Dear Friends in Magic,
Some Museletters don’t arrive with answers. They arrive with a question that quietly follows you through the day, tapping you on the shoulder when you least expect it. The kind that asks not who you are, but what you’re waiting for.
This month’s Museletter is written by Mystery School Instructor Jonas Cain, whose work often lives at the intersection of storytelling, wonder, and personal courage. In this reflection, Jonas invites us to look closely at the moments where intention stalls, where discouragement whispers, and where the simplest choice to act can change everything.
Leap Year
by Jonas Cain
Grizzly bears are known as fierce predators, running up to 35 mph, lifting over 1,000 lbs, and having a bone-crushing bite even stronger than a lion. Yet, despite their reputation, grizzly bears are primarily foragers and scavengers, with approximately 85% of their diet being vegetation. They may be fierce, but their ability to adapt to available resources is what makes grizzly bears so successful.
Wasting Time
Meanwhile, at the University of Maryland, drama professor Rudy Pugliese asked a student, “Why are you wasting your time with those puppets?” Blunt, but fair. After all, serious adults don’t make a living with puppets, right?
And to be fair, even the student admitted he wasn’t taking puppetry seriously. I mean, it didn’t seem to be the sort of thing a grown man works at for a living. For him, puppetry was merely a placeholder until something better came along. He was patiently foraging for berries while he waited for the really good stuff to show up.
The Riddle of Life
Across the pond sat three frogs on a log. One frog decided it was time to take a leap and swim in the water. How many frogs are left? The obvious answer is two. After all, if one decided to swim, that would leave just two, right?
Well, that’s where the riddle of life goes awry, for there are still three frogs on that log – because the frog only decided to leap, but never acted on its decision. The frog wanted the meat, and no amount of placeholders would do.
Why We Remain on the Shore
There are many reasons why we might remain on the shore of life, and for the sake of the Grizzly Bear and Frog, I offer two for consideration:
Discouragement from others, and refusing to make the first move.
Discouragement from Others
It’s curious what prompted the professor to discourage his student. Whether puppetry is a worthy pursuit or not is irrelevant. At the time, this student was making over $5,200 a year with his own television show and several commercial clients. In the 1950s, that was a good salary, (equivalent to nearly $70k today) especially for a college sophomore. Not bad for playing around with foam and felt. When someone tries to discourage you from doing whatever it is you are doing, it’s worth considering what their real authority is in the matter – and what they stand to lose if you succeed, or gain if you don’t.
As for the student, he took the discouragement to heart by leaving the puppet show and traveling to Europe in pursuit of something ‘more serious,’ thinking he might study graphic design as a commercial artist. On the other side of the pond, however, is where life’s riddle took another unexpected turn. He discovered there are serious adults who view puppetry as on par with painting and sculpture.
“In Europe,” he said in amazement, “everyone goes to puppet shows.”
This realization was a turning point. Up until then, he always had his professor’s question in the back of his mind: “Why are you wasting your time with those puppets?” Now he finally found an answer: he wasn’t.
When he returned home, he made his decision. “It was at that point I realized that puppetry was an art form, a valid way to do really interesting things…I came back from that trip all fired up to do wonderful puppetry.”
With that, Jim Henson leaped into the water and founded Muppets, Inc.
Refusing to Make the First Move
When playing chess, I prefer to play black. It didn’t occur to me why until I sat down to write this story: I don’t like making the first move.
The first move takes strategy, confidence, and risk. And, while making the second move also calls for such things, it is a lot easier on the heart and far less emotionally invested. Studies show that sometimes it only takes a few experiences with failure to develop learned helplessness – the belief that ‘nothing I do matters.’
On a personal note, I can trace my chess strategy to failed businesses that ended in bankruptcy, and failed romances that alternatively ended in divorce and death; a veritable zugzwang where any move appears to be a disadvantage.
On a positive note, I can take encouragement from the grizzly bear who thrives on only 15% of what he really wants, and takes advantage of the available resources to make up for the rest. If the bear refuses to make the first move, and instead waits around for the ‘right’ time and the ‘perfect’ circumstances, he will starve to death. Nothing is ever perfect, and that’s just as it should be. As Leonard Cohen sings:
“Forget your perfect offering;
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.”
As for the puppeteer, instead of allowing doubt to leave him on the shore, he made the first move – which is precisely what turned that frog on a log into Kermit the Frog.
Final Thoughts
As magicians, we can often face discouragement from others with variations on the same theme: “Why are you wasting your time with magic?” But we don’t have to quit the show and tour Europe like Jim Henson to discover that magic can be an art on par with puppetry, theater, and music – a valid way to do really interesting things.
Like the grizzly bear, it’s likely 85% of your time will be spent on things that may not inherently excite you per se, (the business side of showbusiness can often be the least exciting) but without the foraging and scavenging, you’ll never get the raw meat. The good news is if you have a gift you are excited to share, then there will always be an audience for you. “This is the paradox that we call the one-sided coin,” says Bashar. “If you have the head, the tail has got to be there. If you have the gift, then the receiver has to be there. Don’t deprive them by waiting too long to be yourself.”
This final thought is directed towards myself, (and you are welcome to eavesdrop):
Every day, you will be called to make the second move in response to life’s great riddle, but that doesn’t mean you only have to make second moves.
You already know enough strategies to get started. Just getting out of bed to face another day takes more confidence that you realize. And doing anything worthwhile always comes with a risk, but what can be even more painful is staying stuck where you don’t belong.
Don’t wait too long to be yourself. Make the first move. The next leap year isn’t until 2028, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make this February a leap year anyway.
Why are you wasting your time? Your move!
Want More?
Jonas Cain, M.Ed. is a storyteller, magician, musician, and facilitator of fascination, helping people discover joy through curiosity and wonder. Connect with Jonas to discover more: jonas@hashtagpositivity.com
For years, I have lived at the intersection of Broadway and the boardroom, working with world-class magicians to craft moments that feel like miracles. What I’ve learned is that all business today is essentially experience design. Whether you are launching a startup or stepping onto a stage, you are performing; you are providing an experience that defines your company’s identity.
I call the most effective leaders “Wizards”—change agents who possess the wisdom and nerve to facilitate transformation in ways the world rarely expects. Like Merlin or Steve Jobs, a true Wizard doesn’t just react to reality; they distort it. Jobs was famous for his “reality distortion field,” but it wasn’t about deception—it was the radical belief that the impossible is merely possible once you allow yourself to think the unthinkable.
In my directing classes back in grad school, the very first lesson I learned is that attention is everything. For an entrepreneur, this means orchestrating your team’s focus to bring a vision to life. Our experienced reality is often just a mental model built on sensory data and prior assumptions. In many ways, it is an illusion. By questioning everything—especially the “rules” our culture has installed in us—you can shatter limiting beliefs and “re-illusion” your organization’s future.
Success also demands what I call the power of the mask. By learning to consciously take on different personas, you can access dormant strengths within yourself and build deep empathy by “walking a mile” in your clients’ shoes. However, this performative power requires radical responsibility. A master performer never blames the audience for a sub-par experience. You must own the room and every result within it. This is equally true for a business you operate.
Finally, remember that mastery is a superpower born of perfect practice. It isn’t about mindless repetition, but about mindful rehearsal that builds neural pathways until the extraordinary appears effortless. In this grand theater of commerce, you are the playwright and the actor. By mastering the performer’s edge, you gain the power to rewrite your own script.
The Alchemy of the Pivot—Much like a magician uses “false solutions” to lead an audience toward a stunning reveal, an entrepreneur must stay agile. When an initial idea falters, you must be willing to pivot—turning a failed concept into a successful new reality by following your underlying mission rather than a rigid plan.
Think of your business as a stage. If you don’t direct the spotlight, the audience will focus on the exit signs.
Tobias Beckwith
(415) 889-9491
www.yourmagic.com
Find out more insider secrets to creating magical theater with Tobias Beckwith’s newest pair of books – The Performer’s Edge and Wired for Wonder, available at your favorite bookseller.
Hello friends!
Jeff McBride here.
Currently, I’m on tour in Vienna, Austria at Magic World – I’ll attach a fun video for you to see what I’ve been up to.
A few days back we sent out some information that needs to be updated. The correct 2026 event schedule for McBride’s Magic & Mystery School is as follows:
Jan. 27, Feb. 3, & 10: From Strolling to Stage with Paul Draper
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/from-strolling-to-the-stage-essential-skills-for-building-your-career-in-magic
Feb. 20, 21, 22: Master the Classics, Las Vegas – SOLD OUT
April 20 – 26: 7-Day Master Class, Las Vegas – SOLD OUT
May 20 – 24: Jeff McBride at International Festival of Magic and Illusion, Brazil
https://festivaldeilusionismo.com/2026/pt/
June 25 – 28: Seance Summit, Las Vegas – 1 seat left
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/the-las-vegas-seance-summit
Sept. 25 – 27: Weekend of Wisdom, Las Vegas
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/weekend-of-wisdom-live-in-las-vegas-2026-09-25
Oct. 8 – 11: Master Class for Mentalism, Session 1 – SOLD OUT
Oct. 13 – 16: Master Class for Mentalism, Session 2
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/master-class-for-mentalism-2026-session-2
One of the great joys of leading our Mystery School community is watching our students and peers grow along the magical path. My friend Tim Santiago Converse recently wrote a reflection on his first year in magic. His words capture the spirit of mentorship, humility, and self-discovery. I wanted to share a portion of it with you here.
From Tim Santiago Converse
“Year One: All the Things I Wish I Knew When I Started 30 Years Ago”
When I first began in magic, everything I owned fit inside a battered briefcase. I still have it–cracked leather, worn corners, and stuffed with memories of a younger version of myself… nervous hands, big dreams, and not a clue what I was really searching for.
These days, I find myself wondering what I would say to that kid if I could send a message backwards through time. What advice would have spared me years of frustration? What guidance would have helped me grow with more intention and less noise? This is what I would tell him, and what I now share with peers who’ve been walking this road just as long.
1. Find a Mentor
A mentor is the greatest shortcut you will ever take. A true teacher doesn’t just explain how a trick works, they ask you why you want to perform it. In your first year you may guard your secrets and want to go it alone, but trust me, the path is richer when someone walks ahead of you with a lantern.
And later, when you become the mentor, don’t imagine you’ve outgrown the need for guidance. Your mentors simply come from new places–theater directors, coaches, business minds, or storytellers. Teaching others refines your own philosophy in a way nothing else can.
2. Find Who You Are
Imitation is natural at the beginning. We all echo our heroes. But sooner or later you must turn inward. What do you want to express? What story do you want to tell? Is your character aligned with your look, your words, your movement?
And for those of us decades into the craft, are we still performing as the person we were at 25? Or have we quietly outgrown our old persona? Magic should reflect who we are now. Sometimes evolution is overdue.
3. Find Your Community
Magic may feel solitary, but it was never meant to be done alone. The right community will challenge you, support you, and keep you honest.
And for the veterans: if you feel isolated at the top of your local scene, it’s time to widen the circle. Seek collaborators outside of magic–dancers, actors, entrepreneurs, and musicians. Talk not just about methods, but about legacy, burnout, imagination, and longevity. And always make time for the younger magicians. They need your guidance, and their creativity might just reawaken your own.
From Jeff
These are just a few highlights from Tim’s beautiful letter. There is much more depth, honesty, and wisdom in the complete version. You can read the full piece in this month’s Secret Arts Journal: https://www.secretartjournal.com
The Gift of Magic
This is the season when we share what matters most: wonder, wisdom, and the gift of mystery. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or someone who loves magic, this is it. A private online session with me is one of the most powerful ways to deepen your practice. Whether you want to learn new techniques, refine routines, strengthen presentations, or explore magic’s history and philosophy, we can go exactly where you want to go.
Abigail has created a beautiful gift certificate to make this easy. To reserve yours, email her or call at 702-450-0021.
The Las Vegas Séance Summit
It’s hard to believe Houdini has been gone for over a century, yet his spirit lives, especially here at the Mystery School. To honor this milestone, we are hosting a very special, in-person training: The Las Vegas Séance Summit.
This immersive experience will show you how to create atmosphere, structure a séance, use classic “spirit theater” techniques, and, most importantly, how to build your own Houdini-themed séance to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of his passing.
This event is limited to 13 participants, and more than half the seats are already taken. If you feel called to explore this sacred and theatrical tradition, now is the time to join us.
Houdini’s Spirit Lives…at Mystery School
Before he became the world’s most famous escape artist, Houdini was known as “The King of Cards.” His early mastery, focus, and unshakable drive helped shape my own path in magic. Ok, I was even inspired by his poster, too!
Houdini’s spirit is alive in our school today and inspires me to continue releasing books, videos, and stage-ready routines for our community.
Featured Creation: Mental Towers
One of my strongest routines for stage is now available.
Our final shipment from Asia has arrived. This is the last production run, and only a few sets remain. You can watch the demonstration video and explore my full line of magic creations, just in time for holiday shows – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com
Our New Book! A Book for All Seasons
Our newest new book includes tricks, tips, and big ideas from magicians Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, alongside work by Alexandra Duvivier, Bill Cook, Dani DaOrtiz, Shawn Farquhar, and many others. Both hardcover and pdf versions are available.
McBride World Tour News
Magic World Vienna
Soon I will be performing at the remarkable Magic World theater in Vienna. More details are available at https://www.magicworld.at/en/show/magicwinterfestival25
The Magic Castle – Hollywood
At the end of January, I will return to the Close-Up Gallery of the Magic Castle. If you are a Castle member, I look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings to all for a great holiday season ahead.
With gratitude and inspiration,
Jeff & Abigail McBride
Dear Friends in Magic,
In times when the world feels uncertain, art, and especially the art of magic, can become both a refuge and a response. This week, magician and philosopher Ferdinando Buscema invites us to consider how our practice of wonder can help us stay human amidst chaos. In this Museletter, Ferdinando reminds us that our sleights and scripts are more than tricks; they are acts of quiet courage and creative defiance.
Magic in Times of Chaos
by Ferdinando Buscema
Like many of us, I spend a lot of time thinking about magic. After nearly fifty years of this love affair, it still fills me every single day with deep joy and wonder. And, like many of us, I also read the news—trying to stay informed about what’s happening in the world—which can sometimes be overwhelming. It often seems as if the world is out of joint, spinning faster and stranger with every passing day. Yet, amid the noise and confusion, there is still so much beauty, kindness, and love worth protecting. Our attention is constantly pulled toward outrage and crisis, but the good is still there, if we know where to look. What follows are a few reflections on how to navigate this landscape of “High Weirdness”, as author Erik Davis calls it, and find some balance between these opposing forces.
Legend has it that on the night of April 14, 1912, as the Titanic sank into the freezing Atlantic, the eight musicians on board made a baffling choice. Instead of trying to save their lives, in the face of imminent disaster, they kept on playingtheir music.
Why did they act in such an unnatural way? We can speculate that perhaps, in that moment of chaos, they asked themselves, more or less consciously, What is my place in all this?
And maybe the answer was simple, bold, beautiful, and mad, “Just play on.”
It’s a striking image, one that feels deeply resonant for our times, as we find ourselves caught in our personal and collective turmoil. The world outside grows weirder and more incomprehensible by the day—faster, louder, meaner, and out of control. The effects on our inner lives are no fun–anxiety, helplessness, and disillusionment. And yet… here we are, magicians still honing our craft, still practicing our sleights, still rehearsing impossible things.
So why do we keep playing? Is it worth spending time and energy in the face of potential global disasters? Are we going to save the world from sinking with our tricks? Probably not. But magic is what we do, so we’ll keep on doing it anyway.
Magic—in its useless, beautiful, rebellious nature—is our way of staying human in a world that has forgotten how. In an age obsessed with efficiency and optimization, doing something that serves no practical purpose, like practicing sleight of hand or devoting endless hours to crafting wonder, is an act of quiet defiance and aesthetic resistance. We don’t do magic because it “makes sense.” We do it because it keeps our souls alive, and, hopefully, offers a glimpse of joy and wonder to those we share our art with.
Italian philosopher Franco “Bifo” Berardi wrote:
“I think that despair is the only appropriate intellectual response to our times. At the same time, I also think that despair and joy are not mutually exclusive, since despair is a mode of being of the intellectual mind, while joy is a way of being of the embodied mind.”
That’s a lifesaving reminder. Opposite feelings are not enemies. They can coexist, woven into the same breath. You can feel the weight of the world pressing down and still laugh at a dumb joke with a friend. You can be overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all and still be moved to tears by a song or a film. You can grieve and still dance in your kitchen, sing in the shower, fall in love, or play with your cat. You can be heartbroken about the world and still find yourself astonished by a magic effect, a new Fool Us episode, a piece of art, a book, or a friend.
Despair and joy–the real double lift–the secret move for surviving in times of High Weirdness.
Italian author Italo Calvino offers us a powerful magic spell, the ultimate compass to navigate our world:
“The hell of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the hell that we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two ways to avoid suffering for it. The first is easy for many: to accept hell and become part of it to the point of not seeing it anymore. The second is risky and requires continuous attention and learning: seeking and knowing how to recognize who and what, in the midst of hell, is not hell, and make it last, and give it space.”
Those words are a master key. That’s the trick. That’s the magic we need. We must learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of hell, is not hell, and then help those things last, and give them space to flourish. It all comes down to attention. What we pay attention to becomes our world. We become what we behold, and learning to direct our attention is no small task, especially in a world engineered to distract, disorient, and drag us into endless doom-scrolls.
So, my friends, here are three practical field notes, from one explorer to another, for thriving in the weirdness.
1. Practice — Attention as a martial art
Our art of magic lives and breathes through practice. Whether you’re refining a sleight, polishing a script, or rehearsing a full act, every moment of focused work is an act of quiet resistance against the chaos outside. Each minute spent at the table or at the mirror is a balm for the soul. When we practice, we’re not merely perfecting moves or words, we’re cultivating the martial art of attention. Attention is the ultimate superpower–the ability to shape our reality according to our will. So, learn to love your practice.
2. Perform — Just do it!
Whatever your level of skill or devotion to the art, magic is meant to be performed. Whether you are an amateur, a professional, or something in between, the more you share your magic, the more you spread joy and wonder to the people you meet. No, you’re not going to change the world with your Coins Across or Ambitious Card, but for a brief time, you have the chance to bring light, laughter, and astonishment into someone’s life. That’s no small feat. Magic is good medicine.
I’ve come to believe that real magic is the transmutation of despair into joy—by any means necessary. It’s how we say to the darkness–you don’t get the last word.
3. Community — That’s where true happiness lies.
No person is an island. Each of us is part of a greater whole. The communities we belong to shape who we are. We need others to form our sense of self, and, most importantly, we need others to create and share our happiness (and our sadness, too.) We’re so lucky to be part of the Magic & Mystery School community–this living, loving, breathing circle of wonder-workers. Personally, like many, I’ve found here a home for the soul. I’ve found friendship, knowledge, inspiration, support, and countless gifts. Here we share our joys and sorrows under the wings of loving and wise elders.
This community is an island of sanity, joy, and play amid chaos and darkness. It is a place of the heart, where we can nourish our souls, both in person and from afar. Cherish this place, and seize every opportunity to engage, contribute, and celebrate.
There you have it, my friends.
We don’t know where our global ship is sailing, or what the next wave will bring. The headlines may scream, but we, like the musicians on the Titanic, will keep on playing. Because this is what we do–our gentle, steady form of resistance, to multiply hope, beauty, and joy in the face of darkness.
