Search

What is magic?: A cento in response to Owen Davies

abbimitchell28
Feb 10, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Oct 24, 2021

Magic is

what all they call magic:

a strange transformation (contrary to scientific laws),

the unexpected and inexplicable experienced through the force of things unseen.

Magic is causing an effect, post hoc ergo propter hoc,

without demonstrable cause, with suspension of disbelief.

Magic is knowing without seeing.

Magic is a convincing story manifesting, the charlatan’s playground.

It is creative use of metaphor, narrativium,

practice done properly like

successfully flying a Nimbus 2000.

Magic is tickling the universe into submission,

authoring reality through thought.

Magic is madness made manifest, screaming at candles,

channeling psychosis into healthy form.

Demonism, deception, or merely protoscience:

alterations of consciousness in the service of desire,

all consuming and all pervasive. It is psychological control over uncontrollable events,

weaving the threads of Wyrd to align reality with delusion.

(Magic is methods for experiencing truth.)

Magic is

art, timing, "effort",

enchantment, divination, invocation, evocation, illumination, and

terrifying wonder. Yearning for the ultimate origin.

Magic is to be enchanted.

Yet magic is real: salt, fat and carbohydrate.

Magic is what Selwyn Froggitt says when he’s chuffed,

Paul Daniels' chop cup routine.

and finding your skate key.

Magic is nature in all its glory.

The precursor to science, a

mutual change with the universe, the

cosmic mess conceptualised,

collapsing the quantum wave favourably.

Magick is Information Technology for Semiotics.

Magic is a word –

definable within a sociohistorical context, yet

defying absolute definition.

It is forbidden religious rites and practices, or

combining societial fears and desires,

or power to the people.

Magic is as magic does.

-

This cento is comprised entirely of responses borrowed from the following Twitter users (in order of appearance): Subterranean Bleak Midwinter Blues (@t3dy), Neil Philip (@neilphilipmyth), Thurrock Local History Society (@ThurrockHistory), Ahh Bisto (@bistography), Chris Woodyard (@hauntedohiobook), Jack Daly Burner Account M.A. (@thefolklord), Philip Bazlinton (@pjbazlinton), Magnus Malleus (@Violograph), Reg Crawford (regcrawford3), Jessica L Becker (@JessicaLBecker), Hookland (@HooklandGuide), Robin Taylor (@badgermind), jude (@FleurDeElise), Robert Dickins (@Cofgoda), Mostly me these days (@MostlyMeNotOCD), Dave MacLunkey (@pulpauthor), A Wee Demon Wot Loves An Elf (@thesleepywitch), Michael Lux (@MichaelSebLux), Gombles (@nodlcforme), Alexander Lawford (@alexlawford), UK-Skepticism (@UKSKEPTICS), Owen Davies (@odavies9), Dr Debs (@singinghistori1), Barry Price (@GroupHookland), Lucas Ritting (@lucasritting), Occult Experiments (@OccultExperime1), Robin Scarlett (@DeliriumHaze), Dharmapoppins (@Dharmapoppins), Curtis Lee Cancino (@CurtisCancino), invisible college dropout (@deepfates), Kathologist (@Kathologist), Theo Paijmans (@memizon), Nina Antonia (@NinaAntonia13), Miji Yoon (@MijiMijiyoon38), SpiderLiza Frank (@lilithepunk), A Very Very Tired Man (@PaulWurgisnacht), Daniel Brown (@DanPBrown), Motek Sherman (@mowolf), Tara (@FaereWolf), Logan E (@Logan_Exhales), Cliff W. (@DiamondGlyph), Jackie Yaga (@YagaJm), Grahame Gardner (@grumgeo), Dogecoin Millionaire (@Immanue18964861), Rabbi Dr. A.D. Lobel (@AD_Lobel), Fr. J. Wesley Evans, OPA (@FrWesleyEvans), Chloe Carroll (@ChloeABCarroll), Dr Dara Downey (@DaraD22Gothic), Chris Lovegrove @calmgrove