Real Magic: Beyond Harry Potter
Some people say that the magic of Harry Potter was only a construct developed by J. K. Rowling and the book itself is wish fulfillment, an escape from reality that kids can easily relate to. For some, the story was nothing more than an opportunity for them to feel like wizards themselves, or attempt to fill their own life with magic just as they were reading about it in their favorite books or watching it on the big screen.
What if there is no such thing as magic at all, and the world outside Harry Potter is exactly what it appears to be? In fact, what if there's no such thing as magic at all?
Many people already consider themselves skeptics and non-believers. They highly doubt in everything they are taught, from religion to science. It's a difficult process for them to abandon everything they thought they knew about the world, and expose themselves to new ideas that contradict what they think is true. When these people are presented with an idea such as magic, it easily presents itself as false.
To these people, Harry Potter merely functions as a fantasy book—that's all it is. They see nothing but fiction and do not truly believe in its existence outside of the sections of Rowling's book where her characters describe it. Because these non-believers have already established a belief system that does not include magic, it's much easier for them to accept the idea of magic being nothing but fiction.
Some people, on the other hand, do believe in magic and are open to the concept of it existing in some form. This is where the real debate begins. There are many different theories when it comes to the existence (or non-existence) of magic—many of which I'd like to share with you.
Fantasy vs. Science
Most people are introduced to the idea of magic by reading fantasy books. This is why most people assume that magic must exist, because they have seen J. K. Rowling use the concept in her books. However, a common misconception is that this belief in magic is merely a fantasy—that it's an escape from reality and nothing more than nothing but imagination and fiction.
The truth is that magic might not have anything to do with fiction at all. I'd like to suggest that there may be at least some small measure of truth behind the magical characters featured in these stories—that it is something much more powerful than what most people believe it to be.
No Matter What You Believed, Science Still Works
If you were taught that magic doesn't exist, but you wanted to find out whether or not it really did and if so where it was, you had a few options. If you used logic and common sense, it probably wouldn't have been very hard to prove that magic does not exist.
If you would like your proof, one of the easiest ways to check for the existence of magic is to check for its presence in our world. Assuming the existence of magic means that there are things we cannot explain or understand using common sense and rational thinking. If that exists then yes, we must admit that it's possible that magical beings or non-existent objects do exist.
For example, we cannot explain the existence of ghosts or aliens. We can only assume that there is some sort of magical force behind these apparitions and beings. If you have ever wondered whether or not ghosts are real, I think this is a great way to test for their existence.
Another way to test for the presence of magic is by using science. Magic would be a force that exists outside of the laws of physics—a power that came from another source or dimension. To find out whether or not that was true, we could perform a variety of tests.
Of course, these tests are not the easiest things to conduct. For example, if you were to build a machine that created a portal to another dimension, you would probably need some assistance from experts. However, if a machine like this did exist then we could still test for magic through it.
Portals are commonplace in science fiction and fantasy—they're one of the most used methods for inter-dimensional travel. The only way a machine that creates portals would work would be if it had a supernatural source of power. If it did, then we could use the machine to "travel" through space and time.
This is not science fiction—this is the reality we live in now. It would make sense that something like this exists because we have already seen what happens when these inter-dimensional gates are constructed in television shows such as Doctor Who and Stargate.
If inter-dimensional travel is possible, then we can use it to explore the universe. If we were to discover a planet like Earth where magic existed, we would have no choice but to admit and accept that there are things in this world that cannot be explained.
A third way to test for the presence of magic is harder than either of the two methods mentioned above. It might be hard for you to believe, but it really does exist.
Conclusion
It's easy to claim magic doesn't exist, because it would seem difficult to prove on some level. By learning about the theory of magic and using science to test for its presence, you can prove that magic is possible. Most people assume that magic is merely stories they have read or seen on television, but this might actually be very true.
If you'd like to learn more about the concept of magic, keep reading—I have a lot more information on my website which I encourage you to check out at www.