conjuring

Conjuring is a term with multiple related meanings. In contemporary usage, it most often refers to stage magic—the performative arts of illusionists who create the appearance of supernatural feats through sleight of hand, misdirection, and carefully designed presentations. Historically, conjuring has deep roots in street performance and theater, evolving through the 18th and 19th centuries into modern illusionism. Prominent practitioners such as Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin and, in the 20th century, Harry Houdini helped establish conventions for ethical and transparent performance, distinguishing illusion from genuine occult claims.

Conjuring relies on a repertoire of techniques and props, including misdirection, secret devices, concealed compartments, and choreographed timing. The audience’s attention is guided while the method remains hidden, producing effects such as vanishings, appearances, or transformations. Contemporary conjurors emphasize safety and, in many jurisdictions, clarify that performances are staged illusions rather than genuine supernatural powers.

A more archaic or specialized sense of the term, conjuring denotes invoking or evoking entities, spirits, or forces through ritual, prayer, or ceremonial magic. Texts of grimoires and certain occult traditions describe structured rites intended to summon beings or to influence outcomes. In modern occult practice, meanings vary widely and are often interpreted symbolically or psychologically rather than empirically.

Conjuring is a common trope in popular culture, appearing in literature, film, and television as both a source of wonder and horror. The word also appears in religious and folk contexts where it may simply denote any act of summoning or invocation.