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 5 9 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.
My cousins old house in Water Valley, Mississippi.

It was a book about

hunting vampires. It looked like someone 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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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The pirate looked around the room and called on the two girls dressed in t togas 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. 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.
Portrait ortrait of Marie Laveau

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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.

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