Axel Hellstrom

Axel Hellstrom is one the greatest known muscle readers to ever live. He re-defined the art of muscle reading in such a way that muscle readings most famous name, is indeed, "Hellstromism". (other common names are cumberlandism and of course muscle reading)

Axel Hellstrom lived in Germany and fought in World War I where he watched a man perform an act of muscle reading. At the time, Germany did not allow mind reading unless it had a plausible explanation behind its means. The only type of mind reading allowed was muscle reading, and so Axel took advantage of it. He studied it carefully and taught himself everything. He entertained his fellow soldiers and became quite good at this old technique; and so, after the war, he and his wife moved to America where he knew his art form would be accepted by many- especially the magic audiences. He practiced and astonished many. Soon he was performing for professional magic audiences and amazed and bewildered all! After a short while mind readers, and even fellow hellstromists where questioning his ability.

During his live performances, (his manager talked for him because his English vocabulary was not that good) Hellstrom would do many different challenges such as finding the locality of a hidden object. Performing an action one was merely thinking of. Figuring out which object one had selected out of many. The twist he put on this art form astonished all and soon he was known throughout the United States. Magic committees fought to have him in their group. People paid hundreds just to know the secret to his work. He lived a good life full of profit and set the bar high for following Hellstromists. (One of today's best known is TV star Criss Angel)

Sources

* Hellstromism by S.W. Reilly