imitative magic

American  

noun

1. magic that attempts to control the universe through the mimicking of a desired event, such as by stabbing an image of an enemy in an effort to destroy them or by performing a ritual dance imitative of the growth of food in an effort to secure an abundant supply; a branch of sympathetic magic based on the belief that similar actions produce similar results.

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Example Sentences

“Consumers use contagious and imitative magic to imbue replica instruments with power,” Dr. Fernandez and Dr. Lastovicka write in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2011

That is a belief in what is also called imitative magic: things that resemble each other have similar powers.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2011

On the principles of homoeopathic or imitative magic the physical obstacle or impediment of a knot on a cord would create a corresponding obstacle or impediment in the body of the woman.

From The Golden Bough by Frazer, James George, Sir

A mistaken association of similar ideas produces homoeopathic or imitative magic: a mistaken association of contiguous ideas produces contagious magic.

From The Golden Bough by Frazer, James George, Sir

The belief of sailors that wind may be called up by whistling rests on a process of imitative magic that may be connected with an early cult.

From Introduction to the History of Religions Handbooks on the History of Religions, Volume IV by Jastrow, Morris