The Four Archetypes and the Four Stoic Virtues

Dear Friends:
 
Happy summer! Our guest columnist this month is the ever-thoughtful Santiago.

The last time I wrote for The Museletter, I explored the idea that the overall character we think of as “The Magician,” could very likely be a Stoic as defined by the ancient philosophers such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. I have continued to deepen my understanding of the Stoics, and I have been thinking about the Four Stoic Virtues.
 
So what are the Four Stoic Virtues?  Justice, Courage, Temperance, and Wisdom.

Very quickly I began to think about the four archetypes of the magician with which we have all become so familiar: The Trickster, The Sorcerer, The Oracle, and The Sage. I began to look at both the differences and the similarities. I grant that some metaphors are better than others, but the more I thought about this one, the more I thought that there really seemed to be something to It—a lesson to be learned.

Let’s start with Justice.  For the stoics it wasn’t just about following “the law,” but rather more about the idea of doing what was right for the common good of all. It was about making sure that we were true to ourselves, and thus served as good examples to emulate.

This made me think of one of the ultimate “tricksters,” Coyote.  His job was to teach people lessons about themselves, to put a pin in their pomposity, and get them to realize that they were being arrogant, egotistical, or just plain wrong, and in so doing, get them to act better—to be more true to who they really were, or could be.

The greatest justice we ever experience is when we ourselves are just. The Trickster seems ideally suited to pushing us in the right direction, even if we have to take a few lumps along the way to get there.

Then there is Courage. Of all the Stoics, the one we may know best is Marcus Aurelius, and he faced some of the greatest challenges of all ruling an empire wracked by war, plague, and politics. But, he always faced these challenges first and foremost by reminding himself that he must never let the power he had corrupt him. He faced each day with courage, and used the power he had to master not only an empire, but more importantly, himself.

Sounds a heck of a lot like the Sorcerer to me; someone gathering the knowledge and power to rule the world around them, and to achieve whatever it is they want. But, having power is one thing. Having the courage to use it well is something else.

Where I felt that the metaphors started to become stronger is with the virtue of Temperance. After all, once the Sorcerer has the power to get everything they desire, the first thing they have to determine is what they desire!

Turning to the wisdom of Seneca we get these words.

“You ask what is the proper limit to a person’s wealth? First, having what is essential, and second, having what is enough.”

The Sorcerer may have all the power and control, but they may not yet have direction. Turning inward and tempering that power is the job of the Oracle. 

With the Oracle, suddenly mysteries are revealed. We begin to understand ourselves and what we want.  We begin to see others around us, and understand them on an even deeper level. 

We then see that we have the power to create a better world, not just for ourselves, but for others. Recall Justice and The Trickster?  Maybe it’s time to take some of that Sorcerer’s power and teach some lessons. Add a dash of Oracular Temperance and you’ll soon learn enough about yourself to understand the kinds of lessons you not only want to teach, but are best suited to teach.

For those of us who are thinking about making our performances more meaningful, isn’t this exactly where we want to be—using all that knowledge, all those skills, and all that “power”, to connect, communicate, and ultimately teach with your magic?

And now here we are, teaching. We have crossed into the realm of the Sage who is best characterized by Wisdom. For The Stoics, the course of Wisdom was to recognize the things we can control, and understand the difference between them and the things that we cannot control. Once they knew that, choosing the right actions, the right lessons, and the right way to be, became easy.

Through the archetypes of The magician, and maybe with some help from The Four Stoic Virtues, we’ve found ourselves in a place where we have a deeper wisdom, not just about the magic, but about the journey.

What we also have found ourselves with is a certain responsibility—a responsibility to take all that we’ve learned from what came before, and share it with “the tribe”. Our community grows stronger by virtue of the Sages among us who take the time to do more than say “see, this is how this is done,” but also say “this is why this is done.”

The word ‘philosophy,’ derived from the Greek ‘philo’ (love) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom), is literally defined as “the love of wisdom.”  What makes philosophy fun, in my opinion, is to take disparate ideas and bring them together to see what happens. My ever-growing love of The Stoics brought me here to a place where I could bring their ideas and our school’s ideas of The Archetypes together, to see what happens.

For me, this is what happened, and I hope that it sparks some deeper ideas in you as well.

Old School Magic Rocks

“The classics of magic teach us about ourselves; they are the heart and soul of our magical art.”  –Sam Sharpe

Old School Meets New School.

I started my magic career by learning classic “old school” magic. I learned the “building blocks” of how to make magic, then added a modernistic twist to the classic routines to build my original act that took me around the world.

Many of the world’s top magicians learned by performing “The Classics.” David Copperfield, Lance Burton, AGT winners Mat Franco and Shin Lim, and many others, worked on classic magic to springboard to global fame.

What Makes a Classic a Classic?

• Works in nearly all conditions–indoor, outdoor, or surrounded. Works in pantomime, talking, or to music.
• Minimal skills to perform the basic routine.
• You can add more complexity depending upon your skill level.

 The Classics of Magic endure the test of time and each generation of performers brings new and fresh presentations to them.

Here are just a few of the effects that you can explore with me in my upcoming class! 

Egg Bag, Linking Rings, Zombie Floating Ball, Miser’s Dream, Chinese Sticks, Torn & Restored Paper, Water in the Newspaper, Professor’s Nightmare, The Salt Pour, Ring on Rope, Cut & Restored Rope, Razor Blades, Hydrostatic Glass, Silk to Egg, Chop Cup, Chinese Sticks, Six-Card Repeat, Grand Finale Card Stab. These and many more will be covered in this “skill building” class!

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Each of these timeless favorites has a lesson to teach us. 

• The methods are deceptive and easy to learn.
• Perfect for adding your personality.
• Can be performed in all conditions, close up, stage, and often surrounded.
• Learn secrets of the Classics of Magic and why they have endured over the years.
• Learn the correct techniques and practice disciplines that lead to a professional presentation.
• You will learn both basic and advanced techniques, suited to your skill level, and how to make your magic entertaining and play BIG in large venues.
• The Classics work in pantomime, talking, or to music.
• Minimal skills to perform or add more complexity and nuances, depending upon your skills.  

Join us for three Saturdays, July 10, 17, and 24, starting at 12 noon pacific time. Ninety-minute class, followed by thirty minutes of discussion, and Q&A. All classes will be recorded so you can view them later.

Learn the real secrets to the world’s most beloved magic!

Imagine yourself receiving personal instruction from Jeff McBride and some of the top experts in the world of magic as they teach you the real secrets of the Parlor Magic Classics.

• We will explore the hidden MEANING of these magic effects, why they are memorable, and how they can touch the souls of the audience.
• We will explore the symbolism, mystery, and metaphors of each of these classics of magic.
• By the end of this course, you will have the ability to present a practical and powerful stage performance. 
• Jeff will draw from his more than 50 years of teaching and performing experience to give you insights and empowering lessons in presentation, technique, and character.

Take-Aways

• PARLOR MAGIC CLASSICS includes six plus hours of powerful content and personal interaction.
• Free bonus videos and resource lists.
• This could be the last time this class is ever offered online! Our classroom is opening in September for live events in Vegas, so register now! 

https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/parlor-magic-classics-online-on-zoom

NOTE: This class will be recorded, and available to all registered students to view, so you can watch them at any time if you miss the live class. These videos will be available for twelve months following the conclusion of the class.

Private Classes Live in Vegas …or online.

For the summer, I will be teaching online and hosting private classes in Vegas. Call Abigail for more info: 702-450-0021, or go here https://www.magicalwisdom.com/about/private_sessions.

Free Lance Burton Teen Seminar for Kids

Lance Burton Teen Seminar

Join us for the 2021 Lance Burton Teen Seminar. If you are an I.B.M. Member between the ages of 13-19, or the child or grandchild of an I.B.M. Member, and are between the ages of 13 and 19, you can attend the online Lance Burton Teen Seminar this year ABSOLUTELY FREE.

The Seminar will be facilitated by none other than Jeff McBride and Dr. Lawrence Hass, the Founder and the Dean of the world-famous Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas. It will also feature special guests. 
Dates for the Seminar are  July 6th, and  July 7th. 

We are ecstatic to announce that as well as the Lance Burton Teen Seminar being FREE, the actual online convention will also be FREE to all I.B.M. Youth Members under the age of 18. Please register for the online convention by CLICKING HERE.

The McBride Magic and Mystery School has been facilitating Lance Burton’s Teen Seminar since its inception in 2003. In the past, our special guest instructors have included Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Suzanne, Oscar Munoz, Joe M Turner, Larry Hass, Joshua Jay, Jessica Jane, Bill Cook, and Shawn Farquhar.

If you are a teen and have a serious interest in magic then this is the place to be in July, 2021… seriously! Need more info? Contact Simone Marron at simone@marrons.us. To sign up for the Lance Burton Teen Seminar, please download the application form by CLICKING HERE. You can complete and email it back to simone@marrons.us. Don’t forget to register for the 2021 I.B.M. Convention by CLICKING HERE.

Special thanks to the I.B.M. Endowment & Development Fund (EDF) for sponsoring this event.

In the Fall, WONDERGROUND will reopen and so will LIVE events at our Mystery School in Vegas! 
 
Until then… See you all online!

Jeff 

What is Alive in You?

Our guest writer this month is Abigail McBride.
 
Greetings Magical Friends,
 
The man who is recognized as the “Father of Nonviolent Communication,” Marshall Rosenburg, would often ask students to be honest by saying what was alive in them at the moment… and I thought, as I sat down to share my thoughts with you all in this Museletter, that this might be a good place for me to start.

As some of you know already, my beloved parents, Ken & Marthajoy, have just recently moved into our neighborhood, right down the street.  So, a lot of what is alive in me these days centers around them, making sure they are safe and comfortable, reworking my schedule so I can see them, bringing them some food, or just calling and checking in. I am fully aware of what a tremendous gift it is to be able to be close to them as they enter their eighties, and what a precious treasure each moment with them really is, now, more than ever.

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Recognizing that time is short makes it all the more dear, and makes me all the more committed to using the time I have, both with them, and in the rest of my life, wisely.
 
One of the wisest ways I use my time is in making music. I’ve been doing a couple of online classes over the past year, deepening into my practice and writing new songs.

I am very grateful to be nominated Best Female Artist of the Year by the IPMA. If you’d like to vote for me, you can, right here:
https://ipaganma.org/2021-ballot/

Jeff and I got to spend some time at the Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York many years ago, and we were very taken with the Evening Gatha, which says:

Let me respectfully remind you,
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken…
Awaken… take heed!
Do not squander your life!

So, friends, this is a gentle reminder to be present in the moments we have, to love those we are close to, to savor the times we have, and to do what we love… even as the seconds slip through our fingers like sand.  These are the kinds of thoughts I like to share with my followers on Patreon, along with music, and some of my writing from the road.

Feel free to join us here: https://www.patreon.com/AbigailSpinnerMcBride

Yours in the present moment,
 
Abigail

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Dear Friends,

Our guest author this month is Simone Marron, listed on our site as: 

Simone Marron – Social Coordinator, performer, eternal student, and best friend to magicians the world over.

I can’t think of a truer description for her. She has some true words of wisdom for us.

As the light gets increasingly brighter at the end of the tunnel of solitude, what have we learned?

• Procrastination is not caused by lack of available time.
• We were able to spend more time alone than we previously ever thought possible.
• You can count on some friends more than others.
• The magic community is there for us.
• Zoom has helped most of us through.

The McBride Magic & Mystery School has been teaching online for more than ten years. The phrase “Monday is a school night,” has been a frequently heard phrase throughout our homes during that time. So, it is no surprise that the early adopters of online classes specifically for those wandering through the “tunnel,” would be the creation of the Mystery School.

Without doubt, this quote written decades ago did not refer to the Zoom that we have become so familiar with. Almost certainly, it is coincidental that the word Zoom was used when talking about Elvis in the context of innovation. However, what have we learned about this medium, and the advantages of its use for teaching in relation to magic—especially as it relates to Mystery School?

• Lessons can be learned without leaving home.
• Classes are less expensive.
• There are no travelling expenses.
• Participation worldwide is possible.
• Easy access to some of the greatest minds in magic.
• Recordings and digital documents are available for reference later.
• Social interaction, although different, is possible with breakout rooms.
• Magic that looks miraculous can be performed close-up in the camera frame.

The learning curve has differed between performers in our art, but for many, it has opened a new window—a new way of achieving their career goals. It is a personal decision to either make the transition to walk through this newly opened door, or to stay in the comfort zone, and to wait until they can return to normal life.

Live in-person performance will return soon, as will in-person classes. However, it does not look like online entertainment is going away. The future will likely be a hybrid of live and online, enabling endless possibilities of international visibility with much wider audiences.
 
The price of Zoom stock at the beginning of 2020 was $68.28. At the time of writing, the value is $427.10 per share, with a high of $568.34 reached in October 2020. Frequent software updates are released with groundbreaking options—always improving the experience. One year ago, we could not have conceived how much would have been possible in Zoom advancements in such a short space of time. The endless possibilities keep building…
 
Of course, Zoom is not the only pony in the race. There are also Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and countless other candidates. However, Zoom seems to be the most user-friendly, flexible option available to entertainers at the current time.
 
In the meantime, if you want to catch one of the Magic & Mystery School’s online offerings, you can see a list of upcoming classes here: https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/events.
 
Remember, things are usually better than you sometimes think. The light at the end of the tunnel is not an illusion…the tunnel is.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the other end of the “tunnel.”
 
Simone Marron
simone@marrons.us