Think
a Month
This
first appeared in the late Bascom Jones' Magick
Magazine.
This
routine came to me about four o'clock in the
morning one night. The time that most good
ideas come to me. I was pondering the reason
an old effect worked. The one where you have
someone secretly pick a number on a watch
and you start to tap the watch and each time
you tap they add one to their number and they
stop you when their total reaches twenty.
When you stop you are at their number. The
secret was to count counter clockwise and
start at the seven. While doing so I stumbled
upon the fact that if a person thought of
a number and if you started at the twelve
and counted in an anti-clockwise direction
and each time you tapped a number they added
one to the number they selected. When you
were done they would have a total of thirteen
no matter what number they chose. From this
came the following effect:
"Each
month has a value." The mentalist begins.
"January is one, February is two up to December
which is twelve. I want you to think of the
value of the month that you were born in.
Just think if it and while you do that I am
going to write a prediction."
The
mentalist writes out his prediction, folds
it and places it in the spectators pocket.
"Now
sir, I am going to name months, each time
I do I am going to say out loud 'add one',
this will mean to add one to the value of
your month. When I name your month please
tell me to stop."
The
mentalist proceeds to do just what he said
"December, add one! November, add one! October,
add one."
Let's
say the spectator stopped him on October.
The value of October is 10. At this point
the spectator has added three to his number.
His total is 13. "That's great," exclaims
the mentalist, "although unlucky for most,
the number thirteen means happiness, fame
and fortune for those born in October. Please
open the prediction."
The
spectator does so and reads 'Although unlucky
for most, the number thirteen is lucky for
those special few.'
METHOD:
The method is quite simple. So long as you
start at December and name the months backwards
adding one each time plus one on their month,
the spectators 'lucky' number will always
be thirteen. The reason is simple. There are
twelve months in a year. By counting backwards
all that you are doing is having them add
the rest of the months of the year which is
twelve, plus one more on their month to bring
the total to thirteen.
NOTES:
If you follow the routine as outlined and
word the predictions as it is, the spectator
will 'remember,' that not only did you know
in advance his lucky number but you also knew
his birth date. Please do not reveal in advance
that you are going to find out his 'lucky
number' as you will send out signals to the
spectator to listen carefully and learn the
procedure so he can figure out other people's
lucky numbers. What he will then figure out
is the method. Reveal the number as his lucky
number when he arrives at the total.
Mail
mentalism:
This can be done by mailing the prediction
with a letter telling the person you want
to hire you not to open the smaller prediction
inside but that you will be calling them or
if they can't wait they can call you. Place
the prediction in a smaller envelope, seal
and write 'DO NOT OPEN' upon it. Proceed as
in the effect.
Watch
routine:
When performing for someone you already know
have them remove their watch and think of
any number on the dial. Hand them the prediction.
Tell them you are going to touch numbers on
the dial they are to add one each time to
their secret number. When you reach their
number they are to call out stop. Tell them
they now have a lucky number and ask what
it is. Have them open the prediction.
One
ahead:
If you want you can write the first prediction
as 13, but instead of asking them to concentrate
on their birth date, have them concentrate
on the year they were born. Place this prediction
in their pocket. Now ask them for their birth
date. You now ask them to think of the value
of their birth month. You then write the year
on a second piece of paper and place that
with the other prediction in their pocket.
Now proceed to get their lucky number via
this method. Both predictions match.
In
thoughts
Banachek |
