Particle System

By Joshua Jay
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This innovative new system from Joshua Jay revolutionizes memorized deck magic. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced stack worker or have never attempted to use a memorized deck before, every magician will benefit from reading The Particle System.

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For most of his magic career, Joshua Jay was a loyal devotee of the Aronson Stack. Then he did something that many magicians would consider insane: he created his own stack. After more than 10 years of meticulous development and refinement, The Particle System is finally available.

Josh has been fooling people around the world with this for years, including in his smash-hit shows Six Impossible Things and Look Closer. The biggest benefit of “The Particle System” is undoubtedly the ability to table the deck and cut to any named card without even looking. However, this powerful and versatile stack is also so much more than just another way to jazz your way through think-a-card-tricks.

As the name implies, this is a complete system. The Particle System contains a variety of clever in-built benefits and is easier to learn than other stacks. Get ready to unlock a world of new card magic potential.

With this beautiful, cloth-linen hardcover book, you’ll not only learn the ins and outs of the system, but also a variety of mind-blowing routines that take complete advantage of everything it has to offer. There’s even a whole chapter devoted to false shuffles and other easy ways to elevate the impact of the "Particle Stack". Everything is taught in expert detail alongside crystal-clear full color photographs.

Just be warned, once you read The Particle System, you’ll never want to use a deck of cards that isn’t in Particle Stack again.

What is the Particle System?

While most memorized decks rely on using the complete arrangement of cards, the Particle Stack can also be broken down into segments—each of which offers unique potential. You can perform many of card magic’s strongest effects (like Be Honest What is it? or a color separation) without disturbing the order of the cards, or locate any named card with near-perfect accuracy in seconds. And, at all times, you’re just a cut away from a blockbuster ending worthy of closing any performance.

“The Particle Stack” is easier to get into from new deck order than most other memorized decks, and is more practical and easier to memorize than nearly any other stack. It is not only perfect for someone just starting their journey into memorized deck magic, but also makes it a much easier pill to swallow for anyone who has already spent time working with another stack.

Memorization Made Easy

You do not have to fear memorizing the Particle Stack because Josh dedicates an entire section to breaking down every element and simplifying the memorization process. Careful consideration was given to creating an arrangement that looks genuinely mixed, but is also tacitly built in a way that makes it twice as fast to memorize as any other stack. Once you know one card, you also know its mate.

The Particle System also includes access to a custom online stack training tool that helps you learn the stack in no time. Anyone who purchases directly from Vanishing Inc. will also receive special emails from Josh that give you an overview of the stack and show you how to dive in before your book even arrives.

Full Routines & Videos Included

To help you get the most out of The Particle System, Josh teaches you a variety of powerful effects. He even gets you started with routines that don't require you to have the stack fully committed to memory. To make the learning process easier, a helpful visual key is also included that tells you at a glance if a routine requires the "Particle Stack" or can be done with any stack, if memorization is needed, if it can be done in the hands or not, and if it maintains the stack throughout the routine.

While many of these routines can technically be performed separately with any memorized deck, the real value comes from the way Josh has used the "Particle Stack" to combine them into three complete acts– each of which has a beginning, middle, and stunning ending. Get ready to discover the secret to blowing away any audience with nothing more than a deck of cards in your pocket.

Each book is accompanied by exclusive professional-quality videos where Josh performs his favorite routines in front of a live audience at the Rhapsody Theater in Chicago. You’ll get to see a full show in action before Josh dives deep into the explanations. He’ll even teach you how to get in and out of the stack, all of the possible blockbuster kickers you can add to routines, and even tricks that make switching in a stacked deck easier.

Since The Particle System is a living concept that will be continually updated, your purchase also includes access to a private Facebook group in which Josh will regularly share all his best new ideas and advice.

The Particle System is a labor of love that Josh has committed more than a decade of his life to. He’s so excited to finally share it with you and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on a copy of this groundbreaking book.

274 Pages | Hardcover | 8.5in x 11in.

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Limited Edition Deluxe Copies Available

Any serious collectors will not want to miss out on the deluxe version of The Particle System. This is our finest deluxe edition ever!

Limited to just 500 copies, this special set comes with signed & numbered bookplate inserted into the main book. You'll also receive a complete, bonus hardcover book called The Particle System Notebook. This is 70 pages of additional routines and ideas that aren’t available anywhere else.

Each deluxe set also includes two decks of special cards: One deck of “Particle Pack Playing Cards” and the one-of-a-kind “Atom Deck”. The “Atom Deck” is a stunning collectable marked deck that is not available anywhere else. It features the Particle System logo adorned on an eye-popping orange background.

Everything comes packed inside a gorgeous, cloth-linen deluxe storage system with magnetic closure to preserve both books and decks together

These deluxe editions will never be printed again. Don't miss your chance to own one.

Add deluxe to cart ($250.00)

Memorized deck magic book
Joshua Jay magic book
Particle System Deluxe set

Contents of Particle System

  • Before We Begin…
  • Foreword
  • Explanation of the Foreword
  • Another Foreword
  • Introduction
  • Part I: The Particle System Explained
    • A Stack that Suits
    • Switching Stacks without Looking Back
    • The Particle System at a Glance
    • A Closer Look
    • A Problem, a Solution, and a Realization
    • Seamlessness
    • No Risk
    • Stack to System
    • Ready for the Fight
    • The Particle Stack at a Glance
    • Elements of the Particle Stack
    • Memorizing Particle Stack
  • Memory Aids
  • Getting into Particle Stack
  • Particle Stack Subtleties
  • Putting in “The Work”
  • Marked Cards
  • One Short Card
  • Breather Cards
  • Super Breather
  • Memorized Deck Maintenance
  • The Particle Pack
  • False Shuffles and Cuts
  • The Chili Shuffle
  • The Group Shuffle
  • Zero Gravity Shuffle
  • True False Cut (Max Lukian)
  • False False Shuffle (Lew Brooks)
  • The Undo Cut (Andi Gladwin)
  • Ose Trilogy
  • The Messy Utility
  • The Fractal False Cut
  • Half Stack False Shuffle
  • Disorderly Thoughts
  • Use Better Techniques
  • Present Your False Shuffles
  • Super-Ultimate-Best-Ever-Deluxe-False-Shuffle 2.0
  • Part II: Close-up Magic
    • Remember to Be Honest
    • Memorized X-Ray
    • Breather Cutter
    • Invisible Touch
    • Back in Time
    • Bigger Back in Time
    • Thoughts on Thought-of Cards
    • Riffing in the Particle System
    • One and Done
    • Technique vs. Premise
  • Part III: The Parlor Show
    • Fooling About
    • Matching the Cards
    • Simulated Double Undercut
    • Memorized Multiple Selection
    • Dribblocation

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Customer reviews for Particle System

Reviewer

Gerhard

Oh wow this is just stunning. The book is a beaut. Started reading it a few days ago and the production values are fantastic and the book reads like a dream. Josh is a brilliant writer. I am sure Andi has made a significant contribution as well. This stack is just devious and learns pretty easily. Can't wait sink my teeth into it. Get this!

 
Reviewer

George

This is an awesome resource and something that provides value in so many different contexts. Not a one-trick pony by any means. The training (the tutorials and continuing online) are great too. Looking forward to growing with this. Well worth the price considering you get the book, the ebook, and the cards. One of the best purchases I have made in recent years.

 
Reviewer

Michael

What can I say? I was never moved to learn a memorized deck, and now I am thanks to Joshua Jay. Not only does The Particle System feel much more approachable to learn than many stacks out there, it also offers a number of unique benefits, including a suite of effects that require zero fumbling or awkward displacement to prepare for. Joshua also favours punchy worker's effects rather than the long-winded, formal card work that memorized deck magic often manifests as. The book is as well written and engaging as you'd come to expect from Joshua Jay, and the rewards are plentiful, including a series of clever false shuffles and cuts that you can use in your arsenal in general plus clever ideas like a low-tech way of making a prepared deck appear to be completely sealed in cellophane at the start of a performance. If you love mem deck work, get this book. If you love card magic in general, get this book.

 
Reviewer
VI Monthly
Member

John

Awesome performance of a memorized deck. John Chapman

 
Reviewer

Dylan

Joshua Jay’s Particle System is a must-have for anyone serious about card magic, especially if you’re interested in exploring the power of a memorized deck.

The entire system revolves around clever applications of a stacked deck, unlocking an impressive range of effects that are not only visual but also deeply fooling. If you’ve been curious about working with a memorized deck or are looking for new ways to use one, this system is a goldmine.

What makes Particle System stand out is how seamlessly the memorized deck integrates into the routines. Jay doesn’t just show you what’s possible; he explains the logic behind the effects, teaching you how to get the most out of the stack while keeping everything smooth and natural. His teaching style is super approachable, so even if you’re new to stack work, you’ll feel encouraged to dive in.

One of the coolest things about this system is its versatility. The techniques and principles are adaptable, whether you want quick, jaw-dropping moments or more complex routines. Jay also offers tips on transitioning into and out of a stack, so it’s practical for real-world performances.

While the system does require practice to get comfortable with the memorization and moves, the payoff is huge. It’s not just about learning tricks – it’s about opening up a whole new way to approach card magic. If you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, Particle System is worth every minute you spend with it.

 
Reviewer

Bryan

I love mem deck magic. I have been a student of the Aronson stack for 3 decades. I'm going to learn and use the Particle System from now on. This project is incredible. If this is your first look at memorized deck work or if you are looking to supercharge a previously learned setup, this checks all the boxes. 10/10

 
Reviewer

Luke

Excellent!!

 
Reviewer

Franklin

Really great mem deck book. I like the effects in the Particle System over the sort that are built in to the Aronson and Tamariz stacks. The stack doesn’t look like it’d withstand a lot of scrutiny with a prolonged face up spread, but the stack is better masked with just a cut of the cards (as shown in one the the book’s pictures). The benefits of the stack/ effects achievable outweigh the downside, IMO.

 
Reviewer

Scott

After waiting several years the book finally arrived. It was worth the wait. It’s a big, heavy and beautiful hard cover book. The contents of the book are very well organized and it’s easy to read and to understand. It’s also accompanied by full color photos making everything clear as day. So far the system/stack is easy to understand and I’ve began the process of memorizing them and I can’t wait to put this knowledge to use. It also comes with the playing cards and full video performances and explanations. And thanks to the special Black Friday deal I also got the ebook free, so I was already learning the stack before the book came. VI is the best! Thanks for tipping your work on the memorized deck Josh.

 
Reviewer

Shane

absolutely amazing!

 
Reviewer

Luca

I don’t normally post reviews but in this case I had to! This is absolutely the best mem system ever. Easy to understand and incredibly powerful. Take 20 min a day of your time and in a week you will memorize it. Joshua has given you his lifetime study and for me this project should be priced ten times more of the asking price. Well done Vanishing Ink for producing this instant-classic. Without a doubt this system will remain in the history of magic!

 
Reviewer

Abe

Wow. What can I say that hasn't already been said? Thoughtful. Practical. Artful. It's something I will absolutely be digging deeper into. For any serious card magic performer/enthusiast I can't recommend this enough. Thank you, Josh. I can tell the amount of time and love you've put into this. Worth every penny. Alright. That's enough time away from the book... I'll get back to it :)

 
Reviewer
VI Monthly
Member

Todd

Usually when someone says the have a "system", I think of the late night infomercials like: "I have a system where you can get rich by placing small classified ads in the newspaper. Buy my system to learn the secrets." I hear this and I immediately get suspicious.

Also, when you make a bold claim like you can memorize this deck in 1/2 the time, that sounds ridiculous. How do you know that for sure? As it turns out, it is just logic. because of the way this deck is structured, you only have to memorize 1/2 the deck and the other half you get if you can just add +2.

As for the system, well, that is a very accurate statement. I think it is selling this short by calling it a mem deck. In fact, the first tricks I looked at require no memorization, they just require use of the stack and some of the other clever commonly used tools that Josh included. So one of the great things about this is that you can get started with some great effects that require no memorization while you start memorizing the stack.

The only negative is that unlike some of the other stacks, you really can't have this one examined face up on a table. But there are lots of solutions to that one issue and Josh goes through a number of them. The upsides of this very well thought through system are tremendous.

Well worth the investment.

 
Reviewer

Steven

amazing

 
Reviewer

Kalv

That was brilliant!👏

 
Reviewer

Xi

The best ever!

 
Reviewer
VI Monthly
Member

Steven

Pretty impressive, Mr. Jay. Love the variety and reworking of several well-know plots (e.g. Cards Across, etc.).

Wish the quality of the audio was more consistent in the early part of this video...seems the intercutting of several performances betrayed inconsistent mic'ing or technical snafus. Hope the main material is more consistent.

 
Reviewer

Will

I cannot recommend this mem deck SYSTEM highly enough. It’s hands down one of the easiest and most intuitive systems I’ve ever come across. Josh has truly outdone himself, injecting his heart and soul into this project. From the moment you start using it, you’ll see how seamlessly the memory portion comes together—especially with the additional videos and the app set to release soon.

The thought and care Josh put into this system are evident in every detail. Beyond its simplicity and elegance, the tricks and routines included are absolutely incredible. Whether you’re new to mem-decks or an experienced pro, this system offers something for everyone. It not only opens the door to learning powerful new material but also enhances and greatly improves routines you may already have in your repertoire.

This isn’t just a tool—it’s a game changer. If you’ve ever been hesitant about using a memorized deck, now is the time to dive in. Josh has made the process effortless, fun, and incredibly rewarding. A must-have for any magician looking to elevate their craft!

 
Reviewer

Daniel

Wow. Just wow. This is spectacular. It truly is a system and not just a mem deck. Will you need to memorize the stack, yes. Is it worth it? 100%. The ability to chain effects together to create routines without fussing around and possibly breaking your stack is brilliant. And these aren’t just mediocre effects. These are killer tricks that you can tell have been road tested. It doesn’t hurt that that this is the type of card magic I like to perform.

The teaching and thought behind this is incredible.

if you want impromptu card tricks there are hundreds of books on those. If you want to come prepared to do some heavy hitting card magic then you should consider this. I know that I will be having a deck set up for this system as a part of my repertoire.

I’m excited to see what additional work will be thought of with this system in the years to come.

 
Reviewer

JUAN

The Paryicle System is amazing. It is incredible the things that you can do with it.

 
Reviewer
VI Monthly
Member

Tim

Bought the Particle System yesterday and started going through the videos and ebook.

I am absolutely blown away by the quality of teaching and the thoroughness of the material.

Plus the way it’s all presented makes it so EASY to digest and understand.

This might be the best product from Josh yet, and I own most of it.

I never thought I’d learn another stack after learning Mnemonica but, wow, now I want to.

Bravo Josh Jay… the magic community is lucky to have you!!

Tim Hannig

 
Reviewer

Mohammad

I ordered the regular Particle System as soon as it was released. After watching the performances, I couldn’t wait for the physical book to arrive, so I started reading the eBook right away. I must say, it’s absolutely fantastic for every close-up magician! If you have any doubts about its value, just consider the name behind it—Joshua Jay—who is always brimming with creative and practical ideas.

Is it challenging? Well, it’s a memorized stack, so naturally, it requires effort. But is it worth it? Definitely, YES.

Thank you, Joshua, and a huge thanks to the Vanishing Inc. team for such a valuable release!

 
Reviewer

Josh

I can't get over how good Josh Jay is in his shows. He just know have to have fun. It's about the magic yes, but it's more about him as well. Stories, magic, presentation, the works, and he delivers. Well done and definitely recommend this to anyone who needs close up material!

 

Community questions about Particle System

Have a question about this product? It's possible others do too. Ask here and other Vanishing Inc. Magic customers will be able to respond with assistance! Alternatively, email us and we can help too.

  • Alejandro asks: Hello, I bought the book at Magic Live. How do we get the 6 week emails for training? Thanks

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: Please email us at Wizards@vanishingincmagic.com and we can look into this for you.
  • Brian asks: Is it available as an ebook?

    • 1. Alexander answers: It is available as an ebook (like all VI books). I bought this book instantly (because I’ve been waiting for it for ages) and then realised that during this introductory Black Friday period, you get the ebook free with the physical copy. Thanks, Josh and Andi, you made a regular customer very happy.
    Post an answer to this question
  • Stu asks: Hello, how many tricks are stack independent?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: About 13 effects.
  • Ed asks: I have already learnt Aronson stack, can this be applied to all the tricks in this book or do I need to learn a new stack? Thanks

    • 1. Proust answers: I got it already. To your question, I am afraid most of the tricks can not be applied to others’ deck. But you won’t regret buying it. The tricks here are so powerful.
    • 2. Proust answers: I was wrong. I think you can customize a lot of these tricks using others’ deck. Needs a lot of thinking and tweaking, thought. Coz Joshua thought really thoroughly about Particle System Deck. I won’t bother do the thinking.
    • 3. Ed answers: I’ve seen the answer in the ad copy. Sorry!
    • 4. Ed answers: Thanks. I guess I’m learning a new stack then! ??
    Post an answer to this question
  • Oscar asks: Are the routines in the Deluxe Version notebook also designed for the stage and is there a listing of those routines in the notebook available somewhere?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: They are mainly for close up.
  • Chris asks: I bought the system and received the videos and the ebook but where is the training tool?

    • 1. Jim answers: Please contact customer service at Wizards@VanishingIncMagic.com
    Post an answer to this question
  • Craig asks: The photos show pages with ‘Stacked follow the leader’ and ‘Beat the dealer’ yet neither are listed in the contents. Are these in the deluxe notebook only?

    • 1. Stephane answers: "Staked follow the leader" is in the Particle Notebook from the deluxe edition!
    Post an answer to this question
  • John asks: Is this stack easier to learn and remember than the tamariz stack

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: Yes
  • Durgy asks: Just watched an interview with Josh where he said the package contains marked cards designed for the system. Can buyers of the system buy additional decks of cards? Where and how much are the replenishments?

    • 1. Jim answers: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/playing-cards/the-particle-pack-mandolin-back/
    Post an answer to this question
  • Diego Ruben Cesar asks: No sé ingles y quisiera saber si, al menos, la versión E-Book/video instrucciones/App de Particle System está en castellano. Gracias por su tiempo.-

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: Desafortunadamente, los vídeos y libros no están en español.
  • Jacob asks: Where is the “add to wishlist” button? (I must be blind or something)

    • 1. Jacob answers: Eres el hombre, ¡gracias! (Aún tuve problemas para encontrarlo, pero finalmente lo conseguí jajaja)
    • 2. Diego Ruben Cesar answers: A la derecha, abajo del metodo de pago y debajo de las estrellas :)
    Post an answer to this question
  • Terry asks: Is there any way to view the show videos before purchasing? I assume they don't contain any explanations. I just want to see if this is right for me.

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: There's around four hours of performances that are a bonus for purchasers. We'll post a few of the routines on our social media, but access to all of content will be saved for people who buy the book.
  • Stephen asks: Does the custom training tool work with both Android and iOS?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: It's a web app, so works in any browser.
  • Mark asks: Is the custom training tool and Josh emails come to those who only purchase the e-book?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: Not at all. Everyone that buys from us gets access to that.
  • Erik asks: would it be possible to buy spare decks without the book?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: We sold out in a ridiculously short time! They're being reprinted now.
  • Steve asks: Is there a way to perform things like mnemonicosis with this stack?

    • 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds: Absolutely!
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