In exploring possible meanings of “critical magick”, I find myself collecting perspectives on magick from many different fields, many ways of knowing. Placebo researchers use the words “magic” and “ritual” more than you might expect from scientists. Here is Ted Kaptchuk, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, giving an introduction to placebo studies. He explains a definition of placebos not as fake treatments, but rather as the impact of all the cultural and relationship stuff that happens along with treatments.
‘Placebo effects’ is a way of quantifying and measuring everything that surrounds pills and procedures, mainstream or alternative. They’re about the rituals, the words, the engagements, the costumes, the diplomas, and those special things you get when you go to a healer.