At the end of a performance, after the final moment of impossibility has landed and the applause has faded, what is left? If the work is successful, it is not a lingering puzzle or a frustrating mystery. It is a feeling. It is a shared sense of connection, a subtle shift in perspective, a quiet moment of wonder.

But what is wonder, really? And what is the purpose of deliberately creating it for an audience? After years of pursuing this strange art form, I have come to believe that the experience of wonder is not an escape from reality. It is a powerful tool for reconnecting with it, and with each other. This is a toast to the impossible, and to what it truly means.

Wonder is Connection

The modern world can be an isolating place. We are often trapped in our own heads, our own feeds, our own narratives. A moment of collective, shared wonder is a powerful antidote to this isolation. When a room full of people gasps at the exact same moment, they are, for a brief instant, perfectly in sync. They are no longer a collection of individuals; they are a temporary community, united by a shared secret and a shared experience. Wonder, in this sense, is the shortest path between two strangers. It is a powerful tool for building human connection.

Wonder is Perspective

A great piece of art can give us a new perspective on a familiar subject. A moment of elegant impossibility can do something similar: it can give us a new perspective on reality itself. When we see something that we know to be impossible happen right before our eyes, it gently shakes the foundations of our certainty. It is a playful, artistic reminder that our perception of the world is not the world itself. It is a subjective, incomplete, and often flawed interpretation.

This is not a frightening idea; it is a liberating one. It opens up the possibility that our own rigid beliefs about ourselves, about others, and about what is “possible” might also be worth re-examining. Wonder is a gateway to humility, curiosity, and an open mind.

Wonder is a Celebration of Mystery

We live in a world that is obsessed with answers. We are taught to deconstruct, analyze, and solve every puzzle. But there is a profound beauty and a deep, human need for mystery. A performance of psychological illusion is a safe and artistic space to celebrate that mystery. It is an invitation to let go of the need for an explanation and to simply enjoy the luxurious feeling of not knowing.

It is a toast to the idea that some things in life are more beautiful, more meaningful, and more fun when they are left unexplained. It is a celebration of the questions, not the answers.

So, here’s to the impossible. May it continue to connect us, to shift our perspectives, and to remind us of the profound and necessary beauty of mystery.

Internal Links: The Luxury of Not Knowing: Embracing Mystery in a World of Answers, The Power of a Shared Mystery

External Link: A beautiful animated video from The School of Life on the importance of wonder