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Hello Talkmagic

A particularly interesting subject matter to me, is that of Muscle Reading (also know as Hellstromism, Psychological Thought Reading or contact mind reading). The founder of this art form John Randall Brown, in 1873 Brown made the first public demonstration of an art he had toyed with as a child. Since the original publication of Browns work on the subject various other parties has tried to stake their claim on this, hence the name Hellstromism after Axel Vogt (Hellstrom).

The demonstration of Muscle Reading would allow the said demonstrator to show his skill at mind reading, through finding various hidden objects and or selected thoughts of a person. This method has since been widely adopted by some spiritualists and mediums, in a sure fire way to show there “gift” of the unknown, and show how the “spirits” help them to find the answer they are looking for.

The powerful thing about this topic is how indubitable it is perceived by the demonstratee, the relaxed attitude of holding ones wrist or hand seems obsolete to the results of them diving the truth. This subject as a whole is something that both intrigues and inspires me, it’s a sure fire way to show mentalism in a complete state of purity (bar non contact reading) this uses no gimmicks, no swami’s or any other classic mentalism accoutrements, the purest flesh on flesh approach is mind blowing.

For those of you who do not use this method, or have not researched into it, I implore you to experiment with this art for it will vastly improve your approach to almost any effect that you already do (even if it is magic based) this is such a powerful weapon to carry on you.

Now I here you cry, what gives me the right to talk about a topic that I am no master of, well purely because I find it fascinating and more performers should be using it, I am not claiming I know the entire subject but I think its very important to have people know that time-honored performers can get access to this subject matter very easily, as there is a vast amount of it out there, although a lot of the time it is the same techniques changes slightly. However it does give you a greater feel for such an interesting and provocative topic.

I hope you have found this both informative and fairly light hearted.

Much love and energy

tda

I am sure some of the season professionals on Talkmagic may want to affix to this list or to the thread, and by all means I would be great to aggrandize on this with your knowledge. Good Sources I have found for further readings are…

*How to read peoples minds – Burlingame (within Psychological Thought Reading B-side)

*Dariel Fitzkee - Contact Mindreading/Contact Mindreading expanded

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dariel_Fitzkee


*George Newmann - (further readings)


*Theo Annemann. (EDITED)

*Corinda -13 steps to mentalsim (this has some great examples)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Annemann


*Psychophysiological Thought Reading Banachek (Steve Shaw)

*Taming the Poltergeist - Berthold Schwartz (banachek)

http://www.cafepress.com/banachek.11564446

*Volume 3 - Psycho physiological Thought Reading - Muscle Reading (Banachek)

http://www.thetrickery.com/full/Magic-T ... __7542.htm

(Craig Browning additions)

Mind Reading and Telepathy by Erik Van Hanussen;

Practical Contact Mind Reading by Edward Schatz

Hellstromism manual by Robert Nelson

thedarkangel wrote:

*Theo Annemann. 13 steps to mentalsim (this has some great examples)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Annemann

I think you'll find it was Corinda wot wrote 13 Steps. Annemann wrote a book called Practical Mental Magic.

Hello themagicwand

Thank you for that edit, think there was an interruption with my train of thought there

I will amend immediately.

Much love and energy

tda

thedarkangel wrote:Hello themagicwand

Thank you for that edit, think there was an interruption with my train of thought there

I will amend immediately.

Much love and energy

tda

No worries!

Hello themagicwand

It is sometimes difficult to write these threads when the office phone does not stop ringing.

Although that is no excuse for such a text book error, I feel somewhat ridiculed at this infantile mistake.

Much love and energy

tda

thedarkangel wrote:Although that is no excuse for such a text book error, I feel somewhat ridiculed at this infantile mistake

Don't worry, we've all done it - in some cases many, many times!!

thedarkangel wrote:
It is sometimes difficult to write these threads when the office phone does not stop ringing.

You should get someone in the office to help out! There's nothing more disturbing than the phone ringing.

Hello themagicwand

We have five of us usually in the office, however two gents are out in the field today and the third (the receptionist) has phoned in ill (likely story, I think not, sunbathing more like).

Which leaves me rather perturb about the whole matter. Still these things happen, so will have to keep answering the phone.

Much love and energy

tda

thedarkangel - A good post there!

It's a subject I've read up on, but never tried. The name Hellstromism is wonderful and conjours up all sorts of mad professor type experiments in my mind. In fact, I always think of The Illusionist (fab movie) when I hear the word. I can't remember if muscle reading was mentioned or not though.

Anyway, don't all groan!...but seeing Derren Brown use it is a joy to watch. I know, I know it's Mr Brown yet again, but he's just so good.

Have you actually attempted it yet thedarkangel? In fact, has anyone here? I'd be fascinated to know how you got on and how easy/difficult it really is. I won't even ask for any double blind research results to prove it either. The description in Corinda makes it seem extremely easy, but I'd be surprised if it were.

This is one of those effects I've never had the bottle to try. Before you post with the Nike motto, I know I should just swallow that fear and go for it anyway. Is this one to avoid with friends and relatives? I can't see a perfect stranger letting me use them as a subject! "Erm, excuse me. Can you go and hide your wallet somewhere and I'll just hold onto your arm, blindfolded, while we go searching for it. Ok?". Yeah, that would work Sorry, back to being serious again.

I can't remember where I saw it mentioned, but I'm certain I've seen Milton Erickson mentioned in connection with this. Need to look it up. It wouldn't be surprising as he was an expert in the ideomotor response. Hmm, memory failing. Will google it later as I'm at work now.

Anyway, a really interesting subject. Thanks for posting thedarkangel.

Wishmaster

It is indeed a fascinating 'Art'. All you need is You, a spectator and a task to perform.

How I trained myself to acquire the 'feel' of this was. I would place 3 boxes, very wide apart, in my School Theatre. In the early days only on the 40 foot x 40 foot stage.Limited area.

One of the pupils (mid teens) would place an object in a box and then I'd locate it. Early days--- limited choice.
It often ended a Drama Lesson on Friday afternoons when there was time to spare. Fridays were usually Performance Lessons.

Once you have acquired 'the knack', then you progress to more complex tasks/tests.
Eventually you can try The Pin Test., A pin is hidden., but in the case of youngsters NEVER on them. You locate it.

If you have ever walked a trained dog on a lead you can do CMR!

There are, as well as Corinda's 13 Steps, 3 books, which simplify your learning & mastery of CMR..And they make it enjoyable.

1. Entertaining With Contact Mind Reading by S. Edward Dexter (the late Eddie Dexter.Past President British Ring.). Published by George Armstrong, London 1952.26 pages The cost then, was 7/6d.!!!
A very straight forward, practical, easy to read, book which you will have to search the magic secondhand book lists for.

2. Practical Contact Mind Reading by Dr. Edward R Schatz. Published by Micky Hades, Canada. 1974. 44 pages and very thorough and very readable.
Magic Books By Post may still have it.

3.Making Contact by Satori.This is really a rehash of what has gone before but is very thorough again. H & R Books 68 pages.
I last saw a copy on the Web-- Bradbury Books at £25
I booked Satori to lecture in Nottingham in the 90's. He is a great practitioner of CMR as well as other forms of Mental Magic.
One of our magicians hid his cheque (the fee), high up on a window, behind a curtain, halfway down the hall. He found it, having to climb on a ledge to do so!

Allen Tipton

PS. Dark Angel. Why not check your post and use the edit, at the top of your post?
There must be a lull in the estate business if you have time to phone from the office!

Hello Wishmaster

In regards to your question the answer is yes, I have executed the use of Muscle reading on several occasions. It is lot easier than would be expected, but hard enough to stop every novice attempting it. When you initially start it seems very odd so some people are put off (which is better for the rest of us).

After about three attempts you will start to relax into the structure of how the mechanics really work, you must however find your own style of usage. Although as mentioned it in 13 Steps etc do not just follow suit, but work with it as more of a moulding tool to style your own demonstrations with. The applications are limitless, as there as so many outcomes made possible with the use of muscle reading, it really is a fabulous string to the bow for any budding mentalist.

Start off with small experiments and build yourself up slowly, see it literally as you building up a muscle, so to speak. The use of a blindfold is not necessary but I found it useful when starting out, as it just seems to heighten the senses that little bit extra, but that’s just me. The great thing about this genre of mentalism is that it can be adapted to suit a “magic” style show or even a dark and medium style experiment.

I would suggest experimenting in this field, if at worse you are left with a D.V.D or a manuscript on the topic!

That’s not so bad is it?


Much love and energy

tda

(If you do have any supplementary questions on the topic do feel free to contact me via the messaging service I will be more than happy to point you in the right direction)

Ok... the article was decent as far as book reports go, but as explained to Banachek, the history of this technique is far older than Brown & Company, they were just the first to exploit it in a high profile "show biz" manner.

Many of the older legends, parables, tall stories and bits of folklore you find around magicians, shaman, wizards, etc. is the fact that they frequently have to TOUCH a person or an article, what we now refer to as Psychometry, but only in part. History and lore likewise echo an extensive record in which dowsing with both stick and plumb were of standard "scientific" fact long before the 19th century. You even find accounts biblically (old testament) not to mention the more contemporary histories here in the States that have George Washington, Ben Franklin and other Free Masons quite aware of this skill and how to use it... and last I checked, they preceded Mr. Brown and friends by a few generations...

As to your book list there are a couple of important one's missing, starting with Mind Reading and Telepathy by Erik Van Hanussen; Practical Contact Mind Reading by Edward Schatz, and there is at least one other one but I can't recall the title or author's name at the moment (his name started with an S... Satorie or something along those lines... it was considered the best book on the topic until Banachek came along). Then again, there is the Hellstromism manual by Robert Nelson and if I'm not mistaken there was a second book by the same general name by another author... all that I know is that it wasn't as widely embraced as the Nelson book.

Hello Craig Browning

I can see that you truly are a well versed man, and I applaud you for this. It is great to have such insight into such a fascinating topic, thank you for your additions they have been noted.

Yes you are correct, Shamans are the human contemporaneous between the physical spirit world. The Shamans can enter supernatural realms to obtain answers to the problems of their community or so they would have had their people believe. The likes of muscle reading I am sure would have been passed down from generation to generation and would have been used as forms of communication between tribes to feel emotions.

Did you know that an elephant can produce a rumble in its stomach that goes down through its legs and into the ground, this can be felt by other elephants hundreds of miles away, a weird elephant muscle reading.

So Craig it must have been around for millions of years perhaps also, but you are correct was not exploited until much later.

Are we not all glad that it was exploited; otherwise we would not be having this great conversation now?

Much love and energy

tda

I've just started down this path as well.

Currently I'm following Banachek's book step by step. I have to say the first few times you get a bit cocky and then well then you learn why this art has been a secret for hundreds of years.

I liken it to chess. Easy to learn life time to master.

--Infy

If anyone is after a bargain they may be interested in this.

http://www.trickshop.com/contact_readin ... .html#both