Menetekelitos by Pit Hartling

Reinvent the classics with this modern, minimalist approach to the Mene-Tekel Deck from one of Germany’s finest card minds.

Pit Hartling is known for his clever, streamlined thinking (as seen in Card Fictions and In Order to Amaze). In these exclusive notes, prepared for the 2002 Jornadas Cartomágicas (Escorial), Hartling turns his attention to a utility device often relegated to the “beginner” shelf: the Mene-Tekel Deck.

Unlike the heavy, prop-dependent handling of the past, Hartling treats the Mene-Tekel deck with the finesse of a sleight-of-hand artist. He explores the “Three States” of the deck, offering techniques to fan, shuffle, and spread the cards in ways that completely hide the gaff. This manuscript transforms a “trick deck” into a sophisticated tool for miracles.

What You Will Learn:

• The “Three States”: A conceptual framework for organizing the deck to allow for fair handling, shuffling, and cutting by the spectator.
• Techniques: Learn how to “air out” the cards for a convincing fan, perform genuine riffle shuffles without disturbing the pairs, and execute running cuts that look completely innocent.
• Controlling Duplicates: Five practical methods for secretly positioning the duplicate card after a selection is made, including dribble controls and the Ovette/Kelly Bottom Placement.
• The Tricks:
  • The Three Jokers: A multi-phase routine where Jokers repeatedly find selected cards, ending with a “collector’s” climax.
  • Far-Out Adivination: A mind-reading effect where a spectator cuts to a card while the performer’s head is turned, yet the performer divines the selection instantly.
  • Poker Hand Duplication: A spectator deals a poker hand from a shuffled deck; the magician instantly produces the exact duplicate hand from a different deck.
  • King Midas (Colour Changing Deck): A stunning visual transformation where blue-backed cards turn red one by one, culminating in the entire deck changing color.
• Red/Blue Applications: Innovative uses for the Red/Blue Mene-Tekel deck, creating impossible coincidence effects.

This is not just a collection of tricks; it is a lesson in how to take a mechanical principle and elevate it with smart handling and structure. If you want to perform Mene-Tekel magic that fools magicians and laymen alike, Menetekelitos is your guide.

Product Specifications:

• Author: Pit Hartling
• Format: Digital Manuscript / Softcover Booklet
• Language: English
• Year: 2002
• Subject: Trick Decks, Card Magic, Mentalism, Routine Construction