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Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
With regard to the Buddha Papers.
How do some of you justify their existence? Unlike a box, FOUR papers are a bit odd to reason out. I personally use primitive burial clothes, or Japanese rice paper and Zen. What are some of yours? Thanks, Tod
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
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Midnight333 Veteran user 353 Posts |
I use it for changing out a map, as per certain documents require.
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Air56 Regular user SC 140 Posts |
Tgunther-
Check out "The papers of Gautama Siddhartha" by Brother Shadow for some great ideas!! DJM
DJM " Not all who wander are lost"
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
If the number four worries you, add three more layers to the outside of the package and make it the Seven Seals...
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
One possibility is that, in Japan, the number four is considered as unlucky as the number 13 is in the west. The reason, I'm told, is that the number four (shi, pronounced SHE) is a homonym for the word "Shi" which means "to kill, kill or death."
I am quite certain someone can come up with a wonderful kiddie's routine centering around that concept! Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
Ok, I see that either I was not clear, or everyone is misunderstanding me
It is not the FOUR that I have the question about -- it is giving a logical explanation for so many papers. This does not correspond to anything natural to most peoples lives. Wrapping presents, yeah, putting things in an envelope, that too, but not with so many pieces of paper. Hope this helps, Tod
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Why do you need an explanation for them? They can be anything you want them to be.
You don't have to have an excuse for everything in your show. Just give the packet of papers a name and be done with it. If the big pile of paper frightens you, use a different method. It's like justifying a billet or a pen or a piece of paper. Put a symbol on the back of each one of them to represent some aspect of your story.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
Because as Helms and Fitzkee would say, it should look like REAL magic. And a real magician probably wouldn't need four pieces of paper, so I'm trying to find rational justifications for this to the mind of a layman.
Thanks, Tod
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
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sinnead zenun Elite user Mt. Makiling 408 Posts |
Hi tod
how do you justify the existence or use of a primitive burial cloth as a substitute to ordinary buddha papers??? primitive burial cloths isn't natural to peoples live since its primitive I suggest use a burial anouncement, the one you usaully see in the newspaper... |
Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
You're right, and that's why I'm asking
BTW, good idea on announcements instead -Tod
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
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EVILDAN Inner circle 1279 Posts |
Use different types and textures of paper and wrap the package with string or ribbon. If it looks old, I don't think people will care. If they do....then the answer is.,,"that's how it was before it came into my possession."
by EVILDAN....
"The Coin Board Book" - moves and routines with the coin panel board. - http://www.lybrary.com/the-coin-board-book-p-827955.html "SLASHER - A Horror Whodunnit" - a bizarre close-up routine based on Bob Neale's "Sole Survivor." PM me for more info. "Zombie Town" - a packet effect about how a small town turned into zombies. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzJhcoJtyOM |
Wiley New user St. Paul, Minnesota 33 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-04-18 03:40, sinnead zenun wrote: This gives me an idea...what about making a set that looks like a wedding invitation, you know, of the type that has multiple layers and an RSVP card?? Stories of tragic star-crossed lovers and jilted suitors come to mind..... Kevin |
Docc Hilford V.I.P. 377 Posts |
Tod, I believe you couldn’t be more wrong.
Sorry. Bill, Dan and others have given you the right answers. How do you know that a REAL mage doesn’t use four papers to fold around something when he performs his Magick? Look at the props made by my friend Christian Chelman and concider what HIS BP set looks like! Here is what is posted on another thread about reducing the number of papers to two, or even one! Quote:
On Feb 16, 2020, Docc Hilford wrote: I really hope that during the years between your question and my answer you’ve already discovered I’m correct. And I sincerely hope you’re performing the BP still. Peace Docc |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
The only truly magical presentation of the "Buddha Papers" I know uses two sheets of paper from two different color paper pads (say red and blue). One sheet is torn from the red pad and folded to make the left and right edges meet in the center, then the top and bottom edges are folded to also meet in the center. This leaves a space large enough for a quarter or half dollar, which is signed by a spectator using a Sharpie pen. The spectator then opens the folded red paper and places the coin in the red paper and folds it closed again. Then you tear off a sheet from the blue pad and ask him if he can fold it the same way he watched you fold the red paper. The two folded papers are in front of him and you ask him to do some magic by pretending to take the coin from the red paper and drop it into the blue paper. Then he opens up the red paper and discovers that it is empty. He opens the blue paper and discovers that his signed coin is inside. I call it "Trans-po Papers" and don't disturb the religion of Buddha. The thing with all the piles of paper is for kids and pitchmen, not magicians.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
With no disrespect to Nelms or Fitzkee intended, I think what modern performance too often lacks is mood. Ritual and process, when used deliberately and seriously, can establish a mood that indicates your gathered participants are seeing something rare and special. If they’ve only ever seen clowns or people in shiny suits do magic before, and if you really can set the mood well, then they are seeing something rare and special.
Give them ritual by candlelight. Think of Eugene Burger’s presentation of the Gypsy Thread and how he takes his time in each deliberate sundering of this thread. Think of how he blows out the candle at the end and all the symbolism you can read into that concluding action. Now, can you put a similar meaning and power into folding papers? Does each represent a level of initiation needed to achieve the power you are showing? Or is each a doorway that the hero of the story passes through to seek his destiny? Are there words or gestures that go with each folding and unfolding? Do your own brainstorming from here. I submit that if all you do is fold the papers then unfold them, Jim is right and the absolute minimum of folding has the most “wow” to it. But I further suggest that if you inject ritual that demands (not merely justifies) the process, you can create a more “real magic” experience for your audiences. Docc is a master of presentation. Just read his ad copy and compare it to the booklet you just dropped $20 to get. Again. Even after you promised yourself you’d never do it again. (This is not an anti-Hilford screed, so calm down.) Now think about the way the ad copy made you want that secret (that you may well have already thought up but rejected for reasons of personal practicality). The implication is so much greater than the product, but the only lie in the whole thing is that guys will buy you drinks for performing for their girlfriends. And you didn’t expect that, really. No lies about it, but you feel let down because you bought the big sizzle and found a small steak. But you also got a lesson in presentation that you didn’t expect. You saw how sizzle sells. You got a great example of what a presentation can do to the dopamine response in the brain if you just learn to use it! Can you inject that sort of sizzle into the folding of some paper packets? If so, you’re all set to create a really magical experience. If not, maybe you aren’t ready for a simple prop being the centerpiece of a presentation. I’m still working on how I want to use these papers. Patrick |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
I dig it. When I perform with my "Trans-po Papers" I have the spectator help me write sigils on the four corners. Nothing elaborate, mostly basic shapes co-mingled. These are accompanied by mystic words in Latin (I was an altar boy so Latin is familiar to me, but other mysterious sounding words can be used from other languages). The coin also has meaning and I sometimes use one of my "magic" coins rather than a US Quarter or Half Dollar. The signature can be erased with alcohol later so the coin can be reused.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
Mark Edward has a new book out called Total Darkness, with some of his best spooky routines to date. In it, he shows how to make Buddha Papers with everyday items and documents that just blows the traditional BP out of the water. Changed my understanding of how and why to use them... highly recommended!
Seth |
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