Some Words Really Are Magic

From Ancient Spells to Modern Self-Help: Do Magic Words Have Power?

Abracadabra! Ichita copita melaka mystica! Please? Whether you’re casting a spell, begging for an extension, or just trying to get someone to pass the guac, you’ve probably used a “magic word” or two. But what if those words… actually worked? In the latest episode of Otherwords, Dr. Erica Brozovsky dives into the origins and very real power of magic words. This is the history class Hogwarts should’ve offered. We learn how Egyptian priests believ…

Some Words Really Are Magic

The development of language gave early societies a whole new layer of reality apart from just what we saw around us. That is clearer than ever with the internet, since we now fling words around the world that are completely separated from our actual bodies and environments. So its no wonder that we have imbued words with magical powers ever since words were a new thing. Spells, incantations, and magic words are all used for storytelling, religio…