Title:
What is Magic?
Topic:
Magic
Sources:
Anthro- Robbins, Tanya M. Luhrmann, Herbal Store
Relation:
“Modern Magic is based on the assumption that the mind and thought can
affect matter without the thinkers action,” claims Robbins. Magic has constantly
been in societies but has taken many forms. It can be the kind with witches, it
can be person’s emotions like love, and it can even be an explanation for the
unknown. The anthropologist Luhrmann
joined different witches covens and groups made up of middle class people in
England to discover what magic was to them. Luhrmann found the group focused on
good health, natural life, reading tarot cards, and healing with herbs. This
was their idea of magic in the “New Age” ideology.
Description:
This past week I went to Humboldt Herbals in Eureka to look at some of the
herbs they claim to help heal sickness and pain, which could be viewed as a
form of magic. I spoke with one of the sales associates and she said that she
completely believes that the herbs help with some type of earth magic. She gave
me a pamphlet explaining how these herbs can help. It states “before the advent
of antibiotics, it was not unusual for an experienced medical professional to
slather honey on a wound to prevent infection and hasten healing. In the
mid-1940's, antibiotics became available for the treatment of infections and
herbal treatments were displaced from use.” One example of a magical healer is
honey. Many published reports described the healing properties of honey in
rapidly clearing infection from wounds with no adverse effects to slow the
healing process. It is also suggested “honey has an antimicrobial action
against a certain spectrum of bacteria and fungi and may actively promote
healing.” This is just one form of magic and honey has and still is viewed to
have magically properties to help heal.
Commentary/Analysis:
People seem to use magic to solve all issues and use it to give an explanation
for the unknown. It seems to give a simple answer to all problems even though
it normally make people question more things. One question magic brings up is “What
causes love?” another could be about healing potions. To cultures in other
society magic is part of the afterlife and people are even constantly afraid of
“dark magic”. No matter what form every person has their own idea of magic and
what it is and does.
