The Magic Force
Many peoples have spoken of the operation of a magic cosmic force—something that impinged upon the thought of man from outside. Many tribal cultures postulated the existence of a great reservoir of magic power, the exact nature of which they were not prepared to specify.
Certain American Indian tribes believed in a force called orenda, or spirit force. Among the ancient Peruvians everything sacred was huaca and possessed magic power. In Melanesia a force called mana, transmissible and contagious, could be seen in the form of flames or could even be heard. The Malays used the word kramat to signify the same thing, and the Malagasy used the term hasma. Some tribes around Lake Tanganyika believed in such a force, which they called ngai, and Australian tribes had similar terms, such as churinga and boolya. In Mexico there was a strange creed named nagualism that held the same concept—everything nagual was magic or possessed an inherent spiritual force of its own.
Many peoples have spoken of the operation of a magic cosmic force—something that impinged upon the thought of man from outside. Many tribal cultures postulated the existence of a great reservoir of magic power, the exact nature of which they were not prepared to specify.
Certain American Indian tribes believed in a force called orenda, or spirit force. Among the ancient Peruvians everything sacred was huaca and possessed magic power. In Melanesia a force called mana, transmissible and contagious, could be seen in the form of flames or could even be heard. The Malays used the word kramat to signify the same thing, and the Malagasy used the term hasma. Some tribes around Lake Tanganyika believed in such a force, which they called ngai, and Australian tribes had similar terms, such as churinga and boolya. In Mexico there was a strange creed named nagualism that held the same concept—everything nagual was magic or possessed an inherent spiritual force of its own.
