Psychic abilities
Mind Reading
Telepathy is a form of extrasensory perception that allows the transfer of information between individuals without the use of known sensory channels or physical interaction. Stemming from Greek roots, “tele,” meaning distant, and “pathe,” meaning feeling or perception, telepathy encapsulatesAutomatic writing
Automatic writing is a technique in which the mentalist performer or volunteer writes without conscious thought, allowing the subconscious mind to guide the process. Often employed in mentalism and psychic entertainment, automatic writing is presented as a means to accessUmbrakinesis
Umbrakinesis is the ability to manipulate shadows, often presented as a form of psychic or supernatural power in mentalism and psychic entertainment. Performers claiming umbrakinesis create illusions of shadow manipulation, such as moving or altering darkness, to suggest control overHydrokinesis
Hydrokinesis is the ability to manipulate water through supernatural or psychic means, often showcased in mentalism and psychic entertainment as a demonstration of extraordinary mind power. Performers may appear to control the movement, shape, or temperature of water, creatingInedia
Inedia is the ability to survive without food or water, often presented in mentalism and psychic entertainment as a demonstration of extraordinary self-control or supernatural endurance. Performers practicing inedia appear to abstain from sustenance for extended periods, sometimes whileInvisibility
Invisibility is a concept often explored in magic, mentalism, and psychic entertainment; where performers create the illusion of being unseen or imperceptible. Invisibility is typically achieved through advanced techniques in misdirection, optics, and audience psychology. Magicians and illusionists mayLevitation
Levitation is a magic illusion where an object or person appears to defy gravity by floating in mid-air without visible support. Performers achieve the levitation effect through a combination of advanced techniques including hidden wires, magnets, air pressure manipulation,Materialization
Materialization is the act of creating an object or making an object appear from seemingly nowhere. Materialization is often used as a form of illusion, where the object appears to be created or produced through seemingly supernatural means. TheMediumship
Mediumship is the practice of facilitating communication between the living and the spirits of the deceased. A medium acts as an intermediary, using heightened extrasensory perception to receive messages, impressions, or symbols from the spirit world. Mediumship often involves mental processes suchProphecy
Prophecy refers to the act of predicting or revealing future events, often presented as a demonstration of supernatural or psychic ability. In performance, prophecy — aka, prediction — is achieved through carefully crafted illusions, psychological techniques, or cleverly designed apparatuses, allowingPsychic surgery
Psychic surgery is a performance art illusion where the magician, mentalist, or psychic entertainer creates the appearance of performing surgical procedures without making incisions or causing harm. This theatrical demonstration involves basic sleight of hand, misdirection, and psychological techniques toPyrokinesis
Pyrokinesis is the theatrical illusion of controlling or creating fire through the power of the mind. This performance art relies on sleight of hand, hidden mechanisms, and psychological misdirection to simulate the supernatural ability to manipulate flames without physical interaction.Teleportation
Teleportation refers to the illusion of transporting a person or object from one location to another. The teleportation effect is achieved through a combination of misdirection, concealed mechanisms, and psychological manipulation, creating the appearance of defying physical space. Teleportation illusionsTime travel
Time travel is the manipulation of time, convincing the audience an event defying explanation occurred in the past or future. Mentalists achieve the time travel effect using psychological techniques, switching devices, or props that allow the performer to alter theXenoglossy
Xenoglossy is the illusion of speaking or understanding a language unknown to the performer, presented as a demonstration of extraordinary mental or psychic ability. In mentalism, xenoglossy effects rely on pre-show preparation, linguistic memorization, or clever scripting to create theClairvoyance
Clairvoyance is the ability to perceive hidden or distant information beyond the range of human senses. In mentalism, clairvoyance effects rely on psychological techniques, peeking methods, the one-ahead principle, or oral codes to create the appearance of supernatural insight. ADowsing
Dowsing is practice of seeking water or other substances with the aid of a forked stick, rods, or pendulums. In magic and mentalism, dowsing is presented as a demonstration of intuition or psychic ability, achieved through psychological techniques, subtle cues,Dream telepathy
Dream telepathy is the telepathic communication with another person during a dream state, often presented as a demonstration of psychic or subconscious connection. In magic and mentalism, dream telepathy effects rely on psychological techniques, pre-show preparation, or cleverly crafted narrativesPrecognition
Precognition is the foresight of future events, often presented as a demonstration of psychic or extrasensory perception. A mentalist performer uses precognition techniques to reveal information about seemingly random events such as lottery numbers, dice rolls, volunteer behavior, or audiencePsychometry
Psychometry is divination of information about an object or its owner through physical contact or proximity to the object. In mentalism, psychometry effects are performed as demonstrations of intuition or psychic ability, allowing the performer to reveal personal details orRemote viewing
Remote viewing is the illusion of perceiving and describing distant or unseen locations, objects, or events through extrasensory perception. In magic and mentalism, remote viewing effects are framed as demonstrations of psychic ability, allowing the performer to access information beyondRetrocognition
Retrocognition is the perception of past events, often presented as an exhibition of psychic or extrasensory perception. Retrocognition demonstrations are framed as the ability to access knowledge about historical occurrences or personal memories through mysterious means. Performers use the retrocognition