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How to become a Magician Mentalist

Mentalism is that art of performing seemingly impossible feats using the power of your mind a performer of this is typically called a Mentalist. This style of magic has many directions and which we will discuss today. We will reference the many styles of Mentalism, and showcase current as well as deceased artists who have continued to inspire this unique profession. Mentalism has been called the intellectual side of magic for it's cerebral approach of brain power. And lastly we will provide you with a decent synopsis of the aspects of mentalism, and how you can get started in this mind bending art. So lets read ahead and unvail the mystery behind the art of Mentalism.

5 types of Mind Bending Mentalism

Mind Magic styles and definitions

Mentalism magic is becoming more and more popular. Partly, because once learned unlike most magic tricks there is no props, gimmicks or complicated sleight of hand moves required to learn or carry. Once you master this effect of mentalism you carry it with you everywhere you go deep inside your mind. You just need to recall the technique and perform it for your spectators.

1) Psychokinesis

This type of Mentalism include, PK or "Psycho Kinesis" it is a form of moving objects with the mind. There is literally hundreds of methods, and gimmicks to help you achieve such feats of magic and mentalism. I will go into more detail of the PK must haves toward the end of this lens.

2) Telepathic power or Telepathy

In general is the ability to read another person or person's thoughts. In addition to the 5 types of mentalism that we are discussing in this lens. There is also 5 types of telepathy and they are broken up into these 5 separate forms. Precognitive, (future outcomes) deferred, or latent (measuring the time between telepathic transmissions) Superconscious, (Collective Telepathic transmissions) and lastly, Emotive (ability to pass on emotions to another telepathically).

3) Clairvoyance

Is the apparent ability to gain knowledge about an inanimate object, person, a location or physical event through means other than the known human senses, a form of extra-sensory perception. A person said to have the ability of clairvoyance is referred to as a clairvoyant. Clairvoyance like telepathy can also be broken down into sub categories, which are Clairsentience, which is to do with touching and feeling, Clairaudience which has to do with hearing, Clairalience which has to do with tasting, Claircognizance which has to do with knowing, and finally Clairgustance which has to do with tasting.

4) Extra-Sensory Perception

Known as ESP This is one of the more recognized arts in Mentalism. Its defined as the ability to acquire information by paranormal means independent of any known physical senses or deduction from previous experience. This idea of extra-sensory perception has been there since ancient civilizations. In most of the ancient cultures of the world this ability was regarded as 'second sight' a direct line to the many different deities and gods. Testing of this ability is typically used with Zener Cards also know as ESP cards a series of 5 uniquely different shapes. A square, 3 wavy lines, a circle, Star, and cross. The idea is through randomizing these cards the subject with apparent powers could correctly predict the shape of each card before they were flipped over.

5) Precognition (Precog's)

This is a very popular ability, most often possessed by characters of tv shows. People who claim to posses this ability have the power to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses. Like all the other types of para-psychological abilities precognition has still not been proven. Skeptics contend that the human memory naturally has a tendency to remember coincidences more often than other non-coincidences and thus individuals tend to remember more frequently when they were correct about a future event and forget the instances when they were wrong.

In the next section of the lens we will discuss the entertainment aspect Mentalism, and showcase the top dead, and living Mentalism influencer's.

Famous Mentalist's living and dead

Popular Mentalists and Magicians

Throughout the beginning of time, history has recorded names of individuals with seemingly supernatural powers. Even the Bible holds the record for some of the earliest recorded magic, feats, and miracles. In the last 100 hundred years however time has witnessed some incredible mentalism role models. Such as a fascinating American named J. Randall Brown. Brown one of the first to bring Mentalism to a stage setting, creating a show of sorts A man of the Victorian era credited for technically originating the practice of Mentalism. The Victorian era was an intriguing time for the world with the invent of the light bulb and the horse and carriage fading away as Automobiles began to arrive on the streets. Innovation, and technological advancements were the marvels of the world at the time. And mentalism was in full swing birthing some of the greatest mentalists of all time. Names such as Alexander, Baldwin, and Cumberland the ABC's of the time for sure.

Cumberland one of the most technically talented Mentalists of all time. Creating a unique form of touch Telepathy. Simply, by touching the wrist or and of another he could pull words find hidden objects or detect painful ailments without the use of a stooge or help from the spectator. A technique which later, became a practice called Cumberlandism also known as Muscle reading. Which takes us to a couple of current notables on Cumberlandism. Later a German Fellow by the Name of Axel Hellstrom would perfect the art of Cumberlandism. In time Axel had become so adept that his own enhancements developed. And in the end of his life Cumberlandism came to be known as Hellstromism.

Very few even today have mastered this difficult, and labor intensive practice. The two I would like to reference are both living examples, Banachek, and a well known Frenchman name Pacal De'Clermont. Pascal actually released his lifetime techniques on Cumberlandism in a fantastic instructional DVD, series called Pure Telepathy.

One can't discuss mentalism and not discuss Richard Osterlind, Maven, and Derren Brown jsut to name a few. All of which are modern living legends in this magic of the mind. They have dedicated their lives to this art, and have contributed as teachers a combined wealth of knowledge that could fill a library on technique, development, theory, and practice.

Richard Osterlind's 13 steps to mentalism is a fantastic place to start. Their are many other fantastic books, and instructional DVD's on the subject that can certainly help shape your focus in the right direction. It would be too labor intensive to recommend all that I have in mind. But start with a little bit of Mentalism. Mix it into daily life, start performing your mental tricks on your friends first. Hone and refine your delivery and your future show will begin to take shape. Learn the fundamentals first and work your way into more advanced techniques if you so desire

Reference purchase: Mentalist Richard Osterlind

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