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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
Anabelle & Liseli (no last names here, which may seem either pretentious or precious) seem to have a fair to middlin' background on our native ancestors. For the first time to my knowledge, a mentalism book uses the concept of being a plains Indian (term used because "American" has been taken and "native American" is just too long) mystic as a starting point. It's very refreshing -- if you've never lived on a reservation or attended a pow wow, you've just plain missed out on one of life's real joys. And if you're looking for a solid background to base your magic or mentalism, this one just can't be beaten.
The effects are neither complicated nor muddled. A & L are solidly in the camp which believes you just can't top the classics, and they draw deeply from that well -- as well as the milieu of ancestors (Liseli's and mine) who often walked with spirits and sang sad songs about how they'd been alienated from their chief of the gods. With such a heady mix, it's VERY good that the authors make the effects as simple as possible! Scripts are provided, though I doubt anyone would have trouble putting the stories into their own words - or even coming up with new stories. The effects make so much sense in many ways. "Cowboys & Indians" depicts a bloody battle, where cards represent the whites and the reds and only one person is left standing -- the Indian mysterian. I might add that the title is a bit of a misnomer. It was usually SOLDIERS and Indians who engaged in battles such as this. But the name resonates with childhood memories, so it's effective. "Animal Totem Medicine Wheel" puts a clever spin (Ha! Pun #1 so far!) on an old, old method which is absolutely foolproof and which becomes invisible according to one's powers of presentation. This one is all presentation, so practice it a lot -- it will be fun, actually! With a wheel or circle, you will determine the animal totem of your "client," and that will reveal their actual strengths, special powers, and possible weaknesses. "Your Animal Totem for Today" is the same final effect, in that you discover the animal totem of your audience member. It's reached in an entirely different way, and can be used alternately with the Medicine Wheel. Here, you'll be using cards with animal markings or names (markings or drawings will work much better) to reach the determination. Let me stop here for a moment. With the tongue-in-cheek of "Cowboys & Indians," the use of cards didn't bother me. Using them in the much more serious "YATforT" seems a bit jarring. Somewhere between Oklahoma and Indiana, I've a bunch of stones with runes painted on them that I could - and will - use for this effect. I'd recommend the same for you - and it's not hard to paint a small rock. (Get smooth ones. Mine are smooth and blue.) With "the Elder's Sensitivity," the authors actually make the use of playing cards work. It's a clever opening which does it, and I recommend using this tactic in any similar situation. Mentalists who veer away from card work will find succor here. The effect, represented by the cards, is to determine whether a stranger is a bad influence in the village (or wandering tribe) and should be accepted or rejected. I don't think I'm giving away too much when I say that it uses a classic stack (and explains that stack quite well). I also don't think I'm going too far to say that this would work even better with the Breakthrough Card System and one of its subtleties (the one of "forgetting then remembering"). "The Elder's Memory Challenge" would work in many different settings. As its plot is that a young person challenges an old man or woman with the charge of senility, it could work quite well as a routine in retirement homes. Imagine how completely you'll have THAT audience on your side!! Oh, the old person demonstrates their remarkable memory, of course. And - again - the effect uses a classic method. A self-working method is used for "Sacred Mountain" where, if you complete your testing path, you'll see it demonstrated by -- an Oil & Water effect! See if you don't find this entertaining, even as a solitaire routine. Your "sitter" will certainly enjoy it, and there's really no way for them to lose. The manuscript ends on page 20 with a picture of a Hollywood-type Indian maiden. Don't you believe it. Quapaw and Cherokee judged their women's beauty by their body mass and ability to work; Creeks weren't that particular. None of them were into mini-skirts. Fun stuff. A fun cross between childhood games and deep mentalism. Gettum up, Scout!
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Anabelle Special user 951 Posts |
Awesome and very detailed review. Thank you so much for that!
On a side note I've been asked why there is no picture of Liseli in the ebook, so I posted one up on my blog. along with a brief thank you for her influence in my life. Anabelle |
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