Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / What organ of the body produces magic?

Author
Message
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 01:58
I remember hearing somewhere about "classical anatomy" being controlled by the Catholic church in medieval times, and the belief that the liver's third lobe contained the soul or something, and somewhere it produced magic that flowed throughout the body as a sort of "life energy". Wikipedia doesn't turn up much on the subject. I'm wondering if there has been any recent scientific study on the location of a magic-producing organ tied to the digestive system. Is it really supposed to be the liver, or am I misremembering?
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 02:27
I want to see where this goes, but I vaguely remember such sayings too...

Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 02:29
I sense a lock!

"That's what"
-She
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 02:38
Quote: "I want to see where this goes, but I vaguely remember such sayings too..."

I'm not exactly sure when this made its way into the popular culture, but I heard about it on this BBC show called the History of Science.

Quote: "I sense a lock!"

Why?
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 02:52
Well, it's of a slightly controversial topic and I theorize it may morph into a religious thread. If that doesn't happen, then this thread should be ok.

"That's what"
-She
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:26 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 03:26
DBD I was going to say the same, but then Even I recalled such a saying, as long as it remains supernatural and not religious then I guess it is fair game too

Otherwise, I smell a lock!

Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:32
@MrValentine-

Religion is simply complete belief of the supernatural.

Anyhow, I posted this thread for an objective reason, which is to find information on the study of modern anatomy as it relates to mythology.
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:33
How about we quit asking about locks in threads and let the mods figure out for ourselves what should be locked?


Senior Developer - CBS Interactive Music Group
MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:40


Quote: "Religion is simply complete belief of the supernatural."


I feel

Fuzz
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Nov 2006
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:42
Wait, so you think the liver creates magic?

Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:51
Quote: "Anyhow, I posted this thread for an objective reason, which is to find information on the study of modern anatomy as it relates to mythology."
Ah, I seem to have already derailed it a bit. My apologies.

"That's what"
-She
rolfy
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jun 2006
Location:
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 03:54
The title of this thread had the wife rolling on the floor

Ortu
DBPro Master
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Nov 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 04:18
Yeah I expected to find way more innuendo in here.

Anyways on topic I've not heard of an organ producing magic per se but you might look into what was prized for ritual sacrifice. Heart liver kidneys blood etc. giving up eyes/sight in return for magic/power/knowledge features in many myths and stories

Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 04:22
Quote: "Wait, so you think the liver creates magic?"


You mean you've never heard of this before? It was the belief a long time ago that the soul was an organ in the body (sometimes considered a part of the liver I believe).

Quote: "Ah, I seem to have already derailed it a bit. My apologies."


Apology accepted.

Quote: "The title of this thread had the wife rolling on the floor"


Oh, I get it now! Well, I think we're talking about magic here, more devine and less, um...
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 04:39
Quote: "I've not heard of an organ producing magic per se but you might look into what was prized for ritual sacrifice. Heart liver kidneys blood etc. giving up eyes/sight in return for magic/power/knowledge features in many myths and stories"


That sounds a little older than what I had in mind. In medieval Europe, ritual sacrifices weren't all that common. The eyes-in-exchange-for-magic thing sounds pretty helpful, though. Eyeballs are roughly the size and shape of the soul balls in Soul Calibur.

Also, various fiction mentions related phenomenon. The elves in Eragon are supposed to have an organic structure that makes magic easier, in Harry Potter magical ability is passed down genetically, and in Star Wars midichlorians in the blood produce "force" magic.
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 05:02 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 05:05
you may find this interesting and relevant although it is Chinese as apposed to European.



and this one




Chi is considered magical to some so I figured I would add this.

KeithC
Senior Moderator
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Oct 2005
Location: Michigan
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 05:11
Quote: "How about we quit asking about locks in threads and let the mods figure out for ourselves what should be locked?"


I don't like your assumptions about my assumptions of their assumptions.


Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 05:52
@Kezzla-

Well, that covers just about every major organ. If I were to overlook the complex mapping of what does what, I would assume that it was related to the Egyptian beliefs of how the internal organs are sacred and must be removed from the body before burial.

The reason I mention European beliefs specifically is because a lot of European mythology deals with non-human or human-like hominans who posess magical powers, which are often inherent to their species or race. That would indicate a unique anatomy that would foster said powers, much like how an electric eel can generate a strong electric charge. Hypothetically, if there was a third lobe of the liver that is not generally present in today's humans but was at some point present in certain medical specimens, said specimens might have represented a belief of magical powers present only in certain lineages or perhaps non-human humanoids such as elves. I know this is going into the deep end of high fantasy, but as medieval thinking would dictate, if something sounds logical then it must be true.
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 06:12
I may be wrong but I have a vague memory that the appendix was once considered a magical organ.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 06:30
@Zotoaster-

I've never heard of that. However, it would make sense, because to this day scientists still don't know what it does. However, the organ is commonly observed in modern humans and is believed to be simply a trap for harmful bacteria in the digestive process, therefore I can't imagine that it's been the main organ that medieval-ish people would assume contains the soul or a person's magical core or whatever.
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 06:37
I have also heard it said that the pineal gland has metaphysical functions.

disclaimer: Now would be a good time to put on your tin foil hat... if you have one prepared.

I have also heard it said that the two hemispheres of the brain can be used as two oppositely wound antenna operating in unison yet in opposite phase which when tuned correctly can be used to transfer thought into the medium of stillness allowing a connection to the primal empty state (or initial singularity) of the universe resulting in all sorts of extra dimensional phenomena...

Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 06:57
@Kezzla-

Quote: "I have also heard it said that the pineal gland has metaphysical functions."


OK, that's interesting. Apparently, that's the organ that makes everything go all colorful and trippy when you eat too much salt. It's tied to sleep cycles and various mood altering drugs, and there seem to be all kinds of crackpot theories on the subject.

Quote: "I have also heard it said that the two hemispheres of the brain can be used as two oppositely wound antenna operating in unison yet in opposite phase which when tuned correctly can be used to transfer thought into the medium of stillness allowing a connection to the primal empty state (or initial singularity) of the universe resulting in all sorts of extra dimensional phenomena..."


The brain itself as a magical organ is not something that one would normally expect a medieval European to speculate about. Everybody has a brain, and this whole idea of getting "in tune" is just a bunch of new age psi-power BS. Besides, a few hundred years ago, nobody thought the brain was all that important.
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 07:04
bunions and dodgy knees give the bearer the power to predict the weather :p

mr Handy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 7th Sep 2007
Location: out of TGC
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 08:08
I think brain produces all the magic IRL.

MrValentine
AGK Backer
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Dec 2010
Playing: FFVII
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 11:07
Quote: "I don't like your assumptions about my assumptions of their assumptions. "


Mod Fight Mod Fight, lets get Tekken and Soul Calibur started

mr Handy - LMAO

Kezzla - Nice references did you take them?

Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 14:39
thanks Mr v. I did take the photos. the pages are from the book "Tang soo Tao - living Buddha in martial virtue"

mr Handy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 7th Sep 2007
Location: out of TGC
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 14:54 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 14:55
Quote: "What organ of the body produces magic?"


Oh! oh! I know! This one!!!

Attachments

Login to view attachments
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 15:10 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 15:11
I've never heard of an organ producing magic...

On the topic of "in which part of the body is the soul?", here's my conclusion: Everywhere.

Yes, every cell, every atom in your body holds a part of your soul - if a soul even exists, that is. I've read a few reports that could back up this theory.

A woman, who has never smoked or done anything to abuse her body, loses her foot in a car accident. She's shipped off to hospital where a foot from another human is transplanted to her. For some odd reason, she feels the need to go to a bar and orders a specific drink. Later on she finds out that the foot she now possesses belonged to a motorbike driver, who coincidentally enjoyed the exact same drink she now continuously enjoys.

The transplanted foot must have had an impact on her personality in some way. How is this possible? Is the motorbikers "soul" now part of her "soul"? A lot of details remain unclear.

TheComet

- The codebase
Neuro Fuzzy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Jun 2007
Location:
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 15:10
Thread title: Didn't notice the possibility for innuendo until rolfy/ortu mentioned it.

That picture: ...

TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 15:13
I know of other parts of the body that can produce magic.



TheComet

- The codebase
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 15:17 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 15:19
@TheComet-

I don't mean the "soul" in a modern religious context, I mean it in a more literal, medieval context. What you described might possibly have a little to do with the transfer of nucleic acids, affecting personality or some such thing. When I speak about the soul as an organ, I'm talking about the soul as being something unique to bearers of magic (at least in the eyes of certain medieval anatomists and surgeons).

EDIT: I think Mr. Handy illustrated the other organ pretty well.
Melancholic
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Nov 2009
Location:
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 17:24
Quote: "Well, it's of a slightly controversial topic and I theorize it may morph into a religious thread. If that doesn't happen, then this thread should be ok.
"


What? It's as uncontroversial as the heliocentric versus geocentric debate


I can count to banana...
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 17:25
There are no mentions of the soul in the liver : http://www.stanford.edu/class/history13/earlysciencelab/body/liverpages/livergallbladderspleen.html

I did find some info of it being in the brain though : http://www.stanford.edu/class/history13/earlysciencelab/body/brainpages/brain.html

TheComet

- The codebase
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 17:27
Quote: "Well, it's of a slightly controversial topic and I theorize it may morph into a religious thread. If that doesn't happen, then this thread should be ok."


Huh? Morphological analysis of a controversial topic have concluded the religious implications of theorizing a satire.

TheComet

- The codebase
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 18:44
TheComet-

Too many words. If you ask me, Stanford is not going to talk about soul livers and magical organs. The brain has become something of a stereotype in recent years, but back in the medieval days, they just thought the brain was a cushion to protect the spine.
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 18:58
Quote: "Yes, every cell, every atom in your body holds a part of your soul - if a soul even exists, that is. I've read a few reports that could back up this theory."


I'd like to see those reports! There's no real scientific report that backs anything like that.

Quote: "A woman, who has never smoked or done anything to abuse her body, loses her foot in a car accident. She's shipped off to hospital where a foot from another human is transplanted to her. For some odd reason, she feels the need to go to a bar and orders a specific drink. Later on she finds out that the foot she now possesses belonged to a motorbike driver, who coincidentally enjoyed the exact same drink she now continuously enjoys.

The transplanted foot must have had an impact on her personality in some way. How is this possible? Is the motorbikers "soul" now part of her "soul"? A lot of details remain unclear."


A story like this is just an anecdote. Scientifically it holds absolutely zero sway. For it to be scientifically relevant, it must have occurred more than once, and be repeatable. If you can find any scientific paper on this subject I'd love to see it (not sarcastic, I mean I would like to see it).

Why do I bring up this in a scientific context when you obviously didn't ask? Because your post is clearly trying to be scientific. However, you're actually not citing any relevant research at all. That's the only reason I point it out.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
Phaelax
DBPro Master
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 19:48
Quote: "What organ of the body produces magic?"


*looks down* Mustn't.....say.....it..... Urge.... too.... giggity, great........ giggity....

"You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world!" ~Tick
mr Handy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 7th Sep 2007
Location: out of TGC
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 20:08 Edited at: 13th Nov 2012 20:11
@Phaelax

That organ produces not magic...
nonZero
13
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2011
Location: Dark Empire HQ, Otherworld, Silent Hill
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 20:19
I think it depends on the religious belief of the practitioner.
All kinds of organs get used in rituals, all kinds of organs get eaten to gain the ex-owner's powers.

Personally, I believe that TheComet's foot-transplant example is to do with genetic memory - which is something I believe from a scientific standpoint.

From a mythological standpoint, I would say the body itself is meaningless and that magic comes from the soul. I base this off the fact that stories speak of "witches" possessing people and animals and then wandering around getting up to no-good with their powers. I saw a documentary on a village which still performed excorcisms and one "saved" person claimed she used to turn into a fly and sit on people's walls to spy on them. This would imply that, as a fly, she had the power to turn backed into a human form... Okay, I know, I laughed too. But that was her story: a spy-fly.

RP Functions Library v1.0

My signature has not been erased by a mod.
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 13th Nov 2012 23:48
Quote: "*looks down* Mustn't.....say.....it..... Urge.... too.... giggity, great........ giggity...."
Le penis?

"That's what"
-She

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-20 17:02:53
Your offset time is: 2025-05-20 17:02:53