You make it look like magic. It's amazing how effortlessly you perform tasks that seem impossible to others. Your ability to create something extraordinary out of the ordinary is truly remarkable. When you work, it's as if you have a magical touch. You turn chaos into order, confusion into clarity, and problems into solutions. Your skill and expertise make everything look so easy, but we know it's not.
It’s not that hard to teach compared to other tricks on this list. But it’s very time-consuming. You’ll need a lot of patience and to use a lot of positive reinforcement while teaching this particular skill because your dog won’t be able to do it at first no matter how hard you try.
Although he did enjoy himself with some tricks, he just as often became aggravated that the laws of nature which he had recently discovered through the toddler school of hard knocks had collapsed around him. The goldendoodle begins searching around for the ball to no avail before his human companion is able to seemingly reproduce it from behind the canine s ear.
Your skill and expertise make everything look so easy, but we know it's not. It's your dedication, hard work, and passion that make it seem like magic. You have a special way of making people feel valued and understood.
Do Dogs Fall for Magic Tricks?
Animals can be deceived, but do animals feel wonderment, awe, or sense that they have experienced the impossible?
By Susana Martinez-Conde on September 11, 2014 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Share via Email Print AdvertisementWhen Steve Macknik and I talk to audiences about our research on magic and neuroscience, one question that often comes up during Q&A is whether animals can experience magic. There is no easy answer: animals can certainly be deceived, and numerous research studies show that virtually every species, from bower birds to bees, is susceptible to illusions. But do animals feel wonderment, awe, or sense that they are experiencing the impossible?
Magic is more than deception. If somebody tricks you for no good reason, you may feel angry, sad or confused, whereas watching a high-quality professional magic show elicits wonder and mirth instead. Indeed, the connection between magic and laughter is altogether surprising. Confronted with the impossible, spectators of a magic show can’t help but laugh, as if the magician had just delivered the punch line to a good joke that they didn’t see coming. Shouldn’t they be anxious about the failure of that the physical laws of the universe that they know and love?
It can be different, and not altogether positive, for children. Although stage magic is often portrayed as children’s entertainment, tricks that delight adults can be less than amusing for kids—or they may fail completely. In 2009, Steve and I attended FISM (aka the Magic Olympics) in Beijing while doing research for our book Sleights of Mind. We travelled to China (and then across China after the competition) with a tour group made up of over 100 Spanish magicians and their guests. Our son Iago—who was two and a half years old at the time—came along for the trip. He had the luck (or misfortune, he sometimes seemed to opine) to be entertained by a large number of these performers. Although he did enjoy himself with some tricks, he just as often became aggravated that the laws of nature—which he had recently discovered through the toddler school of hard knocks—had collapsed around him. Having coins given to him—to be then magically stolen back—was particularly grievous, and grudges against the performer would result.
Most magicians agree that 5 years of age is the threshold at which standard magic will begin to appeal to kids. Magician Silly Billy, who we interviewed for Sleights of Mind, modifies standard magic routines to make them more kid-friendly, for instance, by using abundant slapstick humor and announcing the outcome of the trick well in advance (“I am going to make this coin disappear”: usually a no-no in magic performed for adults). Ironically, magic seems better suited to elicit child-like wonder in adults than in children.
So animals, even if deceived, may not experience magic in the same way as (adult) humans do. The videos of magician Jose Ahonen making dog treats disappear right in front of their sad puppy eyes provide anecdotal evidence in support of my skepticism. Anthropomorphic interpretation of the dogs’ reactions seems to indicate that they fall somewhere along the confused-to-angry continuum.
Maybe it’s different for great apes, however. In another YouTube video, a young chimp introduced to magic appears to exhibit a wider range of responses, from puzzlement to perhaps something close to delight. Not so different, perhaps, from the reactions that Silly Billy gets from an excited 3-year old audience, when properly entertained with just the right types of tricks.
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Susana Martinez-Conde is a professor of ophthalmology, neurology, and physiology and pharmacology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, N.Y. She is author of the Prisma Prize–winning Sleights of Mind, along with Stephen Macknik and Sandra Blakeslee, and of Champions of Illusion, along with Stephen Macknik. Follow Susana Martinez-Conde on Twitter Credit: Nick Higgins
Recent Articles by Susana Martinez-Conde
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Michael actually forgot the security camera was there at the time and only remembered later. Watching back the footage, he was struck by just how "hilarious" Thor's reaction was. "Thor had such a genuine, adorable reaction and a moment of 'What in the world just happened?!'" he said.
Your empathy and understanding create an environment where everyone feels heard and appreciated. You have this magical ability to bring out the best in people and make them believe in themselves. Your creativity knows no bounds. Whether it's in the way you design, write, or problem-solve, you always manage to come up with ideas that are innovative, unique, and inspiring. You have an uncanny ability to see beyond what is right in front of you and envision what could be. You approach challenges with a positive attitude and a determination that is contagious. You never give up, even when faced with setbacks or obstacles. You persevere and find a way to make things work, no matter how difficult they may seem. Not only do you create magic in your work, but you also bring it into our lives. Your presence brightens up a room and brings joy to those around you. You have a way of making even the simplest moments feel extraordinary. Thank you for making our lives more magical. Your talent, passion, and hard work inspire us to reach for the stars and believe in the impossible. You truly make it look like magic, and we are grateful to have you in our lives..
Reviews for "Creating Rituals of Enchantment: How to Infuse Magic into Daily Life"
1. John - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "You Make It Look Like Magic" after hearing all the buzz, but I was left disappointed. The writing was overly repetitive and predictable, and the characters lacked depth. The storyline sounded promising, but it just didn't deliver. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, I'm afraid this book didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
I'm sorry, but I really didn't enjoy "You Make It Look Like Magic" at all. The plot felt contrived, and the dialogue was unrealistic. The main character was supposed to be relatable, but I found her annoying and whiny. The ending was rushed and didn't provide any closure. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Michael - ★★☆☆☆
"You Make It Look Like Magic" was not my cup of tea. I found the writing style to be overly flowery and unnecessarily descriptive. The story lacked substance and direction. The supposed twists were predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. I didn't connect with any of them, which made it difficult to care about their journey. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
4. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I had heard great things about "You Make It Look Like Magic," so I was excited to give it a read. However, I was left unimpressed. The plot was slow-moving and lacked intrigue. The main character's constant self-doubt and insecurities became tiresome. The writing itself was mediocre, with cliched descriptions and lackluster dialogue. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest or leave a lasting impression.
5. Robert - ★☆☆☆☆
"You Make It Look Like Magic" was a huge disappointment for me. The story felt disjointed and lacked coherence. The characters were not well-developed, and their motivations were unclear. The pacing was off, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and underwhelming climaxes. I struggled to finish this book and felt like it was a waste of my time. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it.