How to Read People’s Minds as a Magic Trick: 6 Fun Methods

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Learn mind-reading tricks involving words, numbers, cards & more
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People visit psychics, palm readers, and mystics because they're attracted to the idea that it's possible to read minds. You can capitalize on this fascination by learning magic tricks that show you know what's in your participants' heads! While reading minds isn’t actually possible (that we know of at least), the art of mentalism lets you appear telepathic. The six tricks outlined in this article will have you basking in "oohs" and "ahs" in no time.

Easy Mind Reading Trick

  1. Have your audience call out names (their own or celebrities’ names).
  2. Pretend to write down all the names on paper scraps, but only write one over and over.
  3. Put your scraps of paper with the name on them into a hat.
  4. Have a volunteer draw a scrap of paper, read it silently, and think of the name.
  5. Pretend to read the volunteer’s mind and announce the name.
  6. Watch everyone react in amazement at your psychic powers.
Section 1 of 7:

Name the Dead

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  1. This is a good trick to perform in front of a crowd, since you'll need three volunteers to do it correctly. Be sure to get exactly three; the trick won't resonate as well with two, and it simply won't work with four. It's best to choose people you don't know well so the audience won't think you planned the trick together before the show. [1]
  2. Take a blank sheet of paper and tear it into equal thirds. Give the first third, which will have one straight side and one jagged side, to the first person. Give the second piece, which will have two jagged sides, to the second person. Give the third piece, which will also have one straight side and one jagged side, to the third person.
    • This trick can't be conducted properly unless you rip one piece of paper into thirds, so make sure you prepare for it by having a large sheet of paper on hand.
    • Pay attention to the person who has the piece that is ripped on both sides. This piece of paper is the key to the trick.
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  3. Ask the first person to write down the name of a person who is alive. Ask the second person (with the double-ripped paper) to write down the name of a person who is dead. Finally, ask the third person to write down the name of a person who is alive. Leave the room while they write. Have the volunteers place their slips of paper in a hat or box.
    • Instruct them not to fold the pieces of paper! It will be more difficult to complete the trick if you can’t easily feel the edges of each slip of paper.
    • Make a show of leaving the room or turning your back while the volunteers write the names on their slips of paper. If you leave the room, have someone come get you when they’re done.
  4. Return to the room (or simply turn around) and pick up the hat or box that holds the three paper scraps with the names. Say that you will miraculously pull out the name of the dead person—although you don’t know any of the names that were written down—by using your psychic abilities to locate it.
  5. Tell the volunteers to concentrate hard on the name they wrote down. Hold the hat or box above your head, or have someone else hold it, so it's clear that you can't see inside. Look knowingly at the second volunteer while you draw, as though you're reading their mind. Without looking, feel around for the slip of paper that has two rough edges. Draw it out with a flourish and read the name to everyone's amazement.
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Section 2 of 7:

Predict the Luckiest Person

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  1. Announce that you're writing down each name on a notecard and placing them all in a hat—this is a lie, but they won’t know that. At the end of the trick, you'll predict which audience member is the luckiest one in the audience, and you'll write your prediction on a chalkboard or slate. The name of the luckiest person will then be drawn from a hat by a volunteer, and it will match your prediction. [2]
    • If you have a large audience, you can pick the first ten people to volunteer their names; for a smaller audience, everyone can participate.
  2. When the first person calls out his or her name, write it down on a card. Write the same name when the second person calls out his or her name. Keep writing the same name on every card even though people are calling out a different name each time. Put all the cards in a hat as you finish writing on them. [3]
    • Make sure no volunteers are too close to you while you're writing down the names, or they'll see what you're up to.
    • If you're doing the trick at a birthday party or an event to honor someone, you could also simply write down the name of the honored person on every card, to ensure that he or she is named the "luckiest" person there.
    • Instead of saying you're predicting who is the luckiest person, you could say you're predicting who will get married next, who's the most mysterious person, or who's the unluckiest person. Tailor it to the event and the audience.
  3. After everyone is finished speaking and the cards are in the hat, write the special person's name down in large letters on a chalkboard or slate and show it to the audience. Announce that you know without a doubt that this person is the luckiest one in the room. You don’t just read minds—you can predict the future. [4]
    • If you want this to be a mind-reading trick, don’t write the name in advance. Skip this step and go to the next one.
  4. Hold the hat above the volunteer's head and ask him or her to draw a name and announce it to the audience. People will gasp when they hear the name you predicted—how did you know what they would draw? Make sure you put the remaining cards away immediately so people won't see how you did the trick. [5]
    • To make this more of a traditional mind-reading trick, have them read the name silently to themselves. Pretend to read their mind and announce the name without them revealing it.
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Section 3 of 7:

Guess the Playing Card

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  1. Find a standard deck of cards that comes in a cardboard box. Remove the cards from the box and use scissors or a craft knife to snip a small hole in one of the corners of the back of the box. Put the cards back in the box and take a look at the hole. You should be able to see a corner of the last card in the deck, revealing which card it is.
    • Come to your show with the card box already prepared. Keep the side with the hole away from the audience as you prepare to perform the trick.
    • If you can find a box that has a picture of a playing card printed on it, as many standard decks do, all the better—the hole you make will barely be visible.
    • Make sure the faces of the cards, and not the backs, are facing the hole. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell which card is there.
  2. Start by having the person shuffle the cards a few times. Tell them to pick any card and show it to the audience while your back is turned. Give them time to hide the card before you turn back around.
  3. 3
    Have the volunteer put the card back in the box. Hold out the box of cards flat, hole side against your palm, and tell the person to put the card into the box at the bottom of the deck. Ask the volunteer to place the card into the box face down so that you won't be able to see the chosen card from above (and so it’s facing the hole the right way, but don’t say that part).
  4. Hold up the deck of cards with the hole facing you, and announce that you're reading the volunteer's mind to determine what he or she picked. Discreetly glance through the hole to see what the card is, then close your eyes and tilt your head toward the ceiling. Announce, "I've got it! It is (the name of the card)!"
  5. Pull the deck of cards from the box, taking care not to show the side with the hole, and hold it up to the audience so that they can see the bottom card. This confirms it’s the one you “telepathically” chose a moment earlier.
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Section 4 of 7:

The Dictionary Trick

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  1. Write this word on a slip of paper and slip it into an envelope. Put the envelope in your pocket. This is your prediction that you’ll reveal at the end of the trick. [6]
    • You can skip this step if you memorize the word. That way, you’ll appear to be a mind reader, and not just someone who predicted the future.
  2. Request two random volunteers from your audience. Give one volunteer the dictionary you already peeked at, and give the other person a calculator.
    • Before the trick, check that the calculator has batteries and is working. If you don’t have a calculator, have them use the calculator app on their phone.
  3. The only stipulation is that each digit can only appear in the number once. For example, he or she might choose the number 365. The digits must be different—you can’t have a number like 222 or 133 or 101. [7]
    • This mind-reading trick uses the laws of math to work. That’s why picking a specific type of three-digit number is important.
  4. Start by asking them to reverse the number in their mind so the first and last digits switch places. For example, 365 becomes 563. Next, ask them to subtract the smaller number of the two (original and reversed) from the bigger number. For example, 563 - 365 = 198. Finally, ask them to reverse that number (so 198 becomes 891). [8]
    • They have to remember numbers as they go—that’s why it’s best to use a physical calculator over a phone app calculator, since you can view previous calculations.
  5. The numbers are the result of the subtraction and its reversal. For example, 198 + 891= 1089. The result will always be 1,089 no matter what number you choose in the first place. [9]
  6. Start by asking them what the first three digits of the number are. These will always be 108. Ask the volunteer with the dictionary to turn to page 108. Now ask the other volunteer what the last digit of the number was. This will always be 9. Tell them to read (silently) the ninth word on the page.
  7. Stare at the volunteers and make a show as if you are reading their minds. When you’re ready to reveal your prediction, pull out the envelope and reveal the strip of paper. Or, simply announce it, showing that you read their mind. The audience will be astonished!
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Section 5 of 7:

Gray Elephants in Denmark

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  1. Start by asking the volunteer(s) to think of any number between 2 and 10, but not to reveal it. [10] The number they guess doesn’t matter.
    • Though you give your spectator choices that seem like they have many different possible answers, most people will guess exactly the same thing at the end of the trick.
  2. For example, if your volunteer picked the number 5, 9 × 5 = 45, so they will add 4 + 5 to get 9. This should be done mentally, not out loud.
    • The answer will always be 9. [11]
  3. 9 - 5 = 4, so, at this point, your volunteer(s) will have the number 4 in his or her head.
    • The answer will always be 4. [12]
  4. For example, the number 1 corresponds to A, 2 to B, and so on. At this point, they will have the number 4, regardless of what number they initially picked, so they will all always pick the letter D. [13]
  5. Most of the time, people will think of the country of Denmark. On the off chance they think of Djibouti or the Dominican Republic, you’ll have to admit they stumped you at the end of the trick—but that’s unlikely.
  6. The next letter in "Denmark" is "E", and most people will associate the letter E with elephants.
    • Alternatively, ask them to think of an animal starting with the last letter in the country’s name. The last letter in Denmark is “K,” so most people will think “Kangaroo.” [14]
  7. Elephants are gray, so your volunteer(s) are likely to imagine the color gray. Remind them to also keep the animal name and country name in their mind, since you’ll allegedly read their mind to learn all three details.
    • Alternatively, ask them to think of a color starting with the last letter of the animal’s name. The last letter in "Kangaroo" is "O". Orange is the only common color that starts with O. [15]
  8. Make a big show of squinting and pressing your fingers to your temples. Tell your spectator that you are searching deep in the depths of his or her psyche to learn the animal, the color of the animal, and the country they thought of.
  9. Nine times out of ten, your volunteer will react with amazement, though occasionally you'll get someone who picks "Djibouti," “Elk,” or another answer. [16]
    • If you do the alternative version of the trick, tell them you’re seeing an orange kangaroo in Denmark.
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Section 6 of 7:

Mind Reading with Three Questions

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  1. 1
    Learn a fact about someone. This trick works best on people you know, such as family and friends. If you’re doing it on a stranger, learn a fact about them like their partner’s name, their hometown, or their age before introducing the trick by engaging in casual conversation.
    • Formulate a question about this fact that you can use as your third question. For example, if you know their age, you may ask them later, “How old are you? Think of your age, but don’t tell me. I’ll be able to read your mind.”
  2. 2
    Ask your spectator to think of their favorite color silently. Pose a question like, “What’s your favorite color?” It can be any color in the world. If you want to do variations on the trick, think of other questions that lead to a seemingly random answer—for example, “What’s your favorite day of the week?”
  3. 3
    Pretend to read their mind and write the color, but write the fact instead. Remember the fact you learned about them? Write this while pretending that you’re reading their mind and writing down their favorite color. Crumple it up afterward and place it in a hat or box.
  4. 4
    Tell them to reveal the color they thought of. Keep your hands empty while you ask them to reveal the truth now that you’ve made your prediction. Don’t give any indication that your prediction was right or wrong, but nod along as they speak. Ask if they think you read their mind.
    • Remember the color they reveal.
  5. 5
    Ask them to think of their favorite animal silently. Ask them a question such as, “What’s your favorite animal?” Make sure they keep it to themselves, thinking about it but not saying it aloud, so you can read their mind.
  6. 6
    Pretend to write the animal they’re thinking, but write the color instead. Once again, concentrate on reading their mind and writing down the animal. While keeping the paper you’re writing on out of their view, write down the color they just revealed to you. Crumple it up and place it alongside the first paper you crumpled.
  7. 7
    Ask them to reveal the animal they thought of. Once they say it, keep it in your memory. As you can probably guess, you’re going to write it down after you ask the third question. For now, put on a stoic face and ask if they think you read their mind yet again.
  8. 8
    Ask them to think of the fact you wrote down first. Pose it as a question that seems natural and in line with the first two questions. For example, ask them, “How old are you? Think of your age without telling me.”
  9. 9
    Pretend to write the fact, but write the animal they revealed. Remember, you already wrote down the fact after the first question, but they don’t know that. Pretend you’re reading their mind and write down the animal they just revealed. Crumple it up into a ball and place it with your first two “predictions.”
  10. 10
    Dump out all the predictions and read them aloud. Turn over the hat or box so each piece of crumpled paper falls out randomly. Pick each one up in turn and read what you wrote. After reading them, ask your spectator if your predictions were correct. They’ll be amazed that you seemingly read their mind after each question!
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Section 7 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Why do people like mentalism tricks? Some people want to believe that mind-reading is real, so they like mentalism because it uses tricks to make people appear telepathic. It’s satisfying to have your mind be “read” by a mentalist—especially if you can’t tell how they knew what you were thinking!
  2. 2
    How do you start doing mind-reading tricks? “Find a teacher,” recommends professional magician David Martinez. An experienced mentalist at a local magic school can teach you the tricks of the trade. Alternatively, he says to watch YouTube videos explaining common mentalist tricks or look for classic books about mentalist methods.
  3. 3
    How do magicians read minds? Magicians use set-ups like forces or manipulated objects, play on probability, and make educated guesses based on your body language, emotions, things you say, and other cues. Martinez gives the example of having someone imagine a vacation destination and asking them questions about it, like “Is it outdoors?” Watch how they react to each question to narrow it down and make a guess. This is called cold reading .
    • In other mentalism tricks, the magician may make accurate statements about you despite having never met you—as if they can read your past and personality. This is known as the rainbow ruse. [17]
      • You’re surprised that the statement feels true because you think you’re unique, but the statement actually applies to many people.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Are there any other ways to read minds?
    David Martinez
    Professional Magician
    David Martinez is a Magician based in San Jose, CA. David has over 20 years of experience and has performed throughout Northern California at weddings, private parties, team-building events, and more. He has notably performed for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Uber. David previously served as President of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and has received awards for Close-Up, Walk-Around, and Stage performances. In 2023, he co-authored Amaze and Delight: Secrets to Creating Magic in Business, aimed at helping individuals and organizations nurture healthy and happy business cultures.
    David Martinez
    Professional Magician
    Expert Answer
    So there's also cold reading, a fascinating trick that seemingly reads minds. First, you set the stage by asking your participant to think of something specific, like their favorite vacation destination. As they focus on it, start with a general statement, like, "I'm getting a sense that this is a place you've wanted to go to for a long time." Now pay close attention to their reactions and cues. If they confirm with a "yes," you're on the right track. Then, delve deeper based on their responses. For instance, if they mention sun or outdoor activities, you could say, "I'm sensing a lot of sun and outdoor vibes. It feels tropical, doesn't it?" Continue this pattern, using their feedback to refine your guesses. If they correct you or give a negative response, simply adjust your statement accordingly. For example, if they say it's not tropical, you might pivot with, "Ah, it's more of an urban vibe, like a bustling city, right?" With each exchange, you gather more clues and refine your guesses until you've successfully "read their mind." Remember, it's all about observation, intuition, and steering the conversation based on their responses. With practice, you'll master the art of cold reading and leave your audience amazed at your apparent mind-reading abilities.
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  • Question
    Can people really read other people's minds?
    Community Answer
    It's not impossible, but it is very hard. You can't really do it as a real magic trick. A lot of what's called "mind reading" is just practice at interpreting facial expression and body language.
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  • Question
    How do I do the disappearing person trick?
    Community Answer
    There is usually a tight sheet at the back of the box, that looks like it is the back of the box. When the door is closed, simply slip behind the sheet.
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      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Come up with a good story for your trick, because just doing a trick isn't very convincing. Also, the story is usually a great means of misdirection.
      • Try not to look somewhere else while performing the trick; the audience might think that you are cheating.
      • Don't be nervous. If you rehearse enough then it should go smoothly. Perform with confidence and pride.
      • Keep a distance between you and the audience so they can't inadvertently see what you're doing.
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      Things You'll Need

      Draw the Name of the Dead

      • Three volunteers
      • Paper
      • Three pencils or pens
      • A hat or box

      Predict the Luckiest Person

      • Two or more volunteers
      • Scraps of paper
      • A pencil or pen
      • A hat or box
      • A chalkboard or slate
      • Chalk or a marker

      Guess the Playing Card

      • One volunteer
      • A box of playing cards
      • Craft knife or scissors

      The Dictionary Trick

      • Two volunteers
      • Dictionary
      • Calculator
      • Pencil (optional)
      • Paper (optional)
      • Envelope (optional)

      Gray Elephants in Denmark

      • Any number of volunteers
      • Calculator (optional)

      Mind Reading with Three Questions

      • One volunteer
      • Three slips of paper
      • Pencil or pen
      • Hat or box

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      Cold Read
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.oldandsold.com/articles02/101magictricks4.shtml
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/dMiC1DZIsTE?t=79
      3. ↑ https://www.card-trick.com/mental-magic-tricks/magic-name-prediction/
      4. ↑ https://www.card-trick.com/mental-magic-tricks/magic-name-prediction/
      5. ↑ https://www.card-trick.com/mental-magic-tricks/magic-name-prediction/
      6. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/pdf/teachdemo24.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/pdf/teachdemo24.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/pdf/teachdemo24.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/pdf/teachdemo24.pdf
      1. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2019/08/09/grey-elephants-denmark/
      2. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2019/08/09/grey-elephants-denmark/
      3. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2019/08/09/grey-elephants-denmark/
      4. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2019/08/09/grey-elephants-denmark/
      5. ↑ https://www.goodtricks.net/kangaroo-magic-mind-reading-prediction-trick.html
      6. ↑ https://www.goodtricks.net/kangaroo-magic-mind-reading-prediction-trick.html
      7. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2019/08/09/grey-elephants-denmark/
      8. ↑ https://www.iflscience.com/how-do-psychic-predictions-work-i-visited-one-to-find-out-70295

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To read minds using a deck of cards, start by cutting a small hole in the bottom corner of a box of cards so that you can see the corner of the last card in the deck. Then, have a member of the audience shuffle the cards and have that person pick one. Tell them to show their card to the audience before having them place the card back at the bottom of the deck. Put the cards back in the box, see which card they chose, and pretend to read their mind before revealing the correct card. For more ways to read minds with magic, like how to guess someone’s thoughts using numbers, keep scrolling!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Precious Mangubat

        Jun 13, 2017

        "We had a family game night, and this trick amazed my siblings and parents so much! Keep up the good work!"
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