When you pass beyond this human form,,
no doubt you will become an angel
and soar through the heavens!
But don’t stop there.
Even heavenly bodies grow old.
Pass again from the heavenly realm
and plunge into the ocean of Consciousness.
Let the drop of water that is you
become a hundred mighty seas.
But do not think that the drop alone
becomes the Ocean —
the Ocean, too, becomes the drop!
— Jelaluddin Rumi
Hello friends,
Abbi here, in the House of Mystery, sipping a cup of tea, and thinking about all of you….
Sometimes, the real magic is right in front of our eyes; all we have to do is slow down enough to notice it. I think about the magic of water, which comprises a large percentage of our bodies and our planet… descending from the sky as a gift from above in the rain, moving through us, keeping us hydrated, enabling us to see, pulsing with the blood in our veins, cleansing and purifying, nourishing all life, flowing toward the ocean in mighty rivers and small streamlets, and rising again to the sky.
How often we take this precious resource for granted. When I moved to Las Vegas, nearly sixteen years ago to be with Jeff, my entire relationship to water changed. I try to make my connection to water a conscious part of “the flow.â€Â I make it a point to stay hydrated, and each time I drink, I think about my part in this great tide, and I strive to be mindful in my use of water.
One of my favorite magic memories is of seeing Just Alan perform the “Sands of the Desert,†with a slideshow accompaniment of a journey to India. You probably already know Jeff’s “Rainmaker†water-bowl routine is my favorite piece of magic that he performs, and one of my regular pieces that I love to perform is a version of “In the News.â€
Our friend, Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, has started a foundation called One Drop, dedicated to ensuring that water is accessible to all, today and forever. It is heartening to see someone working so hard for such a good cause. Check out what they’re up to:
http://www.onedrop.org/en.aspx
So, as the springtime rains bring out the daffodils in the front yard, and the blossoms appear on the apricot tree, I am offering an opportunity to each of you, to drink deeply of the beauty inherent in each moment, and to savor each sip of life. May you never thirst!
Abbi
From Tobias:
If you have visited Abbi and Jeff in their “house of mystery,” you will know they live surrounded by magic every day – and not just the kind that involves decks of playing cards and Kabuki masks. Poetry, music, literature, graphic arts – their home is filled with things that evoke magic and wonder. And of course, one can always sense the magic and artistry in Abbi’s writing.
I’m fortunate to be heading off to Vegas in just another week or so for our two classes in March. First is Magic for Speakers and Presenters – which is completely sold out already, in just the first time we’re offering it. Just after that we have our first full Master Class of the year, from March 18-24, and as I write this, there are still several slots open for that one. We usually see several students at our March class gearing up for competitions at the summer conventions, and I’ve noticed we have at least one of those signed up this year. If you’re looking for a way to assure you make the leaps forward in your performance you need to compete effectively, this is your best chance. Sign up now at www.magicalwisdom.com.
Immediately following the March classes, Jeff and Jordan will be heading off to Asia again – this time to Bangkok – to share magic at a festival there hosted by our new friend Mamada. If you’ll be in Thailand between March 26-29, be sure and see them! That will give Jeff just a few days home before he takes off on two weeks of cruising the Pacific for Holland America…and that takes us nearly to the end of May.
For May, I’m looking for a few good “sponsors†for the McBride Magic Experience. This is Jeff’s signature one-man-magic convention, as only Jeff can provide. Combining show, lecture and workshop in an amazing two-day event not only provides a special treat for the local magicians and magic – but it winds up serving as a master-class in promotion and production for the sponsors. We’ve developed the methods for working with venues, handling press and overall production that, once you’ve learned them with us ‘holding your hand,’ can be applied to events you’ll want to promote for the rest of your lives. A true win-win for all involved, and designed so it actually carries less financial risk for the sponsor that just having another magician come and lecture would. I hope I will hear from several of you in the coming week or two, as now is the time to start promoting for May!
That’s all from me for this week. By the time this Museletter comes out again, we’ll all be sharing time in Las Vegas for the Master Class. Maybe one or two of you reading this will be sharing time with us there, too!
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com