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If you want to know how to memorize scripture quickly and make it stick for the long-term, please understand the following.
There’s no single way to do it.
That said, there also isn’t an infinite of approaches. You can use either:
- A Memory Palace Network
- Mnemonic images
- Rote Repetition
- Flashcards
- Spaced-repetition software
- Cloze tests
- A combination of all the above
On this page, I’ll walk you through each of these options as a PhD who memorized a lot of scripture as part of my studies. I even included some scripture I memorized in my popular TEDx Talk.
As I walk you through each strategy for memorizing scripture, consider focusing especially on the Memory Palace technique.
You’ll get my best tips for all of the other methods listed above, but using Memory Palaces has helped the largest amount of people in the fourteen years I’ve been teaching memory techniques for scripture.
How to Memorize Scripture: 7 Proven Approaches
Before you start memorizing scripture, please consider following my P.E.A.C.H. formula (practice encoding at calm hours).
Memorizing the Bible is possible. But you have to set aside the time to do it. And it’s very important not to let yourself get interrupted.
For best results, explore each of the methods on this page in a well-thought out study place and a time when you won’t be disturbed.
One: The Memory Palace Network for Memorizing Scripture and Verse Numbers
Many people are aware of the Memory Palace technique and related memory techniques like the method of loci and the journey method.
It works like this:
Choose a familiar location, like your home or a neighborhood. Then, assign a path though that location, strategically following a journey where you will place mnemonic images that help you remember verses and their numbers.
For that reason, it helps to have a numbered Memory Palace, like this:
For best results, I suggest you sketch your Memory Palaces and keep these in a Memory Journal.
Then, as you’re learning to use the technique, you have a self-created visual reference to work with as you place mnemonic associations in the Memory Palace.
For some people, it will be easy to memorize multiple words at the same time. For others, it will be necessary to encode the verses with an image for every word.
When it comes to memorizing the verse numbers specifically, you’ll want a number memory technique like the Major System or the PAO System. I’ll give a detailed example further down showing you how all this works.
Two: Mnemonic Images without a Memory Palace
Some people do not want to use Memory Palaces. They wonder if they can simply create associations to scripture and have them float “in the void of their mind.”
On of my students just did that. In fact, Mike McKinley shared how he used just a part of my teaching to memorize 66 Psalms on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. But as we discovered in our conversation, he still used a certain level of spatial memory. You can contract his experience with those of Matt Barclay, who joined me to discuss how he memorized and delivered an entire Psalm to his congregation.
The reason most of us prefer to use a Memory Palace is that it helps reduce the cognitive load. Using a familiar location to place images is like having a canvas to paint on. It helps you look back at a reference point and reconstruct the target verses you want to recall.
Three: Rote Repetition
Of course, it’s worth noting that you’re perfectly welcome to simply repeat the verses until they stick. This approach is traditionally called rote learning.
It doesn’t work very well for many of us. In fact, it can be downright destructive because it’s often frustratingly boring.
That said, it’s worth experimenting with in order to see how it compares to using other mnemonic techniques. Often people are pleasantly surprised and come to realize the benefits of the active recall mnemonics provide compared to rote.
Four: Flashcards
I just mentioned “active recall.” One of its most important principles is that you need to personalize the associations you make when memorizing scripture.
Obviously, this is not possible with rote learning. That approach involves literally repeating the same thing over and over again.
But let’s say you want to memorize the books of the Bible by name. This is a great way to use flashcards.
For example, I drew this to help me remember the name Zephaniah:
I know. I’m not a great artist.
But the zipper helps me remember that the word starts with ‘Z.’ And Shaniah Twain helps me remember the sound of Zephaniah.
The trick here is that the exact name of the Bible is nowhere on the card. I have to use the way I’ve personalized the mnemonics as a clue that triggers the target information. This is what active recall is all about.
Notice something else: The card is itself a kind of Memory Palace. Even without looking at any individual card, you can simply reflect and ask, “What was happening on that card?”
By thinking of your drawing on the card, you’ll improve your rate or recall substantially.
Five: Spaced-Repetition Software
People often ask me about apps for memorizing the Bible.
Personally, I don’t recommend them.
That said, Anki is an app that follows the scientific principles needed for proper spaced repetition.
What’s spaced repetition?
It’s tactically (not randomly) revisiting the verses you’ve worked on committing to memory over time. If you prefer not using software programs, you can combine spaced repetition with flashcards by using the Leitner System.
Six: Cloze Tests
Some softwares for Bible memorization help you by restricting certain parts of the Bible verses you’re committing to memory. Like this:
I ____ the ____ I have for you,” ________ the Lord, “plans to ______ you and not to ____ you, plans to ____ you ____ and a ______. – ________ 29:11
This kind of memory strategy is called a Cloze Test.
Again, you don’t need a software to do it. You can write out scripture and leave out some of the key words and phrases. Then, when reading back the scripture, mentally fill in the blanks or us a pen and paper.
This approach isn’t for everyone, but it’s well worth experimenting with as you commit scripture to memory.
Seven: Combine Strategies
You’ve learned that active recall works best when personalization is involved. Another aspect of active recall is getting in lots of variety. This principle ties together with interleaving, which shows that we learn faster when we combine multiple approaches.
For this reason, I recommend you that you don’t get stuck in a rut with just one of the strategies I’ve discussed above. Try them all and rotate through them on a regular basis.
It might seem a bit much at first, but as you continue to weave the activities together, you’ll likely find yourself remember scripture with greater ease.
A Detailed Example of Memorizing Scripture & Verse Numbers
Now let me give you an example of how I memorize bible verses. Let’s focus on one of my favorites:
Proverbs 18:13 (NIV): “To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.”
First, I suggest that you sort out the keywords. That’s because your mind will typically fill in a lot of smaller words. The keywords I chose when memorizing our example verse were:
- Answer
- Before
- Listening
- Folly
- Shame
Next, I asked myself…
Who do I know who relates most closely to either the form of the verse or its meaning?
My friend’s sister Andi comes to mind. She served as an mental association.
Then, using a Memory Palace based on Andi’s brother’s home, I imagined her typing out an email while a bee floated around. Something like what you see in this illustration:
To help with memorizing the full verse, I didn’t have Andi memorize just any kind of email?
Rather, I imagined her writing an email in response to an episode of Faulty Towers she’s just seen on television. She does this before she even heard the end of the sentence that offended her, and as a result, Andi feels ashamed.
Why Faulty Towers?
Because it has a sound similar to “folly” in it. Note that I thought of and chose Andi as my “Bridging Figure” for this verse because I was focusing on the first word “answer.”
The “an” in Andi and the “an” in answer “magnetically” attract each other. Weave these associations together in a Memory Palace and one will “trigger” the other.
By looking for natural parallels that are already in your memory and imagination, you can often come across just the right set of images. This happens much more quickly than if you try to create abstract associations.
Abstractions in your associations must be avoided as much as possible.
They’re difficult to recall, create weak associations and cause more frustration than they’re worth.
How To Memorize All Those “Little Connecting” Words
Now, you might be thinking that you’re still a beginner. What about “to,” “before,” and “is”?
Before you spend time memorizing them, stop and think it through.
Do you really need to memorize them? Or can you allow your mind to fill in the blanks?
In my experience, most people do fine with letting their mind fill in the blanks, provided they follow the rest of the steps I’m sharing now. As you’ve learned, Cloze tests actually involve getting yourself to fill in missing words from scripture that you want to memorize, so it’s actually a good thing not to have an image for each and every word.
But if you need to come up with associations for all these little words, I suggest you consider creating a “stockpile.”
If you use a tutu for “to,” always use that same association.
If you use a bee driving a forklift for “before,” always use that every time you need this word.
Don’t worry. It’s unlikely that your mind will mind the repetition. The Memory Palace will provide more than enough differentiation.
The important point is that you’re drawing upon information, ideas, people and objects already in your memory.
That’s where the real memory magic happens. And sadly, this is a point that is too often missed by many memory experts who otherwise mean well.
How To Remember Verse Numbers
I mentioned above that you can use either the Major System or a PAO System to memorize verse numbers.
Let me give you an example of this technique. Once you’re set up with these number systems, you’ll find it simple to create little associations to precede the associations you use for the verses themselves. If you feel like you need more help after going through this example, feel free to go through my tutorial on the 3 Most Powerful Memory Techniques For Memorizing Numbers.
For now, have a look at this:
For Proverbs 18:13, for example, I see a large TV set that I actually owned vacuuming J Edgar Hoover using a Hoover vacuum.
Weird and memorizable, right? It is!
But why these images?
Because 18 for me is always represented by a few things, one of which is a TV set.
Not just any TV set, but a particular TV set that has meaning for me.
And when you know the Major Method, you’ll know that there’s a very good reason that it’s a TV and not some other object.
Likewise with J Edgar Hoover with a Hoover vacuum.
It represents 13 because I’m following this simple chart based on the Major:
Sometimes for 13, I see Hoover vacuuming on the Hoover Dam. There’s actually a way to make that dam a Virtual Memory Palace that I’ll talk about in the future. For now, here are 5 Memory Palace Examples you can learn about to enhance your practice.
In any case, having multiple images to draw upon is the Magnetic Memory Method Principle of Compounding. It’s part of the joyful science of creating and using a “Magnetic 00-99 P.A.O.” Learn more in the MMM course on memorizing math, equations and all things related to numbers.
I know that this process might sound complex.
It really isn’t once you get into it. After all, as Jeannie Koh explains in her Magnetic Memory Method Testimonial, using these techniques helped her reach her goals immensely:
And it’s a skill worth having for more than just memorizing verse numbers. It makes committing all numbers fast, easy, effective and fun.
What matters most is that you associate everything with information that already exists in your mind and that is meaningful to you.
Following Up: What To Do After Your Memorize Scripture Verses
Now comes the fun part.
What you want to do is mentally walk through your Memory Palaces one at a time.
Do this as many times as it takes to recall the verses accurately. Be sure to recall them both verbally and in written form. There are a few more tips on this practice below.
How many times exactly is a question no one can answer. At least 5 times the first day and then 1 time per day for a few weeks is a good rule of thumb derived from Dominic O’Brien.
As you develop your skills, you’ll find that different verses enter your memory at different rates and each presents its own form of brain exercise.
The varying levels of challenge is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes, keeps things interesting, and in fact, you don’t want it to be easy. If using memory techniques suddenly became easy, they’d be boring and you would stop using them.
It’s very important to set a time aside for practicing recall to ensure that you do it.
I suggest using a Memory Journal to gather all your Memory Palaces and record your recall.
There’s no perfect journal, but one I recommend is called The Freedom Journal. It has just enough space for an effective Memory Palace drawing and lets you create 10-day “sprints” over the course of 100 days.
How To Recall One A Verse-By-Verse Basis
As you go, “trigger” off the associations you made and let them bring back the information.
For example, I would start with the specific Memory Palace and the specific station.
How does one remember that?
If you’ve correctly planned and organized your memorization activities, then the answer will be known to you without any stress or strain.
Remember:
You create the Memory Palace Network to serve the outcome you want. This process alone will help you remember what is memorized where.
If you’re properly numbered each Magnetic Station as taught in the free course, then you’ll have even more “autopilot familiarity” with your Memory Palaces.
How the Memory Palace Tells You The Right Word Order
And if you are memorizing verse numbers and memorizing the scriptures in verse order, order itself acts as a clue. It will tell you where in your Memory Palace the information is located.
Next, I would recall Andi and simply ask myself: “What was she associated with?”
Asking questions during recall is important because you’re encouraging your memory to do a bit of work.
Sometimes the entire line will blast back at you, almost like magic. Especially if you complete these powerful visualization exercises.
Other times, you’ll have to piece it together, word for word.
In all cases, if you have a pen or pencil in hand, recall the verse first, then write it down. Say the line out loud as well.
At more advanced levels, you can certainly remove the writing part, but I don’t recommend it. Even when I’m memorizing names of people I’ve met, I almost always write them out in my Memory Journal.
This simple, 1-2 minute practice ensure that I receive the full benefits for my memory and successful recall.
The Big 5 of Learning For Long Term Memory
In full, these are:
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening…
- …from and into Memory
Visualized, the levels of processing effect for memory looks like this:
I’ve just mentioned writing out what you’ve memorized and speaking it out loud.
Writing automatically leads to reading, and you’ve already ready read the verses before, during and after memorizing them.
However, it’s good to also read interpretations by multiple thinkers where possible.
Plus, there are often more comprehensive commentaries available that you can read on various scriptures that will give your mind more context to help create deeper connections in both your imagination and the physical structures of your brain.
A Solo Way To Hear Memorized Verses Out Loud
It’s also important to also hear the verses spoken by others, so try to find recordings that you can listen to and recite along with them.
You can also record yourself and listen back to your own voice.
I also suggest making memorization a family or at least a community occasion.
Reciting with others and hearing others share what certain passages mean for them is very useful for creating long term memory impact.
The Biggest Levers You Need For Memorizing Scripture
In brief, you’ve got to commit to creating the time for memorizing scripture.
Logical, isn’t it? If you really want to get something done, you’ll make the time.
How much time do you need?
No one can honestly say just how long it will take for you to reach your goals. But you can start by gathering your memory verses and then assessing how much time you’ll need for each. After that, schedule the time.
Once you’ve started, chances are the question of how long it will take to commit various passages to memory will no longer be very interesting to you.
You’ll be enjoying the process itself too much and become completely satisfied that each new verse gets you closer to the goal. The journey will become so much more important than the destination.
And when those destinations are reached, you’ll be excited and want to create new ones. The benefits for the sharpness of your mind will be very clear to you.
Common Questions And Answers About Memorizing Scripture Quickly
Does The Length Matter?
Yes and no.
I recommend starting with short verses in the beginning. The sooner you develop the skills needed to quickly and accurately memorize short verses, the sooner you’ll be able to tackle longer verses.
The trick is in seeing that longer verses are usually just shorter verses fit together. In such cases, it can be very helpful to spend more time ensuring that you understand the gist of a long verse before committing it to memory.
Should you use flash cards and sticky notes?
No, I don’t recommend this because it doesn’t create the needed skills of memorization that a Memory Palace and association develops.
These forms don’t create brain exercise either. The only exception to the rule is if you are memorizing individual words or terms and don’t have the answer on the back of the card.
Instead, feature the Magnetic Imagery you created on the opposite side of the flash card or sticky note. In this way, you’ll ask your brain to do a bit of memory work and jog itself into action. The benefits of doing this will be incredibly rewarding.
And as soon as you can, leave the index cards and sticky notes behind.
Why You Shouldn’t Memorize Scripture From Online Sources
Many people want to memorize from online sources such as the Scripture Typer app and Bible Memory Kids.
To be honest, these Bible apps look great on the surface. They’re clean, well-organized and perhaps even fun to use.
But they’re also creating Digital Amnesia.
If you must source your scripture from a screen, at least write it out in your handwriting and memorize from that. This practice will deepen the importance of the verse to your mind and is a win-win from the get-go.
What Scripture Do You Want To Memorize?
At the risk of being repetitive, knowing why you want to memorize scripture does matter.
For myself, I like to memorize the odd line from the Bible. But overall I prefer scripture from the non-dual tradition, Advaita Vedanta.
In this memory demonstration, you’ll see me recite 32 verses from a text called the Ribhu Gita:
Although I didn’t memorize a verse every single day, I rarely spent more than 5 minutes on any single verse. It just isn’t necessary when you have these skills.
Also, if you’re concerned about age or various conditions with your brain, keep hope. As mentioned above, my student Matt Barclay completed the course and gave a 12-minute recitation from the Psalms in front of his congregation after spending hardly any time memorizing it. You can see the demonstration and our discussion about how he memorized the Psalm here:
Ultimately, what really matters is that you learn the skills and ground the project on a solid reason why you want to commit the scripture to memory.
And remember:
Long-term memorization is a marathon, not a sprint. You just need to have a solid reason why you’re memorizing scripture.
Plan, show up consistently, and enjoy the multiple benefits as they increase, one verse at a time.
Thanks so much for reading and if you’d like more help with the memory techniques discussed, please register for my free memory improvement course:
I think you’ll find it just as helpful as my many students who have experienced much joy and fulfilment as a result of bringing themselves closer to God through verse memorization.
45 Responses
I am thinking about the quietest place I can practice P.E.A.C.H. for reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Great, Maricela!
I’ve followed you and Jonathan Levi since you were both in Tel Aviv. Which verse starts with “Hear O Isreal…”? Perhaps it would be that one I’d commit and also Jeremiah 29:11.
Transhumanist dreams and aspirations have to start somewhere.
Where else to begin?
From there perhaps to a nootropic journey and trip to the Silicon Valley, Paris, Shen Jun, London, Berkely, New York, Toronto, Colorado, or other places to find out what innovations are sprouting about.
Hoping to achieve a stronger memory, narrative, and wider spread of a lexicon so I can start colaborating across disciplines, cultures, and languages (written and oral).
Homeless to CEO — a man can dream can’t he?
Cheers,
D
Ah, Tel Aviv. I can’t wait to visit again.
We can indeed dream.
But it’s action that matters. Dive in! 🙂
If, for example, you decide you want to remember certain verses in Proverbs as they become relevant to you, how do you place them in a Memory Palace in the right chapter and verse order?
You can’t anticipate the space needed between, let’s say, Proverbs 18:13 and Proverbs 25:11.
Thoughts, Anthony?
Thanks for this question, Daniel.
I suggest having each Proverb in its own Memory Palace. That way you remove the need for anticipation.
Some people will think that this means too many Memory Palaces. It really isn’t if you’re on the journey.
My suggestion:
Start with one Memory Palace for one Proverb. Memorize it to get a feel for it. Then move on to the next.
It’s been awhile since I worked on the Psalms, but I’ve recently finished a large portion of the Ribhu Gita. Looked at one way, it’s one Memory Palace. But it’s technically three.
Looked at another way, each line is in its own Memory Palace. I’ve started treating my current projects with the Upadesa Saram in this way, meaning that I think of it both as one large Memory Palace a series of clustered mini-Memory Palaces. (I actually always experienced it this way, but only started thinking of Macro-Memory Palaces as mini-MPs in their own right).
These distinctions might be more confusing to speak of than necessary at the beginning, but you’ll get a feeling for it as you go along. The free course I offer helps you think in terms of segmentation from the get-go, and more advanced things can be picked up along the way.
In sum:
It’s good to anticipate the space you’ll need from the get-go. But one can’t let the limits of anticipation freeze forward motion. Let action be the axe that cuts through the ice.
Let me know if you have any further questions and enjoy the journey. It is profoundly rewarding on multiple levels.
Hi I find learning Very hard I have had a stuff life and my life has suffered greatly. I have so much trouble learning what i did yesterday not alone a palace, but finding a word to assocate that that to. I really want to improve my memory but I need help.
Thanks, Adrian.
I’m confident you can bounce back and I’ve personally found that memorizing certain kinds of scripture greatly reduces suffering.
In terms of the help you need, I suggest you diligently read a memory improvement book or take a course from beginning to end.
Take notes as you go through it. I’ve created these tips on completing a course that I believe will help you a great deal:
https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/memory-course-tips/
Follow-them diligently, and I’m sure you will experience great progress soon.
What scripture do you want to memorize first once you’re all set-up with a few well-formed Memory Palaces?
You can do it!! I’m 84, just, and over half my life was spent using my memory to forget stuff. Thanks to what I can afford from Anthony, this year I have, in long term memory, 36 verses. My tip would be use what you can from Anthony and pay attention to your own individual style. I have learned that I have a pretty good visual memory for some spacial things. My memory palace is more like an infinate story hotel of 4 rooms. It works for me. I also learned 6 stations per room is better for me than 12. try the Memory Palace approach then tweek it to fit you. You can do it!!
Thanks so much for stopping by to share some encouragement.
You’re so right about developing your own style. That’s a huge key to how mnemonics work.
In the memory science, this is called active recall, which involves personalization and variety.
The Memory Palace is pretty much always a base level of personalization. The next part is making all your images as personal as possible.
Just a quick question please reply. I don’t know if I am doing this right.
I am learning for fun Psalms 1 verse 1.
For this I have put the POPE in my back room the first word is HAPPY so I see the pope looking at my IRON BOARD second main word I see the POPE looking at some draws I have with Dust spilling out God made Adam out of dust so the word MAN ..is the I remember anyway So, so far we have HAPPY IS THE MAN is this correct so I can proceed ..Maybe do a small video on how to do it with an example. Regards, Adrian
Thanks for your post, Adrian.
Let’s start with a major fundamental:
Doing it “right” has only one consideration: Achieve your goal.
If this approach helps you recall the words, then it is right. You can always improve your practice, but this is the main metric.
I’m not sure if your images are creating the intended effect. Are they?
I can’t record a video any time soon on this topic, but let’s look quickly at some of the text:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
The first step is to have a Memory Palace suited to the task.
Then, we want to look at the first word.
I’m not sure why you chose the Pope, but that doesn’t sound topical.
If I were to use the Pope, I would have him blessing Johnny Cash as he is “walking the line.” Johnny Cash was often called “the man in black,” so that helps recall “is the man” and “walketh” in one fell swoop.
From there, I would follow Johnny Cash and have him hand a knot to a judge, who would represent “counsel.” I’d probably make it Judge Judy, because, let’s face it… she’s kind of ungodly, in her way.
I hope this helps you get started and I’ll see what I can do about a video in the future. In the meantime, there are more examples in the video on our How to Memorize A Textbook page. Look for the verbatim memorization section.
Thanks for that I follow ‘New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures’ which reads : 1 Happy is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked, And does not stand on the path of sinners, And does not sit in the seat of scoffers..
Regards
That’s just as good a version as any other. The principles are the same:
When you have your tools prepared, you will succeed.
The trick is to simply sit down and work with the free course and other resources on this site and don’t give up until you’ve turned this into a second nature skill.
Anyone can do it.
Hi what free courses and what memory improvement book should I read? any reconmendations
Regards Adrian
I would start with the free course offered on this site. I have a book on Amazon called How to Learn and Memorize the Psalms of the Bible.
So after I learned my own mobile number on a station do I learn another number on the same station?
Not if you’re memorizing scripture, Adrian. For success, we need to focus. I would save a Memory Palace or two just for important numbers and have your Memory Palace Network for scripture exclusive to that task. Spend at least 90 days just memorizing scripture and you’ll be amazed by what can happen for you.
Please look up my “Ribhu Gita” demonstration video on YouTube for a demonstration and discussion of what I mean.
Thanks. The scipture is in a different station, I was asking if I want to learn phone numbers do I keep the same station but but things attached to it?
As I hoped to communicate, I think you’re best off having Memory Palaces just for scripture. Then, have different Memory Palaces for different goals, such as phone numbers.
Since this is a page dedicated to scripture memorization, please post phone related questions on our tutorial called The 3 Most Powerful Memory Techniques For Memorizing Numbers.
What many people find is that endless questions will arise. For the purposes of accelerating your learning, I suggest you focus on just one discipline and gain mastery before the temptations of questions leads you nowhere.
If you were to follow just this page and learn to memorize scripture with the verse numbers, you will know how to memorize phone numbers by virtue of this practice. Focus is the key for all of us to start benefiting from the lasting power of the mental organization these skills can bring.
It’s up to you, but I strongly advise you stick with one discipline at a time until sufficient mastery is achieved. This devotion will teach you much about how to master the next memory skill.
This seems impossible as lets say I want to learn 200 words of a scripture that means I would need 200 stations and lots and lots and lots of Palaces.
A lot of things seem impossible. Especially when you keep focused on the numbers game. I humbly submit that if you practice and apply yourself, you will always have more than enough space.
If you do your research, you will find many people use this exact technique. Please avoid talking yourself out of it by focusing on the wrong things.
I just think its impossible if you want to learn tons of information your going to need TONS of mind palaces and that itself takes a lot of imagination. I have had a quiet life so don’t know many peoples houses to make a palace.
Sorry you’re placing these limitations on yourself.
Perhaps memorize Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
I know for a fact you can do this, and if you don’t believe me, just remember that verse and know that the Lord made it possible all who would use their thoughts positively and in a spirit of abundance.
Never forget that Moses felt limited…
Paul had a thorn in his flesh…
Adrian thinks it’s impossible…
2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God.”
That’s all this technique is, or as we put it in our community, take it one S.I.P. at a time:
Study these techniques
Implement what you learn from continuous study
Practice with information that improves your life (scripture)
With all that said, we don’t need more posts about limiting beliefs.
Create the Memory Palaces you can and use the tools you have. Using what you have will be more than enough.
But if you keep overthinking it, you will develop no iron.
Remember Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
You have many friends in memory who can help you, but not until you change your limiting beliefs and stop seeking reasons it won’t work.
And even it you’re right, what stops you from memorizing just a few things in the home you have? Every verse will bring you one step closer to God.
Proverbs 23:12, “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.”
A little about me, I was put in a home about 3 months old, my dad remarried and got me out the home about 12 years old that memory has been wiped out. My step mother was not nice , I found my real mother when I was 45 years old. I Lost my dad, step mother, real mother and sister, to death. I noticed I had lots of problems, like learning, adding up, spelling etc, so in a way I am thick as they say. I try hard in life to move on and its made the man i am today. Anyway I could write a book on my life as its been very tough even now. Thanks for all your hard work I don’t mean to be negative but its all I had all my life, I now try to surround my life with positive people.
I wish I had money to learn from you but the job I have restricts anything I want to do in life that itself being another problem. My life is stacks with problems I can never move on in life. I am now 56 and life throws more problems that’s the way it is, I deal with it. I am dealing with my negativity slowly as that take time.
I just want to ask If I want to learn first name say John how do I do it?
Second I fell that lets say I want t learn the bible more I would need hundreds if not thousands of mind palaces that being the problem I have trouble learning as it is. How am I meant to learn hundreds of palaces? I don’t go anywhere, Work I am a window cleaner, other life I go to my hall to learn about the bible, I sit at home the rest of the time, with my wife.
I have always felt I am a loser but I try hard to overcome I am better.
Regards
Adrian
Thanks for sharing this so openly, Adrian. Getting things out of the system can be a solid path to healing. At least that’s what I’ve found.
If it’s helpful for you to know, I had a hard childhood myself in many ways. My dad also never knew his parents at all and never got past grade three in school.
To memorize a name like John, you have a few options.
You can build an Alphabet List which is taught on the pegword method page.
Or you can build a pool of actors or celebrities named John, like John Lennon.
About needing hundreds of Memory Palaces, as I’ve previously posted, you are better off moving past this limiting focus. Why are you worried about 100s of Memory Palaces when you haven’t yet created one?
If you are a window cleaner, how many windows do you clean in a week?
How many rooms do those windows look into?
I’ll bet that you already have dozens, if not thousands of potential Memory Palaces right in front of you.
But if you’re focused on the numbers game we’ve already talked about, it can be hard to see just how many Memory Palaces all of us have.
You’re not a loser, and far from it.
But the instructions are very direct and clear if you choose to follow them.
You sit at home with your wife: Use that room you sit in first as a Memory Palace and just get started. Memorize the verses listed on this page and in my responses to you.
Then, next time you are out cleaning windows, count them. Let us know how many you cleaned and how many rooms you looked into while cleaning them.
Then, follow the MMM teaching you have access to through the free course.
Make the Memory Palaces exactly as described.
Pick the verses that mean the most to you and start memorizing them.
Forget all the Memory Palaces you might need and just focus on what you have right now.
You say that your job restricts you, but if I were a window cleaner, the last problem I would have is a lack of Memory Palaces.
Anyhow, you’re a good person and I know you’ll overcome your obstacles.
Never forget:
You’re not alone in having gone through tough times or being trapped in negativity. I was once too. I was even in hospital due to mental illness when things got so bad.
But as hard as things were many times in my life, my old man taught me to keep my head high and always work hard on accomplishing my goals.
You can accomplish anything you want, and completely rewire yourself for maximum positivity.
Memorizing scripture will certainly help. Memorizing it has helped me a lot, so just keep exploring and using the assets that you have to work with right now. Let go of the need to have it all and just focus on what is in front of you. Again, if you’re cleaning windows, you have a lot and that is a perfect metaphor for the clear vision you obviously need to see.
Start cleaning the glass inside yourself. You can succeed! 🙂
Thanks for the feed back, yes I have one mind palace at the moment, and working on another 2. Never thought of window cleaning as a mind palace I will apply that now.
Questions:
How many times a day if any should I go through my mind palaces trying to remember the stations. And how long for example and hour a day…
When you say John, like John Lennon what do I do if I meet another John do I use John Lennon again?
Thanks for all your help, it’s nice to find real help when you need it.
This is great progress, Adrian. Keep creating those MPs and please never limit yourself again. They are everywhere.
As your skills grow, you will:
1) Have many people named John to draw upon
2) Be able to reuse the same John without confusion
About the repetition question, here is a resource on how often you should repeat information in your Memory Palaces.
I have not learned my mind palaces or peg system yet, and was court at work and had to remember a new customers name. Sabrina as I was court on the spot I told myself to remember her name, So I saw Sabrina attacking Sabrina the teenage witch with vampire “David Boreanaz” at the address I was at. I know its not what you would do bit it works as I do not forget her name. It is a start.
I have another question Can you learn symbols in a Mind Palace as I like to try to learn ‘Pitman’s New Era but these are symbols if this is possible could you give men an example ?
Great start indeed, Adrian.
It is possible to memorize symbols and I have committed many to memory, especially Chinese characters. Please stay tuned for more information about that coming out soon.
Great start indeed, Adrian. You certainly have all the skills needed to succeed.
It is possible to memorize symbols and I have committed many to memory, especially Chinese characters. Please stay tuned for more information about that coming out soon. I start my level 4 course in a few months.
Hi, I know there maybe no rule, But how many stations should there be too may and surely you would forget?
I hope you post a video on how to learn symbols in a Palace as i want to learn Shorthand..I hope you would let me know 🙂
Regards
Thanks for this, Adrian.
If your Memory Palaces are created properly, you will not forget how many stations are in them. If you do, then those stations are not “Magnetic Stations” and a review of the teaching is in order.
There is no “should” in the Magnetic Memory Method, but as a rule of thumb, 10 stations is a nice number in the beginning per Memory Palace. It can be as few as one or as many as 50.
The reason I personally stay clear of 50, expect for projects that require it is simple:
The more stations you have, the less likely you can easily and efficiently complete Recall Rehearsal. This is needed for long term memory retention of the content.
About symbols, this skill is sufficiently covered already in the the MMM Masterclass.
Apparently shorthand has a relationship to the Major System, so you may want to look into that. It might help you with memorizing these symbols.
My suggestion, however, is that you focus on developing sufficient mastery in memorizing just one kind of information first. That’s almost certainly a faster path to memorizing the next type of information. People who fail to plan and fail to focus are essentially planning to fail and live a life out of focus.
Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The pattern of the world involves a ton of people who do not thoroughly study and practice as kill, constantly skipping around from interest to interest while mastering none of them.
You started with memorizing scripture and I strongly encourage you to continue with it until a milestone with this skill has been achieved before moving on to shorthand.
Thanks for the help. I study the bible weekly,and know it well, I know more than a vicar, the learning of scripture was for fun to see if the MMM worked and it did, my main aim however is to learn Shorthand so I can write quicker notes as the speaker conveys the talk, but I might drop the shorthand and learn even more of the bible as that is the main Focus of my life.
Regards
Adrian
Wonderful to hear that the teaching on this site has helped!
Hi Anthony, I just wanted to ask I made a few Mind Palaces and I had a settee in my house, can you put a different settee in another house or will this confuse the brain, so in other words can we have the same object in different house?
I have a mind palace for names, and a mind palace for information.
You also said shorthand has a relationship to the Major System, so you may want to look into that. It might help you with memorizing these symbols.
I could not find anything please could you provide a link.
thanks for all your hard work keep it up.
I’ve only heard the Major resembles shorthand symbols. With serious study of these techniques, it’s quite easy to memorize any shapes, but I don’t yet have resources about it on the blog. A new course on memorizing Chinese characters is coming out soon and it covers these matters from a different angle.
About transporting elements around, there is a powerful Japanese saying:
Genchi Genbutsu: “go and see for yourself.”
If it confuses you, try another way, or try another day when you have more skill.
Hi Anthony, first of all, thank you for the great free content. I hope you can help or point me to a resource that will help solve the following problem. In one of you articles you mentioned that memorizing something verbatim is rarely necessary, which I totally agree with. In the last couple of months I worked hard on getting a good grasp on how to build memory palaces, imagery, remember numbers – using the major system etc. and feel i’m ready to start using it ‘in practice’.
The current goal: to remember 5 key points for each chapter in Proverbs.
What I really struggle with is convincing myself that the 5 key points that I extracted from a chapter is the ‘right’ 5 points. I seem to get stuck in an infinite loop redoing and rewiring stations of my memory palace. It almost if the key points I extract and remember today, isn’t good enough by the next day………….
Thanks for your post about this, Martin.
I would suggest going with the 5 points and then adding more if you feel like others are needed. Someone using these techniques should be able to do that without issue if they have the full set of tools.
I’m afraid I don’t know how to stop someone from thinking that there is a “right” set of points, but can humbly submit that it’s possible to change our minds and go with “good enough” for now.
The other suggestion I could make is to do a split-test. Memorize one chapter in its entirety and feel from some experience why I suggest extraction over verbatim.
Doing this once or twice could give you a better “feel” for what the higher order points are going forward. But generally, I would caution against getting into loops about what are the right or best points and just take several passes to add more if you feel like you want more later. This should not ruin the existing effort in any way, and can only enhance it.
Does this way of looking at things help you out?
Hi Anthony, it does, thank you :). The solution is probably a mix between accepting that “it’s good enough for now, and I can always add on later (like you mentioned)” and self discipline (stick to the plan, only do 5 points, don’t try and do 5 in Chapter 1 and 10 points in chapter 2 on the first go). Also, probably need to look into an extraction technique as well, any suggestions on that point?
Thanks, Martin.
Some people have created “greatest hits” for you by compiling their favorite verses.
But as I tell my personal clients who work on scripture memorization, just memorize whatever you feel best brings you one step closer to your creator.
Thank you Anthony, will check it out. Once again, thank you for the great work you have done. It’s helped me tremendously, cheers for now
It’s an honor to serve!
Thanks for the inspiring ideas!
My pleasure!