05/07/2026
Here it is!
Last year I saw a video that stopped me in my tracks. Someone was doing something truly magical—8-ring manipulation. It was one of those rare, unique performances that goes viral. The moment I saw the rings floating and weaving in impossible patterns, I was completely mesmerized. In fact I had that experience that non-jugglers have when they see juggling: it seems so impossible, feels like magic, but you know it’s real. And I had to learn it.
It’s called “8 Rings” because two rings held together resemble the number 8. Surprisingly, this type of manipulation has been around for about 20 years in far corners of the juggling world, yet I’d never seen it before—and I still haven’t seen it performed live. Finding props and solid instruction was a real challenge, but six months ago I finally began the journey.
I started completely from scratch at age 55 with zero transferable juggling skills. What I mean by that is that I had no existing juggling skills or talent that was transferrable to this type of juggling. I was a total beginner. The early months were hilariously frustrating—drop after drop. But then came the moments. The beautiful ones. The ones where everything clicks and you feel pure joy: the joy of creation, the joy of ex*****on, and the deep satisfaction of realizing you actually did it. I’ve had so many moments of discovery and invention, and I still do.
I’m aiming to perform this in 2026. Finding the right music and building a solid routine has been its own challenge, but test runs have already taught me a lot.
I can’t wait to share these live moments of joy and wonder as the rings float and dance.
I also hope this inspires others—especially people my age or older—to finally take the first step toward something they’ve always wanted to learn. It could be ballroom dancing, knitting, a new language, scuba diving or juggling. Whatever it is, just start. Your life (and the lives of those around you) will be richer for it.
I began learning this new prop the month I turned 55. I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in a few years.
