Dear Friends in Magic,
The past month has seen some milestones, but first…

A BIG IDEA
I have a good friend and student who is dealing with a protracted illness in his family. At our last session, he asked, “What does it mean to say magic brings healing?” My heart went out to him: it was such a real question, asked from a place of pain. Eventually, I found some words for him that might be worth sharing here.

First, I need to acknowledge that sometimes we face difficult places where magic can’t go—times of pain or loss where art of any kind isn’t helpful or healing. I discovered this truth while writing Eugene Burger’s obituary: his beautiful “Thread” routine—metaphor of restoration—couldn’t cross the abyss of my loss.

But for me and I hope for you, encountering the abyss is occasional, not constant. And I think this allows room for magic and art to touch and even heal us in the face of life’s challenges.

I saw this many times during my three years performing magic in hospitals—going room to room as a volunteer. In this work, I witnessed many difficult things and emotions: fear, pain, burns and brokenness, worry, relief, boredom, loss of mobility, and emotional flatness. Yet, time and again, I found that magic could make a difference. It could change the patient’s experience and perspective and lift their family’s spirit, even if just for a short while.

As a result, I’ve thought quite a lot about what magical art can do for people moving through the world, experiencing the highs and lows of daily life. Here are some healing things I’ve seen:

—Everyday magic can provide amusement and escape—a break from humdrum life or difficult things. That’s no small thing!

—It also can provide affirmation (“You did it!) or inspiration (“You can do it!”).

—Everyday magic can create the emotion of awe and the transcending pleasures that come with it.

—Magic like this can also connect people. For example, when Eugene turned over your freely selected card to show he’d written your name on it, that was a connection!

In this short list, we open onto healing potential for the people we meet and greet with magic. Yet, as I reflect on them, I have to ask myself: Do I sufficiently remember these possibilities? Do I have the right tricks and words to fulfill them? Is my “Everyday Carry” just stuff I’m lugging around?

In wrestling with this loss of feeling for the work, I’ve personally found it helpful to prime my spirit and intentions as I put my “tools” in place before leaving the house. That way, I’m more ready to perform if the moment presents itself or the need arises.

Because things are tough and upsetting for many people right now: the world needs our magic. If we perform it well and wisely, it can make a real difference.

IN THE STUDIO
At the outset, I talked about milestones. Here is my first story:

I was sitting under the big tent at FISM when the competition awards were about to be announced. First, Mike Caveney took the stage to reveal the recipients of the three non-performing awards. The first one for Creativity and Artistic Vision went to Paul Harris. The History, Research, and Scholarship Award went to Dennis Behr. (Both richly deserved.) And then the recipient of the third one was announced. The Max Maven FISM Special Award for Theory and Philosophy went to… Robert Neale.

Boom! I sat there in shock for about two seconds before leaping to my feet. Our friend and teacher Bob Neale just received this exceptionally prestigious award for his life achievements as a magical thinker. What a thrill! I emailed Bob from the floor with the news, and he was overwhelmed, too. It is a tremendous moment to be recognized like this by one’s international peers.

The other milestone happened at the I.B.M. Convention in Houston, where Jeff McBride and I, in our position as co-directors of the Lance Burton Teen Seminar, had the profound pleasure of passing the wand on to Gabriella Lester.

As many readers will know, Gabriella is a rising star of magic, and she spent years in the Teen Seminar and studied with us at the Magic & Mystery School. Lance, Jeff, and I know Gabriella is the perfect person to lead this important program into the future. Congratulations to her!

And, perhaps, there was a third milestone in this. My own deep recognition that as we age in this great art, it’s sometimes more important to pass on the wand than to wield it.

IT’S NOT MAGIC, BUT…
Recently, for Marjorie’s birthday, we went to see Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, here in D.C.

I’ll be honest: when I first saw this show in London decades ago, I was underwhelmed. It was overly long, the story was confusing, and the production was self-obsessed with a massive revolving stage that swallowed the actors. I wasn’t feeling it then.

However, I definitely “felt it” this time. The show was truly amazing, with tour de force vocal performances and great clarity about its theme of the transformational power of mercy over the ruthless pursuit of justice. And it built, step-by-step, to the end of the first act (and beyond) when people all over the theater were, I kid you not, shouting their approval as they applauded.

Washington, D.C. was the kick-off of this new U.S. Tour, which is scheduled to play in 30 cities over the next 10 months. I vociferously recommend this production of Les Mis if it comes your way!

HAPPENING AT THE PRESS
First, a word of thanks to you who participated in my first-ever sale last issue and who helped put my own book Inspirations out of print! That’s always a good day: mission accomplished!

Looking ahead, I am delighted to report that Ross Johnson’s book project is right on target: the copyedit manuscript is currently in the hands of its eagle-eyed readers, and I will have the next generation manuscript off to my designer in late September. Meanwhile, superstar magic artist Jay Fortune is creating the illustrations as I write. All is shaping up nicely for an early 2026 release date.

While you wait, perhaps you’d like to stop by Theory and Art of Magic Press to pick up a book for your August vacation? If you go to the “Books” page, you might find one you have been longing to read—perhaps even one of our seven books by new 2025 FISM Special Award recipient Bob Neale.

Thank you, as always, for your support of our boutique shop of carefully curated magic.

FINAL WORDS
Next time, I’ll return to my reflections on how to make “Deeper Deceptions.” And don’t hesitate to be in touch. Also, I have a request: Would you please encourage a friend or colleague to sign up for this newsletter? You can send them here. Continuing to grow this community of thoughtful magicians is one of my highest priorities.
Sincerely,
Larry Hass
Real-World Magician
Dean of McBride’s Magic & Mystery School
Publisher, Theory and Art of Magic Press

www.LawrenceHass.com