Welcome to my Book of Shadows. By reading the pages of this book, you are now part of my special guests. Here you will find a variety of information about the world of illusion and magic. Some optical illusions as well as a few visual games are also included. You might even discover some reading suggestions and thoughts on different subjects. These pages are my personal windows with all of you who give me the privilege to perform and express myself everywhere in the world. Thank you for being part of my life!
Count them again ! How many peoples do you count in this picture ?
Moon phases	moon phases
The Flash Mind Reader See if the crystal ball can read your mind?	Click here to begin the experience
The Tarot Experience  On the following page you will see a selection of cards that come from different tarots. I want you to "mentally" select one of them. Then, go to the next page and answer YES if your card is there and NO if it isn't.	Click here to begin the experience ...
How many triangles can you count in this star? Click on the star for the answer ...
Can you see the death or the lovers ?
How many black dots can you see ?
Start this little program.  Focus on the center of the spiral for thirty seconds. Then, look at the back of your hand ! WOW !	download here(for Windows)
In which direction go the bus?  The adults, can you answer this question ? Pay attention to the drawing of the bus. Do you know already the answer ? There are only two choices, towards the left or the right-hand side. The majority of the children found the answer immediately. Click on the bus to know the answer.
The Tarot History The history of tarot cards began many centuries ago in an obscure time and place; the theories are numerous and unproven. One of those theories derives its origin thousands of years ago from the last vestige of the great Egyptian library of Alexandria.
However, the earliest extant tarot cards are the beautifully illuminated Lombard pack known as the Visconti-Sforza cards, hand painted in the mid-fifteenth century.The twentieth century has witnessed the publication of hundreds of tarot decks. The outpouring of tarot embraces dozens of subjects and themes, including medieval and Renaissance figures, fantasy subjects, images based on mythology, different cultures and societies, folklore and traditional tarot symbolism, from simple line drawings to the colorful richness of fine art.
To learn more about the intriguing and fascinating history behind the tarot and its luminous art, esoteric meaning and rich symbolism, I recommend "The Encyclopedia of Tarot" by Stuart R. Kaplan.
Abracadabra (Article from Loran, published in The Raven’s Call) From Merlin to Harry Potter, through shamans, wizards and witches of all times, magic has been effected through the use of various elements, objects, amulets and spells. And if you were asked to name one of these formulae, the first that inevitably comes to mind is . . . Abracadabra ! However, although many magicians and illusionists still use Abracadabra during their performances today, most don’t realize that in the past, the term was taken much more seriously. In ancient times, Abracadabra was a word used to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits against diseases, such as fevers and plagues. Moreover, it was not spoken – rather, it was written on a parchment or on an amulet and worn as a talisman. Coming down through the Middle Ages, the word gradually lost its occult significance and extended to apply to magic in general. Several hypotheses exist about its origin. Some believe it comes from the word Abraxas, a complex numerological derivation. Thinkers of the 2nd century A.D., disciples of the harmony of the planets and the universe, also imagined that certain numbers appealed to the deities more than others. Observing that a year consists of 365 days, Basilides of Alexandria, having combined the philosophy of Pythagoras, Jewish doctrine and Christian dogma, believed 365 was the number of revolutions the Sun made around the Earth and concluded this number was favoured by the gods. Transposing its numerological calculation to letters, he formed the word Abraxas. Another theory is that the word comes from the mystical name of a Syrian deity. Abraxas is formed from the initials of the words of the half Hebrew and half Greek formula Ab, Ben, Ruha-Acodesch, which means Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is also believed that Abracadabra may come from the Aramaic phrase Avrah Kadabra, which means I create as I speak. Another possible source is the Hebrew phrase Evrah Kedabri. Some also argue that the term could come from the Arabic Abra Kadabra, which means Let me be destroyed, but this version is disputed. Since this word can be pronounced in several languages, some believers of the Bible associate it with the confusion of languages connected with the Tower of Babel in biblical times.
	However, the first known written mention is in the Medicina Praecepta by Serenus Sammonicus, physician and scientist in the service of the Roman Emperor Caracalla in the 2nd century A.D. To protect against disease, he prescribed that an amulet containing the magic word Abracadabra, written with the letters arranged to form an inverted pyramid, must be worn around the neck. Thus, a letter of the word Abracadabra disappears in each row of the pyramid. As line by line the letters disappear, the disease or problem is supposed to disappear as well, reducing the influence of illness or evil spirits on the patient. Presumably the opposite effect would be produced with a pyramid transcribed in the opposite direction. The beliefs of the time gave much importance to inscribing the word - writing Abracadabra rather than simply saying it was thought to make the magic even more effective.
A great many ancient Abracadabra amulets have been found and are currently on display in the museums of Europe, a testament to their popularity. Historically, amulets and talismans have been conveyed by the beliefs of the people and exist in most religions. The Christian religion, however, is one of the few who reject the belief placed in these objects, saying that protection does not lie in the object itself but rather in faith in God. Interestingly, despite this disapproval by the Church, the use of amulets and talismans was widespread among European Christians and superstitious tribes alike, and among all social classes, from the poorest to the richest and most educated. The faithful did not hesitate to buy the countless statues, crosses, scapulars and pendants sold at the sites of pilgrimage. So, next time you use the incantation Abracadabra, beware . . . . The result may be more surprising than simply making a rabbit disappear! References: -Encyclopédie Théologique, L'abbé Jacques-Paul Migne, 50 vol. in-8°, Tome 24, Édition Ateliers Catholiques du Petit-Mont-Rouge, rue D’Amboise, Paris, France, 1848, p.38-40. -Hystory of Magic and Supernatural, West Books House, Fulham Broadway, London, England, 1964, p.92. -Le Petit Robert, Édition Société Dictionnaire Le Robert, 22 rue de la Glacière, Paris, France. -Wikipedia, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abracadabra
Discoverie of Witchcraft (Article from Loran, published in The Raven’s Call) When an audience watches a magician performing on stage or on TV, they may not realize that not so long ago such performers were at risk of being tortured to death for practicing their art. Today, most people understand that stage illusionists create miracles and wonders for our entertainment. But there was a time when "magic" was not so innocent a word and it was necessary to utter it with extreme care.
Published in 1584, the book "Discoveries of Witchcraft" written by Reginald Scot raised much controversy during the Middle Ages. It has the honor not only of being the first book to deny the existence of witchcraft, accusing the Church of unjustified persecution, but also of being the first book written in English to expose the methods and paraphernalia used by illusionists in their craft.
The Era of the Inquisition in the Middle Ages, magic was closely linked to religion and thrived on people's superstition and ignorance. This was the “era” of the Holy Inquisition, when the Church began to seriously harass anyone with seemingly out-of-the-ordinary capabilities. Only God was capable of miracles, therefore any other miraculous phenomena had to be the work of the Devil! Thus, from the Middle Ages until the 18th century, Europe and North America witnessed the famous witch hunts with their pseudo trials and brutal executions. Most of the victims were women, but anyone could be accused, and for numerous possible reasons. Women adulterers, people with red hair, epileptics, pre-teen mothers, widows, healers and midwives were all quickly under suspicion. Aside from the religious fervor behind this scourge, the Inquisition turned out to be an expedient way to eliminate someone who was annoying or perceived as a threat – anyone with a supposed "special skill" could be sentenced to death; being a bad neighbor or looking a little strange was enough to get you accused. Therefore, entertainers and magicians of the era became very discreet. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people were tortured and executed during this time and some historian even talk of millions. In an effort to stop the carnage of the Inquisition, Reginald Scot, an English writer who lived from 1538 to 1599, wrote the book "Discoveries of Witchcraft." Scot believed that persecution of suspected 'witches' was irrational and un-Christian and he held the Roman Catholic Church responsible for perpetrating this abomination. His book was intended to demonstrate that there were no such things as witches and to deny the existence of witchcraft. He also wanted to protect the public from charlatans and even to dispel superstitions, such as the widely held belief that sickness was not simply a biological process but was the result of bad luck or an evil spell.
	Scot's book was also written to demonstrate that magic did not exist; it described how a magical effect, while apparently miraculous, was just a simple trick created with natural objects. Outlined in his book are the secrets of several magicians’ effects, using different props like ropes, knives, special tables, etc. Some of the illusions he describes are still used today by many magicians. But more importantly, Scot revealed instruments used by the Inquisitors to expose alleged witches and attempted to prove that manifestations resulting from their tactics had nothing to do with the devil and that the Church was dishonest.
Naturally, the Church did not agree and considered this a malicious attempt to lead good Christians away from a righteous path. Unfortunately, most people at that time couldn't read or were too poor to buy books, so the only people who read Scot's book were the wealthy and those whose interests lay in maintaining their power over the population through fostering their supernatural beliefs. That is why, upon his accession to the throne of England in 1603, King James I declared the book to be "diabolical" and ordered that all obtainable copies be burned. Few copies survived -those left are extremely rare and extremely valuable. One of them is preserved at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. References: *Buckland, Raymond, "Complete Book of Witchcraft", Llewellyn publication, Minnesota, 2002, page 8. * Scot, Reginald, "Discoveries of Witchcraft", UK, 1584. (Reprinted by Richard Kaufman & Alan Greenberg, USA, 1995.) * Waldman, Carl, Joe Layden and Jamy Ian Swiss, "The Art of Magic", General Publishing Group Inc., Los Angeles, 1997. * "Encyclopedia of Magic & Superstition", Octopus Books Ltd., London, UK, 1974. * Wyley, Graham, "The Illustrated Guide to Witchcraft", Gramercy Books, New York, 1998. * Newall, Venetia, "The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft & Magic", A&W Visual Library, New-York, 1974. * Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/, Reginald_Scot