How to Use the Memory Palace Technique

Introduction

Welcome to part 2 of the memory palace technique series from a beginner to an advanced level. In my previous post, I discussed how to build a memory palace by determining the scope and memory palace dimensions, including intuitive directionality, proper size and spacing, using varied and distinguishable loci, and numbering locations. In today’s lesson, I will be explaining how to use a memory palace step by step. Before I do so, I would like to discuss the importance of practice.

The Importance of Practice

We are often tempted to constantly read books, browse art of memory forums, and watch YouTube videos on mnemonics, but to never actually put into practice the art. If we limit ourselves to only reading tutorials, we lose out on the valuable insights into the nature of memory that may be gained through the actual use of techniques. I believe one of the best ways to learn the art of memory is by observing others and trying it out for yourself. For this reason, many ancient rhetoricians wrote memory treatises that included few examples because they wanted to encourage readers to practice the techniques. In this post, I will follow the wisdom of those before me by including only a few examples as to encourage you to practice for yourself.

How to Use a Memory Palace

In order to demonstrate how the memory palace technique works, we are going to memorize the top 10 largest countries by surface area. I will show you how to memorize the first two, and for homework you can memorize the rest for practice. Keep in mind, as this series on the memory palace technique progresses, we will move to more difficult memorization tasks such as poetry, speeches, and texts verbatim. As you are reading, I encourage you to participate and to follow along with me.

Choose a Memory Palace and Number the Loci

Since there are 10 items on the list, you would need to choose a memory palace that has enough space for at least 10 locations. Once you have chosen a memory palace, select the loci that you plan to use and number them from 1-10 while following the recommend principles for building. Since there are 10 countries, I recommend to divide them equally in order to have 5 loci in one room, and 5 loci in another room. This type of division is not necessary, but it can be helpful if you desire to have the ability to quickly identify the country rankings.

I usually use a spreadsheet to map out my memory palaces, but you can use a notebook or any material of choice. Organize the columns according to the following categories below:

• Column A: Numbers 1-10

• Column B: List of Loci (1-5 = Room #1, and 6-10 = Room #2)

• Column C: List of Countries (Information to Memorize)

• Column D: Summary of Imagery Used

If you are using a spreadsheet, it should look similar to the image below, however, since we are not using the same memory palace, the type of loci and their order may be differ from what is listed. Before we proceed, it is vitally important that you use a place that you are personally familiar with as a memory palace. Do not use mine.

Top 10 Largest Countries by Surface Area

How to Encode Information

So, now that you have chosen and numbered your loci, I will show you how to encode the information. Sometimes this process is called creating imagery, stories or associations. In the context of mnemonics, encoding is the act of converting abstract information such as countries into concrete images that may be visualized with one’s mental eye in order to be placed on locations within one’s memory palace.

Demonstrating Its Use: Creating Imagery for Two Countries

Next, I turn off my phone, desktop notifications, and try to create an environment without distraction in order to mentally prepare myself to memorize. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, imagine myself in my memory palace, and walk to my first locus — the front door. So, what now?

Locus 1: Front Door

RUSSIA: The first thing I do is ask myself, “What does it remind me of?” When I think of Russia, I immediately think of Vodka. Then I create some imagery: As I walk to my front door to turn the knob, my right hand suddenly turns into Vodka and splashes all over the doormat. The pool of Vodka rises up from the floor and gathers itself back together to form a hand. Then it starts crawling up and down the door like Thing from the Addams Family leaving a wet trail on the wooden panels. I continue walking and approach a couch.

Locus 2: Couch

CANADA: So, what is the first thing should I ask myself? What does Canada remind me of? When I think of Canada, the first thing that comes to mind is a maple leaf. So, I will imagine myself sitting on the couch, and out of nowhere I hear the rustling of giant leaves. There are two giant maple leaves growing out of the side of the couch like wings. As they begin to flap, a fierce wind is produced — pictures are yanked from the walls and household objects are hurled across the room. I feel the couch wobbling as it slowly rises in the air like a magic carpet, and I begin to fly around the living room.

Add Sensory Details

After I have created the imagery for the countries at each loci, I strengthen my visualization by focusing on all my senses by adding as much detail as I possibly can. So, I see the color of the Vodka, I feel the fear and my heart racing as my hand drops to the floor. I feel the splashes of Vodka on my pants, and imagine the sensation of having wet clothes stuck to my skin. I hear the shattering of glass as household objects are thrown around in gusts of wind. I feel the sensation in my stomach as the couch rises in the air. I see the wings of maple leaves and the intricacies of their texture. I try to add so much detail that it is similar to watching a film in my mind.

Imagery Summarized

Once I have created the imagery, strengthened the visualization by adding more sensory details, I write a brief summary of the imagery in column D.

Mental Review and Memory Rehearsal

After I have created a brief summary of the imagery, I close my eyes and mentally review each loci. If I were to memorize all 10 of them, I would walk from locus 1 to locus 10 and walk from locus 10 to locus 1 and see the imagery for each country before my mental eye. Now the countries are stored in my long-term memory and I would occasionally review them throughout the year. I will have future posts discussing the art of review in more detail.

The Principles of Visualization: On the Art of Image-Making

Now that you have observed how I would use the memory palace technique for memorizing a list of countries, it is now your turn. Memorize the top 10 largest countries with your own memory palace. But, before doing so, consider the following principles of visualization and incorporate them in your process of encoding.

So, what are some of the characteristics that make an image memorable? There are at least six, namely: 1) use striking and grotesque imagery, 2) use a variety of associations, 3) involve your senses, 4) incorporate movement, 5) have the image interact with the locus, and 6) use simple storytelling.

Use Striking and Grotesque Imagery

Use striking and grotesque imagery when encoding information. The human mind is designed to forget in order to avoid sensory overload. It would be a nightmare to remember every detail of every single moment of your entire life. But, what if you looked out your window and saw a pink elephant riding a unicycle on a cloud, it would literally be unforgettable, right? Mnemonics is precisely that, the art of making unmemorable things unforgettable. A hand made of Vodka and a flying couch is much more memorable than the words “Russia” and “Canada.”

Use a Variety of Associations

Simon Reinhard, German memory athlete memorizing cards at an international memory competition

Simon Reinhard, 2x world memory champion (ML), once said that if we make everything strange, then nothing is a strange. He believes that we should use a variety of associations and not only the bizarre. We can also incorporate logical relationships between the image and locus itself. For example, if you had to memorize the word, “apple” and your couch had red patterns on it, you can make a simple relationship: the apple is red and the couch has red.

Involve your Senses

Involve your senses in order to make information more memorable. We cannot see, touch, smell, hear, or taste Russia; however, we can turn it into a visual representation. I can smell the odor of Vodka, I can touch it and feel its wetness upon my skin, and I can hear it splash upon the front door.

Incorporate Movement

Do not just see images like photos in your memory palace, but animate them and incorporate action and movement. Notice that it is not just a hand made of Vodka, it is a moving hand of Vodka that crawls up and down the door. It is not just a couch with maple leaf wings, it is a flying couch that produces violent wind.

Imagery and Interaction with Loci

Lance Tschirhart, spoken numbers world record holder, once stated that we shouldn’t just see images before loci, but that there should be interaction between the two. For example, it is not just a hand of made of vodka before a door, but it is crawling up the door and it leaves a wet trail upon the wooden panels. This is important during recall because it can aid one’s memory in doubt. Perhaps you have forgotten the image Vodka, but remembered something wet or something moving on the door. As you reflect further upon wetness, your memory can lead you to Vodka, or if you reflect upon movement, you can be lead to a hand.

Simple Storytelling

Daniel Kilov delivering a speech on the art of memory.

Daniel Kilov once said, “in the art of memory, good storytelling is bad storytelling.” One common mistake that beginners tend to make with the memory palace technique is creating elaborate narratives with their imagery. There doesn’t need to be a host of characters and a beautiful plot. Make it simple. Notice that all I used was an animated hand and a flying couch. Everything else was focused on the sensory elements in order to strengthened the visualization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you want to choose a memory palace with the right amount of locations, map out your loci, encode the information, strengthen the visualization by adding sensory details, and mentally review them. Then follow the fundamental principles of visualization, namely: 1) use striking and grotesque imagery, 2) include a variety of associations, 3) involve your senses, 4) incorporate movement, 5) have images interact with locations, and 6) keep your storytelling simple.

Memorizing 10 items may not seem impressive, but with the memory palace technique you can memorize an even longer list such as all the countries in the world and their capitals in alphabetically order. Additionally, you would have the ability to recall it forwards, backwards, and at random. In my next lesson, I will be explaining how to memorize two items in one locus; so not just a country but also its capital.

Homework:

Last week’s assignment was to list out at least 50 memory palaces. If you haven’t already, please finish your list first before working on the assignments below.

• Choose a memory palace and map out 10 loci and memorize the 10 largest countries by surface area.

• Choose two memory palaces from your list and map out 20 loci for each palace. Feel free to tag me on Substack Notes on your progress. You can complete this assignment on a spreadsheet, notebook, or any material of your choice. It should look something like this:

Readers Highlight

• Congrats to

  Nathaniel Marshall
  for completing assignment #1. Keep up the good work! You can check out his Substack Notes to see his progress.

• Julie Gabrielli
  is also working on listing out 50 memory palaces and looking forward to hear her updates!

• Just wanted to thank everyone for the likes, comments, and interacting with my previous post. I read every comment and I really have been enjoying your insights and questions regarding mnemonics.

Support the Craft of Memory

• Like and/or comment

• Restack this post with or without a note

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Thanks for reading

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Mnemonist Highlight

For each post I would like to introduce influential mnemonists in the art of memory community. John Graham is a 2x USA memory champion and memory coach. Here is a clip of him on the TV show called Superhuman. He is using the memory palace technique in the memory performance below.