talkmagic.co.uk

This is my first review so please go gentle with me.

The Effect
The Factotum Spirit Pendulum http://www.subversivecircuits.co.uk


Cost
£199 for the launch price, but £225 normally.


Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Definitely a 1


Review
I have to declare an interest here in that I know Jon and I did some of the play testing for the Spirit Pendulum and saw it go from a weedy little block of wood with the “doings” under a table to the completely portable piece that it is today. This is a review about how I use the pendulum more than anything.

Over the past couple of years as well as my normal tarot business I’ve been getting more into performances with themes reflecting where the performance is held or who is attending. People seem to forget that the séance room is a highly controlled space. You control everything the sitters sense and lead them wherever you need them to be. I can begin with a tarot reading to ease everyone into the evening, but it also gives me plenty of ammunition for use with the Spirit Pendulum and prior to a session on the ouija board. My ouija board is very old and the look of the pendulum is perfect to go with it.

First of all, may I say that this is something that not everyone will appraciate. Coming from a tarot background I know there’s a school of thought that everything must be real and ungimmicked (if that’s the word). So be it, but that’s not the only view. For a performance based on a séance that is slowly guiding the spectators towards a revelation, this kind of thing is the bees knees.

I want to start with the physicality of the prop. It’s solid and solidly made. The base can be tapped to show that it’s solid which I think is a great idea. The base itself is 15.5cm by 15.5cm. The pendulum is aged to look like its been around for a long time and that adds to the overall feel. I don’t do any psychometry with the pendulum itself but you can. It’s not madly magnetic or anything and it has a good weight to it. I use the whole prop like the manual says to make contact with weaker spirits prior to moving onto more robust methods like the ouija.

I stand behind the spectators so they can sit all round the table and so I can control things quietly. I have the spectators place their fingertips at the edge of the base because I’ve found that juxtaposing the feeling that their fingers are absolutely still and the movement just a few inches away really gives them an eery feeling. I even tell them they might feel something and many people say they feel a tingling in their fingertips. Such is the power of suggestion!

Being in control of the pendulum’s movement means I can decide who gets a message. If it’s a birthday then the birthday girl gets a nice message that all is well. I use this idea to set the audiences expectations and guide what comes through when we move on to the ouija board session.

As for the batteries, well they take an age to run down and when they do,m they go so slowly you can still do the entire pendulum section of your performance without anyone being the wiser. The ability to bring the pendulum to a stop as if the spirit has done it is really powerful. Oh and how you switch it on and off is also really sneaky!!!

Overall
Maybe I’m a bit biased but I love this tool so 10/10

The Morrigan wrote:This is my first review so please go gentle with me.

It's actually your second review, but I'm not complaining

Tomo wrote:

The Morrigan wrote:This is my first review so please go gentle with me.

It's actually your second review, but I'm not complaining

Your right! I had to look it up hun but your right!

I too have purchased this excellent piece of kit. Took it out on the road as part of my Jack the Ripper show which is a variation on Paul Voodini's brilliant pdf.

It does exactly what it says on the box. It works. some might say it is a little pricey but the audience reaction was one of gasps and "Oh my God... You have real psychic abilities" (This to the ladies who were using the pendulum. I was ten feet away.) My score 10/10 as well. Best thing I have bought so far.

Looks nice.

Are any spirits harmed during performance?

Thanks for the nice review.

Though it may seem a little pricey, the Spirit Pendulum can work in your favour because if you're a working professional, it's a business expense. This means that you can offset it against tax. In fact, all your magical purchases should really be claimed for. They're all legit.

I took advantage of Tomo's offer for just the pendulum offered here

ftopic39361.php

I got the ungaffed pendulum as I wanted one fitting with traditional dowsing requirements (wooden, compartment and no metal parts). It's a good pendulum, nice weight, responds well. Its currently residing with in my evening with Miss Rose set.

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t238 ... ss%20Rose/