01/06/2026
Play is often dismissed as frivolous, something children do before they grow up and become productive.
Yet from an evolutionary perspective, play is one of the most important behaviours humans have.
Through play, we develop physical skills, social awareness, creativity, resilience, and the ability to adapt when things don't go to plan. Play teaches us how to cooperate, navigate uncertainty, and stay flexible in a changing world. It isn't separate from survival; it is preparation for it.
Children naturally understand this.
They invent games, explore, imagine, laugh, chase, build and create.
As adults, many of us lose these opportunities for playful participation, replacing them with observation, analysis and seriousness.
But our biology still likes play - playful experiences reduce stress, strengthen connection and engage the imagination. There is value in playing the game!
I've been in awe of and inspired by James since my early days as a hypnotherapist nearly twenty years ago. I've only ever seen him perform in close hypnosis circles, and I've been looking for an excuse to hire him for real for years. This weekend, that opportunity presented itself, and the result was...well magic...!
I love magic, and how it generates a childlike curiosity in adults who think they know everything…
"How?"
At one point, James explained that some of what he does only works because we're willing to engage our imagination and play along.
Children do this naturally. Or at least they used to, he said, but over the past five years play in children has changed. As has their ability to imagine.
So, as James made clear - if you want to play the game, play, be curious, have fun. If it's not your thing, that's ok but don't spoil the magic for everyone else.
And in my opinion, that's true of more than magic. We can act as though wonder, curiosity, imagination, and play are things we're supposed to grow out of. As though the clever position is to stand on the sidelines, rather than risk looking foolish by joining in.
I'm not convinced that's where the fun is.
James Brown Magician
