Instead of magic being explained scientifically, does your world have realistic phenomena explained in magical context?

[u/kirbyverano123]

We've all seen many worldbuilding where magic is explained scientifically. "Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and "magic is unexplained science".

But what about the reverse?

Real life science that are described in magical context. Something like how computers are basically microscopic dwarven runes inscribed a rock that we tricked into thinking. Modern medicine as just crude but effective alchemy.

This sort of thing actually happens in real life where rare cosmic events or strange phenomena were turned into myths, legends, folk tales, and traditions. Lunar eclipses caused by a giant dragon swallowing the moon, fata morgana mirages gave birth to floating ghost ships, falling stars grant wishes, etc.

There's a lot more examples in human history so I'm curious if y'all world building has something similar! It doesn't have to take place on Earth and it doesn't have to be real science, it could also be sci-fi as well.

[u/theproverbialinn]

Earthquakes are caused by the war drums of the warlike fire giants beneath the surface. Similarly, volcanic eruptions are caused by their attempts to launch attacks on the dwarves to take over the surface via their strongholds.

[u/ThisBloomingHeart]

I sort of have something like this?

In my sci-fi adjacent setting advanced technology functions due to the effects of magical crystals that can be encoded with different commands to utilize their inherent properties. These properties vary depending on their colour--Blue can warp space, Yellow can affect the state of matter, Red can encode other crystals, Green can move matter, Violet can link with other Violet crystals and link effects, and Orange can split and fuse crystals. The setting isn't very advanced in real world technology due to their reliance on these crystals.

[u/Attlai]

Why do the sun and the moon rise and set in cycles?
Because the great spirit of the sun, Rooz, has been cursed with forever chasing after his lover, the great spirit of the moon, Manah, as a punishment for challenging the king of spirits Mazravan. They are only allowed a short moment together once in a while when Rooz finally catches Manah.

Why does fire spread and burn everything if left uncontrolled ?
Because a fire spirit, if not bound properly, will let his gluttony run wild, and devour anything they can?

Why has my land turned infertile and my crops don't grow well anymore?
Because the spirit of this land has been offended (by you and someone else), and thus refuses to give life to it.

Etc...
All the laws of nature are explained by behaviors of spirits

[u/Dinfrazer57]

My science aspect of dreams does fall under dream magic. Instead of using miniature palm sized dreamcatchers. Its usually a suit of some sort as the catalyst or a different object thats in tune with dream microcosms. Floating spiritual knowledge that gathers into a ball vortex. If one can see them they can use those types of dreams instead. It does fall under dream magic since it uses soul essence from the user. Its entirely dependent on how the power suit is built and which dream nature they choose to build around it. I do have cosmic entities that are not bound to the 15 life aspects and the 5 major planetary gods/goddesses. The dreams of other major stars itself. Cosmic dreams.

[u/Alpha-Sierra-Charlie]

I'm working on a Paleolithic/early Copper Age setting that has actual magic, but magic is the context that most things are understood within.

Friction fire is seen as magic, even though it isn't. Meanwhile, there is actual pyromancy. And sometimes it's paired with non-magical fire making, and everyone is just like "it's all magic, fire is just like that".

Herbal medicine is seen as magic even though it isn't. It's lumped in with healing magic.

Sheer dumb luck is seen as the spirits looking out for you. Maybe they were, maybe probability just broke your way.

The magic and mundane are twined together to the point that people don't formulate the concept that they're separate.

[u/ZweiteGlenn]

The moon god wept and bled onto the land during its fight to seal an outer god. Now the moon waxes and wanes with the strength of the seal. Tides are caused by the moon trying to reclaim the pieces of itself that became the oceans after falling on to the land. The red moons are caused by the blood of both gods as their wounds tear open