What is magic?

[Gambit]

What is magic?

Aleister Crowley defined magic as "any event in nature which is brought to pass by Will." (source: p. 127, "Magic, Book 4")

Crowley's definition actually accords with academia's definition (which is listed below).

The term "magical thinking" in anthropology, psychology, and cognitive science refers to causal reasoning often involving associative thinking, such as the perceived ability of the mind to affect the physical world (see the philosophical problem of mental causation) or correlation mistaken for materialist causation. (source: Wikipedia: Magic (paranormal))

What does the above efinition imply? It implies that anyone who believes in mental causation believes in magic.

 

[George-ananda]

I was all set to vote 'No' and then I clicked on the link and read the first sentence: Magic or sorcery is the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures and language that are believed to exploit supernatural forces.[

I changed and decided to vote 'Yes'. Maybe I've been thinking wrongly about the word all these years.

 

[Gambit]

I was all set to vote 'No' and then I clicked on the link and read the first sentence: Magic or sorcery is the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures and language that are believed to exploit supernatural forces.[

I changed and decided to vote 'Yes'. Maybe I've been thinking wrongly about the word all these years.

What did you think it meant?

 

[Riverwolf]

Yes.

Some of the greatest wizards out there right now are Steve Wozniak, John Carmack, and Chris Sawyer.

Conceptually, magic has always involved interaction with invisible forces to produce a desired effect. In games like Dungeons and Dragons, this involved "components" in order to work, and in the older versions was described as highly calculated and mathematical. These days, we actually do interact with invisible forces (at least they're invisible to the unaided eye) in highly calculated ways in order for modern technology to work at all, so as far as I'm concerned, we're in the Age of Wizardry.

 

[George-ananda]

What did you think it meant?

More like; something that just happens with no mechanism or explanation needed.

 

[Gambit]

More like; something that just happens with no mechanism or explanation needed.

Well, I consider that magic too. And we definitely have some prominent scientists (e.g. Stephen Hawking and Lawrence Krauss) who invoke what amounts to magic to explain the spontaneous emergence of something from nothing.

 

[Quintessence]

More like; something that just happens with no mechanism or explanation needed.

Magic means far too many things in the English language. I tend to avoid using it for that reason. I'm not a huge fan of wiki's base definition of it either. Regarding magic as non-supernatural is routine within the Neopagan community, for one.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

What is magic?

I like how Robert Anton Wilson puts it: "Magick has many aspects, but primarily it acts as a dramatized system of psychology."

I also agree to an extent with George Ananda definition with the exception of supernatural forces. Nothing is supernatural. My hugging my mother without saying "I love you" sends energy, if you like, to who, in turn, knows that connection is a form of love without my saying so. It is no different than praying to my deceased family for protection and blessings. Life isnt black and white. Magic is gray.

 

[Levite]

What is magic?

Magic is the act of externalizing one's will to sufficient degree that it affects the probability of something one desires so radically that it either makes something improbable much more probable, or actualizes it into existence. While this is often done with the aid of rituals, symbols, sacred items or texts, objects imbued with spiritual energy, and so forth, ultimately all of those things are merely facilitators for one's will, as focused by mind and soul.

 

[Valjean]

Effect without mechanism.
Effect brought about by alteration or suspension of natural laws.

Eg: miracles, divine intervention, rabbits pulled from empty hats.

 

[Bunyip]

Magic is also a very popular performance art. Magicians use skill and various devices to perform magic tricks. Magic is an illusion created by the skill of the magician.

 

[Gambit]

Magic is the act of externalizing one's will to sufficient degree that it affects the probability of something one desires so radically that it either makes something improbable much more probable, or actualizes it into existence. While this is often done with the aid of rituals, symbols, sacred items or texts, objects imbued with spiritual energy, and so forth, ultimately all of those things are merely facilitators for one's will, as focused by mind and soul.

Are all acts of the will magic?

 

[Levite]

Are all acts of the will magic?

No, only those imbued with spiritual energy in such a way as to operate effectively externally from oneself.

 

[Gambit]

No, only those imbued with spiritual energy in such a way as to operate effectively externally from oneself.

Are you familiar with Jewish Kabbalah?

 

[`mud]

Butterflies do it all the time !
And you should taste my wife's cooking !
That's the closest to paradise one can get !
~
'mud

 

[Nakosis]

Magic is some occurrence you observe for which you cannot explain the process by which it occurred.

Once you are able to explain the process, it is no longer magic.

 

[Levite]

Are you familiar with Jewish Kabbalah?

Yes. I study it and sometimes teach a class or two in basic introductory concepts in Kabbalah.

 

[Blastcat]

Well, I consider that magic too. And we definitely have some prominent scientists (e.g. Stephen Hawking and Lawrence Krauss) who invoke what amounts to magic to explain the spontaneous emergence of something from nothing.

So, you equate quantum physics as magic?

 

[Blastcat]

No, only those imbued with spiritual energy in such a way as to operate effectively externally from oneself.

Please define "spiritual energy" and could you explain how you know that this is a real thing.

 

[Blastcat]

Magic is also a very popular performance art. Magicians use skill and various devices to perform magic tricks. Magic is an illusion created by the skill of the magician.

And paradoxily, this is the only KIND of magic we actually know is REAL.. but this is CALLED "fake magic".
Imagine if someone watched a magic show and asked. "Is this REAL magic or just STAGE magic?"

ha ha. real magic, the only kind we know actually happens is called fake, and the kind of magic that nobody has EVERY verified is called real. Tells a LOT about our culture.