posted June 17, 2006 02:49 AM         

I did not see Criss Angel getting cut in half and I'm not saying that it wasn't real, especially since I never saw it. I will say, however, unless you see these things in person then you can never really know.

The cut aways they do on these shows, the fact that it is taped, etc....

Love

posted June 18, 2006 03:21 PM         

Could you give more information on how David Blaine levitated, then? Do you have these links?

True; one cannot fully judge unless they see it for themself, however, I do believe the people in the audience, I do believe the public's reaction. I really don't think Criss Angel or David Blaine go around to 50-100 people and ask them all the sign a confidentiality agreement asking them to lie and pretend like they did something amazing......like someone else previously suggested.
I also believe my own judgement/feelings on what I view on T.V.

Thanks for your replies!

posted June 18, 2006 03:29 PM         

Thought it was cute with the monkeys, and then when he made his cat levitate.

I recall from last year's show he made a girl levitate out on the street, surrounded by a crowd of people. How could that be just an illusion????????? The girl was unconscious, at the time, her friends told her what happened........and she had no memory of it.......(it's as if he hypnotized her).

And how could it be just an illusion to make the elephant disappear out on the street surrounded by the public? Just trying to get ideas here.............

posted June 18, 2006 03:47 PM         

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/37292/criss_angel_walks_through_glass/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/151236/criss_angel_walks_on_water/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/55666/chris_angels_voodoo/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/37730/chris_angels_butterfly_trick/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/40407/criss_angel_gets_hit_by_a_car/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/145550/criss_angel_levitates/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/64536/criss_angel_chain/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/77733/criss_angels_brewery/

*edited to include links

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~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted June 18, 2006 05:33 PM         

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~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted June 18, 2006 09:05 PM         

Real curious about your thoughts on Criss Angel? But I bet they are the same/similar as mine

posted June 19, 2006 05:20 AM         

I understand your protest, and I see it as a sign of great sensitivity. I dont believe anyone intended to be insulting, but, I can certainly see how being called "gullible" could be upsetting. I dont think people should be blamed for expressing this view, though. Unfortunately, it would not be entirely practical to expect everyone to speak euphemistically, and they are entitled to their views.

I agree, it feels dismissive, and that is the worst part, for me. It is ironic, though, when people even feel they need to speak out in the name of disbelief. As if we dont realize how uncommon and unpopular it is to believe in real magick, or to believe that it could show up on our television screens, of all places. It seems to me that this disbelief is so widespread, it can be taken for granted. In fact, it makes perfect sense to me that magick could appear on t.v., right under people's noses, and they wouldnt even bat an indignant lash before writing it off as bunk, strictly for the birds. It seems to me, if such magicians existed, with such uncommon abilities, there would be no better way for them to reach the collective consciousness, and start opening minds, than by getting themselves on t.v. Lets face it, its not like Criss can call a press conference, and all the top scientists will show up, to put him to the test. People would just laugh, and dismiss him. But, if he calls it "entertainment", people start to pay attention (and not just the converted). It makes perfect sense.

Still, I am not saying he is for real.
I am taking no position, other than to say
that I can see no simple explanation.
I am not content to accept OR dismiss it,
without even a superficial investigation.

Personally, I am a little saddened to see anyone jump to a conclusion,
even when it is a noble-hearted leap of faith.

NOVA,

"... this isnt supposed to be a mutual admiration society just to reinforce every belief that comes down the pike.. otherwise we would not be knowflakes...just flakes....."

Well said.
Do you have a Mars/Merc conjunction, too?

Although, I dont think it was necessary to include your last comment ("there are plenty on this site"). You had made your point very forcefully and succinctly,... only to detract from the purity of the expressed ideal, by needlessly personalizing it.

juniperb -

Nice quote.

I am not disagreeing, but,
just to balance the scales...

"Waste your time by saving one more skull and bones."

- Kurt Cobain

Contradictorily,
hsc
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Alem7/chart1.gif
----------

"When a man contradicts me,
he arouses my attention, not my anger.
It is enough for me that he direct his response
to the substance of my inquiry.
Agreement is utterly boring."
- Montaigne

"True friendship is opposition."
- Goethe

"What good is a philosopher who offends no one?"
- Diogenes the Cynic

"Your faces are beautiful,
but they are wooden masks.

You had better run from me.
My words are fire."
- Rumi

posted June 19, 2006 08:30 AM         

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~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted June 19, 2006 10:50 AM         

Shows are edited. They arent going to air a comment of "wow he was great and I saw how he did that". Sponsors pay for the ratings and part of the illusion of television is that it isnt for real. Television contains a small percentage of conscious broadcasting but it is pretty much a big shopping centre with high stakes represented by viewers attention.

All illusionists of this callibre are truly amazing. He said himself he was "trained" by his friends Sigmund and Roy ... he is putting his own personal spin on the same illusions as David Copperfield and all the others in his league. Just because its amazing doesn't make it a supernatural gift... All talents are like that.

Noone knows how they built the great pyramid or how the shrould of Turin was faked either... and if they did... it would be no less an amazing feat.

I visit this site because I enjoy Linda as a poet/writer... Personally (and how else would one make comments unless it were) I do not share the same belief systems as most of the people here. If one were ever to say astrology was pure entertainment too, well! one fairly swoons at the onslaught of response.

Open minds you say... one has to be open then, to the fact that astrology MAY be a "wannabetrue" pseudo science that gets you through the night. Defining oneself as a conjunction of signs is not any healthier than obsessive counting in numerology. While youre busy calculating and analysing life is passing by. Life flows and it doesnt matter a tinkers bum what sign you are. If identifying with some stereotypical character references helps someone temporarily then no harm is done.... However a lot of vulnerable people get in over their heads with superstitious voodoo and bamboozle...

The whole purpose in life is to become CONSCIOUS... and then do meaningful external work to align with that... the rest is ego kiddology.

posted June 20, 2006 05:37 PM         

In all fairness, I don't think it's right that you point a finger at Big Eliza and tell her you see her "protest as a sign of great sensitivity." Whether or not she is sensitive, so what? Too many people in this world are INsensitive and more should be sensitive. There is nothing wrong with being sensitive.

Why does everyone need to point fingers at others? Why can't everyone just discuss Criss Angel calmy and respectfully? Every time you point a finger out at someone else, you have 3 fingers pointed right back at yourself.

Now I suppose someone will attack me. Well, have at it, if that's what makes you feel good.

posted June 21, 2006 01:05 PM         

You have misunderstood me.

I was not pointing fingers,
and I certainly do not devalue sensitivity.
On the contrary, I was admiring the girl.

She had posted a very emotional, visceral appeal
to the hearts of all of us.
It wasn't calm, but it was beautiful.

My only contention was that the offense she sufferred was unintentional, and that most people are not (as) sensitive, and are consequently inattentive to the subtleties of language, which would round the edges of their otherwise harsh expressions.

There are good and bad things about being sensitive.

I myself am highly sensitive.
I am a Scorpio,
with Venus in retrograde in Scorpio,
a first house moon in hard aspect to neptune,
pluto square the ascendant,
and my ascendant ruler (Saturn) in the 8th house, in Virgo.

I love sensitive people.
I admire them more than I can say.

hsc

posted June 22, 2006 01:44 PM         

He is definitely an illusionist. Did anyone watched yesterday's episode where he showed the illusion behind 2 of his tricks?

And as far his sticking his hand through that young man's body: Did you notice, the young man kept his hands and arms in the same position (close to his sides and hands in pockets) during most of the happening? If someone's hand was sticking out of my chest, wouldn't my arms and hands be moving in a way as to express my fear/awe/panic? It's obvious the boy was working with him.

posted June 23, 2006 11:25 AM         

I think some of his tricks are fake, illusions, performed magic. ***But some things he does, such as levitates, is real.*** And then of course his stunts where he tries to escape like the car driving into the coffin from last week.

I tape his shows and therefore can play over and over again.

The cell phone inside the beer bottle was definitely by the use of meta-physics.

I am at work so am sneaking on the I-net so I got to go!

posted June 25, 2006 12:26 PM         

I would guess that he needs to keep up a variety of different magic tricks to keep an audience of fans as well as a T.V. show interested and filled with many different "tricks".

I agree; the levitations are definitely real, the cell phone inside the beer bottle was definitely real; some things are definitely just "tricks".

The walking on water ~ still unsure if he had a plastic or plexiglass to walk on ~ BUT there were people swimming all around him, right in front of him and under him.

Where in the Bay Area are you from? I'm in Marin County.

posted June 25, 2006 02:28 PM         

The Universe is made of energy. This energy can be tapped into and used by the mind and body through the thought of WILL, manifestation, meditation and positive force. This energy is used in many ways; many healing practitioners use it; psychics and clairvoyants can tap into it ~ have you ever heard of Edgar Cayce? There are many cultures which believe in the use of it.

Meta means "beyond" so meta-physics means "beyond physics" or beyond what science can prove.

Uri Gellar has used this power to bend metal objects such as spoons.

Belage ~ Cool, I went to San Jose about 3-4 years ago, went to the Egyptian museum, Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch, and the Winchester Mystery house all in one day with a very nice Internet friend I had met. It was a great day. Are you male or female?