This is one of the eternal questions that has haunted humanity for millennia. The mystic or occultist will say that magic exists, that he has experienced its possibilities on his own experience. The skeptic will object - where is your magic, show me it! I only believe in what you can see or touch! But which of them will be right?
To understand whether magic exists, you need to try to understand this issue as impartially as possible. And you should start with the origins of the birth of magical techniques. I invite you, dear reader, to mentally travel back to prehistoric times.
Why did magic come about?
Once upon a time, the world was truly vast. And frightening … People had to face such dangers every day that we cannot even imagine. The predators roamed the land, outnumbering modern tigers and lions in strength. Thunderstorms, storms, hurricanes and other natural phenomena brought superstitious horror to our ancestors.
The man did not know whether he would return from the hunt alive, whether he could survive the next attack of a hostile tribe. Any disease was perceived as the machinations of evil spirits. Of course, a person needed protection to make him feel more comfortable in this vast, hostile world.
Humanity at all times was distinguished by an inquisitive mind. Some people began to study the properties of herbs, trying to interact with the "forces" and "spirits" that personified the elements of nature. This is how the first shamans appeared - cultists who devoted themselves to the study of magic.
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What did the shamans do?
The sorcerer was responsible for the fate of his tribe. He had to ensure a successful hunt, appease the gods, who could send the people both a bountiful harvest and all kinds of disasters. The shaman was consulted when it was necessary to make important decisions, for example, to change the parking lot, to start preparing provisions, to go on a military campaign.
To get something, you need to give something no less valuable in return. Ancient sorcerers used this principle in their rituals. They sacrificed to the gods part of the harvest and the animals obtained in the hunt. The Aztecs and many other tribes widely practiced human sacrifice …
Our ancestors did not have a question whether magic exists. They believed in the power of witchcraft unconditionally. However, if the shaman could not "agree with the gods" and trouble fell upon the tribe, then he could simply be killed. The place of the supreme sorcerer passed to the next applicant.
Mystical practices of the peoples of the world
It would seem that scientific and technological progress should put an end to magical practices and other superstitions. But judge for yourself, magic in one form or another still lives in various parts of the world:
Shamans of Mexico and Siberia. Their rituals allow the intake of hallucinogens - psilocybians, fly agarics, peyote. In a state of trance, the shaman visits other worlds and interacts with their inhabitants, conducts rituals. A common technique is ritual with a tambourine.
Yoga of India. These wonderful people completely and completely control the capabilities of their bodies. For example, a yogi can safely swallow a packet of needles without risk to health, and then force the needles to come out of his fingertips. Yogis voluntarily stop breathing and fall into lethargic sleep. Some are even capable of levitating.
Followers of the Voodoo cult. These are mainly residents of the African continent. The Voodoo religion involves an appeal to the invisible spirits of Loa, who act as an intermediary between man and God. The Voodoo cult is widely known for its volta, a doll made to kill an enemy.
Rosicrucians (Freemasons). The Knights of the Rose and the Cross, whose descendants now make up the Masonic lodge, possessed sacred knowledge. Their power caused concern among the authorities of that time. To get rid of the Rosicrucians, King Philip IV of France (Philip "the Handsome") entered into a conspiracy with Pope Clement the Fifth.
Anchorites of Tibet. These mystics are famous for their ability not to freeze in the most severe Himalayan frosts. They practice the technique of tumo (inner warmth). Anchorites are specially wrapped in wet sheets and dry them with the heat of their body. They also perform the tshed sacrament, which is included in the list of the most terrible rituals in the world.
Theosophical lodge. It is very common in America, despite the fact that one of the founders of the movement was Elena Petrovna Blavatskaya, who was born in the Russian Empire. Theosophists can only conditionally be called magicians, although astral travel and seances are found among their practices.
Village magic is widespread in almost all parts of Russia. Its variety is gypsy dark magic, which includes various methods of targeting damage and evil eye.
Does it exist or not?
Still, does magic exist? We can say that there are many historical examples, but this will not convince any skeptic. Fulfilled predictions of Nostradamus or Wanga? Falsification of facts, common coincidence! The curse of the pharaohs that overtook the tomb raiders? Nonsense, just musty air has accumulated inside the pyramids! What about the curse of the Winchester mansion? This is just a massive hallucination! Etc…
Dear reader, if you really want to know if magic exists, then try to study it from the practical side. This is the only way you can gain personal experience, form your own idea of this issue. Indeed, in real life you cannot find a magician who can summon a dragon or throw a fireball at his opponent. But this does not mean at all that the centuries-old knowledge of shamans, sorcerers, magi, mystics from different countries is just a meaningless empty shell.