| Mentalists have been performing an art called | | | | or her mind. Mentalists also use chalk slates for |
| mentalism for many years. Mentalism is considered a | | | | predictions and give the appearance of mind control. |
| form of a performing art that involves the performer | | | | During mind control effects, hypnosis is commonly |
| to use their mental acuity and the principles that are | | | | used. The most common form of hypnosis used during |
| basic to stage magic to give the illusion of psychic | | | | such effects is called covert hypnosis, or |
| abilities including psychokinesis, precognition, and mind | | | | conversational hypnosis. |
| control. Most mentalists also use hypnosis in their | | | | To use conversational hypnosis, they have to be able |
| mentalism routines. Modern mentalism can be traced | | | | to achieve several simple tasks. First, the mentalist |
| back to test given to people who claimed to have | | | | needs to get the attention of the person being |
| supernatural powers in the 19th Century. | | | | hypnotized, and maintain it. Once the mentalist has the |
| The use of hypnosis in mentalism effects are varied. | | | | spectators full attention, they will then need to develop |
| Some mentalists use hypnosis as a cover for their | | | | a rapport with the subject. Once the rapport is built, the |
| effects while others use them as a part of the effect. | | | | mentalist can then induce a trance like state by using |
| Mentalism effects include many different forms of | | | | specific language. Once the subject is hypnotized, the |
| magic. Mind reading and mind control are perhaps the | | | | mentalist can then present the subject with the |
| most common. However, utilization of effects to give | | | | suggestions. This can be done in a conversational |
| the appearance of psychokinetic is also very common. | | | | manner that leaves the subject completely unaware |
| During a mentalists routine, they will use two very | | | | that they are being subjected to a form of hypnosis. |
| standard tests based on the tests used in the 19th | | | | Many magicians now use mentalist techniques coupled |
| century. The most common is called the book test. | | | | with hypnosis techniques. In the past, mentalists used |
| During the book test, a spectator will be asked to | | | | their abilities for their own profit, more then actual |
| choose a page at random. They will then be asked to | | | | entertainment. They claimed that they actually had |
| choose a word, or words, at random and concentrate | | | | supernatural abilities. Modern and contemporary |
| on the page number and the word, or words, chosen. | | | | performers mostly state openly that their abilities come |
| The book will then be closed and the mentalist will | | | | from being able to accurately read body language, |
| attempt to read the mind of the spectator and find the | | | | among other techniques used by mentalists. The |
| chosen page as well as the chosen text. This test has | | | | abilities are shown by these performers as nothing |
| been modified to become a more compact effect that | | | | more then a performance. However, some |
| can be performed anywhere. It is now performed | | | | contemporary mentalists still maintain that they have |
| using a deck of playing cards. | | | | these powers, yet fail the tests that are presented |
| Another popular version of mentalism is psychokinetic. | | | | before them. Mentalists such as Geller still maintain that |
| There are many popular ways to handle this. One of | | | | they have psychic abilities and psychokinetic abilities, |
| them is to make objects, as well as the mentalist, and | | | | however, can not prove it unless under their controlled |
| even other people, to levitate. During psychokinetic | | | | circumstances. |
| effects, the mentalist will "make" objects move with his | | | | |