Special Powers

133 entries in Mental Magic / Effects / Special Powers
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
To make one danse naked spectator is made to throw away clothes and dance and stomp, stooge
 		1584
The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Issue XXX)
192
Magische X-Strahlen performer is able to read content of envelope, x-ray patter, alcohol
 		Mar. 1897
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 2 No. 7)
106
Oswald Rae Selected Smokes cigarettes of different brands are put in a bag, named brands are removed by performer, by touch
 		1928
Sub Rosa
18
Tom Sellers The Psychic Tissues feeling colors behind back
 		1931
Sellers' Secrets
10
Theodore Annemann* The Color-Tell Billiard Balls several different colored balls, one is placed in a box and held by performer behind back, he divines the color
 		1931
The Book Without A Name
51
Theodore Annemann* Seeing in the Dark reading in the dark
 		1931
The Book Without A Name
52
Tom Sellers Touch Counters several counters/chips of different colors in bag, initialed one found by performer
 		1933
More Secrets
14
Martin Sunshine Cigarette Perception cigarette brands are named blindfolded by smell, see page 99 for improvement by Frank N. Dodd
Related to
 Jan. 1935
The Jinx (Issue 4)
14
Frank Lane, U. F. Grant The Lindbergh Kidnap Ladder board with holes and nails, different spectators claim having seen a different number of holes and the nails in different positions
 		1935
They're Off
10
Brainerd Baker Color Waves five chips with dots of different colors, performer removes named color from pocket without looking
Variations
 Sep. 1939
Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 2 No. 3)
4
Winston Freer Winston Freer's "Tug-Of-War" Rope
1941 ca.
Abbott's Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks
360
John Mulholland Wrong Way for the Answer spectator memorizes serial number of one of five bills, all five are placed in magician’s pocket and he is able to remove the four bills the spectator is not thinking of
Also published here
 1944
The Art of Illusion
66
John Mulholland A Matter of Luck discs, each showing a different word on them, are mixed and spectator chooses one, they are mixed up in hat, magician can blindly pick out correct one
 		1944
The Art of Illusion
82
L. Vosburgh Lyons Inhale This! with benzedrine inhaler, spectator drops amount of different colored candies in the inhaler and performer knows how many from each color
 		Mar. 1947
The Phoenix (Issue 122)
489
Dr. Ben B. Braude Tally Ho! spectator write numbers on a pad, under a handkerchief performer feels the numbers and names the total, see also p. 540
 		Aug. 1947
The Phoenix (Issue 131)
525
Jay Lillis No T.V. magician turns off television by concentration
 		May 1951
The Phoenix (Issue 228)
913
Ormond McGill Distant Magnetic Force spectator has a sensation of coldness on his hand when performer points on his palm
Related to
 1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 4
15
Ormond McGill Animal Magnetic Presentation spectator feels presence and energy of performer
 		1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 4
18
Ormond McGill Blood and Pulse Control stopping and starting pulse at will
 		1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 5
25
Ormond McGill Black Death pulse in both arms and heart beat stops
 		1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 5
27
Nelmar Levitation of a Bar of Iron bar of iron is held by two spectators, it raises and lowers at the performer's fingertips, suggestion
Related to
  • Nelmar's "20 Hypnotic Tricks"
 1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 6
9
Eddie Joseph Individualism borrowed business cards are divined under table
 		1954
A Magician Goes to Dinner
21
Allessandro Color Divination wooden dowels with different colors, colors are divined behind back
 		1957
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1957)
14
Dr. Spencer Thornton Magnetic Fingers objects stick to the hand
 		1958
Thornton's Secrets of Mental Magic
26
Martin Gardner* Ein eigenartiger Schnurtrick as "Gardener", string is knotted to a loop and spectator places it on the table and builds a special form, sides are covered with paper so it's unclear which parts are inside the loop and which outside, performer returns and places pins at several places which are all outside the loop
 		1959
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 20 No. 3)
835
Gerry Findler Lucky Bag numbers from one to twelve are put in a bag, named numbers are drawn by performer, egg bag with index
 		1960
Magic of the Mind
72
Malcolm McCallum Cat's Eyes reading in the dark, method
 		1962
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1962)
46
James G. Thompson Jr. Blackout Magic classic one ahead routine, with reading in the dark presentation
Inspired by
 1967
Between Two Minds
46
Joseph Rossnagel Farbfühlen different colored needles, colors are divined with fingertips behind back
Also published here
  • "Magie" July 1968.
 1968
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 29 No. 5)
89
Stuart P. Cramer The Parlor Yogi stopping pulse and blood flow (needle pushed in thumb)
Related to
 1969
HEX!
1
Roy Fromer Reading Through a Brick thing put on hand, covered with brick, information divined
 		1969
HEX!
86
Douglas Francis Idento six discs attached to a string, on one is a number written by a spectator, performer detects that one behind his bag by touch only
 		1969
The Art of Close-Up Magic — Volume 2
59
Don Nielsen, Karl Fulves* Nor Eyes To See With
  • performer finds red card in black packet behind back
  • circled number on paper is divined behind back
  • set time on watch revealed behind back
fiber optic tube, see also p. 320 for idea by Harold Bester, p. 644 & p. 728 for comments by Syd Bergson & Karl Fulves
Related to
Variations
 Nov. 1969
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 5 No. 1)
291
Pavel Das Geheimnisvolle Sehen different-colored needle pins are divined by performer behind back
 		1971
15 Mikrotricks
10
Al Mann Mind Cloud making a cloud disappear
Also published here
 1974
Magick (Issue 113)
562
Uriah Fuller* 4. Starting broken watches
1975
Confessions of a Psychic
28
Uriah Fuller* 9. The falling object object falls from the sky
Related to
 1975
Confessions of a Psychic
38
Uriah Fuller* A. Stopping cable cars and escalators
1975
Confessions of a Psychic
39
Uriah Fuller* C. Geiger Counter making Geiger counter detect on demand
 		1975
Confessions of a Psychic
41
Arthur Setterington Light Heavyweight one of several tissue paper loops is selected, loops placed over rod and used to lift books, all tear except selected one
 		1975
Off-Beat Mentalism
15
Al Mann To Command the Elements! making clouds disappear, cloud busting
Also published here
 1976
Mental-Ettes
5
Olof Jonsson, Al Mann Seeing Through a Brick Wall spectator in other room holds card on a wall, performer in other room divines the card
 		1976
The Third Ecstasy
33
Karl Fulves* (4) Raising Hell spectator feels someone choking him, apparently electronics, no details given
 		1976
Interlocutor (Issue 6)
21
Karl Fulves* Voice From Beyond shattering a glass with recorded noice, posed as a problem
 		1976
Interlocutor (Issue 14)
54
Fredric Broder Mind over Matter Hurst / Goergia wonder presentation, arm can be pushed down of spectator
 		1976
Magick (Issue 163)
812
Burling Hull Ball of Paper Held by Spectator Bursts into Flame chemical
 		1976
The Amazing World of Mentalism
32
Barrie Richardson The Magnetic Force spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand
Also published here
Variations
 Dec. 1977
Pabular (Vol. 4 No. 4)
504
Philip T. Goldstein* Power Drain magnet loses his force
Also published here
 1977
The Red Book of Mentalism
18
Gene Nielsen* May the Force Be with You spectator cannot bend performer's arm
 		1977
Magick (Issue 188)
938
Bob Paul Memory "Curiosities"
ten cards with words, spectator is able to memorize their order
Variations
 1979
The Chronicles (Issue 22)
1279
Kate Shiels Psyche's Revenge medium breaks leg of a table with mind / energy
 		1979
Magick (Issue 227)
1131
Neal Rider The Power methods to appear supper natural or gifted, knowing names of people, finding lost objects etc
 		1979
Magick (Issue 230)
1149
Kate Shiels Witch's Plot publicity stunt for one reporter, performer apparently travels long distance very quickly
Variations
 1979
Magick (Issue 231)
1152
Elmer Deffenbaugh Direct Dialing publicity stunt for one reporter, performer apparently travels long distance very quickly, different method than Shiels
Inspired by
 1979
Magick (Issue 237)
1182
George Kemp The Force manifestation of the force / ghost under handkerchief, impromptu glorpy with spoon
 		1979
Magick (Issue 239)
1192
Sam Schwartz Hypno-Math No. 8, spectator cannot add two numbers correctly, upside-down numbers
 		1979
Self-Working Mental Magic
10
Jerry K. Hartman Memorease "Curiosities"
ten cards with letters, spectator is able to memorize their order
Also published here
Inspired by
 1980
The Chronicles (Issue 28)
1341
Karl Fulves* Colors by Mind Reading No. 2, three different-colored paper pieces, one given to performer behind back, he divines color
 		1980
The Children's Magic Kit
2
Tan Hock Chuan Discatorial four different-colored discs, colors divined by performer behind back, then order of four colors predicted
 		1980
After Dinner Technique
54
Uriah Fuller* 2. Stopping and escalator assistant
 		1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
57
Uriah Fuller* 3. Burst in a Geiger Tube luminous watch to produce cracks in Geiger counter
 		1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
57
Uriah Fuller* 6. Compass Needles moving compass needle
 		1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
59
Uriah Fuller* 8. Falling Objects object falls from the sky, assistant, invisible stooge, falling from head
Related to
 1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
61
Uriah Fuller* 9. Finding Lost Objects
1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
62
Uriah Fuller* 13. Fixing a Microphone
1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
67
Jack Kent Tillar Dark Vision color vision with rubik's cube, in box, color is divined
 		1981
Magick (Issue 288)
1437
Jochen Zmeck Perfektes Farbfühlen four chips with dots of different colors are placed in handkerchief, performer removes named color without looking
Inspired by
 1981
Das Jochen Zmeck Seminar "81"
13
A Mental Effect With Dollar Bills spectator memorizes serial number of one of five bills, all five are placed in magician’s pocket and he is able to remove the four bills the spectator is not thinking of
Also published here
 1981
The Magic of Jimmy Grippo
161
Al Mann The Seat of the Mighty seeing through a wall and describing the other room
 		1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
1
Al Mann The Hole in the Wall spectator goes in other room selects a book, performer looks through the wall and divines the selection
 		1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
2
Al Mann Thot on Titles "The Hole in the Wall" in a strange home
 		1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
5
Al Mann One Thousand Skulls seeing through the wall theme, spectator in other room draws two miniature skulls from a bag, the skulls are either red or white, four phases
Inspired by
Related to
 1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
6
Al Mann Camera Obscura seeing through the wall theme, design duplication, singing blackboard, limited choice
Related to
  • "Singing Blackboard" in Amazing Maurice's "Mentalistrix Encore" 1969
 1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
9
Al Mann Fail Safe out for the "Camera Obscura", prepared book
 		1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
11
Al Mann The Jupiter Effect seeing through a wall, which book is chosen and where opened
Related to
 1982
Through a Wall, Mistily!
12
Thomas Alan Waters SOREcery blister appears on thought of finger
 		1982
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Grymwyr)
245
Frank Shields Star Power coins adhere to fingertips and apparently fall at command of performer
 		Jan. 1983
Magick (Issue 314)
1567
Delvin Lights Out! as Delvyn, turning out light of street lantern apparently by will power
 		May 1983
Magick (Issue 319)
1592
Jerry K. Hartman, Karl Fulves* Memorease No. 91, spectator can memorize large number, also letters
Also published here
Inspired by
 1983
Self-Working Number Magic
118
Piet Forton Der zauberhafte Farbensinn divination of different colored balls in a bag
 		1983
Je geschickter desto Zauberer
8
Thomas Alan Waters Speakay six people write something on a piece of paper, performer thinks of one of the words and claims that one spectator will have the urge to step forward, one does and it is the one who has written the word the performer holds
Related to
 1984
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Thynk)
607
Barrie Richardson Heavy Metal! spectator is not able to lift pencil from performer's palm
Also published here
Variations
 Aug. 1984
Magick (Issue 336)
1677
Thomas Alan Waters Increditable two routines with credit cards
  • Creditouch (by sense of touch, number of card is divined)
  • Creditell (four credit cards put in envelopes and allocated correctly)
 		1985
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Mystyx)
707
Barrie Richardson Power of Darkness II marked coin turns over on spectator's palm without him noticing and with his eyes closed
Also published here
 Jan. 1985
Magick (Issue 344)
1717
Richard Mark Diversion extended arm of spectator can be pushed down at will of performer
Related to
 Nov. 1985
Magick (Issue 360)
1798
Philip T. Goldstein* Power Drain magnet loses his force
Also published here
 1989
A Phil Goldstein Collection
59
Michael Weber Sight of Hand reading in the dark
 		1991
Life Savers
110
David Harkey, Eric Anderson Budge! spectator cannot remove deck from case, but performer can, then same with half the deck and a single card
 		1991
Simply Harkey
79
Jerry K. Hartman Memorease ten cards with letters, spectator is able to memorize their order
Also published here
Inspired by
 1991
Card Craft
496
Charles "Cicardi" Scott Potato Power piercing a straw through raw potato
Related to
 July 1992
Magick (Issue 475)
2374
Richard Mark Crystal Clear coin is hidden in hand, performer matches decision of spectator, then performer can push down hand of spectator easily or not depending on crystal, multiple phases, with liar/truth teller ending
Related to
 1992
Mindbending Meltdown
4
Steve Dusheck Shattered glass in plastic bag breaks by itself
 		1993
Dusheck's Mental Magic
107
Roy Miller, Gary Dudash, Dr. Dan J. Alessini, Greg Edmonds The Great Egg Challenge several versions on how to make a chosen egg boil using mental powers, chosen egg is only hard boiled, various methods, Monserrat effect
 		June 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 16 No. 12)
11
Sandy Spillman Something on My Mind: Body Magic various body magic effects
  • Business is Picking Up (1)
  • Glued to the Spot (2)
  • Going Up (3)
  • The Female Samson (4)
  • The Perplexing Pull (5)
  • The Hand on the Head (6)
  • The Mysterious Lift (7)
  • The Chair Lift (8)
 		Sep. 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 3)
9
Dean Montalbano Splat! chosen egg is shown to be hard boiled by mental powers, Monserrat effect
 		Nov. 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 5)
1
Karl Fulves* Ribbon Revealed No. 26, three different colored ribbons, one given to performer behind back, he divines its color
 		1995
Easy Magic
34
Al Mann To Move a Mountain on how Jasper Maskelyne moved a harbor during WWII, how to move a mountain
 		1995
The Hidden Scroll
7
Barrie Richardson The Psychic Strong Man performer holds two pieces of string or shoe lace, spectators cannot pull them out of performer's hand
Also published here
  • Club 71, Summer 1987
Inspired by
  • "The Strong Man's Secret" (Henning Nelms, Magic & Showmanship, p. 14)
 1999
Theater of the Mind
60
Barrie Richardson Pencil Pusher spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand, small thread loop
Also published here
Variations
 1999
Theater of the Mind
71
Barrie Richardson Powers of Darkness II marked coin turns over on spectator's palm without him noticing and with his eyes closed
Also published here
Inspired by
  • "Powers of Darkness" (Tony Corinda, marketed ca. 1958)
 1999
Theater of the Mind
74
Bob Still Color View spectators draw pictures on different-colored papers, torn up and tossed in clear plastic bag with more already torn up pieces, four matching pieces of chosen picture taken out by performer
Related to
 2000
Latter Day Secrets (Issue 3)
53
Tony Bartolotta Jigsaw Puzzle clear plastic bag with torn colored paper pieces, three spectators take three paper pieces and write word, number and picture, pieces torn up and mixed with the rest, performer reaches in and locates the right pieces that combine to the spectators's writing
Related to
 2001
Latter Day Secrets (Issue 6)
215
Philip T. Goldstein* Electrovoyance
  • The Other Month
various AA batteries are mixed in bag, level of charge from a chosen battery is divined
Inspired by
  • "Free of Charge" (Phil Goldstein, Linking Ring, Sep. 1991)
 Mar. 2001
Genii (Vol. 64 No. 3)
53
Barrie Richardson The Human Scale
  • From My Thoughts
spectator grabs handful of coins from container, performer matches the same type and amount of coins
Also published here
 May 2001
Genii (Vol. 64 No. 5)
60
Eric Mead Discharge a battery is drained
Also published here
 Apr. 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 10 No. 8)
70
Barrie Richardson The Power of Suggestion: The Heavy Pen
  • From My Thoughts
spectator is unable to pick up a pen on performer's open hand, small thread loop
Inspired by
 Jan. 2002
Genii (Vol. 65 No. 1)
60
Eric Mead Discharge a battery is drained
Also published here
 2003
Connexions
9
Erik Jan Hanussen Can You Brea Chains?
  • Bending an Iron-Bar
  • Tearing a Deck of Cards
  • Pounding Nails into a Wooden Board
  • Breaking a Chain Linnk
Also published here
  • UHU, Jan. 1926
 July 2004
Genii (Vol. 67 No. 7)
57
Chuck Hickok Routine One: Testing Your Intuition pasteboards with different colors in envelops, colors are divined
 		2005
Mentalism, Incorporated: Volume Two
115
Barrie Richardson The Human Scale spectator grabs handful of coins from container, performer matches the same type and amount of coins
Also published here
Inspired by
  • earlier version in Club 71, Winter 2000
 2005
Act Two
87
David Berglas Spell-Bound unreadable gibberish on boards, suddenly spectator can read the words
 		May 2007
Genii (Vol. 70 No. 5)
94
Luke Jermay Expertalk: Luke Jermay on the Heated Ring ring apparently heats up, verbal
  • A Hot Ring Flight
Also published here
 Mar. 2007
MAGIC (Vol. 16 No. 7)
94
Oliver Meech Invisible Man Magician claims to be able to see through a spectator and see the card written on a sticker stuck on their back
 		2009
The Plot Thickens
10
Barrie Richardson Mesmer's Pencil
  • Phase I - The Rise (pencil stands up on hand, small thread loop)
  • Phase II - The Heavy Pencil (spectator cannot lift pencil off the performer's hand)
  • Phase III - The Feather Test (variation of Phase II with feather on top, Chuck Smith idea)
Inspired by
 2011
Curtain Call
13
Daniele Nigris Portia's Portrait finding a portrait in a chest by asking questions to three spectators that can lie, lie/truth effect, Shakespeare presentation
Inspired by
  • "Ring of Truth" (Banachek)
 July 2011
Genii (Vol. 74 No. 7)
25
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Voodoo As I Do couple of receipts with words written on their back are shown, one selected by performer with spelling procedure, bad-luck curse on it is broken by tearing the receipt, spectator repeats and gets "weak" and cannot tear paper in half
Inspired by
  • "Breaking the Bad Luck Streak" (Woody Aragon, unpublished)
 June 2012
Real Secrets (Vol. 1 No. 3)
1
Ian Rowland Super Sight
  • Loving Mentalism
performer can read small print on paper cards from far away
 		Oct. 2012
MAGIC (Vol. 22 No. 2)
78
Matt Mello Pulse Rate pulse rate of spectator is predicted
  • Additional Thoughts and Ideas (with two phase routine, predicting the pulse rate twice or something else)
Also published here
Related to
 2012
Pulse Rate
1
Jay Sankey Memory Laps spectator draws shapes on back of business card which is also signed by spectator, spectator cannot correctly remember the shapes
Also published here
  • 22 Blows to the Head DVD, ca. 2003
Related to
 2012
The Definitive Sankey — Volume 1
149
Ian Rowland Four The Win
  • Loving Mentalism
Ten Card Poker Deal type routine without playing cards but number cards, mind control themed
 		July 2013
MAGIC (Vol. 22 No. 11)
72
Ian Rowland Trick Photography
  • Loving Mentalism
photo shown on cellphone changes/is morphed
Inspired by
  • "Voodoo Card" (Nathan Kranzo, Trifold)
 Nov. 2013
MAGIC (Vol. 23 No. 3)
60
Matt Mello Pulse Rate pulse rate of spectator is predicted
  • Additional Thoughts and Ideas (with two phase routine, predicting the pulse rate twice or something else)
Also published here
Related to
 2013
It's All In Your Head
27
Ian Rowland Detective Fiction
  • Loving Mentalism
lie detector, three spectators receive envelopes with notes when they should lie or not
 		Oct. 2014
MAGIC (Vol. 24 No. 2)
74
Peter Turner The Try Principle
  • Loving Mentalism (Ian Rowland)
spectator cannot perform a simple task (lifting a cup), then he can again
 		Apr. 2015
MAGIC (Vol. 24 No. 8)
70
Jim Steinmeyer The Empty Bag three spectators feel different things in a paper bag which is then shown empty
 		2015
Nothing But Mystery
13
Matt Mello Brainwaving spectator has eyes covered, performer moves his hand near left or right side of spectator's head without touching it and spectator lifts the hand on that side
Inspired by
  • "Lift" (Derren Brown)
 2015
Playing Psychic
10
Andy (The Jerx) Limitless Ahead One Ahead type of routine, spectator is apparently given heightened senses (hearing, smell etc.), able to guess what magician did
 		2016
The Jerx
69
Matt Mello Through the Drinking Glass - Effect #1 spectator sips water from a paper cup, and can taste what a second participant is drinking
 		2016
Through the Drinking Glass
3
Matt Mello Through the Drinking Glass - Effect #2 spectator is rendered unable to drink a glass of water
 		2016
Through the Drinking Glass
8
Rick Maue Maue's Pen humorous demonstration on controlling the spectator's decision
Also published here
  • Rick Maue, Raw, 2008 & The Road, 2010
 2017
The Doors of Deception
89
Juan Pablo Ibañez Triple Tequila three spectators on stage, Honest or Liar, object found, using Body Mentalism principle
Inspired by
  • "Double Tequila"
 July 2022
Genii (Vol. 85 No. 7)
41
Luke Jermay Expertalk: Luke Jermay on the Heated Ring ring apparently heats up, verbal
  • A Hot Ring Flight
Also published here
 2022
Talk About Tricks (Issue 1)
602
Landon Stark MentaliTea - A Pendulum With a Purpose tea bag lowered onto spectator's hand, it is hot
 		Jan. 2024
The Hermit (Vol. 3 No. 1)
1184