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.
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