Mentalism & Spiritism in Magic & Conjuring: page 26

Explorations, examples, and routines using equivoque.

Hobson's Choice: the choice of taking either what is offered or nothing else; the absence of choice. [after Thomas Hobson (1544-1631) of Cambridge, England, who rented horses and gave only one choice, that of the horse nearest the stable door]

Welcome to the first volume of Psuedo Chronicles. The goal of these notes and this series is to showcase effects that mimic real mind reading or extraordinary skill with playing cards. None of the effects contained herein require any sleight of hand beyond a beginner level. That being said, do not under estimate the power of these effects. They are a constant in my working repertoire and always receive great reactions. [Note: These effects have previously been published in Subtle which has been out of print for some time.

Effects:

Subtle: A routine that displays how far ahead you can get using psychology in a routine.

This demonstration...

"This is a marvel!!" - Marc Salem

You explain to them that this is a one in a 16.5 million possibility and that they have turned a near impossibility...

You and the participant are on both ends of a voice call. Using an imaginary deck of playing cards, the participant 'churns her thoughts' multiple times and finally sends across a few cards from her mind to your mind. You 'receive' those cards perfectly and reveal them to her in a stunning manner. This, in essence, is the effect.

You can perform this over a video call or virtual show apart from face to face performances. And this works in any language. Two versions of the routine are explained.

PSYCHIC VERSION which is totally propless (except for a piece of paper used by the participant...

Add A Number is a popular effect in the field of mentalism and magic. There are scores of methods for performing this routine. Here is another method which is especially suitable for a virtual show. This method is easy, simple and self working so you can focus more on your presentation. It is also engaging and allows you to involve and interact with multiple virtual audience members. The final impact is tremendous.

The performer asks the audience if they believe in ESP. There will be some who believe and some who do not. The routine is structured in such a manner that both the 'believers'...

The Echo Force is a beautiful force but way under utilized. It is powerful, effective and highly deceptive. And it can be applied in a multitude of ways. In book tests, predictions, divinations, drawing duplications and even in propless effects. The only limit is your imagination.

This force is completely self-working and you can focus totally on your presentation. There are no sleights needed, no preshow, no stooges or instant stooges. No equivoque, no dual reality, no memorization. And this works in any language.

The following 7 routines are explained based on the Echo Force.

1. TRILLIONS ...

A complete and hard-hitting sensational exhibition of mindreading, mental telepathy and ESP, designed especially for the Club Mentalist. Also suitable for TV and other occasions.

Nelson offered this 20-30 minute act for the equivalent of just under $70 when first released. While that is and was a considerable sum, it's nothing compared to the amount you can earn when you present this unforgettable psychic demonstration.

MASTER EFFECT No. 1. The mentalist borrows a pair of dollar bills from two different spectators. The bills are placed in separate envelopes and left in the possession of...

Lifecraft is a quick, solid feel good routine. The main routine is pure mind reading and there is an optional second phase too. This effect can be done face to face or in a virtual show. It can even be performed over a voice phone call.

The effect is flexible enough to be performed as a one off routine or as a part of a set. Very easy to learn and you can perform this almost as soon as you read this manuscript. No sleights, no stooges and no pre-show work. Nothing to reset as there is no set up at all. You are always ready to perform. Practically self working. Everything can be freely handled...

The effect as seen by the audience: The performer displays a red-backed deck and a blue-backed deck. Two participants each choose a deck freely. Then both participants mentally think of a different playing card each. They need not announce which card they are thinking of. Surprisingly, when each participant deals down their respective deck, they find their thought of card missing from that deck. As a kicker twist, each participant's thought of card is found in the other participant's deck.

Another effect as seen by the audience: The performer displays a red-backed deck and a blue-backed...

A classic principle. Some new innovative applications. The result is some cool card mentalism effects. 4 main effects and 2 bonus effects are explained. The main effects are all deckless card mentalism effects, where a physical deck of cards is not used. The bonus effects are for those who want to use a physical deck of cards, anyways.

The underlying theme is that of either predicting or divining a card mentally chosen by a participant. The methods are self-working, easy to learn, and a pleasure to perform. You can in fact forget about the method and focus fully on your presentation. There...

What is "Bending Minds"?

In this ebook, which will be structured in three volumes, you will see us use cards and simple pieces of paper, to develop mentalism effects that can be conducted live in person, or proposed at a distance, with a video connection or just audio (Zoom, Skype, Meet, etc., or even just on the phone), without the performer being able to see the cards, which are always handled by the viewer.

All descriptions come with a presentation, which is also original, very detailed, and inspired by movies, games, books, or just a simple emotion. A precious dress to be worn whenever...

"Thought Swiper is fantastic! I wish I'd thought of this! There is no faster way to get to the thought-of card. Absolutely wonderful!" - Bob Farmer

"I think it's so damn clever and honestly I've been having so much fun with it. It's an amazing little device and once magicians find out about it will carry it with them at all times." - Paul Romhany

"Patrik abhors memory work and mental arithmetic on stage. In "Thought Swiper" a fiendishly clever print gimmick strips a powerful principle older than Professor Hoffmann's Modern Magic (1876) of all its fussy calculations and memorization. The prop visually integrates all the...

The Kryptic Force is an easy yet powerful force but very little known in the field of magic or mentalism. As with any force, here too the applications of the force are limited only by your imagination. A few interesting routines and effects are shared here. But you can surely come up with many of your own routines using this beautiful force.

The actual process to force is very fast and direct. Maybe, depending on your presentation, it may take all of fifteen seconds to perform the force. Or you can stretch it for as long as you want. This is not a psychological force. The Kryptic Force...

This manuscript explains two interesting and useful forces with dice. Normal ungimmicked dice. One of the forces can even be done without actual dice - with just imaginary dice. So obviously, this force will find many uses in propless effects. The other force needs a couple of actual dice - ordinary and ungimmicked. Both the forces can be performed in face-to-face situations, in virtual shows, or even over voice phone calls.

You are sure to find several uses and applications for these forces. However, to get you started the following 3 routines are explained.

1. Propless Presidents
2. Forced...

Multiple outs is one of the oldest, classic, and powerful tools in mentalism. Several classic effects and routines in the history of mentalism and magic are built around multiple outs. Some of the standard tools like a pocket index were born out of this very concept of multiple outs.

In this manuscript, we will explore the 'DOUBT' method for constructing multiple outs. This is a technique or strategy which makes multiple outs much easier and more effective for many situations. This technique uses double blank business cards and uses the core nature of these double blank cards very potently....

With Bending Minds 2 continues the collection of effects centered on the principle of the binary system, according to a new and innovative vision. From this second volume on, not only playing cards will be used to tell our magical stories, but also simple notes or some business cards.

We present four more effects, two with cards and two with notes, with a number of elements varying from 4 to 8. Throughout the course of the effect, the cards are subject to a dynamic, the positions are constantly changing, each time in a different way. Even more than in the first volume you will be able to...

This is a quick mental effect that starts with a bit of fun and ends with a stun. All you need to perform this routine is a double blank business card and a one-time preparation on it which will last you many performances and then if needed you can prepare one more double blank business card.

This is totally self-working and easy to learn. And you can start performing this almost as soon as you have read this manuscript. This is ideal for close-up and parlor situations and also can be performed in a virtual show with a slightly bigger double blank card.

Effect: The participant reads...

A mathematical range force with routine and application ideas.

The Trinity Force is an easy yet powerful force but very little known in the field of magic or mentalism. As with any force, here too the applications of the force are limited only by your imagination. A few interesting routine ideas are shared here. But you can surely come up with many of your own routines using this beautiful force.

The actual process to force is very fast and direct. Maybe, depending on your presentation, it may take all of fifteen seconds to perform the force. Or you can stretch it for as long as you want....

A collection of mentalism-type demonstrations based on the framing of the treatment of witnesses in a courtroom setting, and the premises of influence, empathy, clairvoyance and telepathy.

Any similarity to actual practices and techniques of practicing attorneys at law or assistants is coincidental and grounded in mirth. These effects and scripts are for the legal system of the USA and may need modifications for congruency (or sanity) for the systems of other nations.

Truth Test

A defense attorney sometimes has too many witnesses willing to testify. Their eagerness to help often clouds...

What is the real meaning of life and zen? This was a question that seemingly stumped a master in a famous monastery. He said he didn't know. Naturally, this caused a certain amount of concern, how can a master not know the answer to this? But it happened and he announced to his students that they were to go away and come back at the next gathering with their answers. So begins an enlightening, easy, and impromptu any deck any time routine. Storytelling mentalism at its best.

This is one of my favorite presentations with playing cards, and one I'm fairly known for within my circle of influence...

Being a brief account of the most important historical phenomena; a criticism of their evidential value, and a complete exposition of the methods employed in fraudulently reproducing the same.

From the preface:

This is an impromptu, could be considered self-working, and super easy psychic playing card routine with a clever method you will enjoy.

Your presentation could start with: Life is full of decisions ... And in a chaotic world ... the reason we often struggle to make decisions easily and confidently is because we've cut ourselves off from the loving guidance of the universe. Even if we meditate or pray, we can still feel disconnected. Usually our logical mind gets in the way of our intuition. It's better to have a clear connection to the Universe in order to feel ease around our decision-making....

As you can see the title is a fancy way of writing Forgotten Mystery. This is highly effective as a quick opener or as a casual one-off effect. You just need to carry a single double blank card (or just your business card with a blank back) and you are always ready to perform this routine.

You can also perform this as an impossible prediction effect if you want. This routine can also be performed as a totally propless effect if desired.

The effect itself is totally self-working and you can start stunning your participants right after reading this manuscript. An innocent-looking list...

Telepathic Memory is a dual combination effect where you can demonstrate both your telepathic abilities as well as your super power memory.

From a random list of over 50 cities and their population figures, a participant chooses a city and its population figure. Using your telepathic ability, you divine the population figure in the participant's mind and then using your super power memory, you also declare the name of the city related to that population figure.

Three different routines are explained. And these effects can be performed in close-up, street, parlor, stage scenarios, and...