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The Wise Owl by David Alnwick

Created by: David Alnwick

The Wise Owl is a captivating mentalism trick where the magician presents a short, deep-thought poem to a spectator. After the spectator reads the poem, they freely pick a card from a deck. The magician then reveals that the poem itself contained a hidden prediction of the exact card the spectator chose, demonstrating an uncanny ability to influence their decision subconsciously. This is a close-up or parlor mentalism trick that requires no difficult sleight of hand, making it accessible to beginners while still impressing professionals.

Key features

  • No difficult sleight of hand required

  • Uses a simple poem as a psychological force

  • Works with any deck of cards

  • Suitable for close-up or parlor settings

  • Beginner-friendly but professional-grade impact

Pros

  • Easy to learn and perform

  • Highly engaging for spectators

  • No gimmicks or special props needed

  • Flexible scripting allows personalization

  • Strong psychological impact

Cons

  • Relies on a classic force (or any force of your choice)

  • May not appeal to those who dislike mentalism

Effect

The Wise Owl is a mentalism routine where the performer presents a short poem to a spectator. The spectator reads the poem, which appears to be a simple, deep thought. They then freely pick a card from a deck. At the end, the spectator realizes the poem secretly predicted their chosen card, making it seem like their choice was influenced without their awareness.

Full details

The Wise Owl is part of the Fringe Mentalism download by David Alnwick and Ken Dyne. It uses a cleverly constructed poem that contains hidden information. The spectator reads the poem, unaware of its true purpose, and later discovers that their card selection was embedded in the text. The method is simple, requiring no difficult sleight of hand, but the presentation makes it feel like a powerful demonstration of psychological influence.

Who should consider the trick

This trick is ideal for mentalists or magicians who want a quick, impactful routine that plays with psychology and suggestion. It works well in close-up or parlor settings. Beginners will appreciate the straightforward method, while professionals can adapt the presentation to fit their style.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Wise Owl is easy to perform. No advanced sleight of hand is required, making it accessible to beginners. The most important aspect is the presentation—delivering the poem naturally and guiding the spectator’s attention without raising suspicion.

What magicians say

FiddlinJonny, who reviewed Fringe Mentalism, called The Wise Owl "a great demonstration in how you're able to influence someone." He praised the simplicity of the method and the strong impact it has on spectators. The routine is highlighted as one of the standout effects in the download, with a clever use of language to create a surprising revelation.

The Wise Owl is a strong choice for performers who want a quick, baffling mentalism effect with minimal setup and maximum impact.

What people are saying about The Wise Owl

fiddlinjonny says...

The Wise Owl is a great demonstration in how you're able to influence someone [...] embedded within that small little poem it says what card they will pick, and they don't notice until after they've picked the card.

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