The Act of Destruction and Creation

It is certainly human nature to destroy. It is also human nature to create. We forget that.

We assign "creation" to specific groups of people. Women create. Artists create. Builders create.

But in doing this we also block ourselves from accepting the role of creator.

"Men don't create, women do."

"I don't have any artistic talent to create."

"I'm not good with tools so I can't build or fix anything."

Denying that side of things makes us weaker. Destroys us.

Destruction and Creation are often the very heart of what the Magician is about.

Things are "Cut and Restored", "Torn and Restored" or in some fashion destroyed and reformed from the parts, the ashes, the remains.

So why do so many magicians focus upon the act of destruction but give so little thought to the act of creation? You've seen it without thinking about it I'm sure.

Consider the "Cut and Restored Rope."

Magician's cut that rope with great zeal and enthusiasm. They use huge knifes or scissors and they struggle as if cutting the rope were hard. All done in the name of "convincing the audience of the reality of the rope being cut."

Destroying it is somehow difficult. And so much effort, so much focus is placed on this act of destruction that the assumption must be that the act of creation or restoration is equally as difficult.

But when the time comes to restore the rope it is treated as if there could be nothing easier. It is handled with an almost casual, off hand manner, as if such things are almost common place.

Is there magic in this? Is there really a sense of magic to be gained? Perhaps.

Or could the thought simply be "Well, I'm so powerful a magician that restoring this rope is child's play!" Indeed it would seem that this is very much the thought that crosses the minds of these magicians.

However if that is the case and you are that powerful a magician then why was cutting the rope so hard in the first place? Haven't we always been told that the act of destruction is always easier then the act of creation?

Consider what kind of impact the "Cut and Restored Rope" might have if it were approached in this fashion.

Cutting the rope is easy. Casual. Yet another act of sad destruction in a world which is always suffering such things. A casualty of common place proportions.

But to restore it. Ah, there is magic. With gentle strength the magician picks the ends up and weaves them together right before your eyes. It takes focus and concentration. It takes control. It takes real power. Something mysterious is happening that shouldn't be.

It takes an act of creation, of restoration, of healing.

As a magician think about it. Try it. Consider your "Cut and Restored Rope" routine (or some other "Torn and Restored" type routine) from this light. Try changing the way you perform the routine to conform to the idea that the hard part is the restoration of the rope.

You don't even necessarily need to change the words you speak. Just change the way you relate to the object you are using your magic to restore and see what kind of impact it has on your audience.

You'll feel the difference I'm sure.

And maybe it's for you and maybe it isn't. But you won't know until you try.

In that effort you will destroy your old perceptions and create new ones. You will think about what you have accomplished in the minds of your audience.

You may just give them a deeper feeling of wonder then they've felt before.

And that is a true act of Creation and Destruction.