mind + spirit healing the mind You can do !

Magic has been entertaining people for centuries. Now Dr Nicola Davies discovers that it can even have health benefits.

natureandhealth.com.au | 78 | June-July 2016 mind + spirit healing the mind

S well as appealing to our inner child and 3. Social development senseA of wonder, magic has been found to provide A magician needs an audience. Performing tricks can psychological benefits for the performer. Tim be an ice-breaker to connect with people. It requires a Stracey, for instance, had experienced depression for person to engage with their audience, persuade them, years. He lost his marriage and his job, and found and understand what’s going on in their minds. By himself in a men’s crisis home two years ago, on the capturing an audience’s attention, magic can also be a brink of suicide. Practising magic and performing way for a person to achieve a sense of control over an shows became therapeutic for him. Today, he is a otherwise chaotic environment. full-time mentalist magician; he entertains people at Magic, like any other unique hobby, can bring a private and corporate events, and also tries to break sense of accomplishment during difficult times. It the stigma around negative mental health. can shift your focus and energy onto a wonderful, Stracey isn’t the only one experiencing health emotionally appealing activity that harnesses your benefits associated with magic therapy. In the United skills. An engaging hobby like magic can enhance States, illusionist Kevin Spencer was in a near-fatal your mental development, motor dexterity and ability accident in 1988, which resulted in serious head to connect with other people, which are all essential to and lower spinal cord injuries. While recuperating, healing from depression or, indeed, any ill health. he developed what is now called the ‘Healing of Magic’ approach, a therapeutic program using simple magic tricks to encourage the physical and ❃ psychosocial rehabilitation of patients with mental Find out more health and behavioural problems. The Australian Magic Institute An The Magic Academy Magic lessons and And just as Stracey weaves positive messages organisation dedicated to furthering courses. www.themagicacademy.com.au about mental health into his performances, the standard and reputation Hey Presto Magic Study The largest magic another magician and mentalist from India, of Australian magicians. www. shop in the Southern hemisphere, Sydney- Nakul Shenoy, also uses magic to communicate australianinstituteofmagic.org based. www.heyprestomagic.com socially relevant messages. Shenoy has written and spoken extensively about how knowledge and training can benefit a magician-in-the-making. The therapeutic and rehabilitation purposes of You can do magic ... magic can be classified as follows: Anybody can learn magic and harness workshops and classes for anyone the health benefits that it offers. interested in learning magic. They have a Here’s how: roster of experienced magicians who offer Magic can across 1. Read books Many magicians say private sessions or group classes to suit that magic books are the best tools to the learner’s age and level of experience. barriers of language, learn technique. Books provide detailed Another institution that offers magic demonstrations and logical explanations of classes in Australia is the Magic Academy. education, gender and age, basic tricks and show how you to progress They have seven levels of courses, to create social awareness to more complicated ones. However, which are intended for professional reading alone isn’t enough. Practising the development and personal growth. Some and public engagement. tricks is key. Ideally, beginners should of the types of magic they teach include initially perform for small groups of people card tricks, card manipulation, platform who can provide constructive feedback. magic, and . 1. Mental development 2. Visit magic shops There are plenty 4. Get in touch with other magicians AIM Performing and mastering magic takes time and that sell books, DVDs, specialty cards organises events where magicians-in- patience. It requires a high degree of mental stimulation and packaged tricks. Visiting one can the-making can meet with professionals, and concentration for a magician to be able to follow help a beginner to assess their current such as the Melbourne Magic Festival and through on complex instructions and tasks. Constant skill level. Initially, restrict yourself to Melbourne’s Magic Nights. AIM’s website practice helps increase a person’s tolerance for simply observing what the shop has also outlines other Australian clubs that hold frustration and stress. It is also mentally therapeutic to offer. Many beginners admit to regular meetings for magic enthusiasts. because it keeps the mind and body active, and it is buying a host of expensive packaged Many magicians also provide tutorials on entertaining and emotionally uplifting for the learner. tricks, thinking that they will expedite the internet for free. AIM’s website provides the complexity of their performance. video links to tutorials for basic tricks, 2. Personal growth However, starting with the basic such as the “Triple Outcome Prediction,” Magic can be a terrific tool to boost self-confidence, classic tricks is best and creates a firm “Sensitive Fingers,” and some tricks self-esteem, motor dexterity, and public speaking foundation from which to progress. relating to Question Cards. Beginners can skills of someone going through depression. It can 3. Take classes Although membership of study available online resources, as well as encourage self-expression and independence, as well the Australian Institute of Magic (AIM) is by discover and participate in online forums for as strengthen your sense of identity. invitation only, AIM nonetheless provides magicians from all over the world.

natureandhealth.com.au | 79 | June-July 2016