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The following article is from a series of entertainment-related articles and tips on magic …

There is a special quality about magic that we find irresistible. Long bearded wizards waving a staff as beams of light shoot forth. A fantastic floor show in which white tigers appear and disappear captures our attention as surely as the magician locked within a straight jacket that manages to escape at the last moment. The mystery of the magician has surrounded us since the beginning of time, from the midwives who cured a festering wound to the gypsies reading Tarot cards to divine our fortunes.

Does magic truly exist or is it all in the mind of the beholder? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about magic:

What were they called?

The first people believed to practice magic were Priests, Priestesses or Shamans. Their role was to perform the rituals associated with the culture from which they belonged. All humans, at one time or another, believed in ideas that would seem peculiar to modern man. Druids respected the natural order of the world and would perform seasonal rituals to usher in crops, the New Year or different holy days. Charlatan is one term many would use to refer to individuals who practiced magic because it was thought that it was all trickery and hoaxes.

Why is magic tied to witchcraft?

Are there witches? Were there witches? That is a subject of debate. In our time most would be known as Wiccans. The actual philosophy behind the Wicca lifestyle can be traced back to Druids of the past. They embrace nature and believe that Gaia or Mother Earth is the real power. This thought was not embraced, however, by religious leaders.

How has the art of magic evolved over the past hundred years?

Magic has turned from a more ritualistic approach into that of sleight of hand. It has become a showmanship and illusion. Amazing tricks are performed in front of an audience but the performance gives an illusion of magic when in reality there is none. Common sense practices, such as washing a wound, may have once been considered magic but now we know them to be just part of good hygiene. As modern society continues to advance, mysteries that astound us now will eventually be revealed.

Was Harry Houdini a magician?

Though Houdini was called a magician, he technically was an illusionist and escape artist. His courageous feats were accomplished by hard work and skill. His famous acts, such as escaping from a straight jacket while under water, required him to be flexible and to use a great deal of subterfuge.

What is the difference between sleight-of-hand, illusion and magic?

While once there might have been a difference between these three forms of magic, we would now consider them to be the same thing. All require the use of illusion. The mind believes one thing, the eyes see one thing but the reality is that it’s something completely different.

For more information on illusions, visit: Magicians