So, how does magic work?

[Dov]

I asked in my review: Magic needs to be worked for. That is a theme in this book especially since we the readers are spending so time with the royal family. This family upholds the weather-magic, very difficult magic. when Gar receives the ability to do magic after waiting for x-amount of year, the interaction between him and Fane show us truly how horrifying magic can be. True that it is inherited, and is the birth right, of the Doranians, therefore for those of you who read the book I am unclear as too how magic works: incantations are they necessary? or is it the thought that make the magic? well if that's true why have incantations at all? and if you really need incantations how can you do magic by just a thought. similarly only the real powerful can do magic by just a thought and normal magic use is done through incantations, a combination of the first two possibilities what has changed just how much power this person wields. no that this person wield x-amount of magical power, i only can skip the incantations?

If anyone can shed some insight taht would be wonerfull.

[Faith]

i have thought about this many times. and although i have no conclusive answer i have a few theories. as i can't test my theories having no magic myself.

i have two examples first....the dog whisperer. if you have ever tried to train a "trouble" dog the dog whisperer techniques are just like magic. it is amazing what just mannerisms and thought can do. now stay with me....the dog whisperer is sharing his abilities to train dogs with the rest of the world. if you just saw him come out and make a crazed pit bull lay down and lick your toes you would be amazed. but he tells you how and shows how/why the mannerism work on dogs.(i have to admit though i am still amazed even though he does tell you how)

second.....the whole jesus turning water into wine thing from the bible....it's not that he had a glass of water and turned it into wine....it is just my personal belief so no one take this personal....but he told water how to be wine. elements, minerals, atoms, neutrons, electrons, matter, etc all obey laws, so by telling the atoms, electrons, neutrons where to go and what to do they were able to combine with the water to make wine.

personally that is what i think about magic. it is in the mannerisms, spoken and unspoken plus in the elemental design of all life that go into making magic possible.

think on how many things in this decade that appear to be magic if looked at from a person from the past. a lighter alone that produces fire would make the 1600th century hang you for witch craft.

so someone with the ability of magic, meaning someone with that extra DNA or that extra chromosome or that extra brain power....is able to access that energy that is all around them. they still have to obey the same rules and laws that surround and rule the universe at large. but they are able to tap into that ability. they use words, incantations, herbs and potions, and even thought to bring about the energy(minerals,atoms, netrons, electrons, etc) that is around them and organizes them in some manner that brings about a spell or a casting.

so that is my theory and i am more than open to more theories and thoughts as to how magic works. what about you dov what are your theories?

[Meh]

Magic doesn't have a set way of action. That's the point. One of my favorite things about fantasy is seeing what new kind of magic the author can come up with. Sometimes they fail utterly and just present the same old hash with magic crystals/staffs/potions and mumbling incantations. Lame. But one of my favorites is Robin Hobb's Skill, where people with the talent can develop these mind powers, allowing them a degree of mind control, delusions, locking memories inside objects, instant communication over miles, etc. However, there's also a seductive pull to the use of it, and if you open yourself up and use too much, it will destroy your mind. Definitely cool.

[Dov]

Meh, i totally hear what Your saying and it is an interesting idea. I first started read fantasy wen i was young with the Dragonlance series so i guess i'm tainted with how that mechanism of magic work and therefore try to somehow fit all magic into that. That begin said I don't like your answer; and also you faith. mages /wizards aren't "gods" (no religious undertones intended). Why does this person and not that person have the ability known as magic? this ques should be asked, here in the innocent mage it inbred to a race of people, now that that is answered and has an obvious answer the next logical step (if not scientific question) is to question how this race harness this magic. If the magic affect a specific race, NOT randomly, then it can't be so random as to how these people control their magic.

[Faith]

dov, i did not say that wizards and mages are "gods". if you see the two examples i gave were to give a reflection, an example of how "magic" could be performed. showing how magic needs desire, ability, incantations, and why i believe that to be true. the dog whisperer is not a "god" by any standards religious or not, plus i mentioned jesus from the bible, i did not say jesus the son of God. i know that would be assumed if anyone had read any history of who jesus from the bible is. but i never used god hood into any point in my argument or theories.

what i don't understand is your question? you ask how is magic achieved, is incantations or thought necessary and why? then you change your topic completely and ask who is chosen to receive magic without answering the initial question.

you did say that you are "tainted with how the mechanism of magic work and therefore try to somehow fit all magic into that." what does that mean exactly. how are you tainted? in what way has your tainted views been worked into magic and how it all works?

dov you were quick to discount my theory and meh's theory without giving any theories of your own. plus you discounted our "answers" without clear depiction of why you don't agree with them and again as i have stated early what you actually believe.

[Matt]

Is this discussion magic in general across all books, or just magic in this book? The Innocent Mage

[Lisa]

Re:Is this discussion magic in general across all books, or just magic in this book? The Innocent Mage

I'm going with the book. It's been a while but magic is an inherited ability that must be trained. Gar doesn't need the training because it isn't his magic - he's being used by the entity the barrier has kept out.

[Bluegravity]

For one, it is dependent on the type of magic. Certain types are more religious while others are self-sustaining. I suggest you consider reading Wen Spencer's Tinker series.
Certain magics require a sort of connectedness or rhythm. Something to help with concentration or center. It's like stacking- each piece needs to be put just right on top of each other and the higher you get, the more concentration is necessary, but with more practice, the pieces get lighter, easier to handle and stay balanced better. Eventually, you'll realize that you don't need to stack these pieces physically anymore and are able to merely hold them in your mind, rather.
One thing though, words hold a lot of power, and can be dangerous even when in one's mind...
Especially if these words have had centuries to maturate.

If we're referring strictly to the book, that isn't Gar's power or ability. The streams of magical intent can be used by him, but the original caster whose knowledge it is derived from holds the actual key to its conception and therefore its use. Gar is merely a vessel. I wouldn't find it odd at all if whenever he 'uses' his magic, it is actually truly the master magician who turns it into utility through him.

[Aaron]

My question is why didn't Asher shut the bleeding door when he was doing the weather magic? That door was spelled to keep out people with ill intent. It'd certainly kept Willar out. What was the point of telling us about that door?

My sense was the Doranians had to use incantations more, and thought and intuition was more a part of Olken magic.

[Frederic]

That is an okay address, and one that may have various distinctive replies, contingent upon which individuals you ask. To start with, there are numerous diverse sorts of mystery - common enchantment, useful mystery, high enchantment, stately mystery - and every is a tad bit changed from the others. Actually regarding the matter of spell work, you'll uncover various slants on the Hows and Whys of the methodology.
http://www.magician-dubai.com/