Mentalism

Instead of mentally projecting your mentalism thoughts, type them here.
mentalismworld
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Mentalism

Postby mentalismworld » August 7th, 2015, 10:45 am

What is the actual meaning of the word mentalism? I have created a website http://mentalismworld.com
where I have put on some of my thoughts and have linked to the best mentalism books in the market. :D :lol:

Bill Mullins
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Bill Mullins » August 7th, 2015, 12:30 pm

You're selling something, aren't you? (I used my mentalism abilities to figure that out. I am but a vessel for powers I do not understand.)

El Mystico
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Re: Mentalism

Postby El Mystico » August 7th, 2015, 1:23 pm

I've created a website about gambling.
Can anyone tell me what gambling means?

Leo Garet
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Leo Garet » August 7th, 2015, 1:40 pm

El Mystico wrote:I've created a website about gambling.
Can anyone tell me what gambling means?

In Mentalspeak it’s actually an anagram:
Of E.S. Andrews.
I hope that clears up any confusion.

mr_goat
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Re: Mentalism

Postby mr_goat » August 7th, 2015, 5:00 pm

El Mystico wrote:I've created a website about gambling.
Can anyone tell me what gambling means?


I've created a website about porn. Can anyone tell me what sort of boobies they like?
Yes, it is mrgoat, I just can't log in with old account.

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Banachek
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Banachek » August 7th, 2015, 5:41 pm

If you are looking for a real answer:

As with anything there are those who want to play semantics with words and some will misinterpret the word mentalist to mean what they want it to mean

The word “mentalist” has been used to describe “psychics” and in the U.K., has become a tongue and cheek insult for someone who is behaving strangely or is crazy mostly thanks to the T.V. series “Alan Partridge” and “The Office.” But what does it mean to us as psychic entertainers and magicians?

The word mentalist originally was used in the context for one "whose tastes are from mental rather than material pleasures" in a book published in 1790 by C.M. Graham. In 1874 it became known to be associated in context of a mental action due to H. Maudsley. Then in 1978 again it was popularized in the context of the medical profession for someone who behaves strangely in a book called “On Our Own” by Judi Chamberlin.


But in the context we tend to think of today, the context of the famous NBC TV show and of what we do as an entertainers, it simply means someone who takes his known senses to create the illusion of reading minds or being a psychic. The line, "I take my five known senses to create the illusion of a sixth" first introduced by Ned Rutledge. who gave me permission to use and promote in my books.

The first documented printed use of this word in newspapers I can find was in the Trenton Evening Times in 1909. The earliest I have found for the term being used in reference to entertainers who “read minds,” was in the 1870’s.

Dunninger, who is thought of by many as being the modern father of mentalists who use tricks on stage, claimed he coined the word from the book Kybalion (Hermetic Philosophy), published in 1908 where it states that: “The Principle of Mentalism embodies the truth that "All is Mind.”"

So thinking about it, we may never know who actually coined the term in reference to demonstrations of Stage Mind Reading as I and others perform it.
In thoughts and friendship
Banachek

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Bill Marquardt
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Bill Marquardt » August 7th, 2015, 5:42 pm

Here is an answer to the OP"s question:

Mentalism is performed by a mentalist who is expert in the field of mentalism.


You will never guess where I found this quote. Unless, of course, you are a mentalist.

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Banachek
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Banachek » August 7th, 2015, 6:04 pm

ound online in my research: Here is a 1902 book, The Law of Mentalism referenced below : https://archive.org/...age/n5/mode/2up


Also found:

Discourse on Method by Descartes in 1637 establishes rules of effective thinking both in situations of certainty or uncertainty. Mentalism, however, while using rigorous methods, goes beyond focusing on knowledge of all aspects of the human mind.

Henry Sidgwick uses the word mentalism to oppose materialism. In 1874 he established the rules of thought based on clarity, coherence, consensus, which transpose to the systematic mind that tends to operate against material objects.

Irish Bishop George Berkeley in 1710 advocates immaterialism, George Berkeley introduced an idea called mentalism. This theory stated that the mental function of knowledge was directly associated with the perception and the experiences of the individual. This theory directly stemmed from Descartes theory of the body influencing the mind. This theory of mentalism still directly affects the ideas of mental processes in modern psychology. According to this doctrine, an adequate explanation of human behavior is not possible without reference to mental phenomena. The mentalists are of the opinion that the subject matter of psychology should be the mind, using introspection as the research tool.

His basic idea is that we create our own realities.

In 1902, A. Victor Segno publishes The Law of Mentalism which obtains a global success. It addresses the power on and of the mental faculties in all its forms including hypnotism, telepathy, etc.
In thoughts and friendship

Banachek

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Banachek
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Banachek » August 7th, 2015, 9:38 pm

Bill my favorite was:

Without any sort of practice a practiced cold-reader can quickly obtain a lot of information by analyzing person’s body language..
In thoughts and friendship

Banachek

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Re: Mentalism

Postby performer » August 7th, 2015, 11:12 pm

To complicate semantic matters even further there are actually THREE definitions of cold reading. One does not concern us as it has to do with the acting profession where actors read scripts cold, I think at auditions. Or something like that anyway. I am not an actor so I could be wrong.

However I do know something about the other two definitions which actually have to do with mentalism and psychic readings. The one definition that mentalists and magicians have heard about is the standard one of figuring out by body language, micro expressions, leading questions, stock phrases, manipulation of language and other deceptive techniques what is going on in a person's mind.

However, there is another meaning to the expression "cold reading" and it could apply perfectly well to someone who does psychic readings in a genuine manner. Even if they have supposed real psychic power they can use this expression openly. Come to think of it the not so genuine psychics can use it too. And quite openly. And some of the sharper ones do. It confuses the layman who has heard about the not so respectable meaning.

It means reading someone cold without knowing a thing about them. That is a subtle difference to the other meaning. I think it a rather devious and brilliant ploy. All a psychic has to do if anyone ask what "cold reading" is, is simply to give the alternative meaning.

As I said in another post the skeptics never win..............

Leo Garet
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Leo Garet » August 8th, 2015, 12:38 pm

Bill Marquardt wrote:Here is an answer to the OP"s question:

Mentalism is performed by a mentalist who is expert in the field of mentalism.


You will never guess where I found this quote. Unless, of course, you are a mentalist.

In which case, methinks it won't be a guess.

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Magicfreak93
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Magicfreak93 » June 7th, 2016, 1:15 am

Hi there guys :)

mentalism is really kickass if we learn it properly and master it..

Here I am posting out the most common mentalism tricks

Ben Blau
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Re: Mentalism

Postby Ben Blau » June 8th, 2016, 11:24 am

It might be more productive to reframe the question. How about, "What does mentalism mean to you?"

I'll post my thoughts on this if the topic takes off.

-Ben

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Re: Mentalism

Postby performer » June 8th, 2016, 3:21 pm

It means to me interminable performers who talk too much and bore the crap out of me. And there is nothing visual about it. At least with bad magicians of whom there are several millions I can distract myself by looking at the colourful props so I can tune out of the long winded convoluted effects which take so long that by the time the trick finishes I have forgotten what the bloody start of it was.

At one time the appeal was "perhaps this guy can really read minds" and that was the main thing that kept it going. Nowadays that doesn't work since there is a mentalist on every street corner and the rarity value is not there any more. It dents the credibility somewhat and of course they often appear with other magicians at various events, sometimes more than one on the same bill. And of course the internet shows up all the secrets anyway. So alas nowadays there is only the boredom factor left.

It is a pity since mentalism can be the strongest type of magic if done well. But it can also be the worst type of magic there is if done badly. And it is usually done badly.

And here is the most surprising thing. You will never guess where it is most unwelcome. Psychic fairs!


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