The Meta-Magic of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz by D. Michael Smith

“Like all great stories, The Wizard of Oz provides a template that allows us to open ourselves to the hidden capacities we had forgotten we had; the creative potentials we didn’t know how to use; and the deeper knowing . . . that is within every one of us. We are so much more than we thought we were.”  (The Wizard of Us, Jean Houston, 2012, p. 12) When I was five years old, I saw the movie,...

Magic Words by Daryl Rogers

“Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” – Albus DumbledoreWords Create RealityAs magicians, we use words to create a reality for our audience. We carefully craft and edit our scripts to say exactly what we want to say in the manner we wish to say it, with no extraneous verbiage. The...

A Different Kind of Magical Fire

by Judge Gary Brown Charred remains of a Friedlander panel In the world of magic and collecting, cautionary tales abound: magicians and enthusiasts need to protect rare and expensive equipment, books and collectibles from numerous threats: light, moisture, water, mold, rust, theft and neglect.  This is a slightly different story, but one laden with important lessons. In 2019, a power surge...

Shamrock Shuffle by Lynn Miner

Effect: This three-phased jumbo card effect is an Irish-Themed Sidewalk Shuffle using ungimmicked cards. The spectator attempts to follow the Black Shamrock (Ace of Clubs) as it never appears in the chosen location. Props: Three jumbo Aces of Clubs and one blank face card. The backs must match. Set-Up: In this version, the Black Shamrock is the Ace of Clubs. From top to bottom, position the...

No Touch Magic Experience By Phil Tilston

I perform regularly at Houdini’s Magic Bar. There is one in Canterbury and one in Broadstairs in the UK (see http://www.houdinis.co.uk ). Close up magic is performed at the bars, along with a couple of more formal parlor type shows. The bars have been shut for a number of months, opened for a couple of weeks and unfortunately they are about to close again for a short period due to the...

“IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LIVE YOUR DREAM.” THE GREAT LORENZO.. in his words…

This past January was my second-anniversary in magic. That is to say, it was my second second-anniversary. My first second-anniversary was back in 1982, and I celebrated it by auditioning at the Magic Castle to become a magician member. It took me two years to go from being a long-time magic enthusiast to performing in front of the Academy’s membership committee. Those were two years of focused...

“Get Real” — The Most Important Feat of Magic? by Craig Conley

When the latest news from quantum physics (and frankly the oldest news from Buddhism) proclaims that the universe is one big illusion, the magic community might get a certain thrill: the entire universe, literally the oldest trick in the book?! But then a sinking feeling: do magicians need to stop striving to be /real/ professionals, /real/ successes, if nothing is genuine?  More troubling,...

“24/7” – Game On by Geoffrey Grimes

An inaugural recipient of the “Eugene Burger Legacy Award,” Geoffrey Grimes, a member of the IBM and SAM, is a performing magician and 2019 president of the Fort Worth Magicians Club. “Hey, magic man!” came the shout from across the college plaza between buildings. “If you’re so good, man, you won’t have to reach into your pockets!” After years of staging community magic shows at the...

Audio Ape Recommendation By David Reed-Brown

David Reed-Brown has been a professional magician since 1998. He has been one of Jeff McBride’s primary “audio guys” since 2000. David writes Magic Tech articles for the Magic and Mystery School’s Secret Arts Journal and produces Pro Hacks video segments for Mystery School Monday’s online video classes. He is regular guest faculty for those classes and frequently lectures for the school’s annual...

A visit to Mystery School and an interview with Jeff McBride by Av Dag Lofalk

I was in Las Vegas and had been in contact with Jeff McBride who had promised to set up and give a quick tour of his house and site of the Mystery School. Mystery School is a concept that he developed to support interested in magic and those who want to further develop their technique and presentation skill in the field of magic. Me and Kim Gordon who drove the car were searching for the correct...