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Interview with Criss Angel Mindfreak Magic Star

Five New Episodesof Death Defying Escapes on Mystical A&E Series

Aug 12, 2009 Christine Nyholm

Criss Angel Mindfreak returns to A&E with five all new episodes of magic and death defying feats. Criss talked about a muscle reading technique called Hellstomism.

Criss Angel Mindfreak is returning to A&E with five all new episodes, The 5 Lives of Criss Angel, with the season premiere airing on August 12, 2009 at 10 PM ET/PT. Criss Angel has a visionary approach to magic which escapes traditional magic shows. The world renowned mystifier continues his series with fearless demonstrations, death defying escapes and incredible illusions in five daring new episodes.

Criss Angel recently answered questions in a conference call Q&A session and talked about his series and his magic. Criss called himself a student of psychology. One of the techniques that Criss Angel uses is called Hellstomism, a type of contact and non contact mind reading, which he refers to as muscle reading.

Criss Angel on Hellstomism or Muscle Reading

Question: I was really excited about “Death Field.” How do you train for something like that?

Criss Angel: I have been doing an art called Hellstomism, which is a technique of how to read people’s muscles, for many years. Some people might say it is mind expansion and others might say is it just a technique that employs what I do as a magician or as a student of psychology.

Question: Could you please explain more about muscle reading?

Criss Angel: I studied martial arts for years and Hellstomism is muscle reading. For example, if you hide something and I don’t know where I will ask you to hold on to my arm or shoulder. I then walk around the room. If I come closer to what you hid, your body will naturally react a certain way.

I have to be so in tune with myself and with you to determine how you are responding with subtle movements and muscles to determine whether I am getting warmer or colder. That is muscle reading, or Hellstomism in its barest and most organic form.

Question: Do you have a hard time turning off that ability to read people?

Crss Angel: I am a student of humanity and psychology and looking at body language, how somebody speaks and dresses…my mind is always working.

How to Pick a Person Out of Audience

Question: When you are doing a show and need to pick a person out of the audience, how do you pick them?

Criss Angel: I am picking that person for a very specific reason. I am thinking, “Who is going to be a good candidate for this demonstration?” I have got to quickly pick the person that is really good. I do a quick scan and may pick two or three people and then I will get rid of one or two people and stick with one. It is easy to say and sounds very simple, but it takes many years to be able to master that technique.

The 5 Lives of Criss Angel Mindfreak airs on Wednesday nights at 10 PM ET/PT on A&E Network.

The copyright of the article Interview with Criss Angel Mindfreak Magic Star in Prime Time TV is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Interview with Criss Angel Mindfreak Magic Star in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.