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Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
Aaa. sounds like Cassidy's dissertation on the Baker Billet Switch!
Truth is, anyone that's actually worked the grind of doing the Psychic gig in fairs, bookstores, etc. for more than a couple of years, discovers that they really don't need the cheats. Intuitively we "know" what the questions are nine times out of ten, when it comes to a "real" sitter (vs. some magic shmuck trying to fulfilling the guidance of Lord Rowland). It's very, very rare that I ever have to stoop to trickery when dealing with a client in a Reading. Those that I do have to "trip up" (typically, to get them to relax a bit)are classical skeptics that typically walk away believing I was real... imagine that... Truth is, if Magic were such a superior "entertainment" form and not viewed by the lay public as the bigger hustle, the dope doing card tricks at those corporate mixers I work, would be asked to stay overtime instead of I... If people actually "respected" magicians as much as they think of themselves... well, once again, the guy that plays warm-up act for cake & ice cream would be generating far more cash for his 20 minutes of pain and glory than I get for chatting with someone about their kids, the dog, the wayward spouse, etc. In other words, the public votes with its cash and its time and really don't want a heck of a lot to do with most of the aspiring (and opinionated) magic world. I've even seen a few young bucks tossed out of parties because they started doing CT and Spoon Bending to "prove" the psychic a fraud... NOW THAT'S PROFESSIONALISM! "Belief" is an intrigal part of Magic on the whole. I learned that from Shamada 25 years ago just discussing magic over drinks @ the Castle. Now in defense of the Skeptic who presents solid Mentalism (like Banachek)... he comes from a place of "belief" and yet allows room for other people to believe as they will. He's not a shmuck trying to prove a point... he's already proven it in several ways. Rick Maue words the term as "Theatrical Belief" and we've had several conversations on this issue. I fully endorse where Rick is coming from and see its value. In truth, when I'm doing A SHOW I elicit the same thing from folks... you have to! Mentalism is dependent upon that investment of belief if it is to be 100% effective. Those that sell it short and present it as a "Magic Trick" are only selling themselves short and the advantages they would otherwise know. Even when I did Illusions I shot for realism and believability... I wanted to transform the "tricks" into miracles. My imepetus for this came from Richardi and in my belief he's one of maybe two "real" magicians I've encountered on stage in the whole of my four and half decades on earth. The other was Norm Neilson. You can know the techniques but until you can use them in a way that makes them not appear to be there, you aren't remotely close to being a "real" magician, let alone a mind reader. But hey... I could be wrong... |
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
I was introduced to a tarot reader once.
I married her. My circle of friends includes metaphysical types of every cut. Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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Juan D Elite user 482 Posts |
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On 2005-05-02 19:22, Jon Stetson wrote: That's exactly what I think. I believe it will depend on your character. If you want to play the lines about being real and having psychic powers, just nod your head in approval. If you don't believe and don't claim any psychic abilities, just nod your head in approval and respect what your new psychic friend claims. I'm really not sure if I translated it well, but In my country we use to say something along the lines of "Your rights go only as far as to where the rights of the others begin". (Sorry if I ended up with something non-sense, it sounds cool in spanish anyway) |
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Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
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On 2005-05-03 22:50, Dr_Stephen_Midnight wrote: Every cut or cult?... wasn't certain if that was a type-o or not Steven.. |
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El Mystico Special user 573 Posts |
Say, "You're very well; how am I?"
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I have no trouble spending time with tarot card readers, Reiki masters, etc. Besides, there are good reasons that people go to see them - they feel better afterward. I know a Reiki master and the treatment feels goooooooooooooood.
As long as someone isn't fleecing people out of money that they can't spare, what's the harm? As long as people are enjoying the experience, it sounds good to me. Reality - what a concept! |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Well what has worked for me, is the same thing when at a social gathering I run into a minister of another denomination, or some individual who is particularly "evangelistic" about their beliefs. I politely listen to their spiel and then say, "that's an interesting belief" , or "that is an interesting idea" and drop it at tht point. If they are looking for an argument they don't get one. Besides such arguments never lead anywhere productive.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Hypnotic Winter Special user Ireland 720 Posts |
I think that all sorts of psychics and new age people will always be here, if you can assess there is no harm let them do what tehy do and believe what they believe.
Interestingly, one of my best friends is a wiccan and priestess of a coven of four, she doesn't think she's psychic or anything but often states how she loves nature and wicca, and I'm not about to disagree with her. H.W
When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is reality.
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Xiqual Inner circle Upper left quadrant 4935 Posts |
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On 2005-05-02 17:37, shrink wrote: Hmmm... that description sounds like you actually. Just change "psychic element" to "Magic Café". I find shut eyes to be very nice people that will go out of their way to help others. I enjoy their company and find it refreshing to be around people that at least have a bit of imagination. Shrink and all the other "performers" here. If you are laughing at the people you perform for, you are a sad little person indeed. In the words of Albert Einstien "There are two ways to live your life, as if nothing is amazing or as if everything is" James
Still with the Chinese circus
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David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
Isn't it kind of a sick mentality to want to diss all psychics? It's like saying al Muslims are bad or all Catholics are bad or a particular race is all bad. Just because you do not share someone's belief, it does not mean that a) you are right and b) they deserve bad treatment.
I've met a great many psychics. Some, I would say, are deluded souls who, as Shrink suggests are looking for a way to cover their social inadequacies by appearing to be special. Others are warm, kind, sincere people who know their subject well and are experts at making people feel better. Finally some are outright con artists who rip off their clients and don't deliver the goods. You know another group that fits the above profile almost exactly? Magicians! |
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Ian Rowland Special user London 889 Posts |
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On 2005-05-03 12:50, bartlewizard wrote: With polite respect, what we have here is one clear error and an implied mis-statement of my views. Taking them in order... (1) There is nobody who thinks of me as a god of any kind, and that's as it should be, 'cos I ain't one. (2) I have never stated any opinion to the effect that I know there is no such thing as the paranormal, nor have I ever advocated or supported such an absurd contention. There may or may not be paranormal abilities or forces - I don't know. All I know is that, to the best of my knowledge and awareness, there is as yet no good reason to credit anyone with paranormal abilities, in the sense that there is no empirical and evidential data for which the 'paranormal' hypothesis is either sufficient or necessary. This may change, in which case so will my opinion. I go where the evidence leads me, and I accept what the evidence tells me.
www.ianrowland.com . Working Magic.
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David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
1) You take me to literally. Of course you aren't a God but it IS a familiar expression used when people worship a person or think very highly of them - and there ARE many people on this Café who think that way.
2) I didn't suggest YOU weren't willing to believe but there are several people on here who absolutely think they know better. Hence comments like avoiding slime and so forth. |
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discjockey Elite user 451 Posts |
The word "psychic" can have a few different effects on certain spectators. I prefer not to use it when performing simply because of the vast ambiguity. Bepending on how I'm performing, I'll either tell them that this will LOOK like mindreading, but its all just fun. Thank you Mr. Hilford. OR Not speaking very much adds a mystery element that I prefer as well.
I say, for being introduced as a psychic, do it Alfred Hitchcock style. He instilled more fear in people from the movie Psycho during the shower scene by only showing the blood in the shower as opposed to a graphic violent represenatation. Viewers were forced to guess what was going on and the fact of not knowing was ultimatly more scarry. So, if you don't tell your spectators, then they will figure it out for themselves, or take guesses. Either way I see it, you win. |
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Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Let me start off by saying that not knowing grace and tolerance at a friendly gathering is a shortcoming and a huge social "faux pas". Regardless of which side of the fence such a person is on, they should be avoided. I am reminded of the humorous recording "Religion and Politics".
Since this has turned into a discussion about the very subject of how non-psychics and psychics interact, and not a cordial gathering of niceities, I feel it is valid to state one's views on the matter. When one becomes "psychic" they know that what they are undertaking has no scientific foundation of proof. It simply is what it is and one can not prove or disprove it. This is the strength and the weakness in it. It is to be lived but not proved. That given, for one to deny that taking any belief on without provable, reproducable fact is above question is, simply, shortsided. Any belief so rooted is guaranteed to have detractors so rooted in their own belief as to think such believers are an unwanted element. Sadly, it is human nature. So why is it that folks so grounded in human nature and so knowing of the future are so frustrated by human nature and so unaware of the future eventuality that they will run into someone who doesn't believe them? Quite honestly, why do true psychics care if some people do not believe them and do not care for what they do? If anyone is deifying it is those who use phrases like "A God" "worship" "Lord" These are the words of those who deify. They just do it for a different reason. Any psychic worth his salt will admit he has a huge hurdle to jump to garner any legitimacy due to the thieving, decieving "psychics" out there. Admit it and move on. |
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chicagoman Regular user 105 Posts |
Personally, I believe in things "un-provable" by today's science.
As a result, I find it helps me to perform magic and mentalism. And having a "belief system" actually helps me to be tolerent with people with all sorts of beliefs (and non-beliefs) I guess because I'm open to things that are not provable or I can believe in things not believed in by everyone in the world. I'm thankful for that ability. |
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Corona Smith Inner circle Airstrip One 1689 Posts |
In reference to the original question, wy not use your skills to be ten times more psychic than they are, then charge them for lessons
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DrNorth Veteran user North Starr Entertainment, Harrisburg PA 364 Posts |
Many magicians I have met or, have read works by, are believers in paranormal events. True most magicians are skeptics by nature but while, like Houdini, we can recreate most psychic events that doesn’t scientifically disprove them. We are not scientists we are magicians, I am sure some of us use the scientific method or are familiar with it, most of us are not.
I myself used to be a full-blown skeptic; it was fashionable as I was a magician. But the longer I explore the more I wonder, and isn’t that what magic is supposed to be about? Establishing a sense of wonder? If we refute all hope of real magic just because we can reproduce a given event shouldn’t we ask our selves why? What does it do save inflate our self-importance? I’d rather revel in the possibility of real magic and wonder and draw that feeling to my audience. Bring them along for a ride into fun and fantasy. I can understanding debunking fraud when it’s intent is to harm, steal or take advantage, but why divorce all magic from peoples lives just so we can throw them a false illusion that they are sure is a “trick” any way. So, to the point? I have become involved with a group of real psychics and witches and they are wonderful people and great friends and I don’t try to embellish my readings with gimmicks save interesting props o some cold reading techniques. OK maybe I have experimented with a haunted key or two but when I do magic for them, they know its magic when I do my readings as far as they know and who is to say they are wrong, it is real. Sometimes I amazed with my hits and “intuitions”. I embrace “true” psychics and as long as they are not thieves or crooks I learn and also teach, and share. "For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell" ~Galadriel "A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes." |
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jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
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I myself used to be a full-blown skeptic; it was fashionable as I was a magician. But the longer I explore the more I wonder, and isn’t that what magic is supposed to be about? Establishing a sense of wonder? If we refute all hope of real magic just because we can reproduce a given event shouldn’t we ask our selves why? What does it do save inflate our self-importance? I’d rather revel in the possibility of real magic and wonder and draw that feeling to my audience. Bring them along for a ride into fun and fantasy. I'm a skeptic, and I hope to never lose a sense of wonder. I don't think skepticism and sense of wonder are mutually exclusive. If one reads Einstein or Hawkings, one will see that scientists like these had a profound sense of wonder about the world, and wouldn't have come up with the ideas they did without fertile, expansive imaginations and open minds. Carl Sagan was a well-known skeptic who had a considerable sense of wonder about our universe; he's someone that thought it was likely that there was intelligent life out there somewhere. On the other hand, it was important to him to distinguish between real visitors from outer space and imagined ones. Whom is suggesting that people should "divorce all magic from people's lives?" That sounds appalling. A common misconception about scientists and skeptics is that they don't believe in anything that can't be scientifically proven, or they only think things that can be proven or known are worthwhile. I don't believe that to be true at all. I find magic in the world through visual art, music, nature, science, literature, human interaction, poetry, movies---I could go on and on. I don't believe in astrology, but I believe in astronomy, and when I look up at the sky (when I'm outside of a big city) I am awestruck. Anyone, skeptic or not, who doesn't see mystery and magic in our universe has their head in the sand, in my view. We have a robot on Mars right now, beaming photos and videos back to earth. Scientists can and should have lofty, even outlandish ambitions; but in implementing them they need to be skeptical and realistic. |
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