Magic - Some Frequently Asked Questions
The following extract is from a series of entertainment-related articles on magic …
There is something about magic that we find really hard to resist. hypnotical wizards waving a staff as beams of light shoot forth. A fantastic floor show in which white tigers appear and disappear captures our attention as surely as the magician padlocked into a straight jacket that manages to escape at the last moment. The mystery of the magician has awed us since the beginning of time, from the midwives who cured a festering wound to the gypsies reading Tarot cards to predict our fortunes.
Does magic truly exist or is it all in the imagination of the beholder? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about magic:
What were they called?
The first people believed to practice magic were Priests, Priestesses or Shamans. They would perform the rituals associated with the community they belonged to. All humans, at one time or another, believed in things that would seem peculiar to modern man. Druids respected the natural order of the world and would perform seasonal rituals to usher in the harvest, the New Year or different holy days. Charlatan is one term many would use to refer to people who practiced magic because it was thought that it was all trickery and hoaxes.
Was magic really just for witches?
As evident by many of the horrific atrocities that occurred in American history, a person associated with magic would have been labeled a witch. Whether or not this is actually true is subject to different interpretations. The end result was the same. The witch would become the scapegoat of any abnormal occurrences, such as a crop dying, and ultimately be put to death.
How has the art of magic evolved over the past hundred years?
Magic has turned from a more naturistic approach into that of sleight of hand. It has become a showmanship and illusion. Astonishing tricks are performed in front of an audience but the performance gives an illusion of magic when in reality there is none. Common sense practices, such as washing a wound, may have once been considered magic but now we know them to be just part of good hygiene. As humankind continues to advance, secrets that amaze us now will eventually be revealed.
Was Harry Houdini a magician?
Though he was called a magician, he technically was an illusionist and escape artist. His daring feats were accomplished by hard work and skill. His famous acts, such as escaping from a straight jacket while under water, required him to be flexible and to use a great deal of subterfuge.
What is the difference between sleight of hand, illusion and magic?
While once there might have been a difference between the three, we would now consider them to be the same thing. All involve the use of illusion. The mind believes one thing, the eyes see one thing but the reality is that it’s something completely different.
For more information on illusions, visit: Levitation