For one magical summer, Jona is selected to be a companion to Prince Lee and help him practice social graces. Despite her joy, however, she is expected to follow the rules: never speak to the queen unless spoken to, never forget she's merely a servant, and never, ever fall in love with the prince. Are the differences between a prince and a commoner too large to overcome, or are they just a matter of magical misperception?
This thought-provoking tour through the science of magic will make you question what you know about your brain and your reality. A psychologist and magician shows how the scientific study of magic reveals intriguing—and often unsettling—insights into the mysteries of the human mind. What do we see when we watch a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat or read a person’s mind? We are captivated by an illusion; we applaud the fact that we have been fooled. Why do we enjoy experiencing what seems clearly impossible, or at least beyond our powers of explanation? In Experiencing the Impossible, Gustav Kuhn examines the psychological processes that underpin our experience of magic. Kuhn, a psychologist and a magician, reveals the intriguing—and often unsettling—insights into the human mind that the scientific study of magic provides. Magic, Kuhn explains, creates a cognitive conflict between what we believe to be true (for example, a rabbit could not be in that hat) and what we experience (a rabbit has just come out of that hat!). Drawing on the latest psychological, neurological, and philosophical research, he suggests that misdirection is at the heart of all magic tricks, and he offers a scientific theory of misdirection. He explores, among other topics, our propensity for magical thinking, the malleability of our perceptual experiences, forgetting and misremembering, free will and mind control, and how magic is applied outside entertainment—the use of illusion in human-computer interaction, politics, warfare, and elsewhere. We may be surprised to learn how little of the world we actually perceive, how little we can trust what we see and remember, and how little we are in charge of our thoughts and actions. Exploring magic, Kuhn illuminates the complex—and almost magical—mechanisms underlying our daily activities.
Subbotsky argues that the role of magical thinking in child development and in adult life should be reconsidered. In children, magical thinking is an important part of cognitive development. In adults, magical thinking assists individuals as they struggle with situations that are beyond rational control.
When Portia Coulter meets the mysterious Mr. X at a masquerade ball, she’s forbidden from deepening their acquaintance. As it turns out, however, the flirtation sets in motion a chain of events out of her control. Mr. X has no intention of letting her go that easily but his efforts to woo her may cost her everything. Will fate be kind to a substitute mannequin or is Portia destined to live a loveless existence?
An examination of Trithemius's "magical theology," which argued for the compatibility of magic and Christian doctrines, and its influence during the Renaissance and Reformation.
Dahlia learns more about magical toolmaking under the tutelage of Oswald, all while developing a slime farm with head researcher Idaea. She also begins making new connections as a result of her encounter with Volf’s brother Guido and his attendant. Meanwhile, her recent inventions of zephyricloth and soap bottles are taking the world by storm! With her fanciful imagination, can Dahlia finally find company among Ordine’s elite? Find out in the fifth installment of Dahlia’s artisanal adventures!
The collection of Hebrew, Arabic and Jewish manuscript material that was deposited in the Cairo Genizah as early as a thousand years ago is of major significance for our understanding of all aspects of life in the medieval Mediterranean world. This volume presents a selection of papers from the third congress of the Society for Judaeo-Arabic Studies: after introductory material by the editors, it ranges over a wide area of Judaeo-Arabic language and literature, giving the reader a clear impression of recent research in the field. Among the topics covered are the early grammarians, translators and commentators; newly discovered texts of poetry, liturgy and legend; and the religious differences between Jews, Muslims and Christians. The various activities of the Maimonides family naturally attract attention; there are studies of contemporary medicine and magic; and an explanation is offered of Jewish trilingualism. As well as presenting the most recent research in this area, the essays offer a unique insight into the medieval symbiosis of Jewish and Arabic culture. They will be of interest not only to scholars in these areas, but also to those interested in medieval history and philosophy, oriental folklore and medicine.
It has become standard in modern interpretation to say that Jesus performed miracles, and even mainline scholarly interpreters classify Jesus's healings and exorcisms as miracles. Some highly regarded scholars have argued, more provocatively, that the healings and exorcisms were magic, and that Jesus was a magician. As Richard Horsley points out, if we make a critical comparison between modern interpretation of Jesus's healing and exorcism, on the one hand, and the Gospel stories and other ancient texts, on the other hand, it becomes clear that the miracle and magic are modern concepts, products of Enlightenment thinking. 'Jesus and Magic' asserts that Gospel stories do not have the concepts of miracle and magic. What scholars constructed as magic turns out to have been ritual practices such as songs (incantations), medicines (potions), and appeals to higher powers for protection. Horsley offers a critical reading of the healing and exorcism episodes in the Gospel stories. This reading reveals a dynamic relationship between Jesus the healer, the trust of those coming for healing, and their support networks in local communities. Horsley's reading of the Gospel stories gives little or no indication of divine intervention. Rather, the healing and exorcism stories portray healings and exorcisms.
Divine Enticement argues for a reconception of theology and it subject matter as modes of seduction, of both body and mind. Theological language as evocation opens onto rereadings of faith, sacrament, ethics, prayer and scripture. The conclusion argues for a sense of theology as calling upon infinite possibility.
When Kira is poisoned by an enemy, she struggles to find an antidote before she succumbs to enslavement. At the same time, she's desperate to save Dorsit, a Leopard Clan wizard whose youth and magic has been stolen by a murderous wizard on a rampage. As Kira's homeland is invaded by bloodthirsty legions, she flees across the county in a bid to reach a legendary cure. Hunted by shadow hounds, an army of Cyclopes, and an evil jinn, will her wits and skill as a warrior be enough to survive? This prequel to the Yden Trilogy also contains two Yden short stories: "Ran" and "The Temporary Wizard of Locklynn."
