Learning
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Yoga of Conjuring – VII
Niyamas The Niyamas are the “do’s” to the Yamas “don’ts.” Niyama translates to Non-Control. They are: Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapasya (austerity), Swadhyara (self-study), and Iswara Pranidhana (devotion). Saucha Saucha or cleanliness is an attribute that we shouldn’t have to talk about, yet we do. It is cleanliness in our props, hygiene, dress, manner and… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – VI
Yamas Continued Bracharcharya Bracharcharya has been translated as non-sensual, self-restraint.. I don’t believe that this means that I have to become a monk or an aesthetic. It is self-containment, bringing our energies inward for greater self control. The idea of self-containment runs counter to our Western society where appearance and appeal mean so much. Both… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – V
Yamas Continued Satya The second Yama is Satya meaning truthfulness or non-lying. When first relating Satya to magic, it appears to be a lost cause. After all, isn’t magic about deception? Doesn’t deception involve lying? This is all true. However aren’t conjurers one of the most honest professions? It is our role to create magical… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – IV
The Yamas The Sanskrit word, Yama, translates to “control” or simply “the don’ts.” There are five Yamas. They are Ahimsa or Non-Violence, Satya or Non-Lying and Truthfulness, Astayna or Non-Stealing, Brahmacharya or Non-Sensuality and Aparigraha or Non-Greed and Non-Attachment. Ahimsa Ahimsa is known to many through the life of Gandhi. Through living Ahimsa and Satya… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – III
Each limb of Patanjali’s Eight-Limbed path has a direct correspondence to learning and growing as a magician and the performance of magic. For me, they are a path to being an awake and present performer. I came to this as process for my own development. I’m sharing it here an invitation to explore, not as… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – II
Studying the Eight Limbs of the Yoga Sutras, it became clear that while they are guides for living, they fit with our work as magicians. Magic is one of those words that we all assume we understand. However, all one has to do is review the literature of performance magic to see our struggle and… Continue reading
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Yoga of Conjuring – I
I’m not sure when I made meditation and yoga daily practices. It’s been over 20 years. I started earlier with occasional practice using a set of VHS tapes. For those who missed out, VHS was a clunky format with less than optimal control. For a “date night,” we attended a three evening class of yoga… Continue reading