An introduction to mentalism will show that it is a kind of performing art that has risen in popularity in recent years in part among more modern mentalists such as Criss Angel and David Blaine. This type of psychological sorcery deals with the use of the rules of stage sorcery to present the appearance of hypnosis, mind reading, extrasensory perception, precognition, clairvoyance, and mind control.

Almost all mentalistic acts can be immediately traced to acts of mystical powers that were performed by mediums, psychics, and spiritualists in the 19th century. However, the history of mentalism goes back even further. Girolamo Scotto, a sleight-of-hand wizard in the 16th century, was the first record of an act of mentalism.

There are many different ways to represent mentalism as an act. Artists such as Uri Geller and James Van Praagh claim to possess essentially mystical powers such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, or telekinesis.

There are still some people who firmly believe that Geller and similar practitioners are actually demonstrating mystical powers, but there are always scientists and skeptics who are prepared to refute such claims.

Many recent mentalists, such as Richard Osterlind and Derren Brown, attribute their results to abilities that are far from mystical: rather the talent to read body language and manipulate the subject in a subliminal way through mental proposals.

Mentalists often don’t mix standard witchcraft tricks with their psychological acts. Doing so associates mentalism a little too closely with the theatrical cunning often used by stage magicians. Many mentalists claim that they are not sorcerers at all, and they disagree that it is an entirely different art form.

On the other hand, magicians like David Copperfield, David Blaine and Criss Angel characteristically mix facets of mentalism with their charming illusions.

For example, a mind reading trick would also involve the lovely teleportation of 2 different objects. Today, such a fusion is known as “mind sorcery.” Mentalism and psychological magic often require performers to exude an authoritative, commanding, and smooth stage presence and sleight of hand.

But for those who have an interest in more than just an introduction to mentalism and need to know more about the mysterious and mystical origins of mentalism, there are 2 tests that are still generally used today that can establish whether you possess the capabilities of a mentalist or no. .

They are the proof of the book and the proof of the living and the dead. In the above, an affiliate from the crowd selects a book at random and it opens to a random page. The examiner would then focus on a word, sentence or paragraph of their choice. If the mentalist can read your thoughts, apparently only using psychological powers, then the test passes.

In the test of the living and the dead, the name of a deceased person is mixed with the names of people still living, all written on matching strips of paper. Supposedly using only psychological powers, the mentalist must separate the living from the dead.

The mentalists we see today are a long way from their ancestors. Beautifying the covers of tabloid magazines and columns and every television screen around, most particularly by lime light, are Criss Angel and David Blaine. But many are following in his footsteps and taking an introduction to mentalism or psychological sorcery to new heights.

But nonetheless, they continue to take our breath away with their most unlikely, visually confusing understanding and awe galvanizing psychological magic. One thing for sure is that mentalism is here to stay.