Magic is... (one author's interpretation)

I recently found a very interesting definition of ‘magic’. This comes from the introduction in a book called “The Elemental Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells.”
The closest comparison one might make is to radioactive energy. That, too, is formless, cannot be seen, touched, or smelled. Yet it’s impact is profound and cannot be denied. Because nuclear radiation has had such a devastating impact on our world, it’s difficult to recall how recent a discovery it truly is. Marie and Pierre Curie, and the other early scholars of radioactive energy, were visionaries. They recognized the existence of something that others did not. Not everyone believed in their theories, including many very educated people, in much the same way that people say they don’t believe in magic. Many thought the Curies deluded, crazy or just incorrect, at least until the power they sought had been unleashed with too much force to ever be denied.
If anyone tells the story of Marie Curie’s quest in simple terms, it resembles a modern-day fairy tale. Marie, laboring obsessively in her lab/shack attempting to extract and develop the philosopher’s stone, that legendary substance reputed to bestow eternal youth, health, and life.
In a sense, Marie Curie extracted the anti-philosopher’s stone. Modern day fairy tales are sanitized for children; today’s adults are uncomfortable transmitting the truths contained in them. Real fairy tales - the original versions - don’t always have happy ending, just like the tale of Marie Curie doesn’t. Marie’s quest ultimately led to her death; many of her surviving books, materials, and tools are so packed with the deadly power into which she tapped that even today they remain too radioactive to handle.”
“Magic is the manipulation of Earth’s naturally occurring powers in an attempt to provide the spell caster with the success and happiness she or he desires.”
“Magic power is inherent on Earth; people didn’t create it, imagine it or make it up. By various means, they learned how to use it: magic spells are the result.”

Most modern medicines are derived from botanicals. The magical properties of certain botanicals is not that much of a stretch. Magnets and copper bracelets are widely used for therapeutic properties, other minerals having healing properties is not that much of a stretch, either.
I have learned enough now, that I can feel the power just by concentrating for few seconds… I can feel it build inside of me when I focus it. Other people have been able to feel it from the palms of my hands when I touch them with the energy focused on my hands.
There is no doubt in my mind that magic is a relatively new name for an ancient flow of natural energy.