When I became a teen, I ran into a friend at a magic shop who

Hear the words of Apollo Robbins, who spoke of the beginning of his path: “When I became a teen, I ran into a friend at a magic shop who took me under his wing. I started reading up on magical theory and immediately blended that with what my brothers had shown me.” At first glance, these words recount a simple story of youth, but hidden within them is a lesson about destiny, mentorship, and the weaving together of gifts. His journey began not in grand halls or under blazing lights, but in a humble shop, with a chance meeting, and with the quiet study of theory. It is here we see that the roots of mastery are not in fortune alone, but in preparation, guidance, and the courage to blend knowledge with practice.

The magic shop stands in this tale as a sacred temple of beginnings. It was no ordinary place, but a space where imagination and craft met, where tools of wonder lay waiting for the hands that would wield them. It was there that Robbins found not only tricks, but a guide—a friend who became a mentor. Such moments echo across history: chance encounters that shape a life. For greatness is rarely born in solitude; it grows in the soil of community, nurtured by those who extend their wisdom to the willing.

To be taken under the wing is to be shielded and instructed by one who has walked the path before. Robbins, as a youth, was given not merely knowledge of technique, but the wisdom of approach—the understanding that illusion is not only about sleight of hand, but about perception, psychology, and the theater of the mind. In learning from his brothers and then merging that with magical theory, he transformed raw play into disciplined artistry. His words remind us that mastery comes when practical experience meets disciplined study.

History gives us clear parallels. Consider Leonardo da Vinci, who as a young apprentice in Verrocchio’s workshop learned not only how to paint, but how to see. He blended the theory of geometry with the practice of art, the mechanics of machines with the vision of a poet. What seemed like disparate streams became, in his mind, a single river of creation. So too with Robbins: the lessons of his brothers, the pages of magical theory, and the guidance of his mentor merged to form the foundation of a unique path.

There is also in this story the theme of serendipity—that mysterious alignment of time and place which opens doors. Robbins did not plan to meet a friend at a magic shop; he stumbled upon it. Yet when the moment arrived, he was ready. This teaches us that chance favors the prepared soul. Opportunities come and go like fleeting shadows, but to those with open eyes and eager hearts, they become turning points. The meeting at the shop was no accident; it was destiny disguised as coincidence.

The lesson for us is eternal: seek mentors, blend knowledge, and honor the small beginnings. Do not despise the humble spaces—the workshop, the shop, the library—for they may hold the seed of your becoming. Be open to guidance, for wisdom often comes through others, and be diligent in uniting practice with theory, for mastery requires both. Most of all, prepare yourself so that when fortune knocks, you are ready to walk through the door it opens.

Thus, let the words of Apollo Robbins be passed down as teaching: your path will be shaped by the wings that shelter you, the books you read, and the hands that teach you. Be willing to learn, to blend, to innovate. For it is in the weaving together of influences—family, mentors, study—that you will forge a craft that is truly your own. And when your time comes, as his did, the world will look upon your work not as mere tricks, but as wonder born of discipline, chance, and vision united.