What happens when imagination meets reality?

I love stage magic, particularly illusions which happen right in front of your face (typically accomplished with meticulous slight-of-hand). I've learned some tricks, but have never put in the time and effort to truly master the art. I'm dazzled by the performances, though I know enough about how it's done that I find some of the magic fades. I wish it didn't. I miss the awe and wonder.

Actually, I think the looks of amazement you can obtain with a really good trick is second to nothing. Especially with children, who gasp with such astonishment, it's like you get a breath of pure magic simply from being witness. My wife gifted a young girl with a bit of a quiltwork she had completed, and the girl smiled with pure wonder. That's imagination made real. Magic.

Stage magicians rely on our desire for wonder, amazement, and to be willingly baffled. They aren't the only ones though. Writers, painters, musicians, sculptors, cooks, and a host of other professions, all strive to bring a bit of magic to our lives. But, witness the wonders of nature and marvel all the same! Imagination's myriad creations challenge us to see the world in new ways, revealing wonders we never expected and will never forget. If there's one facet of the human being which never fails to give me goose bumps, it's our ability to imagine. What a miracle it is!

- M

Crazy mazes are more than just fun, they're part of history.

As a kid, I drew mazes all the time. I even drew one that measured something like 12 sheets of paper (taped together into a 2 x 3 piece), which took me about a week to draw--nobody was willing to attempt it though. In the distant past, labyrinths were used as holy symbols that offered healing and other kinds of magic. But, mazes have also entered stories (like with the minotaur) as places so fiendishly difficult to solve that it's actually impossible to find your way out of them. Because of this background, mazes are usually thought of as really hard.

Is this difficult? Or, is it mind-churningly crazy?

Isn't it funny how quickly we allow ourselves to give up if things are difficult? I'm incredibly competitive, but it's actually tempting to give myself a pass when something is "hard." I've seen this happen to many people, and watch with great interest. Of course, just because we're tempted to quit doesn't make us follow along with the impulse, and hopefully we push through when it's important. Not everything is worth banging your head against the wall just so you can say you finished.

Maybe it's because we dislike being made into fools, so when things are said to be really hard we either go crazy trying to complete the task or shrug and give up. There's a bunch of silly games which double down on this concept and drive it to infinity--basically they make a maze-like arena and create insane difficulties where you are either a god of games or turn into a blithering idiot as you scream at the screen (yep, they're also called "rage games." Play "Cat Mario" and you'll see what I mean). Sometimes difficult is an accurate descriptor and it's wise to pay attention.

- M

Immortality--living beyond your natural life.

Many people have wished for immortality, but there are more definitions beyond the typically thought of never ending life. Your name and lineage can extend into time. Your physical creations may survive for ages--buildings, paintings, sculptures, and so on. Ideas far outlast the people who dream them up. There's an interesting dialogue in the movie, "Troy," where Achilles is speaking about being remembered for great deeds and how that is true immortality. He makes a good point.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

 Why do we have such a deep desire to live forever? Maybe it's because we realize life is short and uncertain. We want to stave off death. We're afraid to face our own ending? I think it's not so simple, though. I think we hope we are remembered beyond our meager lives. We want a legacy that outlasts us. Like Achilles, we want people to talk about us far into the future. We want to make an impact on the world we inhabit.

There are legends and myths about objects which can grant eternal life, heal incurable wounds, and bring to life the dying. People have spent their entire lives searching for these things. Despite the lack of success, more will continue to look. I wonder what would happen if such an item were actually found? How would the world change? Who would have access to it? Would the world know, or keep it a secret? Could everyone have a drink from the Fountain of Youth?

- M

Illusion and the Art of Misdirection

Magicians have understood the importance of getting people to look in the wrong place at the right time for centuries. Stage magicians use the concept to make sure the audience never glimpses what's really going on, what's behind the curtain, or creeping up behind. Illusion works the same way. I particularly love optical illusions, because they toy with our perceptions in ways that are nearly impossible to defeat even when you know exactly what's going on. Check this out...

 

Is it 2 or 3 prongs?

It's a classic illusion, but knowing all about it doesn't help. You still see the 3-pronged fork. Our brains are so well trained in seeing things that it doesn't know it's being fooled. There's another one that is typically called the "Dragon Illusion" which has to be seen to be believed (I've linked that to a YouTube video showing the magic).

 

Fooling audiences is fun for both sides, really. The performer is rewarded by gasps of awe, and the audience enjoys seeing magic come alive. It doesn't matter that it's all trickery. I think that's much of the joy, where both sides work together and create something greater than any of its parts. Poetic imagery aside, it's great fun. Enjoy it, and stop trying to figure out how the magician makes the rabbit appear out of a hat. Let the magic happen.

 

- M