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All this mind reading people do when they stop someone in the street and ask them to think of a name, number, place, and without even getting the person to write it down they know what it is. is that stuff really true and if so how could you learn that?

Handy money buys many secrets, Grasshopper...

So the real prize is coming up with your own way

Sky321 wrote:All this mind reading people do when they stop someone in the street and ask them to think of a name, number, place, and without even getting the person to write it down they know what it is. is that stuff really true and if so how could you learn that?

as the great wizzard of bristol(Mr.Brown) once said "it's a combination of Magic, suggetion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship"

but not necessarily in that order

Yes, mind reading IS a real art. It IS possible. However, just not in the 'telephathic' sense.

Reading a mind is as said above, a combination of many things. And of course, this CAN be learned.

However, a lot of SKILL is also involved!

If it’s really true it is absolutely beyond me how someone can tell you what number you are thinking of between 1 and 500 and they only have one guess and get it right each time. i would love for someone to tell me to think of a name and without me even writing it down would know the exact name i was thinking of, then i really would be a true believer

Sky321 wrote:i would love for someone to tell me to think of a name and without me even writing it down would know the exact name i was thinking of, then i really would be a true believer

Yes, but a true believer in what?

Ok... let's shift semantics just a bit and understand that we don't "Read Minds" but rather "Divine Thoughts"... this may sound trivial at first, bit it is a very important difference and one of the biggest reasons a "Mind Reader" asks that you focus on a specific thought vs. a Psychic that simply goes with his/her gut. (please don't turn this into another "prove it to me session".)

Secondly, let's look at the above misconception of "getting it right every time"... something that an experienced performer of Mentalism wont do (on purpose most of the time) in that you come off as being more real and genuine if you make near hits and even deliberate misses from time to time. Only a magician and those still clinging to their magician's mind-set insist on doing material that hits and follows to a known conclusion each and every time... something typically known as "Mental Magic" vs. "Mentalism" but that's another can of worms altogether...

Now, as to the actual question put forward, as to if or not it is possible to divine the unspoken thoughts or, influence the thoughts of others?

Yes, it is possible.

Even the more cynical of the world knows about the peculiar syndrome known as ideomotor response and the FACT that legit science recognizes this as being the closest thing to true telepathy it can confirm. Anyone that's studied this phenomena knows that it can be used in dozens of ways and as such, you can replicate just about every major ability attributed to the traditional psychic and mentalist... if you're willing to invest some time into developing said skill.

There are likewise body-language techniques that can help convey attitude and action responses along side the proper use of words in conjunction with gesture. Though most see this as part of Neuro-Linguisitic science, I see it more as a discovered side to our more animal-based antics that some become aware of and see how to manipulate be it for the sake of good or bad.... via such methods I've run several personal experiments and found, along the line of the "old Jedi Mind Trick" that I can think and focus on the idea of getting a large drink when ordering a small and nine out of ten times, I get the size I was focused on... the impetus to this little "trick" stemming from a Docc Hilford manuscript I read several years ago and it's prove to be quite a fun bit of Magick here and there.

Discerning the thoughts, feelings and even images held to by another can likewise be revealed via gut level (intuition) reaction. This is spoken of in Millard Longman's PSYCHIC SKILLS WORKSHOP as well as Kenton Kneppers book MIND READING. Study these two tomes and you will be that much further down the road to reaching such a goal. BUT, you need to let go of the fantasy of such thing things if you are to be effective.

I teach this stuff to what's known as the "shut-eye" market (believers not aware of the magic methods) as well as magicians, I know either side of the issue at levels I wish I didn't at times, and both sides have their "fanaticism" that stems from personal preconcieved notions or "fantasies"... the more fantastic of course, seems to come from the Shut Eye market and their psychological need to escape from carnal reality and live out the idea that they are some kind of all powerful psychic... it's an unreal goal, far from what the true masters of mysticism actually taught about, and has little to nothing to do with healing one's own spiritual health... it's pure ego without the recognition of such.

We find a similar phenomena from within the magic world, but it's filled with more venom and denial, which serve as the "fantasy" than what we find in the believer's world. Both are extremes e.g. both are wrong and untrue; preventing you from seeing and being able to learn from the greater truth found when you can understand and work with either side of a concept. But that's just my own peculiar way of looking a life... always striving to find the middle ground and avoiding the extreme. You may want to think it over...

I went to see Derren Brown Live last night at Hammersmith Apollo. In recent weeks I've become more sceptical about Derren's abilities, but have have always loved his work and respected him as a magician. However, a few people wandered in late to the show, and as a volunteer was making her way down from the balcony he called one of the late comers over to him. Derren knelt down from the stage to grab his hands. He then told him he was a carpentar or decorator (fair enough) but then proceeded to divine his name 'Kevin'.
I've seen him do it on tele all the time, but to see it impromptu and live blew me away.

Just thought I'd drop that example into conversation....

Very interesting post thanks

Verbal forces are a many splendid thing (Graig knows ). They do not always get it right.

Mark Smith wrote: a few people wandered in late to the show, and as a volunteer was making her way down from the balcony he called one of the late comers over to him. Derren knelt down from the stage to grab his hands. He then told him he was a carpentar or decorator (fair enough) but then proceeded to divine his name 'Kevin'.

Dare I even suggest that the "late-comers" might actually be...stooges?

themagicwand wrote:Dare I even suggest that the "late-comers" might actually be...stooges?

Fair enough, but the old Doris Stokes method is far more effective, and the latecomer is completely floored by the effect rather than being part of the cause.

Though I'm guilty of using a stooge here and there, I don't use them in the ways being described in the above observations but in far more subtle ways that take the heat off of me, allow me to use a technique such as the Swami, but in a way that tosses the typical magic buff and cynic complete off my trail (this is not my idea; see Rick Mau's BOOK OF HAUNTED MAGICK if you want to learn more about it.)

There's a million and one ways of using an audience plant that deliver to the performer far greater advantages than having stooges that play the sort of "classic" games some have discusssed here. The old guy cross his arms and legs or scratching his nose could be the very source of information to the performer the audience is looking for... but they aren't looking in the right place... they follow the intended misdirection and our "secret helper" is never discovered.

Just apply some logic as you make these classic assumptions, for in the pro world the use of an audience plant is done in such a way that not even the balance of the production team knows who is doing what, when or where at times.

Just a few thoughts....