What Is Magic?

So, a random thought popped into my head and I figured I might as well write a blog post about it: what is magic?

I was going to insert the dictionary definition of magic here, but it turns out the entry's actually pretty long, which proves one thing about magic right away: lots of different things can be magic.

Image courtesy of taoty / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There's what we typically think of as magic, the sort of thing you'd read in  Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Many people think of magic simply as the power to cast spells that do things we can't normally do, or do them more efficiently. I mean, how many of you wished you could use "accio" to summon something just out of your reach? Or unlock a door with "alohamora" when you forget your house keys? Or used magic to protect yourself or someone else in a fight? Or heal someone? There's no doubt that this kind of magic is great.

There's also luck. Sometimes when people get lucky, they like to call it magic. "I was flat broke, and then all of the sudden, I won the lottery! It was like magic!" Or when a miracle occurs. Sometimes credit that really belongs to God goes to luck or magic. I think it's really sad when people discredit God's power by attributing the amazing things he does to luck, magic, or simply randomness. But that's another story entirely.

For some people, magic is "sorcery" or "witchcraft". There are, sadly, people who think that any magic is evil and Satanic. They think that all magic must be black magic or voodo.

But that's not all magic is. When you think about it, magic is simply something special. It's something amazing that happens in your life, or the life of someone else. Even the simplest things can be magic. New life being brought into the world, an adorable baby? That's magic. Laughing with friends over an inside joke because you know each other so well? That's magic. Singing, putting all your heart and soul into a beautiful song? That's magic. Falling in love- and then finding out that that person loves you too? That's magic. Helping another person? That's magic. Doing something, however small, to change the world? That's magic.

So you see, magic is all around us. You don't have to be a fictional character to experience it. You don't even have to be a witch or wizard. All you have to do is live your life. So, have a great day and remember: magic is all around you. You just have to look.