises a thumb tip bill switch or classic billet switch (or even a change bag). It is beyond the scope of...

This is the fourth release in the Coffee Break Mental Magic series and features two very special routines plus for the first time, a short story on a magical theme!

Paul Voodini presents the Story Teller's Oracle. This is a dice based reading system that is totally original and works in a way that has perhaps not been explored before. The system is pleasingly easy to master meaning memory work is kept to a minimum (no need for hidden cribs or sheets of numbers!), all of which allows the performer to concentrate on presentation, atmosphere, and engaging the sitter.

Paul is also delighted...

If you have ever wondered what is the best way to force a card or number or item in a certain situation, then you can stop wondering. This booklet is nothing but forcing methods. It is ideal if you design your own routines and would like to find the most suitable force. It is also great for people who have problems with one or another force, since here they will find other methods to reach the same outcome. Very simply said, get this ebook and stop worrying about your forces.

You could also get the version which includes Victor Farelli's notes: 202 Methods of Forcing - with Victor Farelli Notes.

first edition, 1933, Max Holden, New York;...

Annemann teaches thirteen commercial mentalism pieces with slates, cards, dollar bills, telephone books and cigarettes. The majority of routines involves cards. Annemann's unique direct style is felt in each one of these effects.

Paul Fleming wrote:

A collection of twelve typically ingenious Annemann creations, from the pages of The Sphinx.

first edition, 1952, Sphinx Publishing Corporation; 16 pages.

1. East Indian Needle Feat
2. Cigarette in Bill Again
4. Mentalex?
4. Telephone Mystery
5. Attention Mentalists
6. No Title at All
7. Three Card Monte Outdone
8. The Master Mind
12. My Original Swami Test
14. Improvement 8,000
14. Slate Writing Wrinkle
15. Club or Stage Mental Number
15. A Mediumistic Stunt

Annemann has created a wonderfully direct telephone book test where he has eliminated faked books, pads, mathematical oddities, forcing decks and the thousand and one "foreign" objects that have been used in combination. He incorporated an Al Baker idea to make this a true miracle. You also get notes added by Kanter's magic shop which further explain various details and important points.

first edition, 1932; 2 pages.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from January 19th 1944. The feature effect is a ticket divination and the three guests are Beatrice Kay, singer, Carmel Snow, editor and John G. Shalit, entrepreneur.

This show #1 recording is not of the best sound quality. The other shows are of better quality. However, remember that these are old radio shows from the 40s. These are not your typical hi-fi CD quality recordings.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from February 23rd 1944. The feature effect is a ticket divination and the guests are Brigadier General W. A. Danielson, W. B. Fowler president of the 19th Century Club, Jimmy Brown captain and second baseman of St. Louis Cardinals, Roy Acuff Grand Ol' Opry maestro.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from July 19th 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the name Malini and then divines places and addresses. The feature effect is a murder divination. The guests are Raymond Edward Johnson of "Inner Sanctum," Muriel Stafford graphologist, Marion Chocket "Ellery Queen's" Secretary and Dick Brown singing star.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod or other MP3 player.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from April 12th 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the number 3150 and the names 'Cobin' and 'Forman'. The guests are Betty Smith author of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", Richard Rodgers songwriter and Bea Wayne singer.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from 26th April 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the name Sallye Kaufman and the birth date May 8th 1902. The guests are congresswoman Ruth Bryan Rhoda, newsman Fred Archibald and musician and movie star Vaughan Monroe.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

Dunninger performed his mentalism on the radio in 1929 and from 1943-1944. This is one such episode from 1944. Dunninger starts with divining the letter number combination SO85999, the state Texas and the name Nora. The guests are senator Ford, Joe Laurie Jr. and Harry Hirschfield.

The MP3 format allows you to listen to it with your iPod, any other MP3 player or on your computer.

This is a 1944 radio interview with Dunninger. This recording seems to be not entirely complete but it nevertheless is a fascinating historical marker.

The Aeon Reading is a mysterious Tarot card reading/experiment that will leave your participant wondering about the mystical powers of the Tarot. It will also leave them with an important message. If you perform at all with Tarot cards, you’ll surely be using this routine which has been in Alexandre's repertoire for years.

Written for the Thoth tarot deck (where the Aeon card is the 20th card) it can be automatically adapted to any tarot deck you might already own. This is based on a self working principle - no sleight of hand required.

1st edition 2005; 3 pages.

A bizarre magic issue.

• Bizarre Magic in Restaurants? by Eugene Burger
• Walking Around Bizarre-ly by Joe Lantiere
• In The Trenches with Paul Green
• My Turn by Jim Sisti
• Here's a Tip...Accept Only Gems! by Scott Wells
• Ask the Only by Al The Only
• Reviews
  • "Futureclock" by Kuniyasu Fujiwara and Tooru Suzuki
  • "Automatic Miracle Deck" by Bodie Blake
  • "Die-Cipher" by Chazpro Magic Co.
  • "Randy's Rainbow Deck" by Randy Wakeman
  • "Greater Magic" by John Northern Hilliard
  • "The Pass" by Gary Ouellet
  • "Dai Vernon's Secrets of Magic" by Dai Vernon and Bruce Cervon and "Ultra Cervon" by Bruce Cervon
  • "From the Bottom Up" by Jerry Camaro ...

• Mentalism Up-Close by Mark Strivings
• In the Trenches with Paul Green
• The Bar Fly by Simon Lovell
• The Power of Inflation by Larry Moss
• Ask The Only by Al The Only
• My Turn by Jim Sisti
• Reviews
  • "Ultimate Brainwave" by Bob Solari
  • "Dishonest Abe" by Gregory Wilson
  • "Workers 5" by Michael Close
  • "The Restaurant Worker's Handbook" by Jim Pace and Jerry MacGregor
• 1996 Magic Menu Awards
• Thirty-Seven by Mark Strivings
• 50-50-50 Chance by Mark Strivings
• ESP in my Pocket by Mark Strivings
• The Last Word by Chris Hurlbert

Here you will find an ESP Card trick, three PK tricks, one trick with a regular deck, and a book test.

• An ESP Cards Effect
• Mini-Miraculous
• A Numbered Affair
• Misdirection Washer Bend
• Raw Metal
• A Subtle Dime Bend

1st edition 2012, 12 pages.

This effect was very popular in the early 1900s. It was used in vaudeville, tent shows, and touring illusion shows. However, today, it is almost forgotten.

This secret has been sold in the past by Nelson Enterprises, Nelmar, Joe Ovette and Del-Ardo and is now being revealed again to modern-day performers, who wish to add this novelty to their acts.

If you have seen Devin Knight perform, you may have seen him do this feat. It is a regular part of his show. This can be used by magicians, mentalists, and metaphysical performers; but, be warned, Even though there is a gimmick. This is not...

An envelope is shown upon which there is a question mark. Nearly a dozen cards are removed and shown to have the names of various colors written on them. The cards are mixed and a spectator is asked to remove one. The remaining cards are put away back into the envelope. The spectator can put the card away someplace on their person. In spite of this, the performer is able give them a reading (if desired) based on the color as well as divine the color of the card selected.

Included are the complete instructions for this routine which includes Kyle's color coding system "A Question of Color",...

This is a new effect from Devin Knight's recent East Coast lecture tour. It uses a special Svengali deck in a way that magicians will never suspect. So you know, you will need to own or buy a Svengali Deck and gimmick it to do this trick. Take this to your next magic club meeting and puzzle the members.

EFFECT: The performer shows a deck of cards and mixes them. He invites a spectator to stop him as he deals the cards face down on the table. The person can stop him anywhere in the deal, there are no restrictions. The performer deals until the person says stop. The performer shows the card...

The Snip-Snip Want Ad Test is the a sensational, simplified, baffling and easy to present effect. No switching, palming, sleight of hand or advance preparation is needed. Guard the secret well. I have seen professional mentalists pay $100 and more for secrets far inferior to this. Your audience will not believe it. Neither would you if you were not in on the secret.

Effect: A single column of want ads cut from any newspaper is freely shown. It is not gimmicked or prepared in any way. Holding the strip vertically, you start to snip ads from the bottom of the strip, one at a time, until a spectator...

This was designed to fool both skeptics and magicians. This is one of the most stunning mediumistic stunts ever devised. It was developed and used by the old school mediums. It was so unbelievable; it fooled reporters, skeptics and magicians. A medium who could be searched and placed into a darkened room could cause a spirit to materialize in full view, without the aid of any secret assistants. This could be done in anyone's home.

The amazing thing was that this was accomplished without luminous cardboard props, luminous cheesecloths, luminous paint or other props sold by Nelson Enterprises....

Here's Alexander's own method of a stage mentalism feat that borders on genuine clairvoyance. You, too, can be "The Man Who Knows!"

A spectator selects a page of classified ads from among several in the newspaper and perhaps a hundred individual ads are cut out. Half a dozen spectators assist by folding the ads in half and placing them on a tray or table. From among the ads, thirteen are selected at random (a true free choice) and each is inserted into a standard drug or coin envelope and sealed. Note that the performer does not assist in the folding, inserting or sealing operation.

The...

Real lie detection for mentalists and magicians. Know when someone is lying by holding their wrists.

"This, as Devin says, is for the advanced performer. It is not new, it is not 100%, but for those times that you must, this is the solution. Do not overlook this, and if you know the method, you will be delightfully experimenting. Put this in your arsenal." - Marc Salem

This information was first made available to the magic...

From the introduction:

This will go up to $3 from May 15th, 2023.

Psychabulary is instant psychic vocabulary to impress your audiences. Psychabulary is a 'system' which gives you instant ability to use about 1000 different 'alpha' phrases which make you seem like a highly qualified psychology expert

Create instant scientific sounding phrases for your patter whether it is a magic trick or a mentalism effect you may be performing, without even a moment's hesitation. Give instant justification to any magic or mentalism process, again without even a moment's hesitation. Give instant explanations for any magical phenomenon...

A collection of self-working tricks based on a simple mathematical principle with multi-colored chips.

You will need to make the 5 chips yourself. Each chip has a color on the front and back. These chips can be easily made with stickers or permanent makers.

1st edition 1975, PDF 11 pages.

A short and whimsical booklet that explores the uses of smoke machines in mentalism. Even if you never chose to use smoke in your performances, the examples will inspire you to think about ways in which your mentalism might look to your audience.

You will read about ways in which smoke can be used as a visual metaphor, for gags, or to illustrate your "fauxcess" (a term that Derren Brown and Andy Nyman coined to denote the implied method that you want your audience to think you are using).

Fun fact: Derren Brown read the ad text for this book (back when it was a small Xeroxed and hand-cut...

Pet Readings 4 Mind-Readers outlines a fascinating and engaging personality profile reading system suitable both for beginners and more experienced cold readers. Devised by Cathy Shadows and expanded upon by Paul Voodini, this very special edition of Coffee Break Mental Magic describes in detail the actual reading method which is based around pet animals. Following these details, the manuscript goes on to demonstrate how the technique can be used to win over a table of guests at any kind of function in a matter of moments, to provide insightful and fascinating stand-alone readings, and to augment...