Swami gimmick
Encyclopedia
A swami gimmick is a prop used in magic
and mentalism
. It enables its user to create the illusion
of knowing something in advance under impossible conditions (precognition
), or of being able to read the thoughts of another person (telepathy
).
It is also known as a "nail writer" or "boon writer." It is any device used to covertly write information down for the purpose of creating the illusion of precognition or telepathy. They are commonly available from magic shops, and often consist of a small pencil lead held in a clear plastic sleeve that can be fitted over the thumb.
It is possible to use the basic method without the manufactured prop by breaking a piece of lead from a pencil tip and wedging it under a thumb nail.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
and mentalism
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
. It enables its user to create the illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
of knowing something in advance under impossible conditions (precognition
Precognition
In parapsychology, precognition , also called future sight, and second sight, is a type of extrasensory perception that would involve the acquisition or effect of future information that cannot be deduced from presently available and normally acquired sense-based information or laws of physics...
), or of being able to read the thoughts of another person (telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
).
It is also known as a "nail writer" or "boon writer." It is any device used to covertly write information down for the purpose of creating the illusion of precognition or telepathy. They are commonly available from magic shops, and often consist of a small pencil lead held in a clear plastic sleeve that can be fitted over the thumb.
It is possible to use the basic method without the manufactured prop by breaking a piece of lead from a pencil tip and wedging it under a thumb nail.