Neem Monica by Juan Tamariz

Effect

The trick Neem Monica by Juan Tamariz is a foundational resource for magicians interested in M Deck Magic. To the audience, this type of magic creates the illusion that the performer has an extraordinary memory or supernatural control over a shuffled deck of cards. Effects may include impossible predictions, instant card location, or seemingly random selections that align perfectly with the magician's predictions.

Full Details

Neem Monica is a book dedicated to memorized deck (M Deck) magic, a specialized branch of card magic where the performer knows the exact order of every card in the deck. This allows for highly deceptive routines that appear impromptu and impossible. The book covers:

• Core principles of memorized deck work
• Practical applications for performances
• Theory behind why certain methods work best
• A variety of tricks and routines

Juan Tamariz, a highly respected figure in magic, provides deep insights into structuring effects that maximize deception while minimizing unnecessary complexity.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This book is ideal for:

• Intermediate to advanced card magicians who want to expand their skills beyond standard sleight-of-hand.
• Mentalism performers looking to incorporate card-based mind-reading effects.
• Magicians interested in memorized deck systems, whether they use Tamariz’s methods or other systems like the Aronson stack or Mnemonica.

Difficulty Level

Memorized deck magic requires:

• Strong card handling skills (comfort with false shuffles, controls, and forces).
• Memory work—learning and maintaining a stack order.
• Presentation skills to make the effects feel organic rather than mechanical.

While the techniques themselves are not overly complex, the real challenge lies in natural performance and audience management. As EruditeMagic notes, "It's not as difficult as you think," but it does require dedicated practice.

What Magicians Say

EruditeMagic, in his review of essential magic books, strongly recommends Neem Monica:

"If you're interested in M Deck Magic, no matter what system you want to learn, there are a lot of tricks, applications, and theory about M Deck Magic that you can learn in this book... If you only have one book on your shelf that's going to talk about it, it's worth investing in this one."

He emphasizes that memorized deck work is a unique tool in a magician’s arsenal, offering effects that can’t be replicated with standard card techniques.

For magicians serious about expanding their card magic repertoire, Neem Monica is a valuable resource that provides both practical routines and theoretical depth.