What is Magic?

 

by Tony Hassini

 

Magic is the second oldest profession in the world.

 

Yet it is new to every generation.

 

Thousands of years ago, magicians were known as magi. They were the advisers to kings and emperors.

 

Long before advanced science and medicine, magicians created illusions, influencing the future scientists to turn those illusions into reality.

 

It has been said that a magician is an actor playing the part of the magician.

That might be true. However, the magician has to be more than an actor. He has to know and understand human psychology, so he can create the perfect misdirection.

 

The magician has to know and understand and be able to work with wood, metal, plastic, glass, chemicals, so he can create his own illusions.

 

Of all the art forms, magic is the richest of all.

 

The musician creates his music from a scale of seven notes. Do re me fa so la tee.

 

The artist creates all the colors of the rainbow for his paintings by mixing three colors: red, yellow, and blue.

 

The magician creates all of his magic and illusions, drawing from ten effects:

 

1. Productions & Appearances

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to produce small or large objects, people, and animals.

 

2. Disappearances & Vanishes

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to vanish small or large objects, people, and animals.

 

3. Transpositions

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways for small or large objects, people, and animals to disappear from one place and reappear somewhere else.

 

4. Transformations

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to change or transform a small or large object, person, or animal into something else.

 

5. Penetrations

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to penetrate a small or large object, person, and animal through another object, solid through solid.

 

6. Restorations

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to cut, burn, dice, or destroy a small or large object, person, or animal and restore them and make them whole again.

 

7. Levitations & Suspensions

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways for small or large objects, people, and animals to defy gravity, suspend in mid air, and levitate.

 

8. ESP

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to predict the future, read minds, and send and receive thoughts and messages.

 

9. Spirit Effects

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to move objects and people with the power of the mind or with spirits, as well as animate objects and bring them to life.

 

10. Identifications

From this, the magician creates thousands of different ways to identify things chosen by the people in the most impossible and mysterious ways.

 

From the ten effects, the magician is able to do what seems to be humanly impossible, therefore making it the richest art in the world.

 

The magician, in addition to being a good performer, has to know and understand staging, lighting, costumes, directions, theatrics, and storytelling.

 

Magicians are not born as magicians. They are taught and trained the secrets of magic. And they have the determination and persistence to practice for years upon years to perfect their craft.

 

Magic is universal. It knows no borders and requires no language. It is pure mystery. And it brings smiles to children of all ages.

 

 

 

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