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Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
Having spent a lot of this Summer going over any pendulum material I can find I thought I'd summarise the options available. I did contribute something small towards one of the ebooks, but will try to avoid too much bias. I've not discussed all of them. The two pages in Scarne I gave a miss. Docc Hilford's excellent take on the crystal locket (I will review the vault at some point, but want to watch again). Kenton Knepper's work on pendulums I haven't read (radar crystal pendulum puts me off a bit). Koran's work comes up in others, so I've left for now and same for a few others. There has been a lot of material put out on pendulums recently and really you could read all of these and still barely scratch the nuances of pendulums, but there are a good start. If it's a subject that interests you get as many as you can get your hands on.
George Anderson-The magic pendulum (1980) Selling for about £5 George explains his introduction to the pendulum through the farmers traditions of using the pendulum as a sex detector for chicken eggs. It gives a very basic explanation of how to use the pendulum. The booklet then gives 14 routines. Several location tricks, esp, playing cards, a number prediction, a discussion of the ouija board and pendulums,a reworking of the crystal locket by Dr Jaks and a serial number divination. The number prediction contains a beautifully simple number force. Advantages Cheap, contains a good number of effects Disadvantages Doesn't go into much detail of ideomotor motion and how to use the pendulum in spectators hands. Freddie Valentine-the pendulum book http://www.lybrary.com/pendulum-book-p-114269.html" target="_blank" target="_blank Selling for $21 Freddie's book is primarily aimed at the bizzarre and occult magic market, but will work as a good intro on pendulum work. It gives details about pendulums, where to buy, types. It gives a good explanation of how to use a pendulum. It then covers the use a pendulum chart. There is information on using the pendulum for divining objects. There is an article by me on how to make a pendulum, then Dale Shrimpton's excellent séance piece. It details the use of the pendulum for a séance glass then a few final words. Advantages It's one of the cheapest, contains a good explanation of how to use the pendulum, it's giving you the info to work out your own effects. Disadvantages It is aimed at the bizarre market, so two of the effects are intended for seances, they could be adapted still. Richard Webster-Pendulum power for the psychic entertainer http://www.deceptionary.com/webster.html" target="_blank" target="_blank Selling for $35 Richard Webster's gives a bit of background information of the history of pendulums. He gives an outline of a basic routine which explains the use of the pendulum. There are a few experiments to try with the pendulum. These are good primers before going into an extended pendulum routine. It then contains a good number of tricks to perform. The tricks are all very simple and nice ideas. The book finishes with an extensive list of other sources of information on the pendulum. Advantages Good explanation of how to use the pendulum, nice experiments to do with participants and several solid routines to get everyone involved. Disadvantages It's one of the most expensive. It isn't the best made book. Banachek-psyhophysiological though reading Price varies I got it for £5, but goes up to £50 in a double edition with H.J. Burlingame how to read peoples minds This is Banachek's book on muscle reading. I'm just going to discuss the chapter on pendulums. It contains a bit of background on the history. It then discusses the build of the pendulum. It gives an ideal length, which I don't agree with. Different spectators respond differently. Heavier weights and shorter lengths give different reactions. I find one of my shorter heavier pendulums better with less responsive participants. There isn't an exact length that is suited to everyone. He gives details of a few items for impromptu pendulums. There are details of pendulums use in private readings, finding lost objects and then tricks. It has a horoscope routine, which could be nice, but I feel is a bit long in the reveal as it stands. Advantages The books contains more than just pendulum use giving one of the best works on muscle reading, it has a good explanation of muscle reading. Disadvantages I'm not very keen on any of the tricks. Bob Cassidy-Pendulum of fate http://www.lybrary.com/pendulum-fate-p-583.html" target="_blank" target="_blank Selling for $25 Bob gives some of the best background information to pendulums of any publication. It has an interesting idea for a horizontal pendulum; a different build for a pendulum. This idea allows you to use a pendulum with you and a spectator, which I've found too be a bit more engaging than the performer using it. The tricks give a colour prediction, number prediction and a locator trick. Advantages It details some of the best background on pendulums. The historical use of pendulums should spark a few ideas. The horizontal pendulum is a nice way of engaging you and a participant in a routine. It gives good details for you to come up with your own ideas. Disadvantages The tricks are requiring you to buy extra props. One of the routines could cost up to £60 to get the necessary props for a very simple routine that can be achieved in cheaper ways. I'd say your unlikely to use the routines as they are written. Pablo Amira-Ideas vol.1 pendulums http://ideaspendulums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank Selling at $40 One of the biggest works on the topic. It gives a solid introduction to how to use the pendulum, ideomotor response and yes/no exercise, programming the pendulum. It gives good hints on how to make sure it works in the spectators hands. The first effects Pablo covers are time based effects. He discusses using the pendulum to enhance time effects. I'd say you'll get the most out of this if you already have a few time effects or at least knowledge of the main methods for stopping watches, changing time, etc. You would still be able to manage effects, but a bit of foreknowledge will help. Pablo explains how to use pendulums to enhance several PK effects, most of these are suing other props. However they are all fairly common magic items, which you are likely to have or else could get easily if one of the ideas takes your fancy. There are then various effects listed including a few using a witness (chambered) pendulum. The section on Pablo's suggestion force isn't as well written as the rest of the ebook. It took a few reads to understand a little bit of what he was getting at. The remaining effects are largely locating objects/predictions. They are detailed and Pablo references inspirations. Advantages An awful lot of ideas, some good food for thought, a good initial explanation of how to use the pendulum and how to have the spectator use it. Disadvantages It is the most expensive. The odd bit I had to reread to get the meaning, not very often though. A few of the effects require more than just a pendulum, either knowledge of other effects or props. Most of these aren't expensive props. Pendulum magic-David Thiel http://www.magicpendulums.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank Selling $19.95 currently but I think it's going up. David is very entertaining as a writer. His introduction had be grinning like a fool. Rick Hennessey gives a quick introduction to the history of the pendulum and his interest and his shop mentalcraft. The first routine is pendulum plus by Richard Osterlind. He gives some helpful tips before going into the routine. The routine involves using a pendulum in the spectators hands to predicts a number. I was frankly a bit disappointed with this routine from someone so well respected. The use of a pendulum for a number prediction in this way seems a bit of a frivolous use of such a powerful tool. I'm sure it'll get ok reactions, but it's not for me. The next routine comes from Vic Nadata, known for his work with outlaw effects. This is a nice routine invoking memories of grandparents. This strikes me as being a very powerful routine. I won't be using it myself in it's current form (I have a complicated history with grandparents), which I expect may be the case for many readers. But is has certainly got my imagination going. Mauricio Jaramillo routine do as I do has nothing to do with the card trick of same name. It predicts the number of matchsticks out of a choice of several boxes. It's a nice routine, gives several methods, but lacks an emotional hook that I look for in a pendulum routine. David's own routine “a way to a woman's heart” is one of my favourites in this document. It is funny, engaging and I'm sure will entertain. Love it. TC Tahoe's routine talks about improvising and gives a Christmas themed routine. Paul Prater's routine El Brujo is a great storytelling effect. Paul's trademark certainly has to be strong stories and this didn't disappoint. Advantages Several good engaging routines, the book is part of a wider projects (check site) Disadvantages A few routines require specific decks that will cost extra money (alternatives are given for some routines) |
edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Excellent reviews.
thanks
Magic is a vanishing art.
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gmeister Inner circle 1588 Posts |
Very nice collection of reviews.
May I suggest adding Trybil to the list. |
Amirá Inner circle MentalismCenter.com 5131 Posts |
Thanks Joshua J for your nice review about my eBook.
I think that $40 is a fair price for all the info that you got, right ?
Pablo
Performer and Author Mentalism Center: The best online space to get quality Mentalism www.mentalismcenter.com Arkanosophy: The Boutique for Mystery Performers www.arkanosophy.com |
Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
Oh certainly. It has a hell of a lot information in. I don't feel short changed in anyway. Just wanted to try and point out some of the pros and cons of each publication. Don't care for totally happy reviews though. I'm sure I'll be coming back to it for a good while and finding more I'd use. A lot of the PK combinations I'd seen elsewhere or realised were sensible together myself, but I'm planning on giving some of the time based routines a go. I used to do a number of watch effects, but haven't in a while, so it has given me a new interest in something I'd pushed to the side. Can only be a good thing.
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JoelDickinson Inner circle UK 1578 Posts |
Great reviews. I can echo Freddie Valentines works.
He is a professional performer who is passionate. He also releases an excellent ezine called the mystic menagerie which is always full of excellent info, ideas, effects, news and hints and tips and he is a funny guy too. Good honest reviews! Joel.
Online Magic Store :
themiraclestudio.co.uk |
blackpine0008 Regular user 126 Posts |
I have also the Amira´s ebook about pendulums, it´s really great. I will post my review soon.
"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation will suffice." Joseph Dunninger
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
One of Kenton's better products deals with the pendulum. Recommended.
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Mauricio Jaramillo Elite user Colombia 413 Posts |
Excellent resources there. Like Gmeister said, you need to get Dr. Bill Cushmans TRYBIL, what an amazing book.
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Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
I've been interested in TRYBIL, but I use pendulums predominantly within small groups and for readings. One of the things I like about pendulums is that they are small, so the multi-pendulum doesn't fit as well into my life. I know there is a mini multi bob at mentalcraft, but I still can't see it being as convenient as a single pendulum or my pendulum pouch, which is about the size of a pack of cards with 7 pendulums in. I do some stage performances where I'm sure it would come in more use. I'm sure it's is something I will check out eventually though. I'll cave and buy it.
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Mauricio Jaramillo Elite user Colombia 413 Posts |
Hey Joshua, I know what you mean. I made a mini bob some time ago and it works great as a portable device and it's perfect for readings too.
That said, the first half of the book is about multi-bob pendulums, but the second half is all about normal pendulums. Great reviews by the way, thanks for sharing them. Pendulums are now going through a rebirth in popularity, I hope that's a good thing. |
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
I guess I have to come by here a little more often. I had no idea you'd reviewed the book. THANK YOU for the kind thoughts. I appreciate them. A couple of quick points about what's going on at Magic pendulums:
1) For the next 18 hours the Pendulum Magic book is on sale. (So is every single pendulum...) 2) We are hopefully concluding negotiations today to carry Bob Cassidy's outstanding Pendulum of Fatge book AND TRYBIL. The idea isn't to make a ton of money (although that would be nice ) but to provide great resources all in one place to performers using pendulums. I really enjoyed your exhaustive reviews. Thank you, Joshua! David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
Joshua J Inner circle 1014 Posts |
No problem David I enjoyed your first volume I'll be interested to see who you get for the next instalment. One book that I didn't mention that I've been coming back to a lot the last few weeks is Richard Webster's Pendulum power. It's his psychic/shut eye market release. But it contains a number of experiments that work as ideal primers for participants. The book while not intended for mentalism is likely to inspire a fair few routines. I imagine some of these modern mentalists into the whole psychic bashing will find chapters annoying, but it is a goldmine of information and it is always worth knowing reading that side of the market rather than the mentalist/magic side. The perspective of how they are used for real is important to the study.
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Amirá Inner circle MentalismCenter.com 5131 Posts |
If anyone is interested , I just place a "Crazy Week" price for Ideas Vol.1 Pendulums
50% off= Just for 19.99 More info HERE Best
Pablo
Performer and Author Mentalism Center: The best online space to get quality Mentalism www.mentalismcenter.com Arkanosophy: The Boutique for Mystery Performers www.arkanosophy.com |
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