A Life of Magic and Wonder
Doug Henning, a renowned Canadian magician, was born on May 3, 1947, in the Fort Garry district of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
His early life was marked by a fascination with magic, sparked by a performance by Peruvian magician Richiardi Jr. on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Henning’s parents encouraged his interest, and he began performing magic tricks for his relatives.
As a young adult, Henning attended McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he studied psychology.
However, his passion for magic remained strong, and he continued to develop his skills, eventually becoming a successful stage magician.
The Rise of a Magical Career
Henning’s big break came in 1974 with the debut of his stage show, “The Magic Show,” which ran for four and a half years on Broadway.
His unique blend of magic, illusion, and showmanship captivated audiences, and he became a household name in Canada.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Henning continued to innovate and push the boundaries of magic, incorporating new techniques and technologies into his performances.
His television specials, including “Doug Henning’s World of Magic,” were watched by millions, and he became one of the most recognizable and beloved magicians of his time.
As the 1980s drew to a close, Henning’s interests began to shift beyond the world of magic. He started to explore new ways to apply his creativity and passion for positive change.
This search for new challenges and opportunities ultimately led him to the world of politics, where he became involved with the Natural Law Party of Canada.
The Natural Law Party of Canada
In the early 1990s, Henning’s interests shifted towards politics, and he became involved with the Natural Law Party of Canada (NLPC).
Founded in 1992, the NLPC was a fringe party that advocated for the use of Transcendental Meditation (TM) and yogic flying as tools for achieving world peace.
The party’s platform was based on the principles of TM and the teachings of its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
The NLPC’s platform emphasized the development of consciousness as the key to solving the world’s problems.
The party believed that by cultivating higher states of consciousness through Transcendental Meditation and yogic flying, individuals could experience greater peace, happiness, and fulfillment. In turn, this would lead to a more peaceful and harmonious society.
To achieve this goal, the NLPC proposed a number of policies, including the establishment of a national TM program to teach meditation to Canadians. The creation of a yogic flying corps to promote peace and harmony, and the use of TM and yogic flying to neutralize unfavourable planetary influences.
The party also emphasized the importance of natural law, which they defined as the universal principles that govern the functioning of the universe.
They believed that by aligning human behaviour with natural law, individuals and societies could achieve greater peace, prosperity, and happiness.
The NLPC’s platform also included more specific policies, such as the promotion of sustainable agriculture, the protection of the environment, and the development of renewable energy sources.
Still, these policies were seen as secondary to the party’s main goal of promoting TM and yogic flying as tools for achieving world peace.
Henning was drawn to the NLPC’s platform because it resonated with his own spiritual and philosophical views.
The NLPC did not achieve significant electoral success.
Conclusion
Doug Henning’s involvement with the NLPC marked a unique intersection of magic and politics. He served as the party’s senior vice president and even ran as a candidate in the 1993 federal election.
While his foray into politics may have been unsuccessful, his legacy as a magician and performer continued to inspire and captivate audiences.
Doug Henning died on February 7, 2000, at the age of 52.
