Why Magic matters

At times I catch myself thinking that the art of magic is not much more than a passing entertainment and I do have to review why magic matters…

There is a quote attributed to Illusionist Karl Germain that states : “ Magic is the only honest profession. A magician promises to deceive you and he does”.

In a world where we are besieged with deception, trust is a rare commodity. Therefore being a magician might well be the only truly honest profession, because the art of it, is artifice and as an audience you know that it’s a trick! Yet in the deceit that magic presents, resides an antidote to cynicism. Magic has the power to shock and from that moment of unexpected suspended disbelief, magic makes, even if only for a short time, the impossible, possible. Through this it encourages many things, not least of them creativity and imagination. 

Magic, like any good piece of theatre, is about storytelling and through storytelling we forge connections and community. It is in storytelling that we find understanding and insight into our lives and in storytelling that we become collaborators in something profoundly human. Magic isn’t about tricking the brain—it’s about opening it. It encourages us to ask “How?” and “Why?”, even if, we know that we may not get the answer. Every illusion is a gift and an invitation to re-assess possibility. It is in that particular ability to ignite curiosity that magic is unique. 

Magic is an art steeped in psychological insight. The craft exploits the brains own shortcuts and shortcomings, through misdirection, expectation, ego and choice—not to deceive maliciously, but to entertain, and yet what it really does is illuminate how we perceive our world. Magic invites audiences to question more than the trick at hand: it invites us to question our assumptions. A more and more necessary thing in a world of political chicanery, conspiracy, scams, fraud, fake news, propaganda, bias and deep fakes.

However, I think magic underscores a simple truth: imagination is the heart and basis of creation. Every discovery, every work of art, and every technological breakthrough begins as a seed in the imagination. 

We must care about wonder. We must engage with society through imagination. If we lose our sense of mystery, we risk surrendering to cynicism and inertia.

I believe in a world where we use curiosity not just to entertain—but to connect, to challenge and to create. Through magic, through art, through storytelling and illuminating dialogue—we build a better collective future. Because at its core, magic reveals not deception—but possibility. And when that is embraced, we learn that we are the creators of our reality. It is important to remember to dream and be reminded to wonder. And remember that by nurturing imagination, we forge a society richer in empathy, innovation, and hope. That is why magic matters.

And by the way, I knew that you were wondering, thinking and musing about this and that is why I wrote this post... see : mind reader!

...and not in any way just an additional quip put on to the end of a post to justify putting up a promotional image. not. that.