Milk pitcher magic, also known as the milk pitcher trick, is a classic magic trick that involves the appearance or disappearance of milk from a pitcher. In this trick, a magician starts with a seemingly empty pitcher and then proceeds to pour milk from it into cups or other containers. After pouring out a considerable amount of milk, the magician can continue to pour more milk from the apparently bottomless pitcher. This baffles and amazes the audience, as there seems to be an endless supply of milk coming from the pitcher. The milk pitcher magic trick relies on the use of a special pitcher that is designed with a hidden compartment or mechanism. This hidden compartment allows the magician to produce more milk than what would seemingly fit in the pitcher.
This hidden compartment allows the magician to produce more milk than what would seemingly fit in the pitcher. By cleverly manipulating the pitcher, the magician is able to make it seem as if the milk is coming from nowhere, resulting in the illusion of an unlimited supply of milk. There are various methods and designs for the milk pitcher trick.
What do witch doctors actually do?
One thing every Acholi person wants to avoid is being associated with a witch doctor, but I took courage and informed the bodaboda (motorbike taxi) man that I was heading to the witch doctor’s place. He bombarded me with questions: What is your problem? Are you looking for riches? Has someone bewitched you? And his last word was that these people (witch doctors) are bad.
People certainly associate witch doctors with bad acts. They don’t associate witch doctors with, for example, deciding whether widows, with or without children, can stay on the land of their dead husbands, return to their maiden home or have the choice to reject or accept a protector (male relative of their late husband)?
Yet these are just some of the roles I discovered when I interviewed some witch doctors in Northern Uganda as part of my research for CPAID. Let’s hear from Akumu Christen (a female witch doctor):
‘It was in 2009 when I became a witch doctor, even though I never wanted to be one. In 2005 I was attacked by a ‘jok’ for the first time’.
Robin: ‘She was trying to show me what she uses in her daily work, Each one of those things has got different roles to play. The spear represents a god call Jok Kalawinya. Kalawinya is summoned when someone is possessed by evil spirits. The Bible represents a god called Mary, Mary is a white and she loves peace, so for anything concerning bringing peace, they summon her. The beer bottle represents a god call Jok Kirikitiny. Kirikitiny is a god from the Karomonjong ethnic groups – he is concerned with protection. The small syrup bottles contain a liquid substance which she takes before starting her work, it makes her see and hear from the gods.’
A jok is a class of spirit within the traditional Acholi belief system that is viewed as the cause of illness. Traditional healers (known as ajwaka) first identify the jok in question and then make an appropriate sacrifice and ceremony to counter them. Alternatively if such an approach is unsuccessful the person possessed by the jok can go through a series of rituals to gain some level of control over the jok and then themselves become ajwaka.
‘This jok wanted me to become a witch doctor. When I resisted, I became mad for three months, but in the fourth month I was taken from the forest and became a born-again Christian and the jok left me alone. But that liberty only lasted for two years and then I suffered the hardest attack yet from the jok. I became mad for the second time and lived in trees like a monkey for three months without eating food or drinking water and without coming down to the ground. Then my sister brought another witch doctor to initiate me into being a witch doctor, which was what the jok wanted all along, and that’s how I became a witch doctor.
‘I was scared because of what people would say but I now have realised that this jok–known as jokajula- does not support wrong-doing like killing people. I don’t do rituals to kill people but to help them’.
Akumu Christen now helps the people in her neighbourhood town. Paico, in different ways, including:
Mental Health Worker: Helping victims or Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) returnees by trying to stop or prevent spirits from attacking them. Or stop them from being haunted or rerunning in their minds the bad things that they did in the bush, preventing nightmares and helping them cope in their community.
Peace Maker: Participating in the reconciliation of two clans, where one killed a person from the other clan. Beside that she is also involved in summoning the spirit of the dead to ask him who should receive the ‘kwo money’(blood money paid to the victim’s family/clan).
Family Therapist: End barrenness in both men and women, which is hugely important because children are very significant to an Acholi: for a home to be called a home it should have children around.
Repair broken marriages or relationships.
Livelihoods Promotion: Remove bad luck and make people rich, especially those who have been put into bondage by bad people who want them to remain poor.
Disaster Prevention: She is summoned by the community elders to perform rituals to prevent natural calamities like drought or floods.
These are some of the things she does, but she is also a mother of two children with a very loving husband.
So now let me ask you again, do you still think witch doctors are bad people?
Robin Oryem (@oryem_robin ) is a researcher for LSE’s CPAID programme in northern Uganda.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of the Africa at LSE blog, the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa or the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Family Therapist: End barrenness in both men and women, which is hugely important because children are very significant to an Acholi: for a home to be called a home it should have children around.
Some tricks use a pitcher with a false bottom, while others utilize a double-walled pitcher with a hidden compartment between the walls. The magician must practice their sleight of hand and timing to ensure that the trick is performed smoothly and convincingly. The milk pitcher trick has been a popular staple in magic shows for many years. It is often performed as part of a larger routine or as a standalone trick. The appearance or disappearance of milk can be combined with other effects, such as vanishing or appearing objects, to create a more intricate and elaborate performance. Overall, milk pitcher magic is a captivating and impressive trick that continues to entertain and mystify audiences of all ages. With skillful execution and the right props, a magician can create the illusion of an endless supply of milk, leaving the audience in awe of their magical abilities. Whether performed on stage or up close, the milk pitcher trick is a classic that never fails to captivate and amaze..
Reviews for "Creating Instagram-Worthy Latte Art: The Milk Pitcher's Secret"
1. John - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Milk Pitcher Magid". The story was poorly written and lacked any real substance. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The plot was confusing and disjointed, leaving me feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging story.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Milk Pitcher Magid" but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing style was not my cup of tea, with long-winded descriptions and excessive use of metaphors that made it difficult to follow the story. The pacing was slow and I found myself losing interest early on. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and I didn't feel any emotional attachment to them. While there may be some readers who appreciate this type of writing, it just wasn't for me.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Milk Pitcher Magid" was a letdown for me. The concept seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The writing was pretentious and overly verbose, making it a chore to read. The story had potential, but it was overshadowed by the convoluted narrative and confusing timelines. I found myself struggling to get through each chapter and ultimately felt unsatisfied with the ending. I regret to say that I would not recommend this book to others.
4. Emily - 3 stars - I wanted to like "Milk Pitcher Magid" but there were a few aspects that hindered my enjoyment. The writing style was unique and had moments of brilliance, but it often veered into overly flowery prose that made it difficult to follow. The characters were interesting, but they lacked development, leaving me feeling disconnected from their journey. The pacing was also uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I think this book has potential, but it didn't fully resonate with me.