| Have you ever watched a magician in action and | | | | United Kingdom, Canada and Europe. Unfortunately |
| secretly wished that you were the one | | | | however, they are not usually found in other |
| performing all those amazing feats and getting the | | | | countries. |
| audience's applause? Magic has fascinated | | | | The next best thing is to search your local library |
| countless millions of people through the ages and | | | | or book stores for magic books. These are books |
| used to be a mysterious art shrouded in deep | | | | that teach you various tricks that you can |
| secrecy. Now its sealed doors have been opened | | | | perform with cards and common household |
| and almost anyone who has an interest in magic | | | | objects. Most of these tricks are quite simple but |
| can take it up as a rewarding and potentially | | | | they are good enough for a start. You can also |
| lucrative hobby. | | | | try looking in toy stores for magic kits. These are |
| Before I go further, I would like to clarify that | | | | packaged magic tricks that come with complete |
| when I talk about magic here, I'm referring to | | | | instructions and the props that you need to |
| magic tricks- the art of illusion. It is the branch of | | | | perform them. They are good as gifts for aspiring |
| entertainment whereby secret principles, props | | | | magicians too. |
| and skills are used to make impossible effects | | | | If all the above fail, the last resort is to visit an |
| look like they are really happening. | | | | online magic store. Just do a search at any of the |
| Magic tricks are sometimes mistakenly assumed | | | | good search engines and you will find many good |
| to be supernatural events caused by spiritual | | | | reputable magic websites that sell a huge variety |
| forces, simply because they look so real. No | | | | of magic tricks, props, books, and DVDs. Any |
| matter how incredible they look, magic tricks are | | | | magician, from a beginner to an advanced |
| not created by any supernatural means | | | | professional, would be able to find something |
| whatsoever but through some clever logical | | | | suitable for his or her skill level. |
| methods. | | | | What are the benefits of taking up magic as a |
| Okay, so where do you go to learn magic? If you | | | | hobby? As a semi-professional magician who has |
| happen to be born into a family of magicians or if | | | | been performing magic for as long as I can |
| someone you know is a magician, you are very | | | | remember, I have found that magic has improved |
| fortunate because you can ask that person to be | | | | my confidence, public speaking skills and mental |
| your magical teacher. Magic used to be passed | | | | alertness. On top of that, it has also provided |
| down from generation to generation this way. | | | | many hours of fun on many boring evenings and |
| Don't worry if you don't know anyone. There are | | | | through the years, has helped me gain many |
| other ways to go about it. Try to look up your | | | | friends. |
| local phone directory or yellow pages for magic | | | | Therefore, if you have even the slightest interest |
| stores or shops. They are available in most big | | | | in magic, I urge you not to wait any longer. Jump |
| cities in Western countries like the United States, | | | | right in and enjoy the wonderful hobby of magic! |