Mondays are when I need magic. Fortunately, there are books for this, and I have a few. I buy these on the pretense of character research and then use them as I see fit. Today, I’ll be scanning magician Joshua Jay’s Complete Course in the spirit of looking for clues as to how to manage this day.
First, consider the classic pose of magician, a long-revered symbol of beginnings. Consider one arm to the heavens, the other to earth, a channel from energy to matter. Then consider this: you’re holding a book of secrets. You want to learn the art. Look around the room. Tell me: Where is the elephant now?
No tricks, no misdirection, no spectators. This is magic. Here is direction. These are participants.
Old dogs, new tricks: you can breathe new life into old props.
Now practice. Make a wave with your fingers. Call this a warmup. Repeat.
Now hold this coin at the base of your fingers. Relax, turn your hand over.
Keep it invisible. Now go about your normal routine.
Make the Phoenix disappear, then see the vanished match reborn! The hand is quicker, look.
Make a prediction. Volunteer. A tube of lipstick, a small bill, a shoe. Any object will do, but force the lipstick. Wait. You can’t rush a miracle.
Hands down, where’s the card? Take this bread.
They call conjuring the poetry of magic.
Shuffle, shuffle, pinch, peel.
Remember: you are not a magician, but an actor, playing the part.
Inspired by: Jay, Joshua. Magic: The Complete Course. Workman Publishing, 2008.
