Reflections
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Reflecting on the Structure of Magic Effects
In the Mystery School book, Eugene Burger published an essay On The Structure of Magic Effects. Fortunately it was reprinted in the first posthumous book written and published by Lawrence Hass. Unfortunately I believe both are only available on the secondary market. It’s only a few pages long however there’s much to consider and contemplate.… Continue reading
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The Mystery School Book
In my recent post on books that aren’t just effects or just theory and philosophy, I neglected to mention one of my favorites. It’s such a favorite that I happen to have two copies: one pristine for reading and one with printing errors but filled with signatures and inscriptions from the various contributors. While Eugene… Continue reading
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Taxonomies of Magic
The September 6, 2024 newsletter from Jeff Kowalk, the Erudite Magician and CFO of Vanishing Inc. discussed the evergreen taxonomy of magicians. He used the classifications of collector, family and friends performer, part-time professional, and full time professional to describe the community. The full time professional is at the top of hierarchy as they earn… Continue reading
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Convention Reflection
The annual 2024 IBM convention was held recently within commuting distance and I took the opportunity to attend. I hadn’t been to an IBM convention since the early 80’s when it was in Pittsburgh. I hadn’t attended any conventions since the 2020 SAM convention in Las Vegas right before the world shut down. One of… Continue reading
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Reacting to Stuff
“Conditions are always neutral. They seem either sad or happy depending on the sad or happy attitudes of the mind.” Paramhansa Yogananda “The cause of my irritation is not in this person but in me.” Anthony de Mello, The Way to Love Events, occurrences, interactions are all just stuff. Stuff is what most of our… Continue reading
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Everyone’s an Individual and Independent
In 2023, I read Paolo Bacigalupi‘s wonderful sci-fi novel, The Windup Girl. I would call it ecological dystopian fiction. It was his first adult audience book as he has written young adult books too. In The Windup Girl, Bacigalupi created a world that felt real – especially in light of higher temperatures, atmospheric rivers, and… Continue reading