I believe @Erebus started the last thread on this, but I wanted to pick up the topic again. Perhaps the best way to define magic, not in the modern demystified way, is as acts where one willfully acts against the "natural order." In myths you get extreme examples, such as manipulating the weather, and in modern occultism you get things like forced belief (essentially the placebo effect). Most people simply equate magic with placebo off as if it's nothing, but it's actually a big deal.
For example, studies are now showing that placebos can improve lives without deception, meaning that people know the pill is a sugar pill and take it anyways, cause an improve in their subjective symptoms. So willfully believing something will help you may make it helpful to you. This is the core of magic. It's also important to understanding the mind and brain as a whole.
Without self awareness you essentially just act according to your own nature, such as in individuals who lack anger management abilities. But with the mind we can address these drives, this natural flow, and willfully redirect it. In a world where mind = body we should only see the body impacting the mind, not the other way around. But the very simple fact shown by placebos is the mind, simple conscious will or belief, can impact the physical brain as well. I'd actually encourage the comparison between magic and placebo, especially in general discussion.
For example, studies are now showing that placebos can improve lives without deception, meaning that people know the pill is a sugar pill and take it anyways, cause an improve in their subjective symptoms. So willfully believing something will help you may make it helpful to you. This is the core of magic. It's also important to understanding the mind and brain as a whole.
Without self awareness you essentially just act according to your own nature, such as in individuals who lack anger management abilities. But with the mind we can address these drives, this natural flow, and willfully redirect it. In a world where mind = body we should only see the body impacting the mind, not the other way around. But the very simple fact shown by placebos is the mind, simple conscious will or belief, can impact the physical brain as well. I'd actually encourage the comparison between magic and placebo, especially in general discussion.