c Cigam Si Noisulli Dna Noisulli Si Efil Facts: This is professional magician Tony Thompson's favorite magic phrase. He explains: "If you say that from right to left it's 'Magic is illusion, and illusion is life.'"10 Circulus Rotundus (see also rotundus reversus double plus) Origins: This magic phrase is Latin for "round circle." Common Magician's Applications: Linking rings. For example, "[N]ow I'll use a magic spell. Circulus Rotundus! . . . Aha! The two loops are linked!"11 Facts: Professional magician Michael Matson suggests that claps from the audience can be effective triggers for magic effects. He encourages magicians to have their audiences clap as an alternative to speaking a magic word or waving a magic wand. He explains: "When I perform the serpentine silk effect, wherein a handkerchief was tied into a knot and magically animates to untie itself, I have the audience clap in order to make the magic happen. I claim that their clapping wakes up the handkerchief and causes it to move by itself. I urge the audience to clap very loud and fast, saying that the louder and faster they clap the sooner the magic will happen! Of course, I milk the effect and have the handkerchief untie itself rather slowly compared to the audience's rate of clapping. While the audience is still clapping at the conclusion of the effect, I smile slyly and take a huge bow while shouting 'Thank You' as though all of the applause is just for me! This always gets a few laughs." Matson also likes to use hand claps as a trigger while perform ing the rising cards, the haunted matchbox, the rising wand, and other such feats of magic that animate the inanimate.12 10 From a 1998 interview 11 Janice Eaton Kilby, Book of Wizard Magic (200 ) 12 Matson adds: "The animation of the inanimate is a very strong feat of magic. When you can apparently turn an inanimate object into something alive and respon sive to the environment, it can appear as though the object is enchanted and the magic is happening without any obvious means of control on the part of the magician. Every time I think of this concept I am reminded of the story 'Beauty and the Beast,' wherein characters were transformed into objects such as clocks, candlesticks, tea pots, and cups. These household objects came to life and interacted with other characters, which brings a greatly appealing magical quality to the story. Keep this