Bill Palmer

"The Sim Stones represent a major step forward in reading systems. The set of ten high quality pewter stones radiate the concept of "class."

The moment you pick them up, you will find that they look and feel like fine silver. The symbols are reminiscent of runes, but without some of the baggage that runic systems carry with them.

There are ten of these stones, twenty symbols in all, which encourages their use with familiar layout patterns, such as the Celtic Cross. 

There are many advantages of using the Sim Stones. For one thing, they will not wear out. If you are a very busy tarot reader, you may have to replace your cards on a monthly basis.

Not so with the Sim Stones. Also, they represent a system that is different, so you don't have to worry about the person who has purchased the Eden Grey book or the DeLaurence book disagreeing with your interpretation of the symbols.

If you have done readings of any kind for any length of time, you know that the ill-informed spectator who has not drunk deep from the Pierian spring can ruin a reading for you by "correcting" your interpretation. That problem is eliminated when you use the Sim Stones. 

It will take you a mere 20 minutes to learn the system, or, if you wish, you can use your own."

Bill Palmer curator of cups and balls museum

Abracadabra

In past centuries, fortune tellers, soothsayers, magicians and witches were regarded with suspicion and often treated as charlatans. Many were executed by water (ducking) or fire (burnt at the stake).

Today all are accepted under the banner of entertainment and the seaside and garden fete fortune tellers, psychic fairs and the like are all part of the human trait to explore the unknown.

In recent times, psychic fairs have taken off and become popular with the public, and this is where magicians and what they know can be put to use. So, in this connection I am going to slip in a “back door” review of a new idea recently marketed by author Brian Watson of Prophecy Publishing.

Basically this is a means of giving character readings which allows the operator to decide how far to go between pure entertainment and serious excursion into psychic matters.

The author clearly suggests the former while at the same time directing the reader to what could be a quite lucrative occupation. Titled The Sim Stone Manual, it offers not only a quite exciting alternative to Rune stones or Tarot cards, but the system describes requires far less memory work, being based on a method known to most magicians.

The manual, spiral bound, A5 with 75 pages, comes with 10 specially crafted Sim Stones . Each stone bears a symbol, in a system I have never encountered previously and the stones are double sided.

The system is quite easy to learn and so designed that one cue triggers another. You will not learn it in 5 minutes, but given an hour or two of study and practice then a working pattern should start to emerge.

Brian Watson takes the reader through the system, offering advice on readings, where, when and how to use the Sim Stones, how to work psychic fairs, clubs and shopping centres, what to charge - $20 - $30 per reading being the norm.

Leading American mentalist and writer Lee Earle, in his forward to the manual say’s, “Sim Stones offer a logical shortcut to success because the very design of these stones is predicated upon standard memory (mnemonic) techniques…. Read the book, learn the system and then invest your time and talent to start making money. It’s that simple.” This certainly is an exciting concept to learn and enjoy, whether for fun or profit.

Donald Bevan

Magiccafe Member

"The stones are not only well made, but impressive. The weight and feel lend themselves to having the sitter feel these must have been used by someone well off -- even royal.

They are not crudely carved bones of superstitions primitives, but almost semi-precious jewels to the touch.  I would recommend the reader let all the handling of the stones be done by the sitter, not only to observe he sitter's demeanour but to have them feel the richness to
compare with flimsy tarot cards and crude clay mass produced runes.

My major fear I had in acquiring your system was with the mnemonic's required. I thought that at the least, I would end up with so, me pewter stones that I would "wild card" a system into for my use.

Last night I discovered that our minds are probably very similar in many ways as yours is the first mnemonic system that makes sense to me. And believe me I have tried Lee's, worked with Larry, used Lorraine and had blocks with all of them.

Your system of "Drill and Practice" seems to make it clear as you stick to multiple sounds are involved not visuals. That may be the key for me. You have not, I just realized, mixed VISUAL thoughts with aural cues in the steps toward symbol meanings -- therefore thinking
of sounds as the system cues -- rather than visualizing chickens with boots on -- makes sense to me.

The coloring of the obverse signals, to me, is a godsend. At my age counting more than 10 requires taking off my shoes -- unless you stop at 11."

Gregg (Chmara - Magiccafe)

Budget

Rune stones, tarot cards, palmistry etc. Character readings are all the rage these day’s. Many magicians already supplement their income by entertaining with them.

This book, which accompanied by ten double sided , two colour, rune like stones, teaches you everything you need to know and may well earn the purchaser a small (?) fortune.

A simple memory system helps you QUICKLY learn the meanings of each symbol and weave the meanings of several into a full, entertaining reading.

At psychic fairs there are always dozens of tarot readers, several palmists and the odd (some odder than others) rune readers BUT … YOU will be the ONLY Sim Stone reader in sight!!    Recommended.

Stephen Tucker

Kaymar

Wow! I was going to hold this back and launch it in a SYZYGY or MMM flyer'...but, well, it's just too good to 'sit on'!!

It is quite simply a system for delivering character readings, but, before going on, l*d just like to quote from Lee Earle's foreword: "Sim Stones...came as a pleasant surprise. There are various (other) systems, but Sim Stones offer a logical shortcut and put (you) on an ' express track to success...

There are 3 Keys to Success: Time, Treasure and Talent. (This is) the key to unlock the door to a vault of treasure. Read the book, learn the system, and then invest your time and talent to start making, money. It's that simple."

Many people have wanted to give character readings but have been put off by the amount of time it takes to master palmistry, the Tarot, Rune Stones, Tea-leaves, or whatever.

Main reason is that none of those systems was developed specifically for ease of use by the reader. Sim Stones were specifically created by Brian Watson to over come that problem - they're easy to learn and they're fun to use.

The booklet you receive is not only easy to read, but it is logical and there are additional chapters on the business Side, where to read, what fees to charge, etc. 'You also get a full set of 10 double-sided Sim Stones in wax- like resin, plus a simple mnemonic system for remembering them and their meanings. In fact, to re-quote Lee Earle, "you have...the key to unlock the door to a vault of treasure". Brian Watson's hard work and time taken to create a reading method that works for him, means that you have here a complete package to lead you
easily into the fan (or lucrative, if that's what you want, world of character reading.

Morley Budden

Magic Circular

The Sim Stone Manual by Brian Watson. 75 Pages A5 comb bound.

This is not conjuring but a new system for presenting character readings. A unique advantage it has over other types of readings, such as tarot or runes, is that it is very simple to learn the basics.

The ten rune – like Sim Stones (supplied) from which the readings are made have a built in memory aid. The principle of the system is known to most magicians but Brian Watson explains it succinctly should you not have encountered it before.

It must be said, however, that although the basic method is simple putting it into practice will take time, study and practice on your part.

The manual also provides you with the interpretations of each stone and how to link this and with the others, advice on observation, the approach to the subjects, fees, stationary, where and when to do readings and tips on further reading.

At first sight it appears that you do not get much for your money – ten stones and a small booklet that does not contain a lot of words. But it is not the physical items that are important.

The information and ideas imparted are the important things. And if you have any propensity or inclination to this type of work you can recoup the cost many times over.

As Lee Earle says in the forward to the manual “There are three keys to success: Time, Treasure, and Talent. You have in your hands the key to unlock the door to a vault of treasure. Read the book, learn the system and then invest your time and talent to start making money. It’s that simple”

Peter Eldin

PEA "Vibrations"

P.E.A readers of Lee Earle’s Syzygy may recall seeing in the editorial section a few issues ago a new product on the market in the UK by Brian Watson of England, namely Sim Stones and the Sim Stone Manual.

Having never heard of Brian Watson on the UK mentalism scene and having seen various very good reviews in the UK mental / magic journals I contacted Brian and purchased a set.

It is not just good, it’s very, very good and its concept is so very different from readings such as runes and tarot.

As we are all aware, the vast amount of work that must be done to become an expert such as Ron Martin at tarot and palm reading or a genius at cold reading such as herb Dewey, is often beyond the average mentalist.

The Sim Stones were developed to overcome that learning curve with a simple memory system already well known to most of us, with the added advantage of being new and different on the psychic scene.

The manual, spiral bound, A5 with 70 pages, comes complete with 10 Sim Stones specially crafted in resin for ease of cleaning and may years of use. Each stone has a symbol on each side and are so designed that each one cue triggers the next one and so on and so forth.

If you want to be a little unique at the next psychic fair, this product could well be for you it pay’s to be different and no, I’m unfortunately not no commission for sales.

Roger Ferriby - P.E.A Member

Syzygy

New from Brian Watson of England is his combination Sim Stones and Sim Stone Manual. It’s a set of rune like - stones for doing readings with the engravings on the stones mnemonically linked so memorising the symbols is a snap.

Accompanying the stones is a comb - bound 6 x 9 inch booklet of about 60 pages which gives interpretations, layouts etc and includes a bonus chapter on what to expect when working psychic fairs.

Lee Earle

Magiccafe Member

"I just received Sim Stones and the Sim Stone Manual.  I can honestly say that there is not a thing that I would change about either.

I gave the manual a quick read. The book is so concise that a complete review would entail giving most of the "secrets" of the book.

But, I would like to comment on the "Free Bonus Chapter."

There are things written here that took a lot of "just doing it" for me to first discover. If a person is just going in to doing readings professionally, these tips will prove very valuable.

The Stones themselves are very heavy. There are ten double sided stones.They are quality made items that should last a lifetime.

Watson's system, after learned, can be used with or without the stones. The stones, however, allow for some very interesting back stories.

For me, magic items come and go. I think that the Sim Stones will be a keeper."

Parson Smith 2009

The Books Foreword

I don’t know Brian Watson very well, having briefly met him in England while touring my lecture through that country. So when his Sim Stone Manual and stones arrived in the mail, they came as a pleasant surprise. I read through the book and inspected the stones and was impressed with the thought and attention to detail Brian has shown.

There exist myriad various systems and oracles for delivering character readings - palmistry, tarot, numerology, crystals, sand tracks, astrology, etc. - but not one of them was developed specifically for ease of use by the reader. Doing personality readings, whether in a tea room, at a home party, or among the “shuteyes” at a psychic fair, usually involves extensive study and memorisation in order to deliver a believable presentation.

Sim Stones offer a logical shortcut and put the performer (reader) on an express track to success in the business because the very design of these stones is predicated upon standard memory (mnemonic) techniques. Anyone who has presented any sort of memory stunt should have an easy time of it; those who have never had exposure to mnemonics will enjoy Brian’s quick explanation of the techniques.

Likewise, his bonus chapter on the details to consider when working a psychic fair is valuable information not easily found elsewhere.

There are three keys to success: Time, Treasure, and Talent. You have in your hands the key to unlock the door to a vault of treasure. Read the book, learn the system, and then invest your time and talent to start making money. It’s that simple.

Lee Earle