SLIM KING had tons of those cleo decks about 2yrs back--he made lots of wonderful gaf**d decks with them....one way, roug*/smoo**, etc...

they werent bad looking at all, I thought......whose the wiser anyhow? a layman,? NOT lol...

How about a routine where those who were duped by Miss Cleo seek revenge, in the end the picture of her on the box goes up in flames, and the box that once contained the cards now contains coins--- some covered in blood which are poured out of the box in an act of symbolic re-distrubution to their original owners?

LMBAO!! HAHAHAHA..THEN A SPIRIT comes from the flames talking ina fake jamaican accent...hahahaha...

ok. ehem.

cap tales changed my life, my view, my handle, my love, my hope, my inspiriation for bizarre, nay, real magick in general.....

Or- an old black and white T.V. set is purchaced from a Jamaican T.V. repair man- (just next door to his repair shop sits an Occult book store- rumor has it that that both stores connect somewhere in the back) Is he a repair man by day and a Vodoun priest by night?

Anyway, this set just dosent seem to work just right- no matter what chanel your friends turn it to, the program seems interupted by broadcasts of Miss Cleo's awful infomercial.

She's stuck in T.V pergatory. Will anyone help to free her?

The Miss Cleo deck is introduced "as seen on T.V" and some cards are selected and returned to the pack. The pair of wire rabbit ears is removed from the top of the set and strangely the deck begins to separate at the chosen cards. As each card is revealed Miss Cleo's image slowly begins to fade from the screen. When all the cards have been revealed, the T.V. programs come through clearly, and uninterupted by the "ghostly" image of Miss Cleo.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Cinemagician

Bwoy mi ah tell yuh, dem don' call yuh "Cinema" fi nuttin mon....

Fe wha a go on man...( kissing teeth ) me nah no ya a speak patwa man, ta raas... me a jus got me capa tales outa gen and me caaan't believe me a put it away man... dyam fool...ya play bones Gede ??? need I ask maan...

Thank you houngan- your book is next on my list. Important to read it is, after all the revolution will not be televised.

13 decks were made, a few were sold the rest was given.
The routine was written on an illustrate scroll, an hommage to Masklyn Ye Mage.
When T.A.Waters died, his set was sold to 2 different buyers: one got the cards, the other the scroll.

Thanks for the information. I'm really enjoying your book, it's been an aid to my imagination and is also freeing me from some of the conventions of normal close up magic. Thanks

Gede,

I like Dali's comment, 'The only difference between me and the insane is that I'm not insane'.

Ian

Insane or just misunderstood?

but for the book, I have just purchased it and and finding it hard to put down.
oh by the way, that ivory skull you have in the photos, where can I get one!
perhaps you should sell some of the props on your new site.

I started out as a standard hustler magician doing stroll but since I have moved to the new state I have been introducing some of the darker arts to my table magic and it is so well received I have decided to build on this character and expand it to the point that there is no room for standard routines aka ace assemblies ect...

thanks for writing this book curator it is inspiring.

Welcome to the Darkside...

Guess this book has to be on my "must buy really soon" list then as well ...

From what I read about Capricornian Tales, I figured it was a good introduction to the Bizarre. It clearly is. Not only for the effects and methods, which range from easy to difficult, but because it's so inspirational. Inspiriation is critical since Bizarre Magick is so much more personal than 'regular' magic. For me, that's meant putting down my bikes and picking up a pack of Tarot cards . . .

Bikes can be used in bizarre routines too. Read "Paradise Lost" in the Devil topic...

Lucia Von Franz would like to point out that the cherub bicycling is also Sheela-na-Gig.

No, no! I think Tarot cards are cool. I'm happy to give the bikes a rest. It gives me a chance to re-learn how to read the cards.

I've also read Minch's Thoth book, so I know that regular card 'tricks' can be applied to tarot, but I'm enjoying learning the uniqueness of the tarot!

You have no idea...
I'm not only savouring the routines, though. As a teacher in "travel and art history" the Curator's short notes about "bizarre" in Belgium inspired me to set my students some bloody difficult tasks about their own country (yes, I live in Chelman-land).
This book is one of the most inspiring I've ever read.
And just like you, Margarette, I won't perform anything as written in this book. But it sure inspires me...
(one reason is that this country is too small for two curators. And mr. Chelman is (rightfully) the better known one...and there's the fact that he's a heavy black belt judoka with a bazooka)

I liked this book very very much, the cover design also. I thought sometime before I made my purchase but never did I regret a moment after that. The material inside is not limited by the size at all.

Very enjoyable readings, Wonderful routines and ideas. Baba's book inspired and bought me into bizarre!, Capricornian Tales blinds me in forever.
No one should have 2nd thought buying this, grab it if you can find it on the shelf, if not order it!

Capricornian tales is one of the best books of magic from all the times¡¡¡
I like the beautiful stories and powerful routines with a very intelligent management of the props.
I will not find ever the Grimaud cards but I can perform now 'Zodiac' with Bicycle vintage cards and looks very strange too¡¡ And I hope that someday the Curator will reprint the original cards from "Pact", why not??


Best regards.