# Memo palaces without any preparation? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Memory Chat\ **Created:** [November 6, 2019, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711 "2019-11-06T09:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/andrewrdavidson/32/33424_2.png) [@andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/andrewrdavidson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/1 "2019-11-06T09:24:05Z")
As a long time lurker in this forum I’m sure my question has already been answered somewhere but I can’t find any discussions… My question is - how do you build or choose a memory palace on the hoof when you are faced with information you want to retain? For example let’s say I’m listening to a podcast and there is some really interesting information being given. Is it best to choose a location that has a connection to the subject and start using it? Is it better to use the link method without using a memory palace? Would you just make some notes and create a palace later? Any thoughts on what you do in practice would be welcome as it’s something that happens to me a lot. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![GibtsDochGarNicht](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/gibtsdochgarnicht/32/6734_2.png) [@GibtsDochGarNicht](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/GibtsDochGarNicht)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/2 "2019-11-06T10:00:45Z")
Personally i use The Vaughn Cube for on the fly MPs. Johnny Briones has a nice idea about keeping a couple of videos of rooms, say a journey round a friend’s house, in the cloud that you can watch and turn into an Insta-MP. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bt_bvS5HPmo/hqdefault.jpg "The Vaughn Cube - a unique memory device") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_bvS5HPmo) ---
**Author:** ![Erol](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/erol/32/2494_2.png) [@Erol](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Erol)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 11:23am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/3 "2019-11-06T11:23:34Z")
> [@andrewrdavidson](#): > > how do you build or choose a memory palace on the hoof when you are faced with information you want to retain? The easiest way I found to create **A Memory Palace On The Fly** is to use **The Body System.** It can be used without notes to memorise any kind of data such as the main points of the podcast, phone number, definitions etc. How it works is that you choose the body of the person you are talking to and use that as the memory palace for attaching the information. You can of course choose any person that you know well also. When you think of a body of a person, starting with the Head & Hair, Face with Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Chin, Neck, Shoulder Left and Shoulder Right, Chest, Stomach, Hip, Torso, Leg left, Leg right, Foot left & Foot right, all could be the locations and the Trigger items for the data you attach. Total of 17 locations here. You can shorten to 10 locations or create more locations by adding more items to it such Left eye, Right eye, etc. Attach the info to the locations using the link-action. So if your first info was let’s say Milk, then you simply Pour Milk over the Head-Hair of the Person. And so on with the rest of the body parts. I have explained how I use it here on this link; > [@My Approach to Pi (to 120 digits)](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/my-approach-to-pi-to-120-digits/39032/6): > > The body system is well known with memorisers. It’s usually used for a small list, such as 10 items shopping list etc. I use the body system as “A Palace On The Fly” for short term memory. So If I was to memorise a few pieces of data of the person, such as a phone number, their job, home town etc, I just use the body of the person who is in front of me, or I just simply use one of my Dominic character’s body for a palace on the fly. As for the scenario walk thru; I use the body of the person… Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/andrewrdavidson/32/33424_2.png) [@andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/andrewrdavidson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/4 "2019-11-06T12:43:48Z")
That’s a great idea, thanks. I’ve never used body parts before 😀 but I will try it ---
**Author:** ![andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/andrewrdavidson/32/33424_2.png) [@andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/andrewrdavidson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/5 "2019-11-06T12:44:34Z")
I will try that - the Vaughan cube is a new technique to me but it looks worth trying. ---
**Author:** ![andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/andrewrdavidson/32/33424_2.png) [@andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/andrewrdavidson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/7 "2019-11-06T22:46:56Z")
Thanks a lot. I’ve had limited success with imaginary locations so far but I’m always keen to keep trying. Do you find that this works for long term recall too (with space repetition)? ---
**Author:** ![cameri](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@cameri](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/cameri)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/9 "2019-11-07T02:04:24Z")
I made it a habit to use palaces on the Fly, and it’s always just the first place that comes to mind in the moment. Sometimes I use like @Erol the body Palace, sometimes it’s the body of someone with me also, and it sometimes extends to the place I am at or the other persons home or place heshe makes me think of. But, more often than not I choose a random place I know. It’s pretty intuitive but I guess what I subconsciously do is ask myself a series of simple questions, like: what does the info make me think of ? where am I ? what place I recently thought of ? is there a past Palace ready to be reused? Where am I going? Oh! sometimes I use the place where I was earlier on that day… … Earlier today a few addresses to remember and the first one being 2 3 4 9 and just the two three four made me think of steps so I took my old gym. Sometimes I use the place where I’m at and when it’s a new place it also helps me be more aware of where I am, I mean in details and it also becomes a more useful Palace for later on, whether it’s because I don’t need the info that’s there anymore and I can just Let It Fade or because there’s enough space left to fill it up and Link it to another Palace if necessary. As silly as that may sound, really just whatever comes up first. Quite simply, it never really matters, the results are always as expected, and I’ve never seen any difference in efficiency, simplicity or speed. Whether it’s as simple as an address or as complicated as live conversation or courses… ---
**Author:** ![Firman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/2acd7d/32.png) [@Firman](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Firman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:09am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/10 "2019-11-07T08:09:11Z")
Body part will increase soon, it will be not only for human Maybe superman body part, spiderman, catwoman, joker etc, include their accesories ---
**Author:** ![andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/andrewrdavidson/32/33424_2.png) [@andrewrdavidson](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/andrewrdavidson)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/11 "2019-11-07T21:52:55Z")
Thanks @user\_7e, I will persevere! ---
**Author:** ![brownmiester](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@brownmiester](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/brownmiester)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/12 "2021-08-13T19:59:57Z")
Well if the Unit room starts on 1-9 and includes the 0 then you will have 10 objects in the first room and the second room will start with 1- when really it will be 11. I guess just dont include the 0 in the first room - just wish it could be uniform. If you don’t do it this way it could be confusing as the 11th object will occur in the 10’s room and will be on the ceiling . ---
**Author:** ![Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/newton999/32/17685_2.png) [@Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Newton999)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/14 "2023-03-18T01:44:38Z")
> [@user\_7e](#): > > > [@andrewrdavidson](#): > > > > how do you build or choose a memory palace on the hoof when you are faced with information you want to retain? For example let’s say I’m listening to a podcast and there is some really interesting information being given. Is it best to choose a location that has a connection to the subject and start using it? Is it better to use the link method without using a memory palace? > > The way I do it is to, > flash create a few imaginary locations, Re-flash them placing images along the trails. > > Sample: > on the edge of the volcano, to the left there is a forest in the darkness of the night, onward from there is a glistering pond with a statue mystically floating on top of it, diving inside it there is a clear gateway to the front of a temple in a seeming desert plane, the slide from the entrance takes you directly to the ruins of the temple, instead of going to the next few sets of slides you go down the left of the temple (the stairs) , and proceed along the bottom of the desert, through the straight path held up by the pillars. > > To generate this in visualisation took me around 4 seconds, looking at my stopwatch. Typing it up took a lot longer comparatively, then I would place images in groups across this location as I review it. > > Another way would be to create a location and place images along it. Creating a single location surely doesn’t take long. Instead of placing more objects in this location you can then create the next. > > There are countless of methods though. can you show an example of how you would do it mr.user\_7e? ---
**Author:** ![Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/newton999/32/17685_2.png) [@Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Newton999)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/16 "2023-03-18T04:27:44Z")
> [@user\_7e](#): > > > [@Newton999](#): > > > > can you show an example of how you would do it > > There is an example in the quote. > > I would additionally add that you are free to adjust your memory palace if you create it in the moment, according to the information you want to store but you don’t necessarily need to do that. > > I definitely also have a few other examples in different places on the forum. Thank you for answering how respectful you are. oh I already read how your imaginary palaces work, (creating locations, coding and placing with your revision). But “suppose” you are in the park listening to a history podcast, at that moment you use the imaginary palaces you create 15 imaginary locations, how would you begin to memorize what you hear?, would you start by writing down the important points of what you hear?, or? maybe you don’t write it down? ooh! and another question (the process in which you create 15 locations equal to 3 loci each location, suppose it takes you 9 seconds, how long would it take you to convert 45 words to images during that process of placing images?; counting the 9 seconds of creating the locations ---
**Author:** ![Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/newton999/32/17685_2.png) [@Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Newton999)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 6:20am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/18 "2023-03-18T06:20:52Z")
90 or 100 or 110 seconds… ok abstracts words… I will take your advice ok ok that answered almost all my questions I had thought of. my last question my good friend user\_7e, let’s say i’m studying a book, do i take the main points off the sheet and write them down? or what would you do? (a detailed information of what you would do at that precise moment would help me user\_7e). Let’s take into account that we already have my 15 locations already created. that would be my last question thank you very much user\_7e for helping me​❤ ---
**Author:** ![Herakles](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Herakles](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Herakles)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/20 "2023-03-18T11:13:54Z")
You must choose a space, the ideal shape is a cube or interior spaces, each area or wall will be divided, I usually divide the wall into 8 parts, one wall covers a paragraph or two paragraphs, choose focal points where you will place your memory objects, a nail for example, you can also use a variety of palaces, for example the human body that has a well defined focal points. remember to observe the objects in a certain journey, start with the living room, the front or any point where you feel comfortable and intuitive, remember to look at the objects in the same way always for example, like the hands of the clock from left to right or right to left, if you want to remember everything you have encoded in your memory you must review sequentially, I have another method to remember texts and words heard, but I would have to write much more, so you can understand me, plus it is a method that requires previous work. ---
**Author:** ![Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/newton999/32/17685_2.png) [@Newton999](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Newton999)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/memo-palaces-without-any-preparation/43711/21 "2023-03-18T19:44:35Z")
> [@user\_7e](#): > > > [@Newton999](#): > > > > let’s say i’m studying a book, do i take the main points off the sheet and write them down? > > You don’t really need to write them down given they are in the book. You can store the objects/main points in your memory palace directly. > > Unlike an audio source, you can take your time with the information, it largely depends on what you want to store. > > So for example if the main point in your message was ‘do I write down main points? Yes/No’, and I wanted to recall this point but not necessarily exactly. > > This can be 1 or 3 objects, it depends more on how you visualize, I could use this as 1/3 objects. > > You will often find that a paragraph has 1 or 2 points main points unless it is particularly dense. So in reality you would have 2 such objects per paragraph if you only wanted the main point. you have addressed all my answers.