Is magic just fantasy, or something more?

Do You Believe in Magic?

The other day I was on-line chatting with someone that saw my web page. He had seen that I was a writer and was asking about my books. I told him that I dealt mostly in fantasy, and that I filled my books with dragons, mystical creatures, and magic. During the course of the conversation, I told him that I do my best to keep the elements of magic true in my books, and try to make the spells as real as possible without making them dangerous. After a very long pause I was quickly informed by this person that; "I was a nut and a crackpot for believing in such a bunch of nonsense."
What is magic, and why has the world lost its faith in magic? I see evidence of this everyday. I turn on the TV and see masked magicians revealing timeless secrets of illusion and I have to sigh heavily. Magic is leaving the world, being cast out into the light to be ridiculed by those that do not understand what they are seeing. Many people that I talk too say, "It's about time this stuff is revealed, its all fake anyway."
Personally, I think the whole thing is tragic. In this twisted and chaotic world that we live in, we need to hold on to magic in the worst way. I believe in magic for many personal reasons, but I believe in it for some very fundamental reasons too. *I include prayer in with my definition of magic, because prayer is just as strong a force of magic as any other - so long as the person doing it believes it fully*. It all involves a conscious act of a disciplined mind, creating a force that works to change the world around you. I will not turn this into an article about educational training for magic, or what I believe in, but there is some solid reasons why magic works. If you wish to pursue this you can find some very good books on the subject at any bookstore. (Just walk into the section that others are avoiding like the plague) If you wait in the aisle for a few moments and don't try to find anything, the text will come to you. All books hold magic, and if you allow yourself to be open, you will find a great many answers.
Sadly, I feel that we as a society are loosing a part of ourselves as magic is taken away from our day-to-day lives. Do you remember the first time you saw Santa Clause? Do you remember the amazement and wonder that came with believing in a magical old man in a red suit that brought you toys on Christmas? Why should we as a society destroy that, and replace it with cold hard facts of science that tell us there is no physical way that Santa could be real. The magic of Santa is powerful. It is so strong that it changes the world for a few weeks every year. Many call in the Christmas spirit, some call in the force of god, but anyway that you look at it – it’s magic. This magic is no different from that of the Easter Bunny, communion, or a magic spell. It is all about faith and working with elements and forces that cannot be explained by science. It is a personal journey of spirit that moves you to a better place. You become happy with yourself and others and strive to make the world a better place. That is what magic, religion, and faith does for the world.
Somehow in the past few years, science has become the new religion and the overall mindset of man as a species. "If you can't prove it, it ain't real." What a horrible legacy to leave our children. Why would you want to take away the history of magic and the wonder of our early folklore? Magic was a fundamental part of mankind long before recorded history. Every religion on the planet owes its beginnings to magic and lore. Without it, god does not exist, nor do any ghosts, spirits, or deities of any kind. Science is mans greatest gift to the world, but it is running unchecked and is quickly becoming its own greatest downfall. I ask you all, what does man believe in anymore? Do we now have to look to the scientists before we make up our minds on the most common of issues? What was the last thing you took purely on faith? Can you remember how it felt to just believe that something was real? You did not need a ten-page report or fact sheet on the subject - you just knew that what you felt was true .
All to often we are made to feel like simpletons and idiots because we believe in things that challenge the science of today. The first thing that science wants to do is start analyzing to find out what makes it tick. However, that is the wrong attitude to take with magic and religion. It works on different levels and in such a way that it cannot be tested or probed. You must look at the human element, and look inside yourself to find the answers to magic. For it is something that works only when you believe in it. If your faith is strong, it will work for you. It will always cast doubt, for in doubt lies its greatest strength and power. Magic is as personal and spiritual as anything ever believed by man, and it deserves to remain a fundamental part of human culture and belief.
Yes, I believe in magic. Do you?
Michael R. Mennenga