Into The Strange
With Halloween just around the corner, you might be thinking about introducing some bizarre magic into your mentalism, so let’s explore the spooky stuff together…
The flickering of a candle, the smell of sulphur and a deck of antique tarot cards smeared with the wax of time.
Welcome to the spooky intersection of mentalism and bizarre magic. Now, if mentalism is the art of the mind, then surely bizarre magic must be the theatre of the soul?
One manipulates thoughts and the other manipulates beliefs.
Fuse them both together and you’re no longer just performing tricks, you’re performing sacred rituals.
Mentalism and bizarre magic are soulmates
Bizarre magic isn’t usually about laughs and it’s certainly not about flashy cards tricks or plastic thumbs hidden up your jacksy
STOP RIGHT THERE!
Please can we just have one post without smut?
Ok, I’ve had my fun so let’s get on with the show.
Bizarre magic is about storytelling and mentalism already leans heavily into that narrative.
As mentalists we talk about things like intuition, energy, empathy and psychological influence.
Bizarre magic takes those ideas and dials them up to 13.
It asks the audience to believe in what they feel, not just what they see.
Mentalism says: I know what you’re thinking.
Bizarre magic replies: But I know what haunts you!
They’re different flavours of the same brew and combining them can elevate your act from a fun experience to a much deeper or even spiritual one.
Types of bizarre magic that pair well with mentalism
Let’s break off a few branches from the bizarre tree and graft them onto the mentalists performance.
1: Ritual magic
Think candles, incantations, hand drawn sigils or names of forgotten gods. A participant chooses a symbol and you reveal it.
Not as a trick but as a result of invoking an ancient pact.
Mentalist twist:
Use some classic psychological forces, like the Δ & Ο force.
Which you can find on my How to become a mentalist post.
Just make sure to cloak them in sigil lore. Instead of saying “You were influenced” say “You were called upon.”
2: Haunted objects
A locket that vibrates when touched. A deck of cards from an abandoned casino. A key that moves on its own. These aren’t just props, they’re characters in your performance.
Mentalist Twist:
Combine a haunted object with a reading. The locket vibrates only in the hand of someone who has lost something valuable.
3: Automatic writing & spirit communication
Spirit boards, pendulums, planchettes and automatic writing rituals. Yes, it’s weird and yes, you must tread carefully as well as ethically, but the reactions from this type of stuff will be unmatched.
Mentalist Twist:
Use a pie shop pimp pad to reveal something a spirit has written. Give them something impossible and intimate. You’re not just reading minds, you’re channelling messages from the beyond.
P.S. If you don’t know what a pie shop pimp pad is, just message me and I’ll enlighten you.
4: Symbolic divination
Bizarre magic usually relies on invented or occult adjacent symbols. Create your own oracle deck or your own reading system.
(You are a mentalist, after all.)
Mentalist Twist:
Use dual reality or hidden markings to divine chosen symbols… then wrap them in a reading that implies destiny, fate or a curse. Bonus weirdo points if you wear a hood.
5: Invocation and possession routines
Yes, this one’s deep in the creepy crypt. But done tastefully, an invocation routine where a participant channels a spirit or entity can be powerful and chilling.
Mentalist Twist:
Have a participant write down a question. Then place a blindfolded person into trance. Reveal the answer in a voice not quite their own. Real? No, but it worked for Most Haunted!
Theatrical elements to sell the vibe
Bizarre magic and mentalism for that matter, isn’t just what you do. It’s how you do it, so here’s your checklist for conjuring the creepy.
Lighting
Use a battery powered candle or a dimmed lamp for intimacy.
Props
Antique keys, burnt paper, wax seals, bottles with sand or other mysterious contents.
Sound
Distant chimes, radio static or whispered mantras from a speaker under the table.
Language
Say things like like “the symbol that chose you” or “the one who watches” or “speak now and the veil will part.”
Remember
It’s not about being scary, it’s about being otherworldly.
A word on ethics
(Because not everyone likes goat skulls)
When dabbling in the bizarre, always read the room. Some people love the creepy, others might feel genuinely disturbed.
So here’s a few boundaries to keep in mind:
Don’t fake real mediumship unless that’s your established persona and even then, tread very very carefully.
Always allow people to opt out of routines involving spirits or ritual themes.
Avoid cultural appropriation, don’t steal sacred practices just for the shock value.
Give your audience a safe return to reality. Always “close the circle” etcetera etcetera.
We’re here to stir the soul, not traumatise it!
Build Your Own Bizarre Kit
Ready to experiment? Start with these:
One candle. (Real or LED)
A pendulum. (Make one from an old key and some string)
3 cursed items. (That you found on Etsy)
A dark pouch filled with odd symbols or tokens. (Stones from the local park)
A small deck of self made oracle cards. (Time to get crafty)
A story that connects them all.
Now take a classic mentalism routine, let’s say a drawing duplication and perform it as if the drawing is the key to a long lost ritual. See what happens when you whisper the reveal, instead of declaring it.
Spoiler: it feels 10 times more powerful.
Fragmented Thoughts
Weirdness goes a long way. You don’t have to dress like a wizard or summon the ghost of Aleister Crowley to add a splash of bizarre to your act. Just one weird object, a haunting phrase or a ritualistic gesture can turn a normal routine into something unforgettable. Because deep down we all crave the weird and we all want to believe that maybe, just maybe, that deck of cards really did come from a haunted circus wagon.
So go ahead, light the candle, whisper the name of your Oddsock and let your mentalism wander into the weird woods.
Stay Weird
ЯYΛП MΣПƬIƧ
International Man of Mischief
Founder of The Temple of Mentis
Summoner of The Oddsock Oracle™