MAGIC WORDS Yogi Yogi Meanings: • Ascetic • One who practices yoga • Union In Literature: • "The hallway was lined on the left side with all kinds of magic posters some bearing pictures of imps and devils, along with famous magicians. As I crossed the threshold of the magic shop [Baltimore's Yogi Magic Mart, in 1956] a loud bell announced my entrance into a world that would change my life forever. I realized I was entering into a different world, one of mystery and intrigue, where miracles happened with the muttering of a few magic words, like 'Yogi, Yogi' and 'Sim Sala Bim.' This was a 'real' magic shop. There were no costumes, wigs or masks, only magic. Directly in front and to the right side of me were old glass cases overflowing with hundreds of props and tricks. Brass bowls, feather flowers, spring flowers, coins, cards, mysterious boxes and tubes of metal with 'ancient' Chinese symbols, steel rings and ropes and fabulous silk scarves with incredible designs on them. Everywhere you looked there was magic!" -- Barry Gibbs, "In the Beginning," Inside Magic (200 ) Yoho Facts: "Scott Adams . . . used to run a rather profitable business selling software for home computers before the IBM PC came out. One of his most successful lines were the text-based adventure games he wrote himself. His second adventure game, 'Pirate's Adventure,' featured the magic word yoho, which when uttered would teleport you to another room. The description that accompanied this teleportation was, 'Everything spins around and suddenly I'm elsewhere.'"16 Yoom Origins: Yoom is a mantra of Hindu origin. This magical syllable is re peated sixteen times by magicians performing dematerialization rites.17 16 Roger M. Wilcox, "Cutsey, Kitschy References in the Disgusting Characters Stories" (200 ) 17 M. Gonzalez-Wippler, Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies and Magic (1978)