From the Ashes of the Phoenix

Introduction: During my entire career in mentalism I have loved the use of the centre tear. The only drawback was finding a logical reason to perform it. I spent some weeks on hatching this egg and have found a solution that fits my needs, one that works like the phoenix reborn from the ashes …

Effect: The mentalist starts telling the tale of the phoenix, the wonderful coloured bird from ancient mythologies. He invites a lady to think of an old wish she had, but one that is no longer important. He lights a candle and hands the lady a business card on which she is to write down a single word that describes this wish. Next, the lady thinks of a new desire or idea that is much stronger than the old one. She writes down a single word that describes this new desire.

The business card is folded twice and handed to the mentalist. Explaining that it is common practice to destroy old “things” and ideas to make room for new ones, the mentalist tears the business card into small pieces. Next, he holds the pieces to the flame of the candle and sets them on fire. He drops the burning pieces into the small cauldron on the table. A green flash bursts from the cauldron, which is then closed by a cover. While this happens, the mentalist ends the story of the phoenix, which burns and is reduced to ashes after several hundred years, only to be reborn. The tale is a symbol for getting rid of our old dreams and desires and turning to new ones. The mentalist starts a reading around the wish of the past, which has disappeared in the flames, and the new current one, which represents the future.

candle
matches — do not use a lighter; it is not very sensitive and does not fit the effect
business card or billet
small fireproof cauldron with cover
pencil or pen
flash paper (I use green paper)

Preparation: On the table are the candle, matches, and the small cauldron. Put some flash paper into the cauldron and close it with the lid. Have some business cards or billets pre-folded and reopened in your pocket, together with a pencil or ballpoint pen.

Presentation: On the table, a candle is placed on a black tablecloth. The mentalist starts his patter as follows:

I am sure you have heard the tale of the phoenix, a mythical bird with colourful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs which then ignite; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix (or phoenix egg) arises, born anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self.

This tale speaks to us of birth, death, and rebirth. The meaning is symbolic and may mean anything to any person. In our case, let this thing be a wish or a desire.

The mentalist lights the candle with a match. He invites a lady to assist him in the oncoming ritual.

I ask you to put all your effort into remembering the most important desire you had in your past, a desire which is no longer important to you today. Imagine this wish as a disappearing picture and think of how to describe it in one word. Imagine this word in bold letters in your mind.

He reaches into his pocket and takes the business card / billet before reaching into his pocket again to pull out the pencil. The mentalist marks two lines on the blank side of the business card, one at the top and the other at the bottom. He hands the card and the pencil to the assistant.

Now I would like you to write that word down on the upper line of the card, but keep it to yourself. Do not let me, or anyone else, see what you are writing! When you have finished turn the card over.

Great! Now, I would like to ask you again to put all your effort into thinking about a desire you have for the future, a desire that is growing more important every day. Imagine this wish as a picture that is getting stronger and think of how to describe it in one word. Imagine this word in bold letters in your mind.

Now I want you to write that word down on the lower line of the card, but keep it to yourself. Do not let me, or anyone else, see what you are writing! When you have finished, fold the card twice with your writing inside.

Without mentioning or otherwise drawing attention to it, the mentalist reaches out with his right hand and takes the pencil from the lady. The pencil is placed back in the inside jack pocket. He reaches out with his right hand once more and takes the folded business card from the lady assistant.

He starts to tear the business cards into small pieces while peeking the two wishes on the card. This can be accomplished best and most easily by applying Doug Dyment’s R2-D2. While peeking the old wish, the mentalist talks about the importance of letting go of old wishes and dreams and while peeking the new wish, he reiterates the idea that we must put all effort into new wishes to make them happen.

In all ancient times and in all rituals, fire plays a major role. It is the epitome of the purification of objects and subjects. It is a part of what we call reincarnation, changing from old to new and being purified.

Let us apply the same procedure to these pieces, to strengthen your new wish and desire so it may happen one day in your future.

The mentalist holds the pieces over the candle until some pieces are on fire. He opens the cauldron and puts the pieces into it. A green flame bursts from the cauldron. After the fire is gone, the lid is replaced to close it.

Please think now about your old wish or desire. I feel it disappearing right now, getting weaker and weaker. I can see some parts of it but they are very disjointed. Wasn’t it about … ?

Carefully, the mentalist gives a brief reading about the old wish (first peek) without revealing the word, whilst his words are still easy to understand for the lady. This reading is very short, since the wish is disappearing from the lady’s mind.

Then he turns over to the new wish or desire. He enters into a longer and more impressive reading. This is because the wish is remarkably stronger in the lady’s mind.

Let us turn now to the future and the wish you hope to be reality one day. The fire has destroyed all past and you are now in the new, reborn time of your life. It is important for you to concentrate on that wish. Right now! I am getting a stronger impression. It seems it has to do with … ?

May the Spirits make your wish come true!

Afterthoughts: The wishes are never revealed as simple words written on the business cards. Instead, you talk around the wishes, emotions, and thoughts that have the word as a subject. The lady should know and feel what you are talking about, but for the rest of the audience this should be less clear. This will create an intimate atmosphere! If the wishes are too personal/intimate and it is not a one-to-one situation, quite a lot of discretion will be needed from the mentalist to assure the lady will not be uncomfortable!

Additional suggestions concerning this or other presentations are, of course, welcomed.

From the Ashes of the Phoenix

contributed by Rudolf Künzli