Psychic vs. Magic — What's the Difference?

A psychic is a person who claims to use extrasensory perception (ESP) to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance, or who performs acts that are apparently inexplicable by natural laws, such as psychokinesis or apportation. Although many people believe in psychic abilities, the scientific consensus is that there is no proof of the existence of such powers, and describes the practice as pseudoscience.

The power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces

A person apparently responsive to psychic forces.

Having or apparently having supernatural powers

See medium.

Wonderful; exciting

Of, relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; mental

Move, change, or create by or as if by magic

Capable of extraordinary mental processes, such as extrasensory perception and mental telepathy.

The art or practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature.

Of or relating to such mental processes.

The charms, spells, and rituals so used.

A person who possesses, or appears to possess, extra-sensory abilities such as precognition, clairvoyance and telepathy, or who appears to be susceptible to paranormal or supernatural influences.

The exercise of sleight of hand or conjuring, as in making something seem to disappear, for entertainment.

(parapsychology) A person who supposedly contacts the dead; a medium.

A mysterious quality of enchantment

(gnosticism) In gnostic theologian Valentinus' triadic grouping of man the second type; a person focused on intellectual reality (the other two being hylic and pneumatic).

Of, relating to, or invoking the supernatural

Relating to or having the abilities of a psychic.

Possessing distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects.

Relating to the psyche or mind, or to mental activity in general.

To produce, alter, or cause by or as if by magic

Of or pertaining to the human soul, or to the living principle in man.

To cause to disappear by or as if by magic. Used with away

Of or pertaining to the mind, or its functions and diseases; mental; - contrasted with physical.

The application of rituals or actions, especially those based on occult knowledge, to subdue or manipulate natural or supernatural beings and forces in order to have some benefit from them.

A person apparently sensitive to things beyond the natural range of perception

A specific ritual or procedure associated with such magic; a spell.

Pertaining to forces or mental processes outside the possibilities defined by natural or scientific laws;

The supernatural forces which are drawn on in such a ritual.

Affecting or influenced by the human mind;

Something producing successful and remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.

Outside the sphere of physical science;

Complicated or esoteric code that is not expected to be generally understood.

A conjuring trick or illusion performed to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.

The art or practice of performing conjuring tricks and illusions.

Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.

Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic.

Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.

(colloquial) Great; excellent.

(physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.

(programming) Being a literal number or string value with no meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable

(transitive) To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.

A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc.

The art of creating illusions which appear to the observer to be inexplicable except by some supernatural influence; it includes simple sleight of hand (legerdemain) as well as more elaborate stage magic, using special devices constructed to produce mystifying effects; as, the magic of David Copperfield. It is practised as an entertainment, by magicians who do not pretend to have supernatural powers.

Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency.

Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery; as, a magical spell.

Any art that invokes supernatural powers

An illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers

Possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers;