Power of Magic


From the perspective of western public evidence based science, magic makes no sense. So we tend to have a condescending attitude towards it and its practitioners.
I'm not writing about your entertainment focussed on-stage magician here, best described as an illusionist. But rather, the true believer in things/phenomena that can change life, for better or worse.
It is all part of the quest for certainty, and so being able to predict what will happen, given certain prevailing conditions.
Both science and magic tries to do this, in different ways, but leading towards the same goal of predictability.
This is where things get muddy, fuzzy and difficult:
Some years ago a friend of mine got involved in marketing a kind of 'power drink' that was supposed to enhance one's vitality in all kinds of ways and cost about $50 a bottle.
I went to some time and trouble to investigate based on information made available by its manufacturer.
As it turned out it was composed of mildly saline water put through an ionizing process in a factory setting and distributed to believers through a marketing network, with all kinds of hype behind it.
Users swore by its efficacy and ability to enhance their lives.
Did it?
Who's to say?
Its power did not likely lie in its chemical composition, but rather in people's need and want to BELIEVE.

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