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Magic (also called magick to distinguish it from stage magic) is a supposed way of influencing the world through supernatural, mystical, or paranormal means. This article provides an overview of specific magical traditions and practices. It also discusses the use of magic as a plot device in various kinds of fiction. For a list of historical figures associated with paranormal magic, see: List of occultists.Note that the term magic is used in other senses in other articles. For a discussion of magic as an aspect of religion, see magic and religion. Some people also use the term magick, with that variant spelling, to distinguish the concept of magick as proposed by Aleister Crowley from other varieties of magic. Magic is a fairly neutral term; it has many synonyms, with varying connotations, such as sorcery, white magic, or black magic.
1 Changing attitudes towards magic
1.1 Indigenous traditions
Appearing from aboriginal tribes in Australia and New Zealand to rainforest tribes in South America, bush tribes in Africa and pagan tribal groups in Western Europe and the British Isles, some form of shamanic contact with the spirit world seems to be nearly universal in the early development of human communities. The ancient cave paintings in France are widely speculated to be early magical formulations, intended to produce successful hunts. Much of the Babylonian and Egyptian pictorial writing characters appear derived from the same sources.
Although indigenous magical traditions persist to this day, very early on some communities transitioned from nomadic to agricultural civilizations, and with this shift, the development of spiritual life mirrored that of civic life. Just as tribal elders were consolidated and transformed into kings and bureaucrats, so too were shamans and adepts devolved into priests and a priestly caste.
This shift is by no means in nomenclature alone. While the shaman's task was to negotiate between the tribe and the spirit world, on behalf of the tribe, as directed by the collective will of the tribe, the priest's role was to transfer instructions from the deities to the city-state, on behalf of the deities, as directed by the will of those deities. This shift represents the first major usurpation of power by distancing magic from those participating in that magic. It is at this stage of development that highly codified and elaborate rituals, setting the stage for formal religions, began to emerge, such as the funeral rites of the Egyptians and the sacrifice rituals of the Babylonians, Persians, Aztecs and Mayans.
1.2 Magic and the Magi
Magical beliefs and practices are common in many cultures and religions. The word magic comes from the beliefs and practices of the Magi (singular, MagusMagi were Zoroastrian astrologer- priests from ancient Persia. The word magi is plural; the singular is magus . It is derived from the Old Persian word, Magupati in Modern Persian Mobed''. Magus is also a word for a Shaman ( magician, wizard, or sorcerer)), PersiaPersia is the historical name for the state of Iran. The name was used in the West due to the ancient Greek name for Iran, Persis''. Persia is used to describe the nation of Iran, its people, or its ancient empire. The name Persia comes from a province inn priests and scholars, followers of ZoroasterZoroaster was one of the great teachers of the East and the founder of Zoroastrianism, which was the national religion of the Perso-Iranian people from the time of the Achaemenidae to the close of the Sassanid period. The name Ζωρο&, who were credited by the classical world with mastery of astrologyastrological chart (or horoscope) Y2K Chart This particular chart is calculated for January 1st, 2000 at 12:01:00 A. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. Longitude: 074W00'23" Latitude: 40N42'51") Astrology (from Greek: , astron "star" + and other arcane arts.
1.3 In Judaism and Christianity
Officially, JudaismJudaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and the first recorded monotheistic faith. The tenets and history of Judaism constitute the historical foundation of many other religions, including Christianity and Islam. Star of David, a common s, ChristianityChristian cross and its many variations are widely recognized as an ancient Christian symbol. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians generally chara and Islam characterize magic as witchcraft, but some forms of magical thinking have existed within these religions throughout some of their history. When these religions' views of magic were later applied to the beliefs of other religions, this had the effect of vilifying tribal shamans and other practitioners of magic.
