The Unfolding by Paul Carnazzo

Effect:

Three photographs of different statues of Marcus Aurelius are presented. The mentalist introduces Marcus Aurelius as a Roman Emperor and a key Stoic philosopher, sharing one of his notable quotes: “Everything is unfolding as it must, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so.” This philosophy sets the stage for the demonstration.

A male and female participant are invited to assist. The woman freely selects one of the photos, with the option to change her choice until she is certain. Her chosen photo is placed face up on the table. The man then makes his selection, with the understanding that the remaining photo will be left for the performer. He also has the freedom to change his mind at any point.

The quote by Marcus Aurelius is revisited: “Isn’t it interesting how this quote often relates so well to our lives? It makes me wonder if the reason that things often work out this way is due to fate, or perhaps our own intuition of the way things should be. Even in simple demonstrations like this, everything has unfolded as it must.”

When the woman’s photo is turned over, it reveals the message: “THIS PHOTO WILL BE CHOSEN FOR THE WOMAN.” The man’s photo also reveals: “THIS PHOTO WILL BE CHOSEN FOR THE MAN.” Finally, the performer’s photo displays: “THIS PHOTO WILL BE CHOSEN FOR ME.” There is no forcing, equivoque, secret writing, or ambiguity; the outcome is always predetermined.

What you get:

A PDF detailing the complete routine, artwork for printing your own photos, and creative presentation ideas. Additionally, the PDF includes a version of Technicolor Prediction called “Multi-Colored,” which requires no special items. Other effects featured are “House Hunting,” where you predict a participant’s choice of house photographs, and “Murder-Suicide,” where participants must select the correct murder weapons to ensure their survival (they will always choose correctly!).

Note: The PDF outlines the effects mentioned above. A small, inexpensive item will need to be purchased separately. The main effect is designed for English but can be adapted for other languages, including Spanish and Italian, with ease. Some additional effects will work in any language.