Dear all,
after reading all of the advice on this forum about the practicalities of mentalism, I decided to learn at least one technique of "reading". I am working still learning tarot and am working on palm reading. I read my first palms last night (for strangers) and just wanted to share my experiences so hopefully others can benefit.
I have worked through Julian "Bev" Moore's book (fantastic) and Richard Websters (the small one, it complements Bev's book) and I really felt ready.
I was in the pub with a few people that I know in passing and one of them has seen me do a bit of magic. I performed the invisible coin routine (Burger's magic presentation DVD) which he liked and then I told him that I read palms.
He asked me to read his palm (but he didn't want me to stand there holding his hand, we're not that close, so I just looked at it as he held it out). I gave him a 5 minute reading using the techniques from the Moore book and it went well.
He went on to ask me to read the palm of a girl (who we had just met in the pub). Whilst I was doing the reading she watched and listened intently and at the end she told me that it was so accurate that she felt like she wanted to cry (I wasn't at all nasty, I kept things very positive, it was just she was so moved). She then went on to tell me lots of personal things about her life. Luckily the two books I mentioned and the other cold reading books I've read had prepared me for this (although it was still a bit of a surprise) and I gave some supportive comments, using parts of the palm reading to indicate the strength she had in her life and how she could overcome difficulties by using these traits positively.
I've never had such an emotionally powerful reaction from any magic and I wanted to share this for several reasons
1) When people tell you that readings are a priveledge to give and come with responsibility to look after the participant, this is clearly true
2) Palm reading is an amazing anytime propless introduction to "your abilities"
3) Even skeptics are interested (the first bloke had told me that he'd seen the Derren Brown show on cold reading but was impressed that I didn't just generalise)
4) If you want to start then I too recommend the Julian Moore's book
http://www.learnpalmistry.biz/
I have no connection with, nor have I met Mr Moore
Thanks for listening
Shanester