Commentary
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Book Notes: Foundation
Like many other Apple + subscribers, we enjoyed the series Foundation, based on the Isaac Asimov books. While I read a few of Asimov’s robot series years ago, I never ventured into the world of Foundation. A few months ago, I remedied that with a tithe purchase at a favorite bookstore. The initial trilogy of… Continue reading
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Revisiting: Man On Wire
This past weekend, I rewatched the Academy Awards winning documentary, Man On Wire. It had been awhile but since last Wednesday, August 7th, was the 50th anniversary of Philippe Petit’s coup – wire-walking between the World Trade Center, it felt like the perfect time. Creating an engaging and entertaining film about an event that the… 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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Yoga of Conjuring – XIV
Samadhi The eighth and final limb is Samadhi. Samadhi has been described as bliss, nirvana, self-realization or union with Spirit or Source. It is the expanse of meditation. Magicians can think of it as the point where all of our work bears fruit in a performance that has the magic that we are looking to co-create… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – XIII
Samyama Patanjali brings together the final three limbs under Samyama. Samyama is Sanskrit for holding or tying together. It consists of the three inner practices of Dharana or concentration, Dhyana or absorption and Samadhi or union. These three limbs also tie together all of the previous limbs and are why the yogic meditator has worked… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – XII
Pratyahara The third and fourth Limbs are in preparation for the fifth – Pratyahara. This is where the meditator consciously withdraws from external stimuli. This is accomplished by closing one’s eyes, shutting off the outside and withdrawing from the day-to-day. The meditator moves from focused breathing like the Even Count Breathing to simply allowing the… Continue reading