Magical Illusion

Magic: I'm always intrigued when things fall synchronistically together for me. Three things related loosely or directly to "magic" did so this week.

First, a rather loopy contestant on the opening show of this season's America's Got Talent caused jaws to drop, even that of former Spice Girl, Scary Spice - Mel B, who has joined the panel of judges this year. The contestant, who calls himself Special Head, showed us what levitation looks like. Had to be an illusion or trick, of course, a real practitioner of this kind of "magick", a yogi, shaman or whatever, would not be cavorting on America's Got Talent.
Still it was fun to watch:




Fun to watch, too, was the movie we saw this week at the cinema Now You See Me - all about four professional magicians/illusionists and the mysterious person who gathered them together so's they'd become a peculiarly named (in the circumstances) foursome: The Four Horsemen. They proceeded to carry out some latter-day Robin Hood-type magical capers in Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York. During their shows beaucoup $$$$$$$$$$$ of certain other individuals or bodies, for reasons which do not become apparent until the last scenes, are re-distributed. There are hints thrown in of an ancient Egyptian connection to magic, which I'm not sure were fictional or actual.

The movie offers an entertaining couple of hours, as long as viewers don't think too deeply or care too much about logic. Treated as pure fun it's a good night at the flicks. The film will attract all age groups, unlike many on offer just now. Its cast list has some young bloods: Jesse Eisenberg and Dave Franco; some mid-lifers : Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo; and older actors: Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Female interest, which I feel could have been better represented with stronger actresses and better chemistry with the guys: Isla Fisher and Melanie Laurent. I think the producers spent all available casting cash on CGI and the guys - a pity.

Trailer:



Third reference to magic - or illusion - came quite unexpectedly when we got home from the cinema. We decided to listen to some music for what remained of the evening. I did my usual, random, blind selection from husband's shelves of CDs and came up with Days of Future Passed, The Moody Blues. Blast from the past, and not the husband's usual fare by any means. Nice CD artwork though, with zodiac signs and moon phases included. We chose track 7 from this "concept" CD: THE NIGHT - Nights in White Satin (Justin Hayward). Now....I know the song very well, always enjoyed it when played on radio in the UK, but I had never heard this particular track before, the extended version with a narrated poem at the end of it. The last lines of the narration were what made me catch my breath for a moment:

Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion

Narration begins around the 5.50 point:




Full narration transcript:

Breath deep
The gathering gloom
Watch lights fade
From every room
Bedsitter people
Look back and lament
Another day's useless
Energy spent

Impassioned lovers
Wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love
And has none
New mother picks up
And suckles her son
Senior citizens
Wish they were young

Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion


For the astrologically-inclined : I just noticed that transiting Neptune is minutes away from my natal Jupiter in Pisces.
Neptune is known as planet of illusion (and magic too, I guess) - perhaps that transit is alerting me to see the synchronicity in such things ?

PS:
Other magic/illusion related posts from the archives:
Two Minds
Wednesday Woo-woo: Magick