What Mentalists Will Not Tell You

The Mentalists’ Lore: Inside The Mentalist Toolkit

A: Can you tell me the secret?
Mentalist: Can you keep a secret?
A: Yes.
Mentalist: Me too.

It is hard to see both (angels or demons, in this case) or the entire picture at the same time, and the mentalist understands this. The mentalist directs your attention to make you see what he wants you to see.

Mentalists are an order of magicians that focuses on using applied psychology in their performance of magic. These specialists may also deploy the same skills outside the field of magic entertainment. Many mentalists serve as in advisories in the security industry, such as in the fields of counter-hacking, counter-terrorism, counter-theft and anti-fraud, trade and banking protection, marketing research, criminology, applied psychology for mental health, negotiators, etc. The expertise can be for good or malevolence. Some mentalists may also work for the other side, such as in fraud, swindling spiritual mediums, fortune tellers, religious cult leaders, lobbyists, etc. Mentalists can also be illusionists or use techniques of illusionists to confuse and distort the perception of their mark or targeted audience. This seemingly secretive and isolated community remained hermetic due to oath and code of conduct, until magicians, like Penn and Teller, Val Valentino (more commonly known as `The Masked Magician`) et al, started to break the Magician’s Code and revealing those lore for educational purposes.