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afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
Beware. . .
Head over to Lebanon Circle and check out the new release from Dead Arts Inc. https://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk/ AMAZING!! Jorey
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
It's certainly interesting, and the art is top-notch. But for the price, sure would like a ..... different/detailed description.
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SacredChao New user 51 Posts |
This certainly looks and sounds like some nightmare fuel. That idol alone could unsettle some people.
I like it. |
afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
I brainstormed with Cody on this one for a few months; multiple phone calls. The resulting simplicity is what makes it so good.
There are a lot of great ideas packed into the 40 page PDF. I look forward to owning this. It really is a thing of beauty!
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
So... that means Jorey is the one that can flesh this out with a little more info. (Hope hope)
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Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
Greetings mortals.
I'm very glad you are liking the look of the Idol and I'm sorry the description is so vague. This probably won't clear much up, but here goes. This is something I've been needing to create for myself for most of my life. It isn't just another trick (Although it is) it's really a glimpse into my disturbed mind. I've spent years struggling with mortality. I'm not exactly afraid of dying per-say, I just want it to be quick. I'm really more concerned about my loved ones. However what has really plagued my mind for most of my life, are all the different notions of immortality. As if life itself is inherently something worth having more of. I'm not saying it isn't. Just... Maybe we shouldn't be so hasty? Western culture and religion hasn't exactly been silent on the topic either. And neither has Eastern culture and religion. The Worm is an outgrowth of exploring these "alternative" hypothesis regarding the value of life. Not everyone wants to live forever. Immortalists tend to (when cornered) describe the after-life very much in terms of this one. They imagine a "spiritual body", which has some form of "spiritual environment" like heaven with which it can interact and explore. Which when pushed to describe in any meaningful way, always seems to devolve into an imitation of our mortal world. In other words, most visions of an after-life are just prettier versions of "more of the same". More of the good stuff, none of the bad. Spiritualists are the most consistent in their descriptions of the summer-land. Their after-life is nearly identical to this one. Some say, if you see a ghost with clothes, then clothes have ghosts. You must admit, this is at least very consistent. But not all faiths are cut from the same cloth. You invite an audience member to take part in a form of past life-regression. But we have no interest in any random former existence, instead we lead the volunteer into the darkness between incarnations to remember the Worm. Then we play a little game using prayer cards. Each prayer representing a past life. Little by little they forget these lives while eliminating cards. After they narrow down their selection to a single prayer card, we prove their encounter by revealing their chosen sign matches the Worm's. It has been said, a wise man thinks of death often. The Idol itself represents that individual who "Eats their own shadow." This is what buries itself before it's dead. The man who becomes the worm. Death has become my obsession and I needed to externalize it before it consumed me. Beyond the magick, there is a touch of me in this. Just beware, my mind is a very dark place. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to try and answer them. |
ManxBull Regular user Isle of Man 116 Posts |
Mr Stoltz, you are really on a roll! I have both 13 Ghosts and Dominus Vox and love them, but the W0rm seems to be the dark cherry on the cake.
I want it, indeed I do, but won't have the funds till the end of next week, so I'm hoping there'll still be one left by then. But in case it sells out quickly, will there be a second wave? |
Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
Yes there will be a second wave.
Sadly my pockets aren't deep enough to have made more at this time, or I would have. Ideally I would like to make the entire run up front. Maybe next time! |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
Cody, it looks like a lot of thought and care went into creating this! Since you invited questions, I have a couple. Clearly you hit it out of the park with the statuette (which looks creepily awesome!) but I am curious about the cards. Are they completely in Sanskrit, so that the performer translates it or something, or do they have some sort of visual images on them? Is the process similar to the Cuss Cards, with a build-up of dread before the final reveal (though it seems like you take this in a different direction...)? Also, can you give us the approximate size of the idol?
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Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
Good questions!
Hmmm, lets see. The cards are almost entirely in Sanskrit, with the inner circle frame being made from two of "The Four Reliances". Each card however features one large character within this frame, it is these symbols which allow easy identification between the cards. Only 2 of these large symbols however are actually true Sanskrit, one being the "Ah" character while the other translates to "Naga". For the majority of people you can think of them as being similar to ESP cards, there's no need to translate anything. Because their chosen symbol will visibly match that of the Worms. The Ouroboros shares similar profile dimensions with a bicycle playing card. (Profile Dimensions) Height 3.1/2" - Width 2.1/4" - Depth 1.5/8" The picture doesn't really show how black they are either. Ultimately no this isn't a Russian roulette routine like the cussing cards. (Not to over-simplify) Other than them choosing a card and you revealing something about it, there is no other similarity. This abstraction could be made for most of card magic though. The audience picks a card and you reveal it in one dress or another. So I can see the comparison in that regard. I personally like to follow Eugene Burger's advice and keep it pithy rather than linger for too long. The end is the punch, so I don't spend too much time trying to build up dread. That's not the real point. Also, I consider the cussing cards one of the greatest routines of all time, it's pretty much perfect. For me, its a win when my group is too afraid for me to even open their box. The method here is also different than the Cussing Cards. The audience actually gets to make some free choices, and can actually eliminate ANY card. You can also use this to alter events from history thereby permanently changing reality, and even erase a real person from existence. |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
Brilliant! Thank you, Cody--that clarifies a TON and helps me visualize the experience a bit more. Couple more questions came to mind, if that's okay, and then I promise I'll stop! Since the idol is small and black, does it take some effort on the part of the participant to recognize the symbol when it is revealed, or is it clearly obvious that the symbol matches? And last one: what reactions have you been getting from spectators when performing this?
Thanks again! |
Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
Haha, no problem!
It would depend on the lighting really. However in most conditions it is very easy to identify. Think of it sort of like Koran's Medallion in that regard. I wouldn't do it in the dark. Those I've performed this for have been stunned baffled and thoroughly creeped out. Except for my family who have had about enough of my sh!t. lol If you would like, my email is shin.13x@gmail.com please send me a message and I can share more. |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
Excellent. Thank you again, Cody! Purchasing this is starting to look like the inevitable option...
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weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
I have been a fan of Cody's since the Tarot of the Dark Dawn and must say that everything I have purchased of his has been a work of love and art, not just another effect that finds it's way to a drawer and never looked at again. Even as a collectable, I think this is worthy of display, even if never performed. This looks like an exceptional work of art and for that the price is reasonable. I love the routines he has crafted and must say they are "To die for!" Thanks Cody for continuing to share your creations.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Godzilla Inner circle Tied & Untied Witches on 5316 Posts |
Nice, Cody
That little piece adds the extra WTF to " CREEPY " !
"If you watch Godzilla backwards, it's about a big ass lizard who helps rebuild a half burnt-down city, then moonwalks back into the ocean"
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Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
The excellent performance manual alone is thorough, well written, and--pretty d*mned dark (do not read if you have a weak constitution)!! I'm a big fan of his new twist on a classic method to make it feel even more extremely free and fair. (I think all Cuss Card owners should be very interested in it!)
I also love how the Ouroboros visually ties into ORACULUM, which itself would make a great opening effect to introduce the concept of the WYRM... Seth |
ManxBull Regular user Isle of Man 116 Posts |
Ordered today and devouring the manual. Exquisite!
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afinemesh Inner circle Senseless gibberish that amounts to 2621 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 6, 2017, Seth speaks wrote: I agree with everything you pointed out, Seth
"I've always been mental, I'm sure of it" Boris Pocus
"Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny". . .Bruce Springsteen |
Dr SH Elite user French Spirit in Sydney 425 Posts |
The handmade Ouroboros “W0rm” statuette is just very creepy and amazing to have in your cabinets de curiosités. The story can be easily adapted to different settings depending what you are performing. The link with Oraculum is great too.
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Stoltz Veteran user 400 Posts |
I'm really happy to hear you like it!
Honestly I wasn't sure how people felt about them. Linking it to Oraculum is a fantastic idea. I do try to make this stuff adaptable to individual tastes and I also hide little links between my effects. They're all secretly connected in one way or another! |
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