Society–Knowledge–Discourse

Magic and the Paranormal

Introduction

Magic and paranormal phenomena are inextricably linked. When we think of magic, we think of extraordinary phenomena, remarkable people, and the miraculous, but also the occult, the sinister and deception come to mind. From the fantasy genre, we are familiar with incredible stories of magical power over objects, people or other living beings, over the environment, personal destiny or even the weather. The fascination with magic and sorcery is unbroken, even in modern societies.

Scientific research into magical practices and rituals is predominantly approached from religious studies, historical and anthropological approaches. The question of the reality of magical effects and the effectiveness of magic practices is usually not addressed. According to a physicalist-reductionist world view, psi phenomena cannot exist. Accordingly, there can be no such thing as “real” magic, and supposedly “magical” effects are based on illusions or deception.

Parapsychology is also critical of the fantastic tales of magical effects, but the possibility of psi phenomena is accepted as a scientifically proven reality. It is therefore worthwhile for them to take an open-minded look at this practice, which is still practiced in today’s modern societies by people who would be inappropriately suspected of being backwardly uninformed.

The following questions in the context of magic are of particular interest from the point of view of parapsychology:

Cover des Buchs "Arkana Welten"
Fig. 1
Icon mit Fragezeichen

Selected Projects

The Magician and his World(s)

Between 2004 and 2007, an interview study was conducted with magical practitioners in German-speaking countries. The main objective was, on the one hand, to obtain general information about the practices found in German-speaking countries and the belief systems behind them that went beyond the study of relevant literature and websites; and, on the other hand, to gain insight into individual approaches to magical practice in a modern Western society. The thematic focus of the in-depth, topic-centered individual interviews was as follows:

  • Biographical context
  • Adaptation of magical knowledge
  • Magical practice and forms of evaluation
  • Social environment / magical networks
  • World interpretation and worldview
  • Ethics / value orientation

Eleven practitioners of magic were recruited as interviewees. The spectrum of magical traditions represented was quite broad, ranging from representatives of white magic orders (Servants of the Light) with a focus on ritual magic to members of satanic orders (Current of Seth). Most of the interviewees were individuals with many years of magical practice; some of them can be considered key figures in the German-speaking magical scene.

Publications

Mayer, G. (2008). Arkane Welten: Biografien, Erfahrungen und Praktiken zeitgenössischer Magier. Ergon.

Mayer, G. (2010). Moderne magische Praxis: Modelle—Techniken—Schulen. Grenzgebiete der Wissenschaft, 59(2), 99–134.

Mayer, G. (2012). Magier des 21. Jahrhunderts: Ein Versuch der Dimensionierung der Persönlichkeit des Magiers. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen (pp. 133–165). Logos.

Mayer, G. (2009). Magicians of the 21st century: An attempt at dimensioning the magician’s personality. Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, 4(2), 176–206. https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.0.0150

Mayer, G. (2008). Die Bedeutung von Tradition und Geheimnis für praktizierende Magier des 21. Jahrhunderts: Ergebnisse eine Interviewstudie. Aries, 8(2), 117–138. https://doi.org/10.1163/156798908×327302

Project Team
Magic Practices and its Evaluation

Building on the interview study from 2004-2007, a further four interviews with magical practitioners were conducted in 2023 to explore the topics of (1) paranormal experiences of magicians, (2) evaluation of magical practice and (3) magic in the laboratory using a focused approach. The evaluation of magical practices and rituals represents a central problem. Similar to parapsychology, displacement or trickster effects are observed. Furthermore, the possibilities of evaluation are largely dependent on the magician’s objectives, for example whether they are long-term, less concrete goals such as developing a better self-confidence within a year or short-term and specific goals such as recovering a lost jacket within a certain period of time. This makes it difficult to assess the success of magical operations.

Publications

Mayer, G. (2023). Magic and Its Evaluation – Reports and Views of Practitioners. Journal of Parapsychology, 87(2), 105-127. http://doi.org/10.30891/jopar.2023.02.02

Mayer, G. (2025). Was ist Magick und wie erfolgreich ist die Praxis? Magie unter der Lupe der Parapsychologie. Tattva Viveka, 103 (Juni 2025), S. 38–47.

Project Team