Billet Reading

Billet reading is a mentalist effect in which a performer pretends to read messages sealed inside envelopes by clairvoyance. It is accomplished by having the performer learn one of the answers beforehand, often through a plant, so he or she can read the other messages in advance. The performer then pretends to confirm the message from the plant is in the first unopened envelope with the final envelope actually being the one from the plant. The effect can give the impression of mind reading. Billet reading is usually performed as an entertaining parlor trick by magicians and mentalists. Psychics and mediums often use the trick to demonstrate their alleged supernatural abilities.

Read more about Billet Reading:  Method, Parodies

Famous quotes containing the word reading:

    I loved reading, and had a great desire of attaining knowledge; but whenever I asked questions of any kind whatsoever, I was always told, “such things were not proper for girls of my age to know.”... For “Miss must not enquire too far into things, it would turn her brain; she had better mind her needlework, and such things as were useful for women; reading and poring on books would never get me a husband.”
    Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)