Published in the USA by Ravenwood Magic in 2010.

Ravenwood Magic
3115 Donaldson Lane
White Hall, AR 71602

Copyright 2010, Ravenwood Magic

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Design, layout and photography by Paul A. Prater.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Revenant

Boo Bait

The Key to Marie

13

The Revenant
I have a great uncle who has a wonderful Southern plantation house in Water Valley,
Mississippi. On our way to Florida, we decided to spend the night there. I always liked the
house and how it made you feel like you had stepped back in time. There is a ballroom
upstairs where my wife and I were able to do the tango and waltz. It really is a beautiful old
house. After everyone went to bed (which was around 8:00 since my great uncle and aunt
are in their 80s) I decided to look through the old library. This is one of those libraries that
has bookshelves from the floor to the ceiling. All of the bookshelves are full of books and
since I love books, I would spend a lot of
time in that room.
One particular book caught my eye. It
was an old leather bound book that was
worn. I opened the book and breathed in
the old musty smell that accompanies
these old books.
As I turned the pages I was surprised at
what I found.

It was a book about

hunting vampires. It looked like someone

My cousins old house in Water Valley, Mississippi.

had found the book and made comments

about the information in the book. I was

particularly intrigued as that person appeared to know something about magic.

Here is one of the entries in the book for how to identify a corpse that is a vampire.

My cousins old house in Water Valley, Mississippi.

How to Detect the Revenant

By Way of Bone
It is commonly known that the bodies of the revenant are highly combustible.
These creatures seem to excrete an oily substance from their skin and perhaps
this contributes to the great conflagration that occurs when fire is applied to their
bodies.
If you have managed to obtain a bone fragment from the creature, there is
another test that can be done to confirm that they are not amoung the living.
Using a mortar and pestle, finely grind some of the bones of the revenant. Once
the bones are finely ground, hold them over a candle, a foot or so above the flame.
Lightly sprinkle the bones and you will have a great fire if the bones are indeed
from the revenant.
Furthermore, there will be stench, like that of death following the fire.

Notes

This
one
is
also
easy
to
do.

You
can
show
the
bone
to
everyone

and
do
a
false
transfer
to
a
mortar
and
pestle.
Simply
hold
the
bone

in
your
hand.

As
you
turn
your
hand
down,
use
your
thumb
to
hold

onto
the
bone.

6

Let
the
bone
lightly
hit
the
side
of
the
mortar
to
make
a

sound
like
the
bone
has
dropped
into
the
mortar.

This
strengthens
the

illusion
of
placing
the
bone
into
the
mortar.

As
for
the
flame,
powdered
coffee
creamer,
lightly
sprinkled
over

a
fire
will
produce
a
great
flame.

As
for
the
smell,
finely
cut
bits

of
hair
will
do
nicely.

I
am
sure
that
in
the
time
of
the
author,
he
used
some
other

chemical
such
as
saltpeter
(potassium
nitrate)
which
is
still
available

in
pharmacies
and
is
commonly
used
as
an
accelerant
in
pyrotechnics.

However,
if
we
are
talking
about
abominations,
why
not
use
that

abomination
to
coffee,
powdered
creamer.

It
is
cheap,
readily
available

and
works
well.

Oh
yes,
I
almost
forgot.

How
do
you
get
the
creamer
in
the

mortar?

It
was
in
there
all
along.
No
one
ever
said
you
have
to

show
anyone
the
inside.

BOO BAIT
The doorbell rang and the man opened the door. There was a group of ghosts and goblins
with their orange plastic jack o lanterns brimming with candy.
Trick or treat! the shouted in unison.
The man looked past the kids off in the distance. He jerked his head to the left and then
back to the right. All of the kids were watching him.
Did you see the ghost?
Some of the kids shrieked with mock fear, most of them were laughing.
You didnt see him?
He isnt anyone to worry about. His name is Boobert and he is my friend. I met him one
night while on a walk. I ran into him on a dead end street.
The man waited for the obligatory moans.
He is actually pretty shy. Every now and then he will come out to play, but not very often.
I do have something that sometimes gets him to come out. Do you want to see him?
The kids all responded with wild yelling. They were high on candy corns and other sugary
treats.
I will need someone to help me.
The magician picked out a green faced witch. She came up and stood beside him.
I have something very special in this little container. Can you read what it says?
The girl took the container and read Boo Bait.
Thats right, this is Boo Bait. This is how you catch a ghost.
Please open the container of boo bait. Take a look inside. You see the bait?
The witch looked up and shook her head no.

Are you sure? Look really

hard. Do you see the bait
in there?
This time the girl shook
her head yes.
Much better. I want you
to get a little pinch of the
bait and drop it into my
hand. I want to see if we
can lure him into my
hand.
The man made a little
motion with his hand. He
then looked into his hand
and slowly opened it. The
magician showed it to be
empty.
I know what the problem
is. We didnt call him. We
need

to

say,

Hey

Boobert. I need everyone

to help me call him. On
the count of three, lets call him. Onetwothree
The kids all yelled.
The man looked in his hand and then looked surprised.
Did anyone see him fly in there? No? Look.
The magician pulled out a little white ghost and all of the kids squealed with delight.

10

METHOD

I was asked to perform at a friends childs Halloween party. Honestly, I dont particularly
enjoy doing shows for children and generally avoid them. But, this was a friend and this was
a Halloween party! I couldnt resist, so I performed as a vampire and everything was done
with a ghostly theme. This is done with the use of a thumb tip.
The container that says Boo Bait is a metal gum container from Starbucks. I painted it black
and then wrote Boo Bait with a gold paint pen. You can also design a logo on the computer
and then print it on sticker paper and stick it on your box.
The ghost is just a small white silk. I used a Sharpie to draw on eyes and a mouth.
As far as the timing, I dont transfer the thumb tip to the hand until after showing it empty.
Moving the hand and slowly showing it empty builds up suspense. When I show it empty,
everyone relaxes, focus shifts and then, I quickly put the thumb tip into the hand as I am
begin talking again. Simple and fun.

11

12

THE KEY TO MARIE

Everyone at the party knew that the guy in the pirate costume was a magician. Even those
who didnt know him knew from people talking. Everyone anticipated that he would do
something fun since it was Halloween. Eventually the host asked if he had anything to
perform.
Not really, he answered. He turned to walk off.
Wait, I do have something I want to show you.
I went to New Orleans recently, and while I was there, I saw the tomb of Marie Laveau.
Marie Laveau was known as a wise woman, a healer, a charlatan and a voodoo queen. She
was known as many things. It was also said that she lived beyond the grave. While her
funeral was well attended, people claimed that she continued to be seen after her death. Not
only seen, but that she continued to work as well.
I have read about Marie Laveau and was eager to visit her gravesite when I was in New
Orleans. I went with part of a tour, but I wandered off just long enough to mark the grave
with the three XXXs and made my wish.
The pirate paused.
Well maybe, I stayed a bit longer. I saw a key, a piece of brick and a shell, all left at her
crypt. They were gifts for her, but I grabbed them. I shouldnt have.
The pirate pulled out a small wooden box with symbols on it. The mood in the room started
to change.
You see, I have been seeing things, I think. I see shadows moving out of the corner of my
eye. I see a woman; a dark woman in a white dress. I turn to look and she is gone. I dont
think anyone is really there. The nightmaresthey are vivid. I wont describe them.
I think that I have been cursed. I also think that I have a solution. If we can draw her spirit
here tonight, I think I can trap it. I need everyone to help.
I need two people to help.

13

The pirate looked around the room and called on the two girls dressed in ttogas
ogas and covered
with glitter. They had been referred to as the glitter girls all night. They wore the glitter
and togas well.
I need each of you to help me.
Are
Are you right handed or left
handed? he asked one of the girls
girls.
Right handed, she answered.
Please take this piece of brick in your
left hand.
ith the second girl
He repeated this with
and handed her the shell.
Now
Now I need each of you to please
take my hand as I hold the key. I nee
need
one of you to hold the tips of my
fingers and the other to hold my
wrist. Whatever happens, do not let
go, do you understand?
The girls looked at each other, then at
him and nodded.

Portrait
ortrait of Marie Laveau

They did as he asked and he placed the

key across his palm.
Marie,
Marie, I know you have come to me. I believe yo
you
u have cursed me. I want you to leave me.
I have your items here. I have your brick, the earth, for marking the
he tombs, I have the shell
she
which symbolizes the water, over which your religion traveled. I have your key which
allows you to open the door between the worlds.
worlds.
If
If you are here, if you have any power, then prove it. Open the door between the worlds
and show yourself here. Show yourself, appear.
appear.
As the pirate was speaking one of the girls gasped. The key was rotating in the
th pirates hand.
It turned all the way over and came to stop.

14

Marie, I see you have made your presence known. Please know that these people have your
items. They are holding your possessions. I am innocent. Please leave your curses with them
and leave me be.
The pirate set the key on the hosts table and walked away.

15