PSI-CON RUSE by Max Maven

From the mind of MAX MAVEN comes a brilliant, streamlined masterpiece of mindreading, fortune-telling, and pure mystery.

The Effect:

A spectator is invited to take a shuffled deck of cards and freely mix it even further. The performer introduces an old book on divination, explaining that he has been delving into Cartomancy, the centuries-old art of reading destinies hidden within playing cards.

An envelope is handed to the participant. The performer says:

“Though we’ve never met before today, inside this envelope is a Cartomantic reading prepared especially for you. Let’s see whether the ancient system speaks the truth.”

The top five cards from the genuinely shuffled deck are removed and displayed by being tucked visibly into the edge of the divination book. The spectator is asked to make a completely free choice of any one of the five cards, no forces, no influence. Suppose they select the Four of Clubs. The remaining four cards are shown openly to be all different.

With the spectator still holding the envelope from the start, the moment of revelation arrives. They slide out the fortune message and read aloud:

“You have a compassionate nature and strong leadership potential. Your sense of humor is admired by others. Your lucky card is the Four of Clubs!’

A perfect prediction. A perfectly free choice. And an impossibly personal reading that hits with emotional impact.

A powerful blend of personality reading, prophecy, and pure astonishment – a modern mentalism gem you’ll return to again and again.