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'''Magic''' is the production of seemingly physically impossible acts perpetrated by a person or people.

'''Magic''' is the production of seemingly physically impossible occurrences that conflict with the natural laws by a person or people. The source of magic differs depending on the practitioner religious or philosophical beliefs.

Originally, magic was something that invoked evil or false supernatural powers, although today the word is also used of acts produced by sleight of hand and similar human cleverness.

Magic differs from a [[miracle]], which is a normally physically impossible act perpetrated by [[God]] (or, in the [[Catholic]] tradition, by a [[saint]] aided by God). Perpetrators of magic are called varyingly ''magicians'', ''[[mage]]s'', ''[[sorcerer]]s'', ''[[witch]]es'', ''hexers'', ''[[shaman]]s'', ''witch doctors'', or ''[[wizard_(occult)|wizard]]s''.

Magic differs from a [[miracle]], which is a normally physically impossible act perpetrated by a god or by a person inspired by that god. Practitioners of magic are called varyingly ''magicians'', ''[[mage]]s'', ''[[sorcerer]]s'', ''[[witch]]es'', ''hexers'', ''[[shaman]]s'', ''witch doctors'', or ''[[wizard_(occult)|wizard]]s''.

Common uses of magic have included spells to gain influence over government officials, to obtain the love of an unwilling person, to win legal cases, and to prevail in cases of uncertainty, for example in horse-racing or other forms of gambling. Rituals which attempt in general to harm another person of a protected or superior social status have also been a common form of magic. Magic has also been frequently used by businessmen to divert trade and customers away from their rivals.

Magic takes a myriad of forms depending on the goals and desires of the person using the magic. Many belief systems that make use of magic frown on using it for selfish or harmful ends, but historically magic was frequently used to advance a person's station or to harm others. Rituals which attempt in general to harm another person of a protected or superior social status were a common form of magic and still are in some traditional societies where more shamanistic beliefs are prevalent.

The  term 'magic' derives from the name of the [[priest]]ly caste of the [[Iranian]] religion, ''Magoi'' in [[Greek]], which at the time of the Graeco-Persian wars in the fifth century BC were commonly believed in Greece to have practiced religious rituals hostile to Greek Freedom and victory in the wars of that time. The word ''Magoi'' (μαγοι) is the one used in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to describe the three ''[[Wise Men]]'' who come to visit Jesus at his birth.

The  term 'magic' derives from the name of the [[priest]]ly caste of the [[Iranian]] religion, ''Magoi'' in [[Greek]], which at the time of the Graeco-Persian wars in the fifth century BC were commonly believed in Greece to have practiced religious rituals hostile to Greek Freedom and victory in the wars of that time. The word ''Magoi'' (μαγοι) is the one used in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to describe the three ''[[Wise Men]]'' who come to visit Jesus at his birth.

==Magicians in Primitive Cultures==

==Magicians in Primitive Cultures==

In many [[pagan]] or [[polytheistic]] cultures, each village or region would have their own magician or shaman who would act as a [[medium]] to their gods. In times of crisis, such as [[drought]], [[pestilence]] or other [[natural disasters]], the shaman would cast spells to appease the gods to end the torment. Shamans would also sell love potions and good fortune powders in exchange for money, food or sexual favors. They would occasionally act as [[psychic]]s. They would also be the religious figure presiding over important events such as [[birth]], [[marriage]] and [[death]].

In many [[pagan]] or [[polytheistic]] cultures, each village or region would have their own magician or shaman who would act as a [[medium]] to their gods. In times of crisis, such as [[drought]], [[pestilence]] or other [[natural disasters]], the shaman would cast spells to appease the gods to end the torment. Shamans would also sell love potions and good fortune powders in exchange for what they needed in that society. They would occasionally act as [[psychic]]s. They would also be the religious figure presiding over important events such as [[birth]], [[marriage]] and [[death]].

The magician or shaman would typically live alone outside the village, in order to preserve the magical mystique of his powers. In return for his protection, the village would collectively care for him (frequently shamans were men) by bringing him food daily. As the shaman became older, he would usually choose a young boy to train as his successor.

The magician or shaman would typically live alone outside the village, in order to preserve the magical mystique of his powers. In return for his protection, the village would collectively care for him (frequently shamans were men) by bringing him food daily. As the shaman became older, he would usually choose a young boy to train as his successor.

==Use as a Pejorative Label==

==Use as a Pejorative Label==

The word "magic" has become somewhat synonymous with [[deception]]. As a result, by using the label "magic", a person can negatively characterize ritual practices or beliefs that he wishes to condemn. For example, the last Roman Emperor to practice the traditional Roman religion, [[Julian]], characterized the apostles [[Paul]] and [[Peter]] as the greatest magicians who ever lived, in an attempt to reduce the wonders of [[Christianity]] to mere wizardry. Because it invokes evil or false supernatural powers, Christians themselves are also mistrustful of magic; for example, in [[Dante's Inferno]], sorcerers are punished in the eighth circle of [[Hell]] - lower than [[tyrants]], [[usury|usurers]] and [[simony|simoniacs]].

The word "magic" has become somewhat synonymous with [[deception]]. As a result, by using the label "magic", a person can negatively characterize ritual practices or beliefs that he wishes to condemn. For example, the last Roman Emperor to practice the traditional Roman religion, [[Julian]], characterized the apostles [[Paul]] and [[Peter]] as the greatest magicians who ever lived, in an attempt to reduce the wonders of [[Christianity]] to mere wizardry. Because it invokes evil or false supernatural powers, Christians themselves are also mistrustful of magic; for example, in [[Dante's Inferno]], sorcerers are punished in the eighth circle of [[Hell]] - lower than [[tyrants]], [[usury|usurers]] and [[simony|simoniacs]]. Modern Christianity also rejects the idea of individual humans using magic as using a form of dark or evil power.

The term magic was commonly used to describe ritual practices practiced outside of the control of state authorities, so that, for example, practitioners of [[healing]] and [[exorcism]] in Classical Greek culture who were not associated with the temples of a Greek city state were commonly, as by [[Plato]], criticized as magicians.

The term magic was commonly used to describe ritual practices practiced outside of the control of state authorities, so that, for example, practitioners of [[healing]] and [[exorcism]] in Classical Greek culture who were not associated with the temples of a Greek city state were commonly, as by [[Plato]], criticized as magicians.

Some, most notably the Masked Magician, have broken the code in the past, either for personal gain or to stop other magicians relying on the same old tricks.

Some, most notably the Masked Magician, have broken the code in the past, either for personal gain or to stop other magicians relying on the same old tricks.

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]