The Witch's Mark by Lewis Le Val (PDF)

Can you make somebody feel something that isn't there?

Imagine drawing a small symbol on somebody's palm with the tip of your finger. You take your hand away, yet they can still feel the symbol resting against their skin.

Now imagine taking that sensation a little further. What if they could feel it moving from one hand to the other, or experience the strange sensation of being touched when nobody is touching them at all?

It sounds quite like witchcraft.

Of course, the human body is capable of producing some extraordinary sensations without any supernatural intervention. Our attention, expectations and imagination can have a startling influence over what we physically experience, and for a mentalist, this presents some fascinating possibilities.

The Witch's Mark is Lewis Le Val's explanation of a wonderfully simple principle that turns these ordinary sensations into something considerably more mysterious.

Rather than simply suggesting that something impossible has happened, the participant is invited to experience the phenomenon for themselves. They can feel something happening, even when there appears to be no physical explanation for it.

Across 19 pages, the principle is explored through three different applications.

The Mind Touch is a multi-phase demonstration in which an apparently lingering sensation becomes the foundation for an increasingly unusual experience. A feeling seems to travel between the participant's hands, eventually culminating in an eerie demonstration of an apparent telepathic connection between two people.

The Binding offers a shorter, more direct application, borrowing from old folklore to create the impression that two minds have become physically connected. A particularly useful introduction to almost any subsequent demonstration of mind reading.

Life Essence explores the idea that people leave something of themselves behind in everything they touch. Through a simple physical interaction, the performer apparently draws something invisible from the participant, providing an unusual introduction to a personal reading or the revelation of secretly obtained information.

Alongside these three presentations, the book includes practical advice on handling, participant selection and incorporating the principle into existing routines.

There are no gimmicks, no electronics, and no special apparatus required. The underlying principle is incredibly easy to understand, although, as with anything involving suggestion, practice and confidence can make all the difference.

What makes The Witch's Mark all the more interesting is that the mystery isn't confined to something the performer says or reveals. It concerns something the participant may genuinely experience, and that experience can become the foundation for all manner of extraordinary demonstrations.

A sleek and haunting addition to any mentalist's repertoire, and one that can be carried absolutely anywhere.