Mentalism: The Basics Explained
mentalismWhat is mentalism?
While many people associate mentalists with magicians and mentalism with magic, they are not the same. More recently, mentalism has gone mainstream. Perhaps someone you know has mentioned that they’ve been to an event where a mentalism show took place. Many components make up the art of mentalism.
To better understand what a mentalist does, it’s essential to know what mentalism is and the basics of mentalism.
Our virtual and in-person mentalist, David Jaison of David Jaison Mentalist Beyond Belief, will cover the following:
How to become a mentalist
What mentalism is and how mentalism is used
What a mentalist is and what mentalists do
How mentalism differs from magic
Common examples of mentalism
How to become a mentalist?
Becoming a master of any skill requires study and practice. Every successful mentalist references the book 13 Steps to Mentalism, by Corinda, as their starting point.
Table of Contents:
What is Mentalism?
What is a Mentalist and What Do They Do?
Are Mentalism and Magic the Same?
8 Examples of Mentalism in Action
Conclusion
What is the use of mentalism?
Mentalists use their unique mental skill and techniques to perform various feats demonstrating the power of the mind. These “experiences” can range from accurately guessing names, numbers, and events previously not known to the mentalist to direct mind-reading. A mentalist may also influence your decisions and actions.
Who started mentalism?
While the origins of mentalism are vague, the first recorded act of mentalism can be traced back to 1572, Girolamo Scotto performed a pioneering sleight of hand and some telepathy. However, mentalism didn’t reach the mainstream until around the early 1800s. Modern mentalism developed as a theatrical response to the public’s fascination with Spiritualism, Theosophy, Hypnotism, and early psychic research.
What is Mentalism?
Mentalism is the art of leveraging a strongly developed understanding of body language and human psychology to impact the mind and provide a mysterious psychological experience.
What is a Mentalist and What Do They Do?
By definition, a mentalist is a performing entertainer or artist who demonstrates a highly developed intuition and understanding of the mind by executing extraordinary mental abilities.
During mentalism shows, mentalists often use unique technical skills and psychological subtleties to perform the following:
Mind-reading
Foresight
Clairvoyance
Telepathy
Hypnosis (optional)
Telekinesis
Are Mentalism and Magic the Same?
While some people may argue that mentalism is just another form of magic, the truth is that the two aren’t the same. Many techniques and skills that mentalists employ are legitimate and very real. While a magician’s illusions do fool the mind, a mentalist does not rely on colorful and fancy props to create illusion but rather just the mind to provide an experience much more real.
As such, mentalism has become a performing art that focuses almost exclusively on the imagination and mind.
Examples of Mentalism in Action
Mentalism consists of many types of techniques. While common, the techniques performed in a mentalism show depend on the mentalist performing.
Below are the eight most common abilities of mentalism:
Telepathy - Revealing names, numbers, and events unknown to the Mentalist
Body language expert
Human lie detector
Remote Viewing
Clairvoyance
Hypnosis
Psychokinesis - moving and affecting objects with the mind
Spiritualism
Conclusion
Now that you have a basic understanding of the art of mentalism, you can begin your search for a professional mentalist with confidence. In-person and virtual mentalism shows offer a one-of-a-kind experience for any event. Experiences such as David Jaison’s Mentalism Beyond Belief provide a personal and intimate performance like no other that’s sure to offer something for everyone!
Contact David and our team through our online booking system or email for more information. We look forward to connecting with you!