Magical Realism and the Sociology of Possibility

“All [magical] ritual is a kind of language, it therefore translates ideas.” (Marcel Mauss, A General Theory of Magic, 75)

this piece is about belief magic, which Merriam-Webster defines as “the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces” and especially how belief magic is represented in culture. After all, culture, from films to books to art, has always shaped society, just as we shape it.

An easy way into all this spooky shit , for instance, is to consider that for every metaphysical impossibility there is a concretely explainable possibility that exists in the observable physical world. These are less causations than correlations, confluences, or synchronicities . After all, things which were previously considered to be "magical" w... See more

One thing I’ve also noticed is the gradual loss of the understanding of “imagination” as a category; it can sound a little Reading Rainbow to talk about, but wouldn’t you know imagination is actually an essential part of the human condition. In so far as the words “spirit” or “spirituality” mean anything beyond woo-woo or cliché they must include t... See more

First of all, is it's not Harry Potter. You can't say some incantations, wave a stick, or wish on a star and magically get what you want. Life in the physical is the tangible and material world and more often than not, magic is used as a tool for navigating this world, delivering connections and insight, and helping you accomplish things. Still, it... See more