Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.44.0203111303410.17120-100000@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>,
"WRYTING-L : Writing and Theory across Disciplines" <WRYTING-L@LISTSERV.UTORONTO.CA>
Subject: The Truth of Magic (A Note)
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 13:04:01 -0500 (EST)
- The Truth of Magic (A Note) The Truth of Magic, may I be the first to reveal it, is that Houdini is heroic, not for exposing the various mechanisms and pretenses involved in the application of entertainment and trickery - but for deflecting the Spiritual Aspects of what we do - as if it were nothing more than doll, puppet, machine. The Truth of Magic is that Magic is true, not slight-of- hand; it has been our gift to allay the fears of Gentlemen and Ladies, presenting ourselves as powerless, even impotent. But nothing is farther from the Truth; Houdini could move mountains, and those illusionists on television and stage are in fact doing what they promise. The world is full of Illusion - 'tis true - but the Illusion is that of mechanism, not Spirit. Thus I break with the Ranks of our great Secrecy, Yours, etc. etc. _