The Royal Road to Card Magic is a highly regarded and comprehensive book on card magic. Written by Jean Hugard and Fredrick Braué, it serves as a guide to learning and mastering various techniques and tricks using a deck of playing cards. The book is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different aspect of card magic. The first section, "Fundamentals," covers the basic techniques and principles that form the building blocks of card magic. These include shuffling, false cuts, and various ways to control and manipulate cards invisibly. By mastering these fundamental sleights, readers can develop a solid foundation for more complex tricks.
Click below to read all about it! Or pick up my book The Hour of Meeting Evil Spirits and keep it on your coffee table to wow all of your guests with your knowledge of mononoke and magic!
Inugami were treated like family members by inugami-mochi families, and most of the time would quickly run out to do their master s bidding any time their master wanted something. The head was then baked or dried and enshrined in a bowl, after which the spirit could be used as a kind of fetish by a wicked sorcerer, doing whatever he or she commanded for the rest of time.
By mastering these fundamental sleights, readers can develop a solid foundation for more complex tricks. The second section, "Basic Tricks," features a selection of self-working tricks that can be performed with minimal skill or sleight of hand. These tricks utilize simple principles like the mathematical properties of a deck of cards or the spectator's own choices, making them accessible to beginners.
A-Yokai-A-Day: Ichijama
We’ve spent a lot of “wizard week” looking at the tools of the trade—paper dolls, stray dolls, familiar spirits—as well as the main man himself, Abe no Seimei. Now that you know all about what Japan’s sorcerers use, it’s time we turned our attention towards the dark spells themselves! Today we’re going to look at a fun curse from Okinawa.
Before we do that, I should point out a few fun examples of black magic that has been featured on yokai.com during previous A-Yokai-A-Days: Kanashibari, or sleep paralysis which can be caused by ghosts, yokai, and nasty, jealous spellcasters. Inugami, the quintessential example of a shikigami. Tanuki tsuki and kitsune tsuki, or possession of humans by wild animals, often at the direction of an angry spellcaster. Hitobashira, the gruesome entombment of a living human as part of a ritual to protect a building. And of course ushi no koku mairi, or the shrine visit at the hour of the ox—the most terrifying curse of all!
Today’s curse is a little less well-known. It comes from Okinawa, which while part of Japan, retains a unique history and folklore all of its own. Ryukyu was invaded and vassalized by Japan—specifically the Shimazu clan—in 1609. Because onmyodo was developed in Japan hundreds of years prior and was so strongly connected to the imperial court, it didn’t really make its way to the island kingdom. However, Okinawa did develop its own set of spells, charms, and curses. And one of the nastiest of these curses was the ichijama.
Click below to read all about it! Or pick up my book The Hour of Meeting Evil Spirits and keep it on your coffee table to wow all of your guests with your knowledge of mononoke and magic!
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Behavior : Inugami have much in common with other familiars, such as shikigami and kitsune-tsuki. Inugami are more commonly used in areas where foxes are not found, such as major population centers. There is even evidence of an ancient tradition of Inugami worship stretching from Western Japan down to Okinawa. Powerful sorcerers were said to be able to create these spirits through monstrous ceremonies and use them to all sorts of nefarious deeds. Inugami serve their masters loyally, performing tasks just like a faithful dog. They are loyal to one person or one family only, and unless seriously mistreated they remain loyal forever; these spirits can be passed down from generation to generation like an heirloom.
Despite their simplicity, these tricks can still create powerful effects and amaze audiences. In the third section, "Intermediate Tricks," the book delves into more advanced techniques and sleights. Here, readers will learn about false shuffles and cuts, glimpses, forces, and different ways to control and palm cards. This section also introduces the concept of misdirection and teaches readers how to use it effectively. By mastering these intermediate techniques, readers can elevate their card magic to a higher level and create more baffling effects. The final section, "Expert Card Technique," showcases a series of challenging and advanced tricks that require a higher degree of skill and practice. This section explores sleights like the pass, the double lift, and the color change, which are essential tools for any serious card magician. The tricks in this section are more intricate and require precision, timing, and showmanship to be executed successfully. Overall, The Royal Road to Card Magic is a comprehensive and systematic guide that takes readers on a journey from the basics to mastery. It provides clear instructions, detailed illustrations, and helpful tips to aid in the learning process. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced magician, this book serves as an invaluable resource for honing your card magic skills and expanding your repertoire of tricks. By following the road paved by Hugard and Braué, anyone can become a proficient card magician capable of astonishing and entertaining audiences..
Reviews for "Breaking the Mold: Innovations and Contemporary Trends in Card Magic"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "The Royal Road to Card Magic." The book claims to be a comprehensive guide to learning card tricks, but I found it to be lacking in depth. The explanations were too brief and skimmed over important details, making it difficult for a beginner like me to understand. Additionally, the illustrations were not very clear, and I often found myself struggling to follow along with the instructions. Overall, I think there are better resources available for someone looking to learn card magic.
2. John - 2 stars
I have to say, "The Royal Road to Card Magic" left me unimpressed. While it covers a variety of card tricks, I found the approach to be uninspiring. The tricks themselves were mostly generic and lacked any real wow factor. The explanations were also lacking, and I often found myself having to watch online tutorials to fully understand the techniques. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to truly master the art of card magic.
3. Emma - 3 stars
"The Royal Road to Card Magic" was a decent introduction to card tricks, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. The explanations were clear enough, but I felt that the pacing was off. The book jumps from basic tricks to more advanced ones too quickly, leaving little time for practice and mastery. Additionally, I was hoping for more original tricks and techniques, but most of the content felt derivative. It's an okay starting point for beginners, but don't expect to become an expert overnight.
4. Michael - 2 stars
I found "The Royal Road to Card Magic" to be a confusing and disjointed read. The organization of the book is not intuitive, with tricks and techniques scattered throughout without a clear progression. The instructions are often unclear and assume prior knowledge, making it difficult for a beginner like me to follow along. I also found the writing style to be dry and uninspiring. Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone looking to learn card tricks.