And Furthermore...

Enough self-righteous, small-minded, and essentially fascistic nonsense from fringe-group religious fanatics and close-minded prudes. An equivalent to Chadwick's self-praising letter might have been written from the extremist factions of Hindu, Buddhist, or any other religious viewpoint. The significant phrase here is "extremist factions." Come to think of it, even mainstream religious comment is out of place in Juggler's World: imagine what a devout Muslim might have to say about Trixie Larue's (or Mark Nizer's) tights!

Similarly, Bottorff complained about the use of less than the most correct language - in a cartoon, yet - because this was a "family magazine. Whose family?

I am truly sorry that some ideas and some words hare frightening to some jugglers. Most of us have been juggling words and ideas a lot longer than we have clubs and balls. Perhaps Chadwick and Bottorff need to work on their numbers.

And Again...

In response to Todd Chadwick's letter, many have found juggling to be like a form of meditation, in which subconscious reflexes take control of the objects and the thinking consciousness can wander. Therefore, jugglers are naturally interested in juggling's relation­ship to relaxation techniques, yoga, zen, psychic phenomena, etc. Most readers probably found Gillen's historical investigation interesting and entertaining.

But Mr. Chadwick criticizes Juggler's World for printing the article, and then declares that Tarot is wrong and his beliefs are right. I feel that this is an unfair and prejudiced position. Juggler's World prints articles about juggling from many different points of view and respects all the religious beliefs of its members, a respect which each member should also have for each other.

And Finally, From the Author...

I apologize on behalf of the Christ Spirit, especially to the Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Huna, Sufi, Taoist, Shaman, Shinto, various mystic orders and Christian sects, the Dali Lama, Pantheists, agnostics and all other groups for Todd Chadwick. After all, He did preach tolerance and forgiveness. Although a few jugglers do resent tactics of prosy Ii tic facism, repression and humiliation, we live in the USA and are free to worship in our own way.

In the article I promulgated no belief system yet made references to many (including Christianity). In as unbiased a fashion as possible, during my perusal of interpretations of the New Testament, I found mystical representations and symbology - from astrologers coming to herald the Christ Child, to parables, numerological symbols and even dream interpretations...

As a scholar, researcher and journalist, I'm intrigued by the "Jugglers for Christ" movement. I am interested in knowing how many jugglers out there are aspiring to Christian ideals and making sacrifices to those ends, as well as those who use the juggling medium for prosylitic purposes. Thanks for the prayers, Todd.

Juggling Manfully Revisited

Barrett Dorko's essay in the fall issue, "Juggling Manfully," merits continued discussion. The first old puzzler the essay raises is why there are more male jugglers than female jugglers. He tosses up the observation that "men juggle because they have to; women don't need it," because men use juggling to release fear and regain a sense of the "playful child."

But the fears of life and the thrills of performance are just as powerful for women.  So why do we juggle? The answer can be found in the January 1991 cover story of the Smithsonian Magazine on "Why do dogs bark?" After nine pages of theories, the only real answer with any scientific merit is "dogs bark for the heck of it!" The same is (probably) true of juggling.

Seriously, though, juggling offers a way of coping with the world, of being in the mix and holding fear temporarily in check while partici­pating in the community. Juggling props provide us with a moving mask. It transforms us from normal people into something magical.

This is the "Dumbo Syndrome," so-called in honor of Walt Disney's flying cartoon character. This insecure baby elephant got a magic feather and was convinced that he could fly while gripping it - and did!

But at the climax of the story, with the chips down, Dumbo lost his feather and was forced to overcome his fear, believe in himself and fly without his prop. He succeeded, and that was when the real magic happened.

If we could be as courageous as Dumbo and fly in the face of fear, bare-handed and open­hearted as a child, then the real thrills of life would be ours for the keeping - for men and women.