Cold Reading

101 entries in Mental Magic / Principles / Cold Reading
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Reginald Scot How men have beene abused with words of equivocation, with sundrie examples thereof on cold reading and claiming coincidences
 		1584
The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Issue XV)
175
Cartomancie Fortune telling / cold reading with cards
 		1786
Testament de Jérôme Sharp
28
Divination d'un nom Divination of a name
 		1786
Testament de Jérôme Sharp
36
C. L. Boarde The Spiel making the most of the information, cold reading
  • General Remarks
  • 1. Setting the Scene
  • 2. Analyzing the Spectator
  • 3. Analyzing the Question
  • 4. The Delivery
  • 5. The Psychological Reading
    • A. Love
    • B. Health
    • C. Business
    • D. Lost and Found
    • E. Trips
    • F. News
    • G. Conflict
    • H. Success
    • I. Politics
    • J. Children
    • K. Crime
 		1947
Mainly Mental Vol. 1 — Billet Reading
39
Tony Corinda Table of Probabilities - Explanation what people are concerned about
 		1959
Question and Answer (Readings)
355
Tony Corinda Part Two: Dealing with Questions Unknown
1959
Question and Answer (Readings)
356
Tony Corinda Main Objectives when Cold Reading overview on cold reading
 		1959
Question and Answer (Readings)
357
Tony Corinda Conclusion
1959
Question and Answer (Readings)
359
Robert A. Nelson On Zodiac Readings
1959
More Miracles in Mentalism
27
North Bigbee, Dr. Stanley Jaks Dr. Jaks' Secret reading on stage, collecting information before the show, hot reading
 		1971
Magick (Issue 24)
118
Paul Siegel Legacy of the Gypsies blindfolded performer touches a palm of a spectator and gives a reading
 		1972
Doorway to Delusion
13
Bascom Jones Astro-Logic! naming Zodiac signs and asking questions
Inspired byVariations 1972
Magick (Issue 63)
312
William Patterson A Detective on Obtaining Information on gathering information before the event, hot reading, investigating the audience
 		1973
Magick (Issue 69)
345
Michael P. Hades Only from the Dead! spectators write down names of deceased people, rapping sounds divination and allocation of names by medium
 		1973
Magick (Issue 85)
421
Tieneblas Yellow Flowers ... and a Burro cold reading from information overheard earlier
 		1974
Magick (Issue 92)
458
Bascom Jones The Anatomy of a Cold Reading
  • The Psychic Reading
  • In the Beginning
  • Delivery
  • Subconscious Insight
  • And Don't Overlook the Future
  • Areas to Avoid
  • Getting Specific
 		1975
Magick (Issue 125)
625
Bascom Jones Psychologists and the Personality Reading
  • Something for Everybody
  • The Personality Reading
  • People Want to Be Unique
  • And They Tend to Accentuate the Positive
  • Two Other Observations
  • What Can it Mean to the Mentalist?
  • How to Use the Reading
 		1975
Magick (Issue 127)
635
Karl Fulves Cold Readings questions to get information, discussions with Tom Harris, L. Vosburgh Lyons
 		1976
Interlocutor (Issue 10)
37
Bascom Jones The Cold Reading - What It's All About
  • The Foundation
  • Springboard
  • Tell-Tale Indicators
  • Fail Safe
  • Areas of Interest
  • All Things Change
 		1976
Magick (Issue 155)
775
Burling Hull Practice Method for Fast Answering
1976
The Amazing World of Mentalism
172
Burling Hull The Ultra Question Answering Act - With No Questions Written
1976
The Amazing World of Mentalism
205
Philip T. Goldstein Beware of Culturally Defined Identities
  • Social Stereotypes
  • Images Are Becoming Less Specific
  • You Must Change with the Trends
  • Work the Individual
  • Texts are Outdated
  • Don't Assume Too Much
 		1977
Magick (Issue 181)
905
Bascom Jones Cold Reading - Its Techniques and Practice - Part I
  • What It Is
  • Foundation Stone
  • Common Denominators
  • Hit Upon Specific
  • Life Patterns
 		1978
Magick (Issue 215)
1075
Bascom Jones Cold Reading - Its Techniques and Practice - Part II
  • Decade of Turmoil
  • The "Future is Now"
  • Group Reaction
  • Group Dynamics
 		1978
Magick (Issue 217)
1085
Bascom Jones Cold Reading - Its Techniques and Practice - Part III
  • Preoccupation with Self
  • Reflect Confidence
  • Do Your Homework
  • Gain the Subject's Cooperation
  • Use Psychological Truisms
  • Keep Your Eyes Open
  • Keep Your Ears Open
  • Flattery Works Wonders
  • Make it Theatrical
 		1978
Magick (Issue 219)
1095
Bascom Jones Cold Reading - It's Techniques and Practice - Part IV
  • Attitudes are Changing
  • The American Family
  • Role of Women
  • More about Women
  • And the Problems of Women
  • But Don't Make Medical Suggestion
 		1978
Magick (Issue 221)
1105
Bascom Jones Cold Reading - It's Techniques and Practice - Part V
  • Listen to your Unconscious Mind
  • The Silent Scream
  • The Eyes Have It!
  • Look, Too, At the Pupils
  • In Summary
 		1979
Magick (Issue 223)
1115
Orville Wayne Meyer 10 Tips on Warming Up Those Cold Readings
1979
Magick (Issue 245)
1225
George B. Anderson Dynamite Mentalism fifteen minutes routine of mind reading / answering questions (no-props cold reading)
  • Opening Remarks
  • 18-35 Male
  • 18-35 Female
  • 35-55 Male
  • 35-55 Female
  • Over 55- Male
  • Over 55- Female
  • Three Alternate Final Questions
  • It's Not New
  • "Outs"
  • A "Prompter" Device
 		1979
Dynamite Mentalism
3
Bascom Jones Your Voice May Be Loudest When You Are Listening on listening to the sitter
 		1980
Magick (Issue 265)
1326
Bascom Jones Conversational Tricks for the Private Reader
  • The Gift of Gab
  • Don't Reinvent the Wheel
  • Start with These Tips
  • Free Information
  • Disclose Something of Yourself
  • Let Actions Talk, Too
  • Use Your Eyes
 		1980
Magick (Issue 269)
1345
Sandy Spillman A Lean and Hungry Look
  • Not a New Theory
  • The Physiognomic Instinct
  • Body Typing
  • Endomorph
  • Mesomorph
  • Ectomorph
  • How to Use It
 		1980
Magick (Issue 271)
1355
Von Hoenir Secrets of a Hotel Psychic
  • Learning by Doing
  • Internationally Known
  • Advertising and Promotion
  • The Matter of Money
  • ...and Protection
  • Men Versus Women
  • How Much Time?
  • Tea Leaves or I-Ching?
 		1980
Magick (Issue 273)
1365
Karl Fulves The Supermind Scenario on the methods of a medium, like divining unknown personal things, having the phone ring, breaking into a safe
  • Behind the Scenes
  • In Sum
 		1980
Further Confessions of a Psychic
7
Terry Nosek Keeping up with Cold Reading on "American Averages" by Feinsilber & Mead
 		Nov. 1980
Psychic Entertainers News & Information Service (Issue 27)
6
Terry Nosek More Cold Reading Information
Dec. 1980
Psychic Entertainers News & Information Service (Issue 28)
4
Thomas Alan Waters Omnimancy essay on fortunetelling, Q&A, cold reading
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
89
Thomas Alan Waters LeNormand's Legacy question is written on a blank tarot card, card lost in the deck and a reading is given
Related to
  • T. A. Waters in "Genii" Vol. 28, No. 1, 1963
 1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
99
Thomas Alan Waters LeNormand's Legacy II question is written on a blank tarot card, card lost in the deck and a reading is given, different handling
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
101
Thomas Alan Waters MuTarot Mutus Nomen with tarot cards, start for a reading with several people
Related to 1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
103
Thomas Alan Waters MuTwo ten spectators write initials and a word on half of a business card, Mutus Nomen, start for a reading
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
106
Thomas Alan Waters Palmystic muscle reading technique, hidden as palmistry
Related to 1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
110
Thomas Alan Waters Coda on fortunetelling, cold reading and mentalism
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
112
Thomas Alan Waters Suggested Reading general publications suggested for fortunetellers
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Omnimancy)
113
Thomas Alan Waters General Technique
  • Object-Reading (Deduction & Observation)
  • Object-Linking (Marking Systems)
 		1981
Mind, Myth & Magick (Issue Psychometry)
131
George B. Anderson Authentic Mentalism
  • Without Gimmicks
  • Your 'Hits' Will Amaze Even You
  • Attempt the Impossible
  • Think of a Card
  • Other Effects
  • Play Your Hunches
  • You're not Perfect
  • Handling Questions
 		1981
Magick (Issue 289)
1445
Juan Tamariz Telepatia Colectiva two routines using the center tear, multiphase routine, combination with pencil reading and fishing
 		1982
Magia Potagia — Volume II
49
Al Mann Spirit Calling! spirit rings in a reading / seance, morbid
 		1984
Phantom Voices
18
Al Mann 'Hot' Readings readings over the phone, how to gain information
 		1984
Phantom Voices
19
Orville Wayne Meyer Six Tips on Learning to Read on how to start cold reading
  • Provide a Personal Touch
  • The Penultima Approach
  • How it Works
  • First Name
  • Birth Date
  • Favorite Color
  • Chosen Number
  • Graphology
  • And About Length
  • Allow for a Question
  • What Fee to Ask
 		June 1985
Magick (Issue 353)
1765
C. J. Mentali The Eyes Have It observing eyes of spectators for readings
  • Watch the Eyes
  • Medical Diagnosis
  • "Ol' Blue Eyes"
  • "Wait until You See the Whites of their Eyes"
  • Eye Problems
  • And Consider Eye Shape and Size
  • Placement of Eyes are Important
  • Look, Too, At the Shape of the Eyebrows
  • Pupil Size Tell Much
 		Oct. 1985
Magick (Issue 359)
1795
Bruce Bernstein Psychological Reading psychic reading, reading statements
Related toAlso published here 1985
Psi-Tech
42
Richard Webster Add Color to Your Readings
  • Background Information
  • A Quick Start
  • Remembering the Colors
  • The Two Master Numbers
 		Apr. 1986
Magick (Issue 369)
1845
Richard Webster Instant Talk letters of name secretly used for reading
 		Oct. 1986
Magick (Issue 379)
1892
Gene Nielsen, Valerie Nielsen Your Nails - What They Say on taking care of finger nails and using it for readings
 		Feb. 1987
Magick (Issue 385)
1925
Herb Dewey The Psychic Reading
  • Confidence Factor
  • Twelve-To-One Ratio
  • The Personality Reading
Related to May 1987
Magick (Issue 389)
1945
Herb Dewey The Psychic Reading - Part II
Related to June 1987
Magick (Issue 391)
1955
Herb Dewey The Psychic Reading - Part III
  • Dynamite Information
  • Random Highlights
  • Mirror Image
  • Selective Listening
  • And Basic Truths
  • Romance and Reason
Related to July 1987
Magick (Issue 393)
1965
Robert Siepielski Control Plus using telephone book to gather information on people, hot reading
 		Oct. 1987
Magick (Issue 397)
1982
Karl Fulves Mouths of Babes easily obtaining knowledge about random things
 		1988
Interlocutor (Issue 49)
215
Ken Meaux Cold Reading sound done by sitter when reader is wrong
 		July 1992
Vibrations (Vol. 15 No. 1)
12
Terry Nosek Tongue-Showing
July 1992
Vibrations (Vol. 15 No. 1)
12
Herb Dewey Cold Reading Ideas and Concepts
  • How to Get Started
  • Give Clients Something They Can Challenge
  • Two Types of Clients
  • What About Gays?
  • Big vs Small Hints
  • Look at Grooming
  • Don't Ask Many Questions?
 		Oct. 1993
Magick (Issue 495)
2477
Dr. Dan J. Alessini Sport Psychometry cards of various sports are placed in envelopes, performer divines who picked what sport
 		Sep. 1993
Vibrations (Vol. 16 No. 3)
11
Herb Dewey Magnetic Personality sitter on chair finds himself drawn to reader
 		Dec. 1993
Vibrations (Vol. 16 No. 6)
1
Jay Weiler Reading Cold on Weiler's cold reading method
 		1994
Rigmarole (Issue 6)
72
Bruce Bernstein Cold Reading stock reading lines
Related to 1994
Going South With His Secrets
5
Ralph Fowler The Almost Perfect Code - Part 3
  • Coding Articles
  • Comedy Gags
  • Coins
  • Dollar Bill
  • Cold Reading
 		Feb. 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 8)
13
Mona Santow KOLD Radio Readings getting information from the radio format people listen too, in an office environment
 		1996
Syzygy (Vol. 2 No. Quarterly Supplement #6)
134
Cold Reading Demographic cold reading stereotypes, different age groups and nationalities
 		1996
Syzygy (Vol. 3 No. Quarterly Supplement #9)
205
Herb Dewey Mindblowing Psychic Readings readings based on age types and gender
Related to 1996
Syzygy (Vol. 3 No. Quarterly Supplement #11)
233
Herb Dewey Mindblowing Psychic Readings, II readings based on age types and gender
Related to 1996
Syzygy (Vol. 3 No. Quarterly Supplement #12)
253
Ken De Courcy Rings On Their Fingers reading, on which finger people wear rings
 		Oct. 1997
Mind & Magic Magazine (Vol. 1 No. 4)
9
Bruce Bernstein Win Some Free Information collecting information before the show setting up a raffle
 		1997
Psi-Kicks
47
Karl Fulves Psycho nine spectators write day and month of birth on papers, later assigned to spectators with short readings
 		1998
Mutus Nomen
77
Jas Jakutsch Concerning "Cold Reading"
1999
Completely Mental — Vol. 1
10
Jas Jakutsch Negative Cast Statements (NCS) question which can be interpreted in two ways, no + are you?
 		1999
Completely Mental — Vol. 1
15
Masklyn ye Mage Masklyn ye Mage's Shure Fire Cold Readings list of phrases
 		Oct. 2000
Genii (Vol. 63 No. 10)
33
Tony Bartolotta All About Eve revealing personal information about a spectator/guest
 		2002
Discoverie (Issue 8)
103
K. L. Going In Cold
  • Magician at Large
 		May 2003
Genii (Vol. 66 No. 5)
80
Robert E. Neale Three Way to Become an Oracle see following items
 		2003
Mystery School
82
Robert E. Neale Systematic Creativity Stimulation
  • Scientific Age Fortune-Telling
    • Stimulation Design Cards for Personal Creativity Reading
  • Five Symbols
  • Four Changes
  • Dynamics of the Reading
  • Addenda
 		2003
Mystery School
89
Alain Nu Zodiattack
  • The Astrology Game
  • Background
  • Attack 3
  • Virgo, Aries, Gemini
  • Nine Other Symbols
  • Forgiven Reactions
  • The Scales
  • Size Matters
  • Water Signs
  • Alternative Handlings
  • Doppelreading
 		2003
Mystery School
351
Docc Hilford Appendix A gaining information from social security numbers
  • Social Security Numbers
    • Area Number
    • Group Number
    • Group numbers are assigned as follows
    • Serial Number
    • The Secret Chart
 		2004
The Dark Cloak
32
Steven Brehe Token Of Affection cards with colors and gem stones, pair selects each and colors match, PATEO
Inspired by 2004
Mobile Mentalism — Volume II
38
Colin Miller Hollywood or Bust spectator thinks of a movie star which is written on a billet that is torn up, he should think of a movie with him instead, both are divined
 		2005
The Cheetah's Handbook
12
Paolo Cavalli Into the White spectator writes down name of a friend, paper is destroyed and performer reveals information about friend and eventually name, car/tree and number 2 ploy
Related to 2007
Into The White
1
Bruce Bernstein Psychological Reading Framework psychic reading, reading statements
Also published here 2012
Unreal
147
Peter Turner The Confirmation Principle asking a question to make a person think of something
 		2014
A Piece Of My Mind
195
Michael Murray The Pandora Reading System using Pandora charm bracelets for readings
 		2014
A Piece Of My Mind
222
Jorge "The Jack" Garcia Cold Reading
  • The "Barnum" Effect
  • The Drawing and the Personality Interpretation
  • Cards
  • Face Reading
  • Names, Words, People, Characters
  • Conclusions
 		2015
7 Mysteries of Mentalism
75
Jared Kopf The Oneiromancer's Index four nightmares written on blank cards, performer give them to correct spectators with some cold reading, one nightmare predicted
Inspired by 2016
Vaticinium ex Eventu
31
John Michael Wilson 1.5 Card Q&A spectator removes card from spread and lies on its identity, performer divines card and gives short reading
Inspired by
  • "1 Card Q&A" (Docc Hilford & Leonardo Silverio)
 2016
You and Me and the Devil Makes Three — Volume II
29
Paul Vigil, Bascom Jones Astro-Logic cold readings and Q&A
Inspired by 2017
The Doors of Deception
216
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 3: Making Leap of Faith Guesses cold reading and learning info about audience members in the moment
 		2017
Performing the Q & A
15
Gerry McCambridge Chapter 4: Dilute your Misses covering up for “misses” during cold reading
 		2017
Performing the Q & A
21
Christoph Borer Hot and Cold on hot and cold reading
 		2018
Mentale Notizen
225
Christoph Borer Eine mentale Darbietung unter Einsatz von Cold Reading entire act of readings for several people
 		2018
Mentale Notizen
227
Michael Murray Directional Intuition (Q&A) verbal segment for Q&A or a reading
 		2023
Experimental
9
John Michael Wilson A Reverse Reading No. III, approach to giving a reading by starting with the person
 		2024
Lesser Magic
5
Richard Mark Just Good Fortune bank night, spectators play for performer's fee, symbols in envelopes, readings
Inspired by 35
Mindbending Meltdown
28