On seeking fame and profit

"If he cannot stop the mind that seeks after fame and profit, he will spend his life without finding peace." -------Dogen

Charles Cameron on magic and magicians...

“Either he is working MAGIC or he is presenting mechanical or manipulative mumbo jumbo—he cannot have it both ways!” (Charles Cameron, Invocation, Vol I, Iss I).

How the Anti-Marriage Movement Impacts Magicians

Performing magic at weddings is always a fun and exciting time. Soon, more and more people will be able to get married in the United States. Thanks to the inevitable overturning of anti-marriage laws, wedding magicians will have lots of great opportunities for lucrative income. In this brave new world of Unions and Marriages, wedding magicians might want to re-think the way they approach the bride and groom (or groom and groom; bride and bride; Person A and Person B) during the planning stage of their celebration.

Sadly, there is a strong force amassing that seeks to restrict who can get married. Let’s call this force the "anti-marriage movement". The anti-marriage movement doesn't want certain people to get married and they don’t want to share the joy of marriage. The anti-marriage movement is actively working to make sure people do not get married. The Chair of the Republican National Committee and anti-marriage advocate, Michael Steele recently said that marriages are a burden on business (Associated Press; May 17, 2009). People like this guy give us great nausea.

Their hatred of marriage blinds them of the truth that "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." They are also hateful of America and their laws that say things like "Equal Justice Under The Law" inscribed above the entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court. They hate the words of Founders, like Thomas Jefferson who wrote, "All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression (First Inaugural, 1801)." Why they are so full of hate is beyond our understanding.

It is inevitable that Unions (same-sex or otherwise) will increase over the next few years. This increase will find an interesting niche for magicians brave enough to rise to the challenge. Trust us, the demand will be there for magicians to perform at union celebrations and future wedding receptions.

Are you ready for this new challenge?

Ask not what magic can do for you....

How many times have we heard:

· If I buy this trick, I will be popular
· If I learn this routine, it will make me lots of money
· If I master this move, I will be the best

To this we say: rubbish and triple balderdash! Have they not heard the wisdom of the Grand Magic Utopian?

“Ask not what magic can do for you, but what you can do for magic.”

If you see Houdini, kill Houdini

The Grand Master Utopian, in one of his final teachings, said "If you see Houdini, kill Houdini. If you see a Professor, kill the Professor."

In order to have freedom in our magic, we must kill several things. Most importantly, we must kill: (1) our teacher; (2) our Society; and (3) our ego. Only then can we have perfection in our art.

Your Bailout

For Immediate Release- April 18,2009

The Magic Utopia College of Konjurors (MUCK) has debated and voted on the recent bailout proposal that has come before them. MUCK will provide no bailout funds for the magic industry at this time, especially magicians who continue to think of our art is about the props or “tricks.”

Rather, MUCK encourages magicians to cultivate a Magic Utopia Mind Set (MUMS) to cope with and adjust to current economic woes. MUMS is the true secret to overcoming such obstacles, especially for magicians. MUMS gives magicians the freedom to throw away the props and “tricks” in order to open up new opportunities for magical experiences. MUMS does not want pockets loaded with junk or suitcases full of things not necessary . Instead, MUMS works to our advantage by packing light and minimal. Indeed, MUMS lightens our minds and the hearts of our audiences. In MUMS we find the solutions to most of the problems of post-modern magic. For more on MUMS, please click here

Celebrating Magick

“Fear not, o prophet, when these words are said, thou shalt not be sorry. Thou art emphatically my chosen; and blessed are the eyes that thou shalt look upon with gladness. But I will hide thee in a mask of sorrow: they that see thee shall fear thou art fallen: but I lift thee up.” (Liber Al vel Legis; II, 53).

April 8, 9, and 10 are remembered and celebrated as The Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law, transmitted to Aleister Crowley while in Cairo, Egypt in 1904. The book declares a new law for mankind, based on love and will, in the same vein as Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and other great religious leaders.

Aleister Crowley, serving as scribe for this transmission, was probably one of the most misunderstood individuals of the 20th century. His religious system, referred to as Thelema (Click here for Wiki article) or Magick, is a revitalization of ancient mystery and wisdom traditions practiced by civilizations all over the globe for thousands of years (maybe longer). Thankfully, 21st century tolerance is starting to appreciate religious diversity and his ideas are being explored by more and more open minded people around the world.

Magic Utopians not familiar with The Book of the Law can safely read the text by clicking on the link below:

http://www.thelema.org/aa/documents/the_book_of_the_law/index.html

“Love is the Law, Love under Will” (I, 57)

Doug Henning: On Wonder

“Wonder is a feeling that is completely lost and trampled on in modern life. It is a true emotion like love, not a learned emotion like jealousy or hate."

Doug Henning, from his introduction to S. H. Sharpe's "Words on Wonder" (1984, published by Todd Karr).