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Al Straker Grammar Host Australia 1129 Posts |
Something to contemplate...
Personally, I find a wealth of useful material which can easily be related to mentalism or used for the basis of a presentation in the 'Tao Te Ching' by Lao Tzu (amongst other books of wisdom). I also find the teachings contain valuable 'life advice' although sometimes it takes an extended period of contemplation to 'get it'. The response to these kind of presentations is often surprisingly strong and it is clear from the after talk that onlookers have become most intrigued by the plot and mystery associated with ancient script. One example of using the Tao Te Ching is my version of T.A Waters' 'Box Office'. It was inspired by a routine in Borodin's first book 'Scheherizade'. I display and disucss four objects in a box - Ring (Eternal Power), Bank Note (Wealth), Medallion with a star on it (Fame, Recognition), Minature deck of cards (Wisdom, Knowledge). My volunteer selects any one of these symbolic objects and it turns out there is a prediction (yes, only one!) in the box which has a phrase from the 'Tao Te Ching' strongly related to the object they chose. The plot and patter I use is similar to Borodin's but I have adapted the story to fit my character better and the objects I use in presentsation (which differ greatly from Borodin's and T.A's). Anyone else exploring this ground? Cheers, Al
Al Straker
Resident Mystery Entertainer at Multiple Venues Music & Mentalism Specialty Act 'Completely Mental' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGhApqnG7I (Old clip, show has changed quite a bit since then!) Jazz & Contemporary Musician/Composer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnN3JNmeKns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU_zfOvpneA |
brainchild Loyal user Ideological Bigot 259 Posts |
I think this is a really cool angle. I doubt a lot of other people are exploring this.
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Bertrand Thornley Loyal user Tampa, FL 278 Posts |
I'm glad you realize the real wisdom contained in such a treatise. I've spent most of my life seriously studying that kind of literature. Magic and mentalism is a wonderful medium for imparting or at least evoking something of its import. And yes, it is a cool angle, but hard to pull off without seeming pretentious. But that's no reason not to try.
"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business." Tom Robbins
Personal Revelation: I'm not a hippopotamus |
Bananafish Elite user Simon Shaw, Suffolk, England 415 Posts |
Hi Al
You should get together with Dr. Todd Landman. He is building up quite a name for himself in the UK as the "Metaphysical Magician" and his mentalism ideas centre around philosphy. He is a very exciting performer to watch. http://www.metaphysical-magician.com/ He also markets a wonderful book test (imho) called "Cogito Ergo Sum" which is effectively a book of Philosophers. |
Gotama Veteran user 381 Posts |
The Tao Te Ching is probably not the best source for "life advice" in the Taoist tradition. Try Chuang Tzu or some of the other more metaphysical writers within the Taoist tradition. Another overlook source of material is Chinese folk tales, as well as the Chan writings (the Chinese school that becomes Zen in Japan).
Gotama
I asked the boy beneath the pines.
He said, "The master's gone alone herb picking, somewhere on the mount, cloud hidden, whereabouts unknown." (Chin Tao, 777-841, trans. by Alan Watts) |
Matt Pulsar Inner circle 1130 Posts |
I love to use things from the "i ching" or book of changes. An ancient Chinese mystical tradition, allot like astrology but better in some ways. I actually inherited the use of it from my father, he knows all of the 64 trigrams by heart, he started to teach it to me when I was in junior high. And, strangely enough he is also Christian. It is allot of fun and great for contemplation. The center of the idea is that every moment is different. And that there is allot of power in chance. The book I have always gone by is the Richard Wilhelm edition with the forward by Jung. If you like the Tao Te Ching, your going to love the I Ching. Synchronicity!!
Belief Manifests Reality.
Nebula CT: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/8517 |
Al Straker Grammar Host Australia 1129 Posts |
Every response is valued, for that I thank you all. Being a long term student of Wing Chun, Tai Chi and Qi Gong I have a degree familiarity with the content you have all mentioned.
Gotama I really appreciate the writings you mention and will search them out. Banana you brighten my Café day with this news. Bertrand - respect! Brainchild thanks man and Stuart, thanks also (I Ching forms an important part of my Tai Chi study but I am the first to admit I don't have a great understanding of it). Just out of interest Christian Chelman uses the Bible in one of his effects. Pretty awesome and potent symbol, have to be handled very carefully as no doubt Christian does with ease. I would be fascinated to hear of others... Cheers, Al
Al Straker
Resident Mystery Entertainer at Multiple Venues Music & Mentalism Specialty Act 'Completely Mental' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGhApqnG7I (Old clip, show has changed quite a bit since then!) Jazz & Contemporary Musician/Composer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnN3JNmeKns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU_zfOvpneA |
Carlos the Great Inner circle California 1234 Posts |
amazon.com
This is the book we used in a few courses in Chinese Philosophy when I was at university. I only mention it because it gives a good overview of numerous different philosophies, comparisons, stories from and about the distinct systems, and examples. It works well as an instructional book for this reason. I also feel it would work well for somebody interested in something like Al says "which can easily be related to mentalism or used for the basis of a presentation". On the same note, I wouldn't recommend it for somebody to learn a belief from because it isn't an in-depth treaty and, frankly, it breaks down the inconsistencies in many of the belief schemes (which tends to get under the skin of somebody who gets it thinking it is a belief source-book, if that makes sense). I loaned mine to a friend because I really liked a portion of it. He joined the Marines and I never saw it again. I wonder if the two actions were related... -Carlos the Banned
Cognite tute
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John Nesbit Inner circle United States 1421 Posts |
It may have inspired (the Marine) to read the Art Of War by Sun Tzu .
I'm sure that the military could use a good dose of The Tao. |
jjsanvert Special user Paris, France 581 Posts |
I use the I Ching in my routine "I Ching" in my DVD Vol. 4 (LL Publishing).
JJS
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Al Straker Grammar Host Australia 1129 Posts |
Hey JJ,
I will have to re-watch your DVD set (which I love BTW), I had forgotten you use this book in a routine. Cheers, Al
Al Straker
Resident Mystery Entertainer at Multiple Venues Music & Mentalism Specialty Act 'Completely Mental' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGhApqnG7I (Old clip, show has changed quite a bit since then!) Jazz & Contemporary Musician/Composer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnN3JNmeKns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU_zfOvpneA |
jjsanvert Special user Paris, France 581 Posts |
Thanks Al!
JJS
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Matt Pulsar Inner circle 1130 Posts |
Nice, I have been working on using it for something as well. I'll have to check it out. Thanks.
Belief Manifests Reality.
Nebula CT: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/8517 |
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