This creation by Max Maven combines mind reading, prediction, and cartomancy in a streamlined mentalism routine with a surprisingly personal presentation.

A spectator receives a shuffled deck of cards and is allowed to mix it further themselves. Next, you introduce an old book on fortune-telling and talk about cartomancy, the centuries-old art in which playing cards are used to interpret a person's character and future.

You give the participant an envelope and explain that it contains a personal Cartomancy reading that has already been prepared for him or her in advance. From that moment on, the envelope remains with the observer.

The top five cards of the actual shuffled deck are taken and placed face up in the edge of the book. From these five different cards, the spectator is completely free to choose one card. According to the description, no force or influence is used.

Suppose the choice falls on the four of clubs. The other four cards are clearly shown and all turn out to be different. The choice therefore seems completely free and fair.

Then the spectator opens the envelope themselves, which has been in their possession from the very beginning. Inside is a personal reading with traits and a lucky card. The lucky card turns out to correspond exactly to the freely chosen card, for example, the four of clubs.

As a result, the outcome does not feel like merely a prediction. The combination of a personal reading, the theme of Cartomancy, and completely free card selection gives the routine a strong mentalistic character.

An elegant Max Maven routine for performers who want to combine card magic with mind reading, fortune telling, and storytelling, without the presentation feeling like a traditional card trick.