evening at the pub is drawing to a close, many of the customers having taken their coats and set off home. However, a small group of onlookers has gathered around you and your friends, intrigued by the gasps and sounds of amazement coming from your table. You seem ready to leave, but you reluctantly give in to the calls for you to ‘Show us just one more, please!’
You pause for a moment, sigh and then begin: ‘You may wonder how I was able to tell so much about what Michael was going to do, or how Amanda’s ring managed to move itself. Well, every one of us and every single object is able to receive, store and give off energy. This energy is what I put to use, and I should like to try this one more time before I go.’
Scanning the assembled audience, you say, ‘I need three of you to help… Amy, James and Matthew, would you help, please?’ They nod, a little uncomfortably.
‘Do you all have a small personal item about you? Maybe some jewellery or money, for example? That’s good, but don’t tell me what they are.’
You pick up the packet of envelopes you left lying on the table earlier and remove two, which have addresses and stamps on them.
‘Always bills to pay,’ you remark as you put these envelopes away and pick up the remaining three, handing one each to your helpers.
‘In a few moments I shall leave the room for a short while. What I would like you then to do is put something small that belongs to you in your envelope and seal it down. When you are finished, please hand the envelopes to Michael for safe-keeping.’
You leave the room for perhaps two or three minutes, returning to find Michael clutching a handful of envelopes and everyone talking expectantly.
‘Now, Michael, listen carefully. I want you to hand me the envelopes one at a time in any order you wish.’
He hands you the first. You take it and hold it against your forehead with your eyes lightly closed. ‘Hmmm, very interesting. I am getting a good vibration from this.’ You place the envelope on the table in front of you and say, ‘The next one, please, Michael,’ and repeat the process with the second and third envelopes.
‘Now I know!’ you announce. ‘This first envelope has the vibrations of a young man within it. I believe it is yours, James.’ You tear open the envelope and tip out a credit card with James’s name embossed on it. ‘Yours, I believe…’ James nods and laughs.
‘Well, James, I have often worried about the relationship you have with your credit card. I am not surprised you see it as a very personal item.
‘Now we have two envelopes left. Whose is whose, I wonder?’
You gaze at the two remaining envelopes and ponder. You swap them about from left to right, trying to decide which belongs where. You pick one up and look Matthew straight in the eye. ‘This envelope is giving me a very clear vibration now. I am picking up the energy of someone full of life and energy at the moment. I know you have not been well lately, Matthew, so I know this belongs to Amy.’
You open the envelope and tip out Amy’s engagement ring. When you hand over the final envelope to Matthew you touch him on the shoulder: ‘This is yours. I know you will feel stronger soon.’
The group now breaks up as people make their way home, all talking intently about the intriguing and astonishing experiences they have witnessed.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The secret is so simple that it’s almost obvious, yet it fools people every time. The envelopes are marked (in a devilishly undetectable manner).
The diagram explains virtually all you need to know. Plain brown envelopes are best, as they do not show up any dirt or finger marks you might leave while preparing them. Make sure they are large enough to accommodate a few coins, a ring, a watch or whatever.
With a sharp craft knife and a ruler simply straighten the diagonal edges of the flaps on the envelope. Designs of envelope vary, so the diagram gives an exaggerated example for you to adapt.
For each performance you will need to make a set of three envelopes.
Put these envelopes in your pocket, perhaps with one or two other letters, and you are all set.
THE PERFORMANCE
This effect really benefits from the suspense and byplay you create. It would be all too easy simply to hand the three envelopes out to their owners immediately, but any impact would be completely lost.
Begin by explaining about psychometry and vibrations, and select your three helpers. It’s worth choosing people whom you know at least a little because your knowledge of them will help you to stretch out your revelations. It also helps if you don’t choose three people who are sitting right next to each other (they will be less tempted to swap envelopes).
• Envelope one, with the left-hand flap edge straightened.
• Envelope two, with the right-hand flap edge straightened.
• Envelope three, untouched.
Ask if they have a small personal object on them, but make sure they don’t show you before you leave the room. Hand out the three envelopes, making sure you remember who gets which one.
Upon your return, ask for each envelope, determine which is which by virtue of the doctored flaps. The tricky work is now complete: all you need do is play-act. Avoid handling the envelopes too much, as it may seem as though you’re trying to feel the contents.
When you have acted for a while, hand over the first envelope to the appropriate person, explaining why you think it’s theirs. Next hold out the second envelope and pause. The suspense can be built by addressing the wrong person, as we did with Matthew in the story. You must decide from what you know of your helpers how to play this part.
Finally, you have to hand the third envelope back. This could be seen as an anti-climax, so again you have to use your wiles to work out something interesting or poignant to say to your third person. You might want to open their envelope and use the enclosed item to help with this. For example, if it contained some money, you might say, ‘I could have guessed you would have been motivated by money without being a mind-reader.’ Then give a wry smile, creating some uncertainty as to whether you are joking or not.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This trick teaches valuable lessons about timing and influencing your audience’s attention. You should attempt to convey the impression that you are a caring and sensitive person. Your comments to the helpers, such as those made to Matthew, can easily be taken the wrong way. So be warm and your audience will warm to you.
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