The mysteries of the occult have interested men and women throughout history. Even the very name occult makes us think of ancient oracles, demons and ghosts. To solve and understand these mysteries, people have invented the occult sciences, which include astrology, divination, sorcery, demonology, necromancy, wizardry and many others. Those who have tampered with the occult in the past claim to have supernatural powers themselves, but usually this is nothing more than figments of there over charged imagination. Conjurers however, never claim they have powers they do not really have, but base their part on his or her perception, psychology, and hard practice. When practicing on stage, a conjurer is never opposed to a little trickery to enhance his presentation.

John Henry Anderson named himself the Great Wizard of the North in the early 1800's. This famous Philippe usually appeared in a costume of an oriental wizard, who claimed he had powers of second sight, but even some of this can be traced directly to the use of magic. Bill Robinson used his skills to expose the frauds carried out by spiritualists, along with John Maskelyne, Harry Kellar, and Harry Houdini. Their targets were men like the Davenport brothers, who claimed to be spiritualists, but were nothing more that skilled conjurers.

Some of the most dramatic conjuring illusions ever presented on stage were inspired by eerie tales of the occult. Even today, the influences of the occult (reciting magic formulas, devil costumes, mysterious puff of smoke which leads to something vanishing) can be seen in contemporary conjuring acts.

The occult trick that follows has nothing to do with ancient black arts, but has been modified by masterful conjuring tricks. However, if you can master this and others like it, you will be spooking and fascinating people everywhere you go.

Devils black mark

You will need: a teaspoon and a cigarette

To prepare the trick: In advance, moisten the tip of your middle finger of your right hand. Dip the moistened tip into some cigarette ashes and shake off any excess. Hide the ashes that you used.

Perform the trick: Hold you hands naturally at your side and as for a volunteer from the audience. Ask to see her hands and pretend you are reading her palms. Then ask her to turn her palms down so you can examine the backs. Take a hold of their hands so your fingers are touching her palms. Gently press your middle finger onto her left palm to leave a black mark. Tell her you need her to move her hands apart further and bring them about six inches farther apart then let her hands and yours drop to your sides. Ask her to make tight fists with her hands. When she does point back and forth between both of her fists. If she tells you to stop at her left fist, tell her to lower her right. If she tells you to stop at her right fist, tell her to lower her right fist. Remind her to keep her hand tightly closed. Now ask an audience member who smokes to light the cigarette and flick some ashes onto your spoon. Step away from the volunteer, mutter some magic words, and blow the ashes of the spoon towards your volunteers fist. Tell her the devil has been to work on her and if she opens her fist she will have proof because the devils black mark will be in her palm.