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Bilwonder Veteran user Oroville CA 327 Posts |
Thought for the era...
Systematic Illusionology... Teaching magic should always be about more than revealing gizmos and sleights, of course. There seems two direction of moving with this: Outward or Inward. Inward is into the history and theory of illusion. Outward would be to the connections magic has on the whole of life. It is interesting to note how this works in other successful programs... There is a golf camp for kids, and each golf skill is related to a skill or value they will need to succeed in life. There are books like this for baseball and other sports also. In martial arts, values become inseparable from the art...it becomes a metaphor for how to approach life. If magic were taught with the same kind of intrinsic imparting of values, it would not only be more meaningful for kids, but also halt the misuse of trade secrets and other problems. We have always advocated the many side benefits of learning magic (confidence, self respect, goal setting, logical thinking, imagination...) and we have "preached" values such as "keep a secret" and "Don't steal routines." It would be wonderful to develop a systematic way of combining the values and the lessons in a "Magic philosophy of life." So practicing one reinforces the other. "Ahhh WandHopper...When you can snatch the Thumbtip from my hand, it will be time for you to leave..." "But Master, How am I to know which thumb is real?" "If you wish to hide it, WandHopper, paint it red. If it is not red it is not hid. And so it is with all of life." "...Master, why have you made my thumb bleed as I reached for your hand?" "What thumb, WandHopper?"
billswondershow.com
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Mark Twain |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Love the idea... And as a martial artist myself, I can see where you're comin' from...
Values are incredibly important in any undertaking... It gives mere methodology "life", in a manner of speaking... Let's share what we've learnt ourselves... Here's one I always try to remind myself when I question why I do magic... A smile. Have you ever noticed that at the very least, your Magic will bring on smiles? In this world full of heartaches, what possible harm could you bring forth in trying to bring a smile to someone's face? Did you know that psychologists believe that it's almost impossible to smile and NOT feel a little better? Try it. Try it when you're feeling down.... "force" a smile even... You'll feel just a little better at the very least... That's what we're doing as Magicians. Magically making smiles appear around us. Now don't get me started on laughter.... Or the utter amazement in childlike eyes...... Or people running around on the streets in joyous disbelief uttering "No way! How'd you do that?" Or hope... So hone your craft well because the world NEEDS more smiles today...
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Bilwonder Veteran user Oroville CA 327 Posts |
Thanks for the words...
The idea is to make practice an art in itself. To connect values to actions. To raise mundane repetitions to a reverberating mantra! What can a back palm tell me of life? What is the Tao of shuffing? Is two coins in the pocket worth one in the hand? Consider how "A Book of Magic For Young Magicians - The Secrets of Alkazar" by Kronzek cleverly organized the principles of magic for each chapter and each trick demonstrated the principle. What if each chapter was organized according to a virtue (ala the "Book of Virtues") and common sleights to be practiced where imbued with associations of a value (as Tai Chi). Books of this nature might be (although I don't mean anything exactly like them)... *Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance *Peak Performance: Zen and the Sporting Zone *Zennis *Golf Spirit Maybe you have a book to recommend that connects spiritual value with practicing. This is meant as a fun creative idea, not to bog one into the search of "meaningful magic." I imagine the following notable magicians making a sagacious contribution in this vein... Jay Sankey Micheal Close Jeff McBride Teller I remember Tellers philosophic explanation of practicing sleights that annulled each other with cosmic pleasure...all very Zen... But it need not be Zen or Tao or heavy ruminations of a cow...but eclectically, eccentrically, kinetically ethos-connecting!
billswondershow.com
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Mark Twain |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
But don't forget to point.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Ah... I see...
Then probably as an illusionist, I could say... That the practice of vanishing and appearing is a path leading to the understanding of one's inner "unseen" self and one's outer "seen" self, is it? And the "cover" we use (box or cloth), are the "thin veils" that separate the two "states"? Or have misunderstood?
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Of course I'd have to add this...
The next time you buy a hotdog, make sure you order by stating this... "Dude.... Make me one with everything..."
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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