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After publishing "Thirteen Steps..." and leaving magic behind, Corinda (real name Anthony Simpson) became a property speculator and made some proper money before retiring. He now lives in Cambridgeshire.

There's a photograph in David Britland's book ""The Mind and Magic of David Berglas", showing Corinda, Eric Mason, Punx and Berglas sharing a joke. Corinda looks rather suave.

He didn't leave magic behind for a long, long time after he published the 13 Steps.

He had his studio in Berwick Street plus the magic shop in Tottenham Court Rd where Dick Chavel was his partner. In addition to this he had a magic concession in Hamleys which Ali Bongo managed for him. Chavel was involved in this too.

I worked in Hamleys and saw Corinda come in drunk one day and do brilliant demonstrations of the slum magic sold. About the only time I ever saw him work except once when he did the Centre Tear exactly as described in his book.

Oh dear. And there was me shuffling Corinda off to an early grave! Shows how psychic I am.

Tomo wrote:

AndyRegs wrote:As for NLP, from what I have read and experienced, it just seems to be a little bit of obvious common sense surrounded by a load of exagerated unsubstanciated claims, all wrapped up with a load of flower fairy nonsense in an evangelical package.

Yup, that's the clumsy bill of goods end of things. Dreadful, isn't it...

It pays massive dividends to to start if you can with the pre-NLP era by taking in the published papers of Milton Erickson - not the books written about him or trying to interpret him, but his published, peer-reviewed clinical research. I think a lot of it is publicly available for free now, but it'll probably take some hunting down and it's a lot to plough through.

I would also recommend, Gregory Batseon's Steps to an Ecology of Mind, which predates much of the NLP revolution...

We have to remember that the mantra of the skeptic is PROVE IT and that of the faithful is I DON'T HAVE TO, I KNOW IT TO BE TRUE e.g. those that don't believe probably never will for whatever reason. Psychologically there is a plethora of reasons why people take on this hardened position and a huge part of it centers on the need to feel superior and more intelligent than others a.k.a. ego. Interestingly, those that believe tend to not have such a strong need or expression of insecurity

Did I miss a meeting somewhere and no-one told me? When did the idea that to have a belief in something and then to be taken seriously without any evidence become a good thing.
Surely if I was to proclaim that I could become invisible at will but only when no one was looking then I would be, at best, asked to prove it?

I also find it kind of sad that people who have knowledge of how easy it can be to use techniques to fool people are then either dead set against any kind of investigation or somehow believe these things cannot be measure when they can be rather easily.

Also this is certainly not a matter of feeling interlectually feeling superior but maybe more of being the kind of person who wishes to know the truth and is not willing to take a few peoples word for it but would rather rely on extensive empirical evidence.
Maybe the defense of such things is down to practitioners of mentalism who have become so adept at the techinques of the art that they start to beleive their own hype, maybe some religious leanings or maybe a way of easing their own conscience that they are part of the snake oil business and have stepped over that line that seperates entertainment with con artistry.

greedoniz... you left out one other option on you list and that is the fact that you simply don't want to believe in the possibility of something that you've not personally experienced.

Truth of the matter is the early years of Mentalisms' formation found a plethora of genuinely skeptical minds enthralled by both, the craft and the sciences around it. This includes the more folkloric sciences associated primarily with Spiritualism and deeper Occult and Theosophic traditions. Ironically these same fields were being studied by a new pseudo-science that was of high controversy in the day, known as Psychology, a field that borrowed greatly from this fantasy filled realm which enveloped the auspices of Religion, Myth and Imagination.

What we in today's world have forgotten is that Skeptics are not closed minded fanatics, they were always opened to learning and optimistic about actually experiencing that which was elusive. Today however most that call themselves a "Skeptic" are in fact hardened Cynics and admitted Atheists who by nature leave absolutely no room for possibility. To them it is all black or white with no shades of grey and thus, there will never be any way to lend to them resolution -- proof of the existence of something, for the minute you hand them one mode of evidence that they asked for, they step up the demand that you render another and another and another creating a perpetual cycle of never ending burden for those that have a belief in things that said individuals will never allow to exist within both, their own mind and the universe as they know it. A certain Canadian gent has proven this time and again in that every-time someone has come even remotely close to winning his challenge, the jerk packs his bags and RUNS, allowing his minions to spin yet a new excuse.

When it comes to the fickle issue of ethics and morality around this point, what you perceive as wrong may not be the same for another who may in fact see your perceptions and actions as being wrong and a betrayal to the craft. Don't listen to me, read the early works of Stephan Minch and his points on Magician's Guilt (and "Magician's Habit") when it comes to Mentalism and why so many fail so miserably at it. You will find his sentiments echoed by most of the older authors and real experts on the topic, not so much your commercial and politically correct gurus who sustain what insiders refer to at times as the "Houdini Line" such as we find in both Annemann and Dunninger. Then again, for the sake of vocational success and industry support many have been forced to keep their own opinions silent and play by this set of bogus rules as well; magician's groups quite literally chasing off some of Mentalisms' greatest minds such as Richard Webster and Ron Martin while causing those like my buddy John Riggs to carefully sew a liberal dose of politically correct lines into his books, videos, etc. for the sake of Cynic's comfort and his own peace of mind (to not get harassed by said schmucks).

As per my references earlier, which is more wrong on the moral/humanitarian level; allowing a person to suffer or throw their life away or to give them the kind of placebo they need in order to get on with things?

When it comes to the need of a sounding board or "counselor" the most typical resources employed by modern human beings are their barber/hair stylist/manicurist, bar tender, cab driver, best friends, and then we move into the Psychics followed (distantly) by the clergy and professional mental health experts. The reason being is "stigma" (especially within males); psychologically people see that going to a shrink or a priest and admitting that they have problems is a weakness -- a major blow to the ego. There's a huge amount of social stigma surrounding these things. Seeing a Psychic does not carry the same kind of negative stigma and can be readily discarded as an act of curiosity as a means of cover-up. But there is more to this scenario...

I have personally worked in tandem with highly respected psychiatrist & psychologists as well as hypnotherapist all over this country, who realize that some people need an "outside" fix. That is to say, they understand how and why some people need to lean on less "conventional" resources in order to overcome particular issues. Given my background I am trusted (as are many, many others in this field) and over a couple of visits, the patient ends up discovering a new way of looking at things as the result of the soothsayer's message vs. clinical guidance.

On another level we have the very real existence of dangerous cults and predatory psychics/religious operators. That is when a person like myself comes in handy for law enforcement, in that I can confirm the cheats and questionable antics of a suspected individual or group. Too, I am able to come in and RESPECTFULLY educated both, young people as well as senior citizens (who tend to be both, too trusting and desperate for someone to talk with) about what to be aware of and just how easy it is to be fooled by a fake psychic.

RESPECT is the big deal in that those authorities involved with law enforcement or consumer protection don't want some cold and obviously cynical person that believes in nothing or who offers insulting points of view to persons of faith or with testimonials pertaining to such things, to be out there. They must have an authority that can balance things and when they have someone that is known within the region as an expert in a given field helping them on this level, the value is near priceless.

You and others that share your mindset will never understand what it means to be part of Old School Mentalism in that all of these things I've listed here, is part of it.... that includes being a Reader.

Though Mentalists are "entertainers" there's much more to the job than that. Especially when you break it all down and see what the real market is and has been since it was started... and trust me, theaters and night clubs are a very small part of that equation.

Anywho... the point is, we do far more good than harm. Our moral integrity is typically above reproach and most of us that have any sense of quality to themselves, work on behalf of the consumer, not against them.

As per my references earlier, which is more wrong on the moral/humanitarian level; allowing a person to suffer or throw their life away or to give them the kind of placebo they need in order to get on with things?

I would say give that person the truth and let them figure it out themselves. Plus what gives anyone the right to make that decision for them by pertaining to have information from a mysterious unproved source.
If your average medium/psychic punter knew the ins and outs of cold reading, the Forer effect and the likes then surely they would be more skeptical too.
Also this idea that skeptics see things as black and white is a load of old rubbish quite frankly. Any that I have met would if asked whether there is any possibility at all of certain phenonmena existing they should say "yes, but it is highly unlikely as there is no evidence to support such a theory". It is what I say say for certain.

You provide evidence that can be held up to scrutiny and you have another believer on your books.

And why not feel the need to prove it? All other fields of research have to in order to be taken seriously.
If such phenomena were proven beyond any resonable doubt to exist imagine the change it could bring to the planet. A whole new branch of science, the discoveror would go down in history, nobel prizes, proof of life after death or new powers of the brain.
But of course no one is interested in these things as it is a faith matter...utter clap trap.

I will sign off with one question

What is wrong with wanting an independent study done into these phenomenon and asking for evidence before taking someones word for it?

As I noted earlier in a previous post a fair experiment can be set up for such claims.


What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof - Christopher Hitchens

I shall tell you what the problem is with trying to prove things to sceptics.There is absolutely no money in it.

They never want to pay upfront.

themagicwand wrote:I have a challenge. I challenge any TM poster who thinks that earning money as a medium is easy to book their local village hall, sell tickets for a demonstartion of mediumship, conduct the show themselves and leave the audience happy and convinced, then afterwards come clean and refund everyone their entrance fee or donate it to charity. Ooh. This could be fun.

No takers? Go on - it'd be a hoot.

BTW greedonitz, I didn't say that "Skeptics" see things in black & white I said that the more CYNICALLY ORIENTED that we have in today's world want things in concise, non-negligible or negotiable levels or debate. It must be carved in stone, a part of the fossil required and if possible, woven into our DNA and even then most will rebell against it... or, so has been my experience with the majority of today's self-appointed experts, most of whom have NEVER been involved with a real world investigation... they just do as the Sunday Go'n to Meet'n Christians do and regurgitate what the ministers say to say.

Now as my two wise associates have hinted at, there is not sound mode of concluding this sort of debate in that you refuse to use some oil on that rusted hinge of your steel trap mind and I refuse to deny what I've seen and experienced over the DECADES of working within this field as a recognized and endorsed authority by law enforcement agencies as well as Consumer Protection groups and Clerical Associations... I've always found it amazing how non-magic related organizations can see the difference on such things and the armchair experts of the magic world cannot.

Now call me stupid for asking (actually don't, it would be rude), but what is wrong with refusing to believe in something that has absolutely no proof. And on that point, what is wrong for asking for proof.

At least there is sensible debate her, as opposed to that other ofrum which has a bunch of mentalists all trying to convince themselves they are the real deal whilst offering balloon modelling on the side. They are all convinced that 'Raymond' can see into Criss Angels envelope. Bizarre.

Anyway...I don't believe in anything me...

...Except Yoko...

...Yoko and me

The following, for me, sums up the human brain:

if i can just get this kitkat wrapper in the bin from here...then the rest of the day will be just peachy..it'll all work out...

*miss*

best out of 5 eh...

I have a stupid game on my mobile. Before a gig I sit in the car and play it. If I score above 2000 points it means the gig will go okay. If I score above 2500 points it means the gig will go very well. If I score close to 3000 (my record being 3250) the gig will be brilliant.

It may be difficult for you people on the outside to appreciate but the outcome of a mobile phone game holds sway over my professional life.

Obsessive compulsive? Me?

themagicwand wrote:I have a stupid game on my mobile. Before a gig I sit in the car and play it. If I score above 2000 points it means the gig will go okay. If I score above 2500 points it means the gig will go very well. If I score close to 3000 (my record being 3250) the gig will be brilliant.

It may be difficult for you people on the outside to appreciate but the outcome of a mobile phone game holds sway over my professional life.

Oooooh, interesting. Collect some data.

themagicwand wrote:It may be difficult for you people on the outside to appreciate but the outcome of a mobile phone game holds sway over my professional life

No different to professional footballers always running into the tunnel in the same order, kicking he goal posts both sides before doing anything else, mangagers wearing lucky socks and so on. If it helps and it's legal, just go with it.