Magical thinking is the origin, the "vehicle", which let us achieve our aims, which mechanical actions, are not descriptible in full by vulgar science and has as its source from the entirety of Human Resources such as "human" as Divine; this desire, this thought that interacts with the material plane, can create a whole series of phenomena which may affect the environment around us or even influence the will of others and this can be done through mechanisms, both common and well-founded knowledge than also esoteric ; each no less important than others.
It is called "Magic", every act of will, which through one or more actions, materializes in the real plane.
One can say that the Magic would trespass from the only ritual plan; Magic is all that we produce as a result of our will, through actions.
Mainly in this sense, the Magic is a real thing which is manifested through the various types of skills, not just esoteric and can change people's lives.
There are many people, who have not learned any esoteric secret or ritual, but they already have magical potential operating, innately, in a very effective and developed way, which allows them to shape the reality they live in a powerful manner, in relation to their desires and expectations.
This is the first realization to assimilate, in order not to build a "castle on the foundations of papier mache".
This anticipation, absolutely does not want to diminish the value of the Magical, esoteric and ritual tradition, but only reasonably put at the center of all this the Man, of which all this is born, being the Man a Ray of the "Divine Essence" or a "God's Ray"; understand this means getting the proper perspective regarding the Man and Magic, therefore be better placed to exercise it by improving themselves and sometimes, consequently, the world around us.
"make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside" (Jesus Christ - Gospel of Thomas)
Ritual and esoteric component of Magic, can add "energy" and other adjuvants elements to the magical "natural" influence, born from our will and our resources, providing a powerful and crucial support to our work, but if we want it to work it can not be a mere substitute.