Bizarre Magic -- Some Help?

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Postby Craig Browning » Jul 9th, '09, 17:38



While I would certainly never argue with The Curator on this front (he is one of the Gods of Bizarre, after all) I would have to question his suggestion of the Cafe given the rather pronounced bias that site has towards mentalists and bizarrists via the very obvious Christian right-hand controlling the rudders there and of course, the plethora of egos that run the roost, seeing it a high honor of some sort.

Track down the Shadow Network, the Immortals and groups along those lines and learn from those that actually do Bizarre & Haunted Magick rather than a group of magicians that think a bit of stage blood on a card is all you need to be a Bizarrist.

Eugene could be seen as Bizarre-Light given his penchant for the esoteric and related fantasiful themes for presentation. But more than anything he's a magician and that's by his own definition.

Fairie has a point in what she has said about Mentalism in conjunction to Bizarre work but in truth, Bizarre has kind of become its own entity to which Mentalism is only one small part; most such performers lean towards the whole storyteller (ghost and macabre tales), frequently using items common to occult studies (tarot for an example) but not always. Roni Shachnaey, Gene Poinc, Ed Solomon are great examples in that much of what they each offer comes from tall tales woven around artifacts, unique antique boxes, etc.

Another point that should probably be made here, is that not all Bizarrists do Seances or Ghostly material just as not all are Macabrist that deal with themes such as mass murder, torture, and such.

I bring this up simply as food for thought; you don't have to embrace your inner Jack-the-Ripper or Alister Crowley to do Bizarre work; Jules Vern can work just as well, as can the worlds of Barnum and Robert Ripley, so let such things serve as your guide when taking this particular journey in that being a pack-rat of the strange and morose can be just as much fun (if not more) as one that conjures the darkest minions of Hell. :twisted:

Have Fun!

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Postby DrTodd » Jul 9th, '09, 18:04

I really enjoy Jim Magus Major Arcana of Bizarre Magic, Burger and McBride's Mystery School, Christian's Hauntiques, Borodin's Final Curtain, as well as significant volumes on the history of the occult.

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Postby the Curator » Jul 9th, '09, 18:04

I've to agree with Craig about the right "Christian" side of the Cafe, but the spooky section is still my favorite. (It seems to me that the Devil has entered the Church.) And it's still one of the best resource about bizarre magic.

Alas, most of the posts at the cafe (like every other forum) are almost only about sales. But try to find posts like "Secret Warehouse" or "the Magpie", it's a good start in the spooky section.
Punx and Borodin's books aren't easy to find but worth the hunt; and Mary Tomich's Altar Flame is a must read for a beginner. But once again, not easy to find.

Shadow network and Immortals may be difficult to access for a beginner, but why not ? There are very interesting luminaries there.
And yep ! Bizarre magic isn't only about Jack the Ripper and Crowley.
Neil Gaiman and Michael Moore are far more interesting magicians...

The first question you should ask yourself isn't "Do I believe in Magic ?" but "What is Magic ?" (and the corollary: What is Magic in the spectator's perception ? )

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Postby DrTodd » Jul 9th, '09, 18:08

I like Bonewits' answer to your final question....

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Postby the Curator » Jul 9th, '09, 19:41

Speaking about magic and Alan Moore, I suppose you know "The Mindscape of Alan Moore".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mindsc ... Alan_Moore

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Postby Memento » Jul 9th, '09, 19:49

Thanks everyone.

I've decided to order A Darker Light and By Darkness Influenced written by Kotah (aka Ron Dayton) from here. Any comments would be very appreciated as I'm putting the order in tomorrow. Anyone know how long it will take on average from the USA to Britain via "International Global Priority?"

I think these two books are a good choice.
Cheers!

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Postby the Curator » Jul 9th, '09, 19:57

There's no doubt that you'll have a lot of fun with Kotah's books.
Good reading !

Last edited by the Curator on Jul 10th, '09, 05:59, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Memento » Jul 9th, '09, 20:54

From what I can tell by the extract he seems to spin some amazing stories and gives ideas for effects but doesn't go into the workings of them. Perhaps I shall return with more questions. :)

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Postby Jobasha » Jul 9th, '09, 20:57

Memento wrote:Thanks everyone.

I've decided to order A Darker Light and By Darkness Influenced written by Kotah (aka Ron Dayton) from here. Any comments would be very appreciated as I'm putting the order in tomorrow. Anyone know how long it will take on average from the USA to Britain via "International Global Priority?"

I think these two books are a good choice.
Cheers!


It might be cheaper from a UK supplier. £21.99 on Kernowmagic. I imagine with postage that'll work out cheaper. They also have Magictales by Leslie Melville in the super sale for £15.

http://www.kernowmagic.co.uk

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Postby Memento » Jul 9th, '09, 21:33

Cheers for the link, I will pick up that one as well.

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Postby Craig Browning » Jul 10th, '09, 17:24

The Mellville book is quite good as are Kotah's materials. Bear in mind that the links I posted, especially to Dragon Skull, will give you tons of free information, including some damn good effects. On that front I believe the Learned Pig still has links to the Gene Poinc pages in which all of Eugene's classic routines are featured and I can assure you, no one has ever made us laugh harder about being a Dead Carpenter (those that know what I mean will undoubtedly roll their eyes with fond memories).

The Curator is correct when it comes to certain authors being a bit tough to track down but yet, being very much worth it. Borodin's Final Curtain however, is available and priceless in my mind; a tome filled with some wonderful storylines coupled with novel effects.

I nearly forgot in that I've not been there in a very long time, but the Shadow Network used to require an above average thickness of the skin in that it used to be a very rowdy bunch. Sadly, several of the primary instigators have passed on in the past few years and will be missed, but the group should still prove a great outlet to some sound ideas. Just understand that you are not dealing with the typical magic forum and most of those guys (though quirky) are quite serious and don't put up with those that just take information without giving it back.

The Curator also gave you some very wise thought seeds in his closing when he challenged you to contemplate "What is Magick?" I can assure you of one thing, it has very little to do with tricks and much more to do with what we create within the mind of our patrons. If you want to catch a glimpse to this idea, take a look at Bob Cassidy's little dissertation on the Baker Billet switch & reading in his book "Theories & Methods for the Practical Psychic" What he does with a single billet is priceless and yet, the way it is handled and presented creates a superior sense of enchantment; transmuting the whole concept from the idea of being a "trick" to the position of the miraculous.

I believe that is our job when it comes to working Bizarre or in the Psychic/Paranormal fields. But each of us have to figure out how to get there based on the mode of presentation and character theme we strive to work with. After all, you might be more comfortable working with haunted items and doing a Ghost in the Machine" type routine over a classic Seance or Ghost walk setting. (check out http://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk/Home_Page.htmwhen it comes to that Ghost in Machine idea... watch your bank account closely, this is a dangerous site.)

Oh! While you are there, pick up a copy of "The Paranormal Entertainer", you won't regret it!

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Postby the Curator » Jul 10th, '09, 21:08

A very last suggestion to a beginner.
The most simple way to start bizarre magic should be by telling ghost stories.

You can apply M.R.James rules to the genre.

The art of Dr. James is by no means haphazard, and in the preface to one of his collections he has formulated three very sound rules for macabre composition. A ghost story, he believes, should have a familiar setting in the modem period, in order to approach closely the reader's sphere of experience. Its spectral phenomena, moreover, should be malevolent rather than beneficent; since fear is the emotion primarily to be excited. And finally, the technical patois of "occultism" or pseudo-science ought carefully to be avoided; lest the charm of casual verisimilitude be smothered in unconvincing pedantry.


HP Lovecraft in Supernatural Horror in Litterature.
http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/superhor.htm

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Postby black hart » Sep 13th, '09, 17:05

Bizarre magic isn't about religion but about mystery entertainment

I'm with you 100 % on that Christian old chap.

In my humble opinion a good way to ease yourself into 'bizarre magic' is to start off learning how to Tarot read and cold read, you will then have some very useful tools for 1) earning a living and 2) good background for using tarot cards in your magic effects.

Bizarre magic is not all 'Gothic' presentations. Just imagine that you are at a friends flat one night, you have just watched 'The Omen' on DVD, you get out a pack of cards and after your friend has shuffled and dealt three piles of cards and the top cards are turned over to reveal 666! You could really get the chills up someone's spine doing that - and not a pentagram in sight. :twisted:

Keith Hart[/list]

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Postby Robbie » Sep 14th, '09, 11:42

If you want to look into old books of magic, I can recommend the Internet Sacred Texts Archive (ISTA).

It's a free internet library of sacred, spiritual, and related books, and includes a good collection of occult texts. There's alchemy and Hermeticism, Christian mysticism, plenty of Crowley's stuff, chaos magic, and all the famous medieval grimoires. A lot of this stuff is difficult or expensive to find in printed form.

The site also contains information on Fortean topics, Freemasonry, vampires, werewolves, fairy folk, myths, legends, etc.

If you can, please do support the site by ordering the DVD or CD archive. It's well worth the price and helps ISTA keep up its good work.

"Magic teaches us how to lie without guilt." --Eugene Burger
"Hi, Robbie!" "May your mischief be spread." --Derren Brown
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Postby gypsyfish » Sep 14th, '09, 13:58

Tony Chris has recently released a two DVD set with some effects on one and information about the bizarre business (biz biz?) on the other. I haven't seen it and know next to nothing about it, but here is his web page:

http://www.tonychrismagic.com/magicshop.html

Hope it helps.

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