mantras words formulas or just plain mumbo-jumbo is common with witch doctors voodoo high priests hexes and many other followers of strange cults they use them to evoke the spirits or work black magic one finds the same principle at work in chants incantations litanies daily lessons also the frequent praying of the Buddhists and Muslims alike the affirmation of the Theosophists and the followers of unity the absolute true New Thought divine science in fact it is basic to all religions although here it is white magic instead of black magic