Ebook - Digital Ouroboros by Mark Elsdon

Introducing Digital Ouroboros: A New Era of Card Magic

Mark Elsdon's 'Digital Ouroboros' introduces a paradigm shift in card magic, presenting an effect so baffling, it redefines the very concept of an 'impossible' card trick. Inspired by the ancient symbol of continuous rebirth and self-reference, this ebook unveils a truly unique plot where a spectator's chosen card orchestrates its own astonishing disappearance and reappearance in the most unexpected of places. Prepare to add an absolute miracle to your repertoire—one that seasoned professionals like James Went call 'conceptually brilliant' and 'a total worker.'

The Impossible Plot Unveiled

Imagine a deck of cards unlike any your audience has ever encountered. Each of its 52 faces bears a distinct, handwritten instruction—a precise directive on how that specific card will reveal itself. From 'Inside the box' to 'Under your watch,' and 'In his pocket,' every card holds a unique destiny. The magic begins when a participant freely selects any card, reads its private message, and with the performer's head turned away, shuffles it back into the deck. Crucially, the performer never touches the deck again, nor is anything ever secretly palmed out. The deck is simply placed on the table, setting the stage for an unparalleled vanishing act.

A Personal Miracle in Their Hands

The moment of revelation arrives, and it's pure genius. After the participant names their chosen card, they search the deck only to discover it's missing—a stunning realization that leaves them questioning reality. The performer, seemingly confused, then clarifies the card's specific instruction, prompting a sudden, brilliant flash of insight. The message, meant for the card's owner, actually refers to the 'participant's' pocket! Unbelievably, when they reach into their own pocket, their thought-of, vanished card is found securely nestled inside. This isn't just a trick; it's an intimate, personal miracle that leaves a lasting impression.

More Than a Trick: A Complete System

'Digital Ouroboros' is far more than a single, jaw-dropping effect; it's a comprehensive, versatile system designed for repeated performances. The ebook provides you with the complete blueprint, allowing you to adapt the 'card to impossible location' concept to your own style and preferences. You'll learn how to customize outcomes and even integrate this powerful routine as the unforgettable climax to any multiple selection routine you currently perform. Mark Elsdon reveals all his preferred outcomes and the subtle secrets that make this system infinitely repeatable and devastatingly effective.

Why 'Ouroboros' Belongs in Your Act

This effect is so incredibly strong, it demands to be used as a closer—a true showstopper that leaves audiences speechless. As Gary Jones perfectly puts it, 'The effect seems completely impossible. This also opens up SO many avenues for workers.' The instructions detail everything you need to know, including how to easily prepare your own Bicycle deck (gimmicks included), allowing for performances in any language. Elevate your card magic with 'Digital Ouroboros' and experience the thrill of performing an effect that, truly, nothing can follow.

Original Specs

1. a circular symbol depicting a snake swallowing its tail, as an emblem of wholeness, infinity or self-reference.
2. a very, VERY unusual card trick.
3. an absolute miracle!

"I absolutely LOVE Ouroboros! No one else is releasing material on this level. Conceptually brilliant AND a total worker. My fave thing Mark has put out alongside Limelight." – James Went

I think this might well be a brand new plot in card magic!

You show a deck of cards which is completely unlike ANY your audience has ever seen: every single card in the deck has something written on the face of it - exactly how it should be revealed! E.g. the Ace of Hearts has "Inside the box" written on it, meaning that should a participant pick the Ace of Hearts, it will appear inside the card box.

And all 52 cards have a different message: "Face-up in the deck", "Rise out of the deck", "Folded up in a box", "In a wallet (and an envelope!)", "Under your watch", "At a named number", etc, etc.

The deck is shuffled and the participant selects a card and reads the message, so that he knows how it will be revealed. The performer turns his head away so that he sees neither. The card is very cleanly shuffled back into the deck which is placed on the table. The performer never touches it again (oh, and nothing is palmed out of the deck at any time!)

The performer now asks how the card should be revealed and the participant responds: in the performer's pocket. The performer is dubious and shows his pocket empty. He then asks what card the participant chose and the participant says the "Three of Diamonds". The participant counts through the deck to find that there are only 51 cards and that the Three of Diamonds is missing.

The performer reaches inside his pocket again... and it is still empty. He asks the participant to tell him the EXACT words that were on the card. The participant replies that it said "In his pocket." The performer is confused but then has a sudden moment of realisation.

He explains that since HE owns the deck, it means that the message is referring to the participant's pocket! Unbelievably, when the participant reaches into his own pocket he finds his own selected card!!

The good news is that Ouroboros is not just the killer trick described above, but a complete system, which means that the effect can be repeated with a different card and a different outcome.

All of my preferred outcomes are 'card to impossible location' effects for reasons I explain in the instructions, but once you know the system you can adapt it to your own needs. It can also be very easily incorporated as the climax of any multiple selection routine that you might already perform.

Ouroboros is so strong that it has to be used as a closer. In fact it might be the ONLY card trick you include in that particular set. Certainly nothing can follow it.

And one of my beta testers has been astonishing with it at weddings, with the bride finding her selection inside the groom's pocket whilst you are stood on the opposite side of the table!

Comes will full instructions and all the required secret stuff. Supply your own Bicycle deck. I decided to let you write your own deck (which is fully explained in the instructions) so that Ourboros can be performed in any language.

“Fantastic! Love the plot, it’s totally unique. And the effect seems completely impossible. This also opens up SO many avenues for workers. Jazz card magic just took a giant leap forward. Highest recommendation.” – Gary Jones