Magic may refer to:
- Magic (paranormal), anything that is not explainable by any present laws of science.
- Magical thinking
- Folk magic, traditional systems of magic
- Magick, the magical system of Aleister Crowley and Thelema
- Witchcraft, the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers
- Magic (illusion), the art of entertaining audiences by performing illusions and tricks
- Street magic, sleight of hand, etc.
[edit] See also
- Magician
- Magus, a Zoroastrian priest; the origin of the word magic
- Magic and religion
- Magic in the Greco-Roman world
- Mana
- Magical thinking
- List of magical terms and traditions
- All pages beginning with Magic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_in_the_Greco-Roman_world
...
In the ancient post-hellenistic world of the Greeks and Romans (the Greco-Roman world), the public and private rituals associated with religion are accepted by historians and archaeologists to have been a part of everyday life.
...
Magic is generally seen as "any attempt to control the environment or the self by means that are either untested or untestable, such as charms or spells."[2]
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theurgical
Theurgy (from Greek θεουργία) describes the practice of rituals, sometimes seen as magical in nature, performed with the intention of invoking the action of one or more gods, especially with the goal of uniting with the divine, achieving henosis, and perfecting oneself.
See also Invocation.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goetic
... a practice which includes the invocation of angels or ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invocation#Self-identification_with_certain_spirits
[edit] Self-identification with certain spirits
Invocation can refer to taking on the qualities of the being invoked, such as the allure of Aphrodite or the ferocity of Kali. In this instance the being is literally called up from within oneself (as an archetype) or into oneself (as an external force), depending on the personal belief system of the invoker. The main difference between this type of invocation and the possessive category described above is that the former may appear more controlled, with self-identification and deity-identification mixed together.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituals
...
Even common actions like hand-shaking and saying hello are rituals.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituals#Purposes
Ritual serves diverse purposes including, but not limited to:
- Worship
- Ritual purification with the aim of removing uncleanliness, which may be real or symbolic.
- Atonement
- Dedication
- Education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituals#Religious
...
from organized religion to non-institutionalized spirituality, such as ayahuasca shamanism as practiced by the Urarina of the upper Amazon. Rituals often have a close connection with reverence, thus a ritual in many cases expresses reverence for a deity or idealized state of humanity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituals#Sociology...
Alongside the personal dimensions of worship and reverence, rituals can have a more basic social function in expressing, fixing and reinforcing the shared values and beliefs of a society. This function can be exploited for political ends, though it lies at the heart of most sociological understandings of religious ritual.
Rituals can aid in creating a firm sense of group identity. Humans have used rituals to create social bonds and even to nourish interpersonal relationships.
...
[edit] Psychology
In psychology, the term ritual refers to a repetitive, systematic behavioral process enacted in order to neutralize or prevent anxiety and is a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
...
== See Also ==
...
Categories: Cultural conventions Ritual Anthropology of religion*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_purification#Shinto
In Shinto, the main form of ritual purification is Misogi, which involves natural running water, and especially waterfalls. Rather than being entirely naked, men usually wear Japanese loincloths, and women wear kimonos, both additionally wearing headbands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogi
...
There are several different groups practicing Misogi in Japan, perhaps one of the most well known is the Sen Shin tei Misogi Well at the Ki Society Headquarters in Japan, where people perform misogi with cold water before sunrise.
...
They then begin 降り魂 furitama or "spirit shaking" by clenching their hands in front of the stomach and shaking them up and down, vibrating the upper torso. The purpose of this is to become aware of / unified with the spirit's presence within. Following this is a "warm-up" or calisthenics called 鳥船 tori-fune or "bird (boat) rowing". These two aforementioned practices are sometimes accompanied by special prayer words or incantations. After, the "leader" begins to speak out invocations/prayers that are said to activate the spirit. The "followers" generally speak along with them, thus affirming the potential for realizing one's own spirit, and thus unifying them with the Kami around them.
...
Misogi is also used in some forms of martial arts, especially Aikido to prepare the mind for training and to learn how to develop your "hara", or centre. The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba regularly used this form of meditation to complement his training and search for perfection.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tummo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Reflexes
Laughter (1)
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendon_reflex
Tendon reflex (or T-reflex) is a feedback mechanism that controls increasing muscle tension by causing muscle relaxation before tension force becomes so great it may damage the muscle.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipsilateral
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affective_sensation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_reflex
... is a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_memory
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cognitive_biases
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Memory_disorders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation#Organic_causes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback#Level_4:_Efficacious
...
Biofeedback treatment protocols for anxiety, ADHD, hypertension, TMD, urinary incontinence in males, and migraine, cluster[citation needed], and tension headaches have all received level 4 efficacy ratings[5].
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback#Level_5:_Efficacious_and_specific
...
EMG is used as a relaxation technique to ease tension in the muscles causing backaches, neck pain, TMD, incontinence, and tension, migraine, and cluster headaches. EMG is also used in the process of muscle rehabilitation, such as in cases of paralysis resulting from Cerebral Palsy, stroke, and incomplete spinal cord lesions.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_nervous_system
...
