Magic has an incredible power to delight and amaze audiences. A recent showcase event in the UK hopes that magic can also transform in both mental and physical ways. Healthy Horizons is a UK-based effort to assist military veterans. One of its campaigns includes a pop-up space where different arts and performance professionals lead sessions designed to encourage creativity among the veterans.

Steel Johnson, himself a former member of the Royal Marines, recently participated in one of the pop-up events. Johnson, who also uses the moniker ‘the Magic Marine’, taught card tricks to the participants.

Given how many performers used magic to help get over their youthful shyness or social anxiety, it’s wonderful to hear about other ways that the craft can be applied to improve audience members’ lives.