Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2023! It’s great to be back into the swing of things, and starting the site’s 6th year. This was a longer than expected break, due to myself and family catching COVID over the holiday season. We’re all okay now, but it was definitely not what we were…
Tag: Transcendental Meditation
Man Alive: “Spellbound: The Magician and the Maharishi” Documentary
I just found this ultra rare documentary from 1992 today, and I’m going to guess that not many people out there have seen it as well. “Man Alive” focuses on Doug and his interest in Transcendental Mediation. It’s one of the more detailed television pieces I’ve seen with Doug discussing the topic along with Debby. …
“Rockin Houston” Photo Archive-1977 TM Benefit
When I first began this website, I came across a page called “Rockin Houston” which profiles years and years worth of concerts and events that had come to the Houston, TX area. At the time, I profiled individual Doug photos for my site, but really didn’t take a moment to soak in what “Rockin Houston”…
Vegetarian Times Veda Land Article-Sept. 1992
While the above article covers familiar territory in Doug’s never ending quest to get Veda Land off the ground. What I liked about it, was the rare and unseen photo of Doug at Niagara Falls hyping the park’s arrival. Doug’s enthusiasm for the project, like everything he did, was infectious. Whether the park was built…
Doug and Debby Orlando T.M. Center Poster Autographs
The above poster comes from a recent purchase I made. While Doug and Debby signed a lot of autographs, this one was dedicated to the Orlando T.M. center that was open at the time. When it closed, everything in the center was eventually disposed of over time. However, this unique poster survived through a keen…
Doug and Shankar Jr. Letters: Part Two
For more backstory on how Doug met the young Shankar Jr. please click this previous post: HERE Special Thanks to Shankar Jr. http://www.giligilimagic.com
Doug and Shankar Jr. Letters: Part One
Over the next couple days I’m going to share with you some letters sent to me by magician Shankar Jr. In a previous post, I detailed how at a young age, Shankar befriended and was mentored by Doug in India. Eventually, Doug became more immersed in TM and the mentorship came to an end. However,…
Doug and Shankar Junior
I recently had the pleasure of corresponding with magician Shankar Junior from India. He related to me an endearing story of meeting Doug as child. At the time Doug was studying Transcendental Meditation and…well, I’ll let Shankar tell it as he told me. I met Doug Henning in the late 80’s when he came…
“Veda Lost?” 1998 Article from the NY Times
New York Times Publication Date: February 22, 1998
“Magic of the Natural Law Party” from the CBC
The goal of “The Doug Henning Project” has always been to showcase all the elements of Doug’s life and career. Case in point is this rarely seen news story from the CBC archives. This news story delves into Transcendental Meditation’s Natural Law Party, and Doug’s involvement in it. While Doug himself is only shown speaking,…
1995 “Skeptical Inquirer” Article
The following article comes from the May/June 1995 issue of the well known magazine “The Skeptical Inquirer.” In it, writer Martin Gardner analyzes Doug’s devotion to Transcendental Mediation, its purported benefits, and “Veda Land.” I had weighed whether to publish this or not as the article is primarily one-sided. But, in the end I like…
Doug Henning and Learning How to Fly
It’s not a big secret that Doug Henning was really into Transcendental Meditation. REALLY into it. He was into it so much, that he devoted himself and his energies 1000% to the mysterious calming practice and organization. Magic was an after thought for him, and one that he soon left behind around 1987. For good…
“The Magic of the Natural Law Party” Campaign Video-1993
If you have an hour and twelve minutes to kill, and want to hear more about Doug’s campaign for the Natural Law Party then you’re at the right place. This extremely tranquil video from 1993 stands out for many reasons. Other than going into TM principles in more detail, it also curiously serves as a…
Farewell Auction: Letter/Item Breakdown
The following advertisement appeared in “Genii” in March of 1989. In a lot of ways, this letter and item breakdown signaled what was the true end to Doug Henning as a magician and performer. As is widely known, Doug’s devotion to Transcendental Meditation had overtaken his interest in magic as a whole. In keeping with…
Natural Law Party Campaign Article
Today’s article comes from the collection of Joe Fox, and highlights a unique time in Doug’s life: his attempted political career. Not many magicians to my mind have successfully run for political office and won and, unfortunately, Doug was no exception. Under the TM based “Natural Law Party,” Doug attempted to bring peace to Canada…
Veda Land Files: Rides, Rides, Rides!
Well here are again. Sorry for the day’s delay in posts, but as you can see the wait was certainly worth it. If there was any doubt that the scope of Veda Land was expansive than look no further than below. Featured today are the ride schematics/concepts behind what would have entertained guests if the…
Veda Land Files: Part One
Recently I was very fortunate to gain access to files that I never even thought existed in such detail: Veda Land. Now all of us know that the last part of Doug’s life was spent trying to find various locations and fundraising for this theme park that never was. However, as you will see over…
Doug Henning CSPAN Talk on “The Natural Law Party”
I though I’d start this Monday on more of a tranquil note with Doug discussing the “Natural Law Party” and the benefits of Transcendental Meditation. This short video, as you can imagine, is old and rare. So, if you’ll pardon its technical glitches, you’ll get a glimpse of Doug Henning at the time of “Veda…
Doug and Transcendental Meditation
This following article is reprinted from the website “India Today,” and was originally posted in 2013. While I don’t know when it was initially released prior to 2013, it’s a fascinating snapshot into Doug at the age of forty and his activities within Transcendental Meditation. (UPDATE: This article was published most likely in Fall of…
Natural Law Party Commercial
In the early 90s, Doug ran for office under the TM influenced “Natural Law Party” in the United Kingdom and Canada. While he was the victor in all things magic, sadly his political career was not to be and he lost both elections. While this phase in his career confused Doug’s many fans, it really…
Doug and The Washington Post: Part Two
“The Spellbound World of Doug Henning” by Richard Harrington June 9, 1982 After graduation from college with a degree in physiological psychology, Henning traveled all over Canada and the United States searching out masters who could teach a young Doug old tricks; post-graduate work included opening for Canadian rock groups. He soon found backers for…
Lifestyles of the Rich and Doug!
Today I thought I’d feature a four minute vintage clip of Doug and Debby on the classic 1980s program “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” What’s cool about it is that it gives us a glimpse not only into Doug’s home, but his famed workshop where many of his illusions were developed. Also, what I…
People Magazine Interview: Part Three
After Falling Under the Spell of Wife Debby, Doug Henning Hopes to Charm Broadway Again (Part.3) He stuck with magic. In 1973, he borrowed $5,000 from his mother and, with a friend, launched a rock musical-cum-magic show called Spellbound in Toronto. That led to his role in The Magic Show. Though one critic hailed him…
People Magazine Interview: Part One
In doing some online research I came across this fascinating article from the December 20, 1982 issue of “People” magazine. The interview is notable for two reasons. For one it was written as “Merlin” was just about to open on Broadway, and the other being that it delves into Doug’s new marriage to Debby Douillard (Henning) and the…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 