Diabelli | Perkeo

“Diabelli?”…

... surely some still remember the five volumes published between 1988 and 1991, which not only caught the attention of Punx, but also triggered a veritable hype. Diabelli had emerged almost out of nowhere – apart from a few articles in "M"W – and had incredibly quickly found an enthusiastic readership in just four years, only to disappear just as quickly. A new edition of his effects and routines was published in the MBB series between 2003 and 2005. The volumes sold out just as quickly as the originals.

But who the man behind this Diabelli was, who once called himself a "master of disappearance," is something few have known. I am very happy and grateful that I have now managed to find Harry Meier, Diabelli's real name, for the second time, and I would like to introduce him:

He is a certified social worker (a companion and counselor for children, adolescents, and parents) and an ICF (International Coach Federation) coaching coach. He holds online degrees in Human Resource Management, Associate of Arts in Human Resource Management, Anthropology, and Associate of Applied Science in Anthropology. He has also completed training and continuing education at the Center for Agogik Basel (ZAK): Self-management: Effective conversation strategies; Family mediation as a model for other forms of conflict; Treating work-related stress and burnout; Creative action; Unconventional problem-solving in teams and organizations; Farewells and rituals for conflict resolution; and working with families who are difficult to motivate. As for magic, at just 17 years old, he became the youngest member of the MR in Switzerland and later mastered the then-quite strict admission requirements for the PEA (Psychic Entertainers Association). Some of his writings have been published in translation in the USA, and he has produced a small number of his effects himself. Even today, he is known in relevant circles as a creator and producer of "impossible objects." However, few know about his membership in a secret society, his rise to the highest ranks and his dramatic exit, his work as a medium, and the fact that he was called a "white shaman" during his numerous stays on Native American reservations in America.
 
This list alone is almost breathtaking. One book is barely enough to encompass this man, this life, and do him even a bit of justice. Yet, over 456 pages, you can get to know him quite well, follow his actions and thoughts, and his life, which was marked by shining peaks and pitch-black valleys. This book is not only a biography full of never-before-published images and documents , but also a work on "bizarre magic" unlike any other in German. But don't let this subject matter intimidate or deter you. It offers, especially for practitioners of "narrative magic," but also for mentalism practitioners, an incredible wealth of inspiration, food for thought, and a total of no fewer than 75 effects and routines , including some never-before-published ones. And those taken from his notebooks have all been completely reworked and, in some cases, significantly expanded. Here's an overview of the contents:

1 Harry Meier ( The Parents - Childhood - School Years)
2 On the Way ( Contact with Punx - In the "Ordo Grali Aurei" - How to Develop Your Psychic Powers - What Does It Mean to Be a Psychic - Exercises - Harry and Uri - Uri Geller in Bern - Interview with Uri - Uri Geller's Revenge - I Think, Therefore I'm Crazy - Diabelli, the Magician - When the Rooster Crows... - The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Effect - The Self-Destroying Prophecy Effect - The Bandwagon Effect - The Barnum Effect - The Cinderella Effect - Fiction and Truth - 666 - The Devil's Number - Tarot Against the Devil II)
3 Bizarre Magic ( Diabellis 5 W - Duel of the Magicians - Interview with Jim Magus - Interview with Eugene Burger)
4 Demon Cabinet ( The Voodoo Needle - The Talisman - Crossed Names - Signs from the Nowhere - Rune of Luck - Phoenix Rune - Runes of the Future - Runes - Shadows of the Past - The Temple of the Senses - Seat of the Demons)
5 Arcanum Tarot ( Foreword – History – The meaning of the individual cards – Basic classification – Meaning of the “suits” – Keywords of the Minor Arcana – Practice of card reading – General analysis – “True” card reading – “False” card reading – Question-centered methods – Interpretation – Tarot effects : The devil with the “golden” hair – The magician – Cries for help – “Gandru Mesagu” – Mirror in the darkness of the cloth – Glass tipping – The divining rod – Vibrations – Wheel of fortune – The last card – Now it strikes 13 – The skeleton man – The occultist’s box – The lucky stone – The hermit – Numerology – Sense of justice – Divination – Hard gaze – Seeing fingers – Radiations – Tarot Voodoo – Portent (according to Dr. Jaks) – The flight of Horus – Arcanum Tarot (Punx))
6 Liber Magick (The Witch Hunter - Elixir of Life - The Last Leaf (Perkeo) - Symbolon - The Light on the Other Side - For Strong Nerves - He Calls It Liber Magick (Punx)
7 Liber Eqinox (Telekinesis - Planet Domino - Potion of Horror - Potion of Horror "2" - The Four Elements - Witchcraft - Perkeo's Voodoo Egg (Perkeo) - Rendezvous with a Vampire (v. Helsing) - Hawkeye - Dracula & Co. - The Black Hand - Afterthoughts - Open Letter to Harry Meier (Punx))
8 Experimental Mentales (Mental Thoughts - Mental Entertainment, What Is That Anyway? - Program Design and Presentation - Russian Roulette - Swami Gimmick - Lotto - Paper Clock - Grandfather's Last Picture (Perkeo) - ESP - Mind Control - Hypnosis & Pendulum - The Breath of Nothing (Perkeo) - ES Pendulum - The Game Against Death (Perkeo) - The Borgia Party (Perkeo) - Nomen est Omen - Group Experiment with a Book - Call from the Imagination (Perkeo) - Blockbuster - Dear Friend Dimeibelli! (Punx))
9 Ouija board (Contact with the Otherworld? - The Ethical Dilemma - The Ouija Board - Mere Ideomotor Effect or Inexplicable? - The Ouija Experiment (A Séance) - Ouija and Trick Techniques - The Photo - Ouija & Tarot - Ouija & Reading - Ouija & Pre-Show - Further Ouija Ideas - Concluding Thoughts)
10 Impossibles (Impossible Objects)
11 Manyrocks (Phork - The Stones of Truth – Afterthoughts)
thanksgiving
 
The creation of this book was accompanied by a constant and extensive exchange of ideas with Diabelli, including personal meetings. It is based on this, as well as on Diabelli's various publications and numerous never-published fragments, correspondence, and personal diaries. It is A5 format, 456 pages, including 8 in color, is set in InDesign, and is offset printed. It is hardcover bound (sewn binding, headband) with a ribbon bookmark and dust jacket. 500 copies will be printed and numbered.