by Ethel Smith

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

Let's start with a few simple observations that most of us never consider. Man and his fellow creatures live on a large spherical object that is known as earth. This earth is suspended in god knows where, surrounded by god knows what. If that does not sound magical I do not know what does. Is there any wonder that at times we seem prepared to believe in anything?. Often the more peculiar something is, the more chance there is that we will believe in it.

Take the concept of God. I do not want to open a can of worms, and I apologise if this comparison causes any offence. It is not meant to do that. However, the God that is at the heart of all religions is certainly weird and wonderful. Whether you believe that your God sits in heaven, surrounded by winged angels, or that he is in everything that surrounds you, he is not earthly, normal or usual. As such he has a mystical, almost magical quality. There is nothing tangible about God, but yet millions of people believe in his existence. If people can believe in such an omnipotent presence, then it is not hard to see that they can also believe in magic.

Magic is very different, but it too has no hard foundation.

When prehistoric man roamed this planet he had few resources. Is there any wonder that even something such as fire, which we take for granted these days, left him in awe. Fire was magic, although, as we all know these days it is not. The ancient world had no scientific knowledge or explanation for even some simple happenings. Why someone became ill and how they were cured was often totally unknown. This just happened, as if by magic!

As children we are all encouraged to believe in, for example, magical fairies and Father Christmas. These magical creatures, and this man, make no sense at all and yet we readily believe in their existence. The magical world which they inhabit is often less complicated and more entertaining than our own mundane world. Perhaps it is how we feel our lives should really be?. From a young age we are encouraged to use our imagination and believe in the unbelievable. Maybe, as adults, it is because we all yearn for this innocent period of our lives, why we are so fascinated by magic.

The thought of being able to wave a wand, or cast a spell, in order to grab a fortune or change someone's behaviour is very appealing. Then again, maybe you want to make your enemies disappear in a puff of smoke?. Magic offers power and most of us like the thought of that. To be able to confound your enemies and easily perform tasks is a great thought.

In this crazy world of ours we have learned that really almost anything is possible. As such, perhaps it is our desire for magic to exsist that fuels our fascination with it.

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