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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sepulchrave II" data-source="post: 5243161" data-attributes="member: 4303">But I think magic is plenty big enough to subsume psionics within its remit.ESP/Psi is itself an outgrowth of an historical need to cast magic in a more rational light : specifically as notions of human psychology (described in human terms) gradually replaced more religious conceptions of existence.The prototype event for this schism is almost dateable: 23 Nov 1775. Anton Mesmer (Mesmerism) and Johann Gassner (an exorcist) going toe-to-toe in an effort to impress Max Joseph of Bavaria. Mesmer proved more impressive. Psi won. Mesmer -> Charcot -> Janet -> Bleur -> Breuer -> Freud.Parapsychology and Theosophy represent fields where magic and psi overlap.And most modern "New Age" magic - I'm thinking Wicca, Seithr and whatever else - is firmly derived from Thelemic ideas about will: magic is here simply defined as causing change to occur in conformity with the will. Whatever adjuncts are used (crystals, candles, rituals etc), they are self-consciously deployed as methods to focus the will.Needing no external trappings, Psionics might be described as Thelemic magic par excellence.But much of the language is sci-fi, and is more like Asimov's "Mentalics" or May's "Metafaculties," and I think that's what most people have problems with. Using those quasi-scientific terms is what turns people off psionics. Vance cheats and somehow gets away with it.</blockquote>