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Hi Joel.
I had noticed that you have this out, and I am intrigued. You say there is no progressive anagram.
I don't want you to tip the method, but does it work one on one? Is there fishing? Does it work every time? Is there much memory work? Finally, is there any props involved?
Hope you don't mind so many questions, but it will give you a chance to pitch the effect to us. All the best, Tony.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but wasn't banachek's version published in psychophsiological thought reading, as far as I can remember it wasn't in psychological subtleties

Joel was kind enough to let me have a look at this a while ago, and I have to say it is very good. Joel has worked very hard to bring this idea to market, and it is certainly worth looking at.

Hey Tony.

I dont mind so many questions. I appreciate concerns and will do my best to tell you how this looks, performs and plays.

When I first started receiving bookings as a 'Mentalist' I decided I wanted to perform a zodiac revelation. I was often working in loud corporate environments so I was never comfortable with progressive anagrams. I decided I wanted something sure-fire.

There is no progressive anagram work involved what so ever and
HoroSecrets does work one on one and it works for group performances too.

When you say fishing I presume you mean cold read the info. If so there is no fishing at all as you will have the actual knowledge.

HoroSecrets requires little practice but like any effects, the more you give it the better it is.

There is a little memory work but this can be completely eliminated and I reveal all within the Additional Ideas section.

I usually mix this effect with a graphology read. I deliver lots of information about the individual and then there zodiac sign to heighten the read. Other magician have added this into professional performances to blend it with palm readings and with various routines.

There are props but I have worked very hard to make these interesting for your audience. However they're not 'proppy props'. You will be comfortable using this and the work is quick and will not be suspected by your audience.

I have a great offer on HoroSecrets and Mind Blasters 2.

You can check some reviews at http://www.magicbunny.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=47239

I have a great offer on HoroSecrets and Mind Blasters 2.
or just read more about it at

http://www.joel-dickinson.co.uk/shop

Thanks a lot Paul I am really glad you enjoyed it.

Joel.

"Zodiac" in Christian Chelman's Capricornian Tales is a showier, slightly bizarrist method of divining not only the spec's zodiac sign but eventually their exact birthday. It uses cards spread out on a zodiac wheel, so requires a largish amount of table space -- and also a certain amount of time.

I have to admit, I thought it sounded a bit tricksy when I read through the book, but someone else recently told me he regularly blows people away with it.

If you were going to use "zodiac cards" and such, wouldn't it be much easier to do away with all that and have them write their birth date on a billet and peek?

"Zodiac" uses ordinary playing cards, but they're spread out on a zodiac diagram and used in a reading-type way. It's pretty much a showcase routine.

If you were going to use "zodiac cards" and such, wouldn't it be much easier to do away with all that and have them write their birth date on a billet and peek?

I agree, there are tonnes of ways of finding out someone exact date birth. For example, I was being introduced to someone new and I said 'Libra, right?'- all that had happened was I was playing on the person who was introducing me's phone and I knew they were good friends so I looked in the phone book, luckily it was in there, I know for a fact I can't be bothered to put in all the information on my calendar. Not exactley an effect, but the opportunism is always valuable.

When Robbie mentioned someone who would blow people away with the Zodiac routine she was talking about me.

I recently hitchhiked from Sweden to England busking to make money on the way, the only reason I didn't starve was because of the Zodiac routine.

With this technique I was able to get the exact day a person was born, and these were people I had never met, I wasn't introduced to them, I had no time between meeting them and starting the routine to get any information and in some cases they didn't even speak the same language as me. (I should also mention that as I was essentially homeless I had no access to anyone’s internet or phone)

It should be said that on average I was under five days off, that’s still over 99% accuracy. And every now and then I would be completely wrong but that was my fault, not the systems.

I also respectively point out that anyone who's said this method doesn't sound strong has never tried it or even read it, so how can you know? (And I mean no disrespect to anyone in saying that, I simply point out that your doubts are due to ignorance not stupidity.)

When this thread first started I didn't mention this routine because quite frankly I'm selfish when it comes to pure gold like this. However seeing it get put down makes my blood boil and I'm not too worried because you can only see how truly strong this routine is when you perform it, simply reading it won't do. And you can't perform it without putting in a lot of work which, understandably, won't be worth it for many of you (once again no disrespect meant to anyone, some magic can be strong but just not worth it given the type of magic you do.) I myself dismissed this gem as too much work for too little payoff when I first read the book. So I'm confident that this will remain an effect used by very few people.

For those worried about the use of cards in this effect, I have to point out that firstly the method, when done right, is invisible. Secondly using playing cards for soothsaying is a well known practice and completely natural and finally to drive this point home I have another story.

A few months ago I was being interviewed for a job as a magician at a party. I started with three very strong card tricks that made it obvious to laymen that I was skilled at card trickery. I then went on to perform this routine to one of the ladies interviewing me, and after I'd finished (getting her exact birthday by the way), she said to me 'That wasn't a card trick.' Now it may not be clear in writing but in her tone she was asking me to confirm her suspicions that the cards were just dressing and that something else had been going on. That no trickery had taken place. I confirmed for her that the cards were meaningless and gave her some pseudo-psychological explanation, and she was convinced. Of course it wasn't a card trick, no mere card trick could possibly give me such accurate information as to when she was born. She had seen me perform card magic not five minuets before, I was 22 years old and advertised myself as a magician and she still thought I was a master of psychology.

I also once got offered sex in part (okay, largely) because of this routine, what magic trick can hope to offer that? But don’t get too excited you Brits and Yanks, I was in Sweden at the time.

Hi.

Are you talking about Zodiac in Christian Chelman's Capricornian Tales?

Joel.

Yes

Well, you can make a living with this effect only. And it's exactly what you should expect from someone doing readings.
When someone ask an example of what I do as a magician, I just do Zodiac. I've never lost a contract in 30 years.