What Is Magic?, Bob Makransky, Dear Brutus Press, www.dearbrutus.com, 2014, 202pp, $17.95.
This is the first volume in Bob Makransky’s
Introduction to Magic series. Beginning with the Magician’s Creed, it serves as
a primer to introduce the reader to Magic as an art versus magic as
entertainment and offers an overview of its theory and practice.
Makransky’s
background in computer programming and systems analysis, coupled with his
career as an astrologer, is a fascinating foundation for someone introducing
Magic to the lay person. The dichotomy of those career paths seem to indicate a
pretty balanced right and left brain perspective, which helps to view things in
a more three-dimensional way. There is a certain no-nonsensical feel to his
presentation that is both refreshing and a bit disconcerting.
What Is Magic breaks down the study of
Magic into familiar elements such as spirits, demons, spells and spell casting.
It also explores white and black magic, stalking, and bewitching. Makransky
explains how all of these things exist in our everyday world whether we believe
in them or not. Good things happen, evil exists, and you can participate on
either side of the line between good and evil. Almost everything we identify as
magical ‘spookiness’ occurs to us on a day to day basis. We are bewitched by
people and things. We are demonized by those who treat us badly. We just don’t
recognize that things we see, say and do might actually be influenced by
magical thinking.
The
information is broken down into categories like the ones noted above, and then
dissected to show how magic is interwoven into our daily interactions. It’s
interesting to view some of the most commonplace things we encounter with
magical eyes – that we create our circumstances by wishing for them. The
concept isn’t really new and has been explored many times and in many ways.
Makransky’s offering simply takes some of the New Age fluffiness out of things,
which might appeal to those who think in a more linear way.
Having
previously read and reviewed Bob Makransky’s book, Magical Living, I was pretty excited to read this one. However, if
I had read this one first, I probably would not have read Magical Living. While there is a lot of great information, I found
two things both distracting and a bit off-putting. One was his tendency to
recount his sexual success through spell work and other forms of magical
manipulation. A single reference to illustrate a point might have been fine,
but it was mentioned so frequently that it made me wonder what point was being
made. The other off key note was a tendency to refer to his other books. After
a while, I began to think about Gilderoy Lockhart from the Harry Potter series
and his habit of constantly referring to his published works. Again, once or
twice wouldn’t have been bad. Obviously, you would want to direct the reader to
another reference source, but a footnote citing another book would have been
less obtrusive.
Based
on the book, Magical Living, I would
say that What Is Magic is worth a
look. The good information probably outweighs the things I found less desirable.
Makransky’s writing style is very different from other New Age authors, and
that alone should appeal to readers looking for a bit more substance in their
study of magic.
- J Byrne
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