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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneLigon" data-source="post: 5027631" data-attributes="member: 3649">The reason magic in old tales and myths seems 'mysterious' is that our viewpoint character is never the person with magic. They may be affected by magic or use a magical device (usually following a set of instructions), or pal around with magical people, but I cannot think of one single myth or tale where our hero is a non-apprentice actually capable of doing magic. You tell someone about the intricacies of your job and it'll seem pretty mysterious to them, but to you, the insider, you're following a set of step-by-step procedures or guidelines that get you from point a to point b. The more complex your job, the more mysterious.'Real' magic in myths is probably no more 'mysterious' than being a medical doctor. You have a huge body of lore that no one person understands the whole of, based on incomplete information. Things work like they should 95% of the time: drug a has effect b, but sometimes stuff just happens because of variables beyond your control. ("Well, I have no idea why this guy isn't dead, but he isn't").</blockquote>