Abracadabra! Ichita copita melaka mystica! Please? Whether you’re casting a spell, begging for an extension, or just trying to get someone to pass the guac, you’ve probably used a “magic word” or two. But what if those words… actually worked?

In the latest episode of Otherwords, Dr. Erica Brozovsky dives into the origins and very real power of magic words. This is the history class Hogwarts should’ve offered.

We learn how Egyptian priests believed writing a request could literally make it real, and how Latin gave us classics like “abracadabra” (originally a treatment for malaria, not for conjuring rabbits). Plus, we find out that om chanting isn’t just for yoga class, it’s backed by science to calm nerves, lower blood pressure, and even help with pain.

Words have power: legally, socially, emotionally, even neurologically. As Muhammad Ali put it, “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief.”

So if you’re waiting for your fairy godmother, maybe start with the next best thing: saying the magic words.