50+ Words Related to Magic

September 25, 2023

Fascination in magic, mystics, and metaphysical techniques dates back millennia, and this is no less true today. Many research this topic out of fantasy fandom, while others are interested in occult practices for their own spiritual purposes. The following are key words related to magic with explanations to help navigate this broad yet nuanced topic in your writing.

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Table of Contents

Sorcery

Sorcery commonly refers to a malevolent form of magic in which evil spirits are conjured for supernatural influence. The practice involves spells and rituals to communicate with the dead or demonic to alter aspects of the natural world. It often falls under the umbrella of black magic.

Enchantment

Enchantment is generally a positive feeling that spurs from being under a spell (literally or figuratively). It’s an illusory experience of the senses that usually results in pleasurable feelings towards another person or object. While the word has many meanings, they all refer to a form of seduction.

Charm

In the context of words related to magic, a charm is a physical object thought to contain a spell. They are worn, carried, or displayed to bring good luck and provide psychic protection. Examples of charms, sometimes known as talismans, include but are not limited to gemstones, essential oils, jewelry, coins, and statues.

Entertainment

The early 1800s saw the the introduction of stage “magicians”. These entertainers utilize the art of illusion to challenge the audience’s perception of reality. Common magic tricks include levitation, vanishing and re-appearing, deadly escape stunts, metamorphosis, sleight of hand, and displays of psychic intuition.

Black Magic

Black magic is a type of spell-casting often associated with evil. It is believed the practice invokes the devil to carry out harmful spells for selfish purposes such as revenge. Practices such as witchcraft, sorcery, and voodoo are often associated with black magic. Although not all see black magic as necessarily malicious, the connotation is generally negative. Some who suffer many misfortunes or fall mysteriously ill may believe they have been cursed by black magic.

Wizard

A wizard is a scholar of the occult arts and highly skilled in practicing magic. Mentions of wizards date back to the biblical era and appear frequently in fairytales, fantasy literature, and games. Wizards are also sometimes referred to as sorcerers or magicians.

Magic Carpet

The origin of the magic carpet is not fully known but likely stemmed from Arabian and Persian folklore. It also appears in the Hebrew myth of King Solomon as a gift from God. Symbolically, magic carpets represent power and freedom from Earthly limitations, a common theme among words related to magic.

Spell

The word “spell” is arguably one of the most commonly used magic words. It is a magical formula that can take many forms, from an incantation, charm, elixir, and potion to an enchantment and bewitchery. Although often affiliated with witchcraft, any ritual performed with the intention to influence may also be viewed as spell-casting.

Incantation

An incantation is a verbal spell that is either spoken or sung. It can take many forms, from traditional witchcraft incantations to prayers, mantras, hymns, and chants. The purpose is to invoke the intercession of divine entities such as a God, Goddess, saint, spirit, or collective consciousness.

Crystal Ball

Quartz crystal spheres are used for crystal-gazing, or scrying, as a medium for visions to come through to clairvoyants. Fortune-tellers frequently use them for insight into future events or spiritual guidance in making difficult life decisions.

Alchemy

Alchemy is the medieval precursor to the modern-day field of chemistry. It often focused on the transmutation of base metals into gold. But alchemy had other ambitious goals, such as curing diseases and achieving immortality and/or eternal youth.