• Hi guest! As you can see, the new Wizard Forums has been revived, and we are glad to have you visiting our site! However, it would be really helpful, both to you and us, if you registered on our website! Registering allows you to see all posts, and make posts yourself, which would be great if you could share your knowledge and opinions with us! You could also make posts to ask questions!

The Engineering of Coincidence: a scientific explanation of magic

What is magic? We all know that magic exists, but can it ever be explained? Over thirty years ago, I set out to answer these questions, and to look for a truly scientific explanation of magic.

Now, I'm not bright enough to invent new physics, or dumb enough to try and pick loopholes in the physics we already have, so my only choice was to take our most successful physical theories dead seriously, with as few assumptions as possible, and see where that led me.

My definition of magic is - as the title of the book says - 'the engineering of coincidence', or, more simply, "being lucky on purpose". The ability to influence our outcomes in life, purely by the way we think about them, as the root of all magical practice.

I am not claiming to have discovered any kind of ultimate Truth; my work is independent of any specific magical system.

Magic enriches our lives; is it too much to ask how it works, as well?

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


This is my first published book; thank you to @SkullTraill for letting me post this.
 

akenu

Apprentice
Joined
Jan 22, 2023
Messages
98
Reaction score
173
Awards
1
BTW, have you also checked the theory that we live in a simulation?
 

Robert Ramsay

Apostle
Joined
Oct 1, 2023
Messages
1,469
Reaction score
3,403
Awards
12
BTW, have you also checked the theory that we live in a simulation?
Yes. I refer you to my signature :)

Simulation 'theory' (it is not a theory) explains nothing and is not much use.
Post automatically merged:

no no. They summon a bes who has a name, but during the ritual things begin to move, that is, the simplest explanation is that the bes really came, and despite the fact that he is invisible, nevertheless he influences the real world by moving things. An egregor? Well, personally, I try to apply the word "egregor" to an inanimate system: capitalism, communism, transhumanism, and so on... At the same time, I understand that the word "egregor" can also be applied to a person, say, Hitler or Stalin, who were raised to a cult during their lifetime. In this case, yes, any god/demon can be considered an egregor simply because they are worshipped.
Post automatically merged:


Yes, but I hadn't read your book at the time, so I wasn't prepared for his objection.)
Ok, I've now read a wodge of his book. It seems that mine is the scientific basis of what he talks about. He does have some wobbly metaphors, but still 🙂

I'm interested in the idea of people being affected by 'pendulums' as he calls them without specifically invoking them. I would say that they are more like ruts or patterns than egregores as such. They appear to have a life of their own because people are subject to falling into the same patterns.

I was expecting some mention of actual science, but haven't found it yet
 
Last edited:
Top