THREAD OF LIFE MATT MELLO
Copyright © 2012 by Matt Mello All rights reserved.
Effect: The spectator feels the performer pull an invisible string from their palm, which is then used in a very interesting and positive way!
Introduction: Following in the footsteps of my last manuscript, Thread of Life also combines real and pseudo-hypnotic means to achieve its ends. It’s very simple, yet engaging, and plays as a beautiful induction! All with a gimmick most already use! The first phase is something I’ve known for nearly sixteen years, and was the main building point and inspiration for this current routine. But I also love the second phase, where, in a sense, you really do exactly what you say you’re doing! There are no visible compromises—as Derren Brown would say—and because of this, everything naturally comes across as 100% real and psychological! You’ll understand shortly! Enjoy!
Presentation and Method: At a small table of four, I turn to the spectator on my left, a girl named Amy. “What I’m about to demonstrate is something I learned as a little kid, to pull an invisible string out of your palm. Have you ever tried this? It’s really very 2
simple. Just make a tight fist.” After she’s held this for a few seconds, I grab around her wrist, my left thumb pressing across it, figure 1.
(Figure 1) “And now allow it to open.” Figure 2.
(Figure 2) 3
Though it doesn’t seem like much, these actions give you an enormous advantage! When the spectator makes a tight fist, it forces the blood out of their hand. Then, when you grip around their wrist, you restrict the blood from immediately flowing back in. Note that this only happens for a second or two, not long enough for a clot to form. With my free hand, I then lightly pinch the middle of her palm, and pull upwards as if really yanking out a string—I do this fairly quickly instead of slowly. At the same moment as I pull up, I release the pressure with my left thumb on her wrist, allowing the blood to quickly rush back into her hand. Your spectator will associate this feeling with the suggestion and visual of pulling out a string, creating an extremely reliable outcome! You can try this out on yourself right now to feel the sensation. You’ll find it’s a quick rush, which is why I pull the string fast. You’ll also want to practice the procedure and your grip position around a friend’s wrist, to make sure you can consistently make them feel that rushing feeling. After they’ve had their reaction, I continue speaking with my fingers held as in figure 3….
(Figure 3) 4
“I now hold between my fingers one of your ‘threads of life’. You felt it being pulled from the inside of your hand, but let’s see if you can feel it on the outside, as well.” I run her “thread of life” under her hand, along the back, and she suddenly reacts and jerks her hand away. This is because in figure 3, you really DO have an invisible string between your fingers! A Loop gripped like the rubber band in figure 4.
(Figure 4) The loop runs around my right hand, the top strand gripped between my finger tips and dragged under their hand. When that top thread tickles their skin, they will react…strongly! Some will see the pure beauty in this method, and how it perfectly and invisibly parallels the effect; others will think it’s obvious, and the spectator will figure it out. Either way, there’s no way for them to know for sure! But following the psychological string removal from their hand, this comes across as very real! Important notes with Loops are to keep your hands in constant motion and just do a single, smooth swipe under their hand. And be sure to cast a shadow over their 5
hand with your body if performing in a bright space, to keep the thread from glinting in the light. Keeping this in mind, you now have an extra effect anytime you have a Loop on you! As their second reaction dies down, you can continue into the last phase… “You’ve been absolutely perfect, so I’d like to give you a gift. Some physicists believe that these microscopic strings actually make up our entire universe, woven and vibrating together into everything we see around us. So what I’d like you to do is take your string…” I give it to her—really handing her nothing—which she pinches. “…close your eyes…and make a wish…. “ “When you’re ready, I’d like you to release the thread. And when you do, you’ll find yourself full of positive thoughts and energy, and can slowly allow yourself to come back to the room.” As she opens her eyes, I shake her hand, and congratulate her for doing so well!
Additional Thoughts and Ideas: --For real hypnotists using this as an induction, here’s one suggestion to segue into a deeper state. At the end, when you see the spectator open their fingers, say “And as your thread floats away, you’ll find your consciousness goes and drifts with it, sending you deeper and deeper into a relaxed state the further it moves on…” It could then extend and float into space, focusing on different colored stars, rotating galaxies, etc—just imagining anything to get them to that alpha state. --If you don’t have a Loop, after pulling the “thread of life” from their hand, you could then remove your own from your hand, and pretend to tie them together into a knot. This then links you for a few moments while you read their mind after. At the end, untie and make your wishes! Simply insert any mind reading in between; I prefer something that fits with the impromptu-ness, usually a psychological force. --I’ve toyed with the idea of producing a real piece of string at the end, as if I had been holding it the entire time, and they had been hypnotized not to see it…but 6
I’ve never gone this route. I personally feel it disrupts the impromptu feel of it, and makes it more into a magic trick rather than a psychological trick. Though some of you may like this idea and can work something out.
Credits: The first phase of pulling a string from their hand is something I learned from my sister as a kid, who learned it in school. I used to do this all the time with other kids and adults, having no idea I was using hypnosis! I didn’t even grab their wrist and do the blood rush back then, just had them make a fist for a bit, pinched their palm and pulled. People still felt it! Any invisible thread device could be supplemented for phase two, but I absolutely love the simplicity of Loops, developed by Fin John and Yigal Mesika. Daniel Garcia has an effect on his Loop DVD, called Hair, where one spectator has a real hair run over her face, and a second spectator feels it. The idea is similar, but is more a demonstration of Banachek’s Psychokinetic Touches, Lior Manor was the first to use I.T. for pk touches, and his handling can be found in, The Invisible Touch. However, the concept of an invisible string being used as an actual ‘invisible string’ has never been done before! Who would have thought! The last phase of making a wish has been used by many performers, but I love bringing in a bit of science with the ‘string theory’ presentation at the end, and the idea of releasing their wish into this ‘threaded’ universe, which is a very unique experience! If I’ve missed anyone in this crediting, or if you have any questions, please send an inquiry to:
[email protected] and I’ll be sure to make any necessary changes or answer any questions I can. Thank you! Matt Mello 7
