# How does magic work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846 "2007-10-24T18:32:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/41 "2007-10-25T11:18:02Z")
I’d say that a lot of magic, especially spoken magic as the OP specifies, is based on the belief that the universe can be persuaded or commanded, to use the terms loosely. A type of anthropomorphization. You ask a god or spirit for help, say. You manipulate symbols, like a doll and pin, and expect the real world to obey or imitate those symbols. You draw a pentagram ( or whatever ) and expect it to act like a real, non-drawn barrier. And so on. With the right word or symbols you can get people to do things; this kind of magic tries to extend that principle to everything else. Another class of magical belief is the postulation of various imaginary forces or essences, and trying to manipulate those forces or essences. Like treating willpower as something that can affect the world, or chakra energy, or crystal energy, etc. This type of magic blurs together with pseudoscience pretty easily; psychic powers, for example. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/42 "2007-10-25T12:39:19Z")
[QUOTE=Panurge] I’m surprised that so many people here think that this question does not belong here in GQ, especially if it is rephrased as **Dr. Drake** did: \*How are magic words understood to work by those who use them? [/QUOTE] You’re surprised that there are intelligent, rational people here, who actually know how to use their brains? ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/43 "2007-10-25T13:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] You’re surprised that there are intelligent, rational people here, who actually know how to use their brains? [/QUOTE] Or that some of them might believe in magic(K)? Very hard to explain, It’s like trying to tell a stranger ‘bouta Rock and Roll’. But, I agree that, as phrased, It belongs in GQ about as much as ‘How did Jehova bodily transport Enoch into heaven?’ “Some people think the world is fine, and sweet as sugar candy, I myself belive in what ever comes in handy.” –The Cramps. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/44 "2007-10-25T13:28:52Z")
Off-topic: I’m having a vision that **jjimm** is an extremely handsome, extremely rich, intelligent, witty, caring, perhaps even born-into-royalty, eligible bachelor, if only someone would “let him out.” Come on everyone. Start spouting gibberish and see if we can give him a hand. “Pea pod, pea pod, salubrious corporeal ching-washer” **accompanied by arm movements of wild abandon** Did that work? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/45 "2007-10-25T14:18:26Z")
I think enough people here have specified that they’re answering the question of how _people believed_ magic to work to keep this thread in GQ. I don’t believe in the supernatural but it’s still interesting to study how folks tried to use otherworldly powers. _Ignoratio combatus!_ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/46 "2007-10-25T14:23:12Z")
[QUOTE=missbunny] Did that work? [/QUOTE] Ribbit. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/47 "2007-10-25T14:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] _Ignoratio combatus!_ [/QUOTE] _Ignoratio_ is feminine, and neither _combatus_ nor similar verb form exist in Latin. In the spirit of the thought expressed, how about _Ignoratio certata (est)_ (or, for the more optimistic, _Ignoratio victa_)? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/48 "2007-10-25T14:29:22Z")
See? Blow the incantation and it doesn’t work. Guess I forgot to add the obvious: “I know magic isn’t real but…” bit to the OP. Strange how so many people who claim not to believe in magic should require a spoken acknowledgment of their belief before entertaining a question. Guess we’re back to pointing and yelling, “WITCH!” now. Magic clearly exists in our folklore, words & gestures frequently accompany the casting. Whence anything apart from mental effort to effect the change? Who/what is thought to be outside the caster to facilitate the cast? Thanks to those of you who were bright enough to read between the lines. Some here I guess are incapable of that kind of critical thought. The “divine assistance” angle had occurred to me, but then **Panurge** came out with > [@Panurge](#): > > The magical words thought to affect reality often do so by referring to or re-actualizing a mytical past considered to be true within the given culture. . Can anyone expand on this? Does this mean that the magic has worked because those present simply believe it did? Oh and **jjimm**? \* SMOOCH \* Do anything for you? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/49 "2007-10-25T14:33:51Z")
A friend of mine who believes and practices such things says magic words, incantations, ceremonies, and so on serve only to focus the mind. They’re mainly for neophytes. The true adept works magic(k) through the power of hir will and desire. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/50 "2007-10-25T14:37:30Z")
In religion, a deity or deities or otherwise supernatural being or force is supposed to be listening and the petitioner is requesting some action be taken. For black magic, I suppose the theory is that the Devil (dark side, whatever) is listening and a similar interaction takes place. But for white magic, I don’t see who or what is being invoked, although a (white) deity might be used as the medium. After all, religion and magic have never been far apart and often intertwined. But in a greater sense, I don’t think that serious practitioners of either religion or magic ever try to analyze the mechanism by which it should work. They are convinced that it does (confirmation bias, etc.) and are not encouraged to investigate. (cf. “Doubting Thomas”) If they did, they might lose their faith. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/51 "2007-10-25T14:50:59Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] See? Blow the incantation and it doesn’t work. Guess I forgot to add the obvious: “I know magic isn’t real but…” bit to the OP. Strange how so many people who claim not to believe in magic should require a spoken acknowledgment of their belief before entertaining a question. Guess we’re back to pointing and yelling, “WITCH!” now. [/quote] It’s because you asked in GQ and you didn’t really qualify it very well. If you’d have asked in CS, I don’t think that anyone would have thought you were being serious. Even in terms of beliefs about and/or imaginative/fictitous explanations for magic, the answers are so myriad and individualistic and non-canonical as to defy a good response. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/52 "2007-10-25T14:51:47Z")
I see that **CJJ** knows how to cast _Power Word: Kill Joke._ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/53 "2007-10-25T15:04:53Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] Oh and **jjimm**? \* SMOOCH \* Do anything for you? [/QUOTE] Well, I’d have preferred a lady, but any port in a storm. Get that tux on, gorgeous! ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/54 "2007-10-25T15:06:53Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] I see that **CJJ** knows how to cast _Power Word: Kill Joke._ [/QUOTE] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/55 "2007-10-25T15:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] How does magic work/what is it that is actually happening to effect a desired change? [/QUOTE] I don’t think the answer has to be ‘It doesn’t’. There’s no need to be that blunt, or that assertive. I think a good answer is, ‘The question involves a premise, namely, that magic works. Bring us the evidence to support this premise, and we can begin to try and answer the question. If there isn’t any evidence, then there’s no question to answer.’ ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/56 "2007-10-25T15:08:26Z")
I think we should treat all religious questions this way. "I know Jesus isn’t real, but … ", "If Allah was real, what’s the story on … ", and mercilessly hound anyone who doesn’t make it known up front that they realize that all religions are hocus-pocus. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/57 "2007-10-25T15:10:29Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] And as if by magic, I read this as: …and I turned into a lady-boy. Ribbit. [/QUOTE] Wishful thinking perchance? Ribbit ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/58 "2007-10-25T15:11:15Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] A friend of mine who believes and practices such things says magic words, incantations, ceremonies, and so on serve only to focus the mind. They’re mainly for neophytes. The true adept works magic(k) through the power of hir will and desire. [/QUOTE] But first you need to discover your True Will. Quite difficult, but useful. Whether you use that knowledge to raise the spirits or pick your major. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/59 "2007-10-25T15:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] I think we should treat all religious questions this way. "I know Jesus isn’t real, but … ", "If Allah was real, what’s the story on … ", and mercilessly hound anyone who doesn’t make it known up front that they realize that all religions are hocus-pocus. [/QUOTE] The issue IMHO is not that magic isn’t real, it’s that there are as many different versions of magic as there are authors who have written about it. Should we answer according to how Gandalf’s magic works or how Jack Nicholsns worked in the Witches of Eastwick or some other version? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-magic-work/423846/60 "2007-10-25T15:28:28Z")
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