Psychomagic

Psychomagic is a term created by Chan Canasta, a pioneer in the 1950s and 1960s of Mentalism. He explained that the word was a portmanteau of the two words psychology and magic, much like his performances.

There are many entertainers who still perform this kind of 'mind magic' all over the world, often referring to themselves as psychological entertainers/illusionists or mind magicians.

There is also a poet that describes his poetry as 'psychomagic', again explaining that the word is a portmanteau but the word 'magic' is used in a more esoteric sense.

Alejandro Jodorowsky is another name often associated with the word Psychomagic. He uses it as a name for a non-scientific technique that is assumed to be useful in psychotherapy. It is a fringe subject without critical scientific evaluation.

The technique combines art, Eastern philosophies (particularly Zen Buddhism), mysticism and modern psychotherapy to heal patients with emotional problems. The principle relies in the belief that the unconscious mind takes a symbolic act as a fact. So a symbolic act could help solve some types of non rational conflicts.

These acts are prescribed by the therapist after having studied the patient's personality and family tree.

References

* Jodorowsky, Alejandro (2001), "La danza de la realidad", Madrid: Ediciones Siruela, S.A. ISBN 8478447350.
* Jodorowsky, Alejandro (2005), "Psicomagia", Madrid: Ediciones Siruela, S.A. ISBN 8478447806.

ee also

* Alejandro Jodorowsky
* Shamanism
* Psychosomatic illness
* Magical thinking
* Placebo