Mute by Ryan Stock (Instant Download)

This trick completely astonished me five times in a row. That’s a rare feat, but I’m willing to admit it.

MUTE was the very first trick Ryan demonstrated to me. I was completely baffled. Since then, the method has become increasingly deceptive. Here’s how it unfolds:Your friend steps out of the room while someone selects a card and places it back into the deck. It genuinely goes into the middle, and the cards are secured in the box. When your friend returns, she instantly identifies the chosen card.YOU DON’T SAY A WORD. (This is the essence of the trick’s name: Mute.) Unlike previous tricks that relied on intricate verbal cues, MUTE requires no communication. You don’t need to position your body in any specific way, nor use hand signals, palming, or any advanced sleight-of-hand techniques.Most importantly: NO FORCE. The spectator can choose ANY card they wish. In fact, they don’t even have to physically select it; they can simply NAME it.That’s why MUTE caught me off guard five times in a row. Everything I expected (forces, verbal cues, hand signals) was completely absent.One of the most impactful yet underutilized concepts in magic is EMPOWERING the spectator. Anyone can perform MUTE alongside you. There’s no need for a magic partner; you can teach someone how to execute MUTE in just two minutes. Your friend, girlfriend, spouse, co-worker, or even a stranger at a party—ANYONE can do this with you, and it will ASTOUND EVERYONE WATCHING.I’ve experienced this firsthand. It’s unusual for me to be the one fooled, but this time, it was all Ryan’s brilliance. I’m man enough to acknowledge that.-Rick Lax