“Is Mind Reading Real? Keeping the Madness under Control!”

Clairvoyance, telepathy, or the highly profitable channeler, is any of it real? 

Ahh...No!

I've never seen any evidence, and more importantly, the experts agree.

Harry Houdini, whose name is synonymous with "magician" held a strong and skeptical view when it came to spiritualists and mediums.

He was critical of those who claimed to have supernatural abilities, especially spiritualists who purported to communicate with the deceased. Let me clarify, he wanted to expose those who took advantage of grieving people who would enrich their pockets by providing services to communicate with the dead.

Following the death of his mother in 1913, Houdini became interested in the possibility of communicating with the afterlife. Houdini witnesses various mediums in action. He became convinced that they were charlatans preying on the grief-stricken. 

Medium to the "Stars."

This is a practice that is more profitable today than ever before. I remember as a child seeing "mediums" peddle their wares on the daytime talk shows. Now as an older man, the psychics have more advantages with the internet and cable television. You can find this yourself if you must. I won't help them by mentioning any names.

There has never been a time when the loss of a loved one did not prompt the wish for just one more conversation, if only to ask how are you?

Of course, this did not end with Harry Houdini. A new celebrity made headlines in the early 1970's. The man who bent spoons with his "mind." The controversial Uri Geller.

Uri Geller

Geller succeeded in "fooling" some scientists. Fool a scientist, easy. How about a magician?

The Amazing Rand Vs. Uri Geller

"The Amazing Randi," was a renowned magician, and escape artist. He gained greater fame for debunking paranormal and supernatural claims. Randi made headlines for himself by duplicating Geller's feats with simple Sleight of hand and misdirection.

 Randi was challenged by a parapsychologist to put his money where his mouth was. Randi put his own money up and the results left Randi with his own money. The challenges continued and the prize money eventually went as high as one million dollars. Randi was challenged over one thousand times, but no one could ever prove they possessed psychic powers.

And the Winner is?

The Amazing Randi

Randi's victories were quite compelling. Yet, Geller continued to have a following. The emperor may have no clothes, yet many still insist psychic powers are real.

The Amazing Randi and Uri Geller remains a fascinating chapter in the history of skepticism, magic, and the ongoing debate between the paranormal and scientific inquiry.

Take 30 seconds and see the reaction I get when I reveal the name of this young woman's fiance.

Am I psychic? Of course not, but it's a compelling trick.

Joe Ferranti Boston Magician

and Part-Time Mind Reader...?

www.ferrantimagic.com 

339-927-4710