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If someone asked me this question a little time ago, my answer would have been no. I like doing magic to people that surrounds me, my friends, my family, anyone I know in any situation. That’s the reason why I mostly prefer impromptu tricks.
So the thing is that a few weeks ago, I was doing some card tricks with a borrowed deck to a group of friends. I noticed that, when I finished doing synergy (a nice little card trick that ends up with the selection in my pocket), one of my friends told me: "Wow! That is really Magic! I never believed in Magic but now, I’m really starting to believe in it!!" When I heard this comment I realised that the real Magic isn’t in the tricks itself that we perform (cards, coins, paper, whatever it is) because, as we all magicians know, every trick has a logical explanation. Real Magic resides in the incredible power that we momentary gain of making people believe in the impossible.
In certain moments of our performance, even if it is for a few seconds, we can give people the freedom of expecting the unexpected. In such a grey life, where most people have abandoned their hopes and dreams, we can make them see, with our magic, that everything is possible and there is always hope, whatever may happen. And that is the reason why I believe in magic.
If tomorrow someone asks me if I believe in magic, my answer will certainly be yes.

That's quite profound, and i'd agree with you. Magic is about a performance and it's that performance that leads to the audience experiencing a suspension of disbelief.

It's the same as in the theatre, a chair in one scene can be a kitchen cahir, and then in the next scene a chair on a bus, but no-body shouts out that they've used the same chair twice, because it's suspension of disbelief - you believe for those moments.

It's our job, to show them real magic, even if it's just for a fleeting moment, before they start to figure out how it's done, but initially there will be that gasp, or that 'no way' - they know it can't happen, but they've just seen it hapen.

I've been waiting for a chance to express my thoughts on this matter...

You see, we as the magicians know a few "secrets" about life. We know that magic does not exist. We are a paradox in this sense. A laymen sees Ambitious Card and thinks they saw a miracle. We see it and say good technique. In our world it is our duty and calling to make people belief. We are not just a few nerds who play with cards and do cool tricks. No, we're more than that. We are what keeps the world believing in the supernatural. We push them to belief in miracles. Without magic the world would be all science and logic, nothing that couldn't be explained. Magicians need to realise that when you teach trick you not just giving away a neat toy. No, you are giving away the secrets of magic and it should be handled with care and love. Anyone who purposly exposes our knowlagde is not only an enemy to magic but is damaging the world, by revealing that magic does not exsist. Now I'm not against magicians teaching magicians. Because without that, there would be no next generation to carry on our secrets to amaze future peoples. Please take my words to heart and consider them. I know they will rise controversey, but thats all right. (No facial expression this time)

Now ... those that have read my strange posts may know that this is my subject!!

Of course there is magic!!!!!!!!!! I have performed in theatre for many many years ... maybe some of you have even seen me! I work very hard to give the one thing that I can ... magic. What is that? It's the smile in someone's eyes; it's the suspension of reality and the belief in a performance. Today, yes, today, I witnessed the magic in a child's eyes as the wind blew her cup across the table. She is one year old ... she saw magic. When she is twenty-one years old (if I am still alive) I hope I can create the same sense of wonder in her eyes.

Some here may think me weird (I have been called odd ... I am proud). I twist reality to amuse and entertain and create wonder. I distort reality and the truth. The people come and they go home happy. The papers say it was a great show. The adults laugh, the children giggle. I go off to see the wizards of the sea and suspend reality for myself. I am happy ... because there really is magic in this world. I am sad ... because to some it is just tricks - they have much to learn - I will help if I can. Tomorrow I will visit the wizard of the castle and hope he can give me more magic to give, in turn, to others.

Magic is everywhere. Those that see it (or practice it) are considered weird. That's not such a high price to pay and I've been paying it all my life. But today I saw wonder in a child's eyes. I have my reward.

Much love.

Kryzal x

Blade Master wrote:We know that magic does not exist.

No, my friend - we know some tricks. We do not know that "magic does not exist". Please think again and regain your wonder that seems lost. I Know that magic does exist for I see it every day. I know I am strange - but I do see wonder and true magic every day. My life will not be wasted. I wish you a happy time on this earth - but make your own happiness.

Much love

Kryzal x

Blade Master wrote:I've been waiting for a chance to express my thoughts on this matter...

We are what keeps the world believing in the supernatural. We push them to belief in miracles.

I have to disagree I'm afraid. Yes, we entertain & bring magic to people's lives but we suspend disbelief whilst we perform in order to entertain, we do not and should not perform in order to make people believe in the supernatural. Afer all we are NOT using supernatural powers and I abhore those who do claim such power.

As magicans we tell people we are going to deceive them (for entertainment) and then we go ahead and do it. This is entirely acceptable but if we perform in order to make people think we are some kind of god or in order to con them out of their money by claiming such powers (eg. 'psychic' surgery, mediums etc.) that is entirely unethical and many magicians specifically go about disproving these kinds of things (Houdini, Randi, Derren Brown etc.).

I think we should think about ethics and set people's belief systems straight not not send people off chasing after the so-called supernatural.

Keep the secret but share the truth !

Its amazing how alot of people forget that there is real magic out there!

What is gravity? We can theorise about how it works, but not why. Have you ever considered that there is nothing logical about gravity.

We do not have a reason why two objects that have mass, intrinsically attract each other.

That is pure magic! We see it every day and miss the spectacular nature of it Think about this for a moment.

Humans have wanted to fly (I presume) for quite some time now. But the only reason why it is so amazing is because we do not do it all the time. (I mean if we could fly without machinery)

I imagine for birds there is nothing miraculous about flying, to them it is a mode of transport. They are used to it.

Analogous to this is walking. That`s right, walking. We do it all the time and never even consider what an achievement it is. We are bipedal and as such have a dynamic balance which requires an amazing system of control You would be in shock if you had to see the equations governing the process.

A paraplegic sees walking as nothing less than miraculous. We are just used to the process, that is the only difference.

My point is that magic is all around us.
You just have to look with fresh eyes.

Gravity isn't what I would call magical. No, we may not be able to explain it, but the lack of explanation hardly classifies it as magical.

I wouldn't necessarily say that a paraplegic sees walking as a miracle. However, I do believe there are people who believe in miracles (ie - a paraplegic gaining the ability to walk can be seen as a miracle).

While I see where you are coming from, it's not entirely correct to use your examples as proof the existence of magic. Your examples lead to your BELIEF in magic, it doesn't prove that there is.

Off the subject for a moment. Your flying reference made me think of Eddie Izzard. He had a bit where he wondered if birds dream of driving cars, since they already fly.

Jacques wrote:Its amazing how alot of people forget that there is real magic out there!

True, my friend - I see we are of like minds (!) Yes, many people forget that there is real magic out there - that is sad. What is even more sad is that many people never see it and many more deny it even exists. What is truly amazing is that some of those same people hope to make others believe in magic when they don't believe themselves. Then they wonder why they are not convincing.

Imagine, if you will, that the world was only three feet in diameter and spinning around in your living room before your eyes. Look closely at the clouds, the forests, the birds and the seasons. Watch the waves on the sea and the volcanos and the ice-sheets. If that were true we would all gaze in wonder at it and nurture it and treasure it above all else. If it's not magic or "supernatural" in the true sense of the word then can somebody explain to me how it works please. (Don't give away the secret though )

Much love
Kryzal x

Krystal, I to feel the way you do about people claiming to be supernatural if indeed they are not. People like Alan Nu (I belief he is a fake) make me angry. What I was trying to get at was, that people seem to lose the sense of amazement they had when they were younger and the world was still new to them. We need to show them the "magic." I like the way David Blaine explained it in his newest special.

Demetri, you made a good point. Things that people already have and understand don't impress them. Like showing them a magnet sticking to a refrigerator wouldn't surprise them. We would need to get it to stick to a tree or something.

Demitri wrote:Gravity isn't what I would call magical. No, we may not be able to explain it, but the lack of explanation hardly classifies it as magical.

What I meant was that if we look at things differently, our entire existance is magical. Gravity is completely natural, because we observe it in action all the time. That should not make it any less magical.

Same thing with life. Even though we took billions of years to evolve to the point that we are now, how is it any less fantastic? Seriously, Life has solved some incredibly difficult problems with regards to physiology. That in itself is magical to me.

My point is that nature is where the true magic resides

Just to clarify, my view is that none of these things are supernatural, by definition that cannot exist. My point is that natural things are magical in and of themselves. You must have experienced something similar with your favourite trick. Even though you know the mechanism that allows the effect to happen, it still fills you with wonder everytime you see it

Now apply that same thinking to everyday life

I respect your opinion, and with your clarification, I see why you said such things.

I never said such things weren't fantastic or amazing. I find many things in nature and even technology to be wonders that can, in some regards, defy rational explanation.

I just choose not to call it magic.

I hope I didn't offend anyone with my comments, I did not intend to do so.

Don't be afraid to say your opinions. You didn't affend me.

Demitri wrote:I just choose not to call it magic.

A rose by any other name....

Don`t worry, I was not offended. Thank you for your gentlemanly conduct.

I used this point of view more as a metaphor than anything else