Might and Magic

Magic encompasses a broad swath of powerful phenomena, a full understanding of which as yet eludes transhuman science.
The criteria for what constitutes magic are not necessarily hard and fast. Not everything that is unexplained is considered magic, the classification having much to do with diverse criteria of social significance.
Despite this, one might group the multiverse's various magics into two high-level categories:

1. Alternate physics, or
2. Convincing powerful beings to make things happen for you, often involving (1).

Rudimentary rubric of questions

We can hash out a few broad areas of inquiry for magical systems:
1. Does the magic directly respond to your "intent" in any degree? Can it understand you? 2. Does it need power to activate? Labor, time, or resources? From where? 3. What substrates are involved - that is, roughly, what is the medium through which "magic" acts? The caster's body? Other objects arranged or modified in some way? 4. Once activated, what powers the magic? energy / potential distributed in the environment? Beings? Resources? 5. What sorts of ritual, formality, precision labor and/or machining are involved?
We may also consider what kinds of effects the magic can perform:
1. Is it more like a chemical process - that is, a fairly simple action resulting in a simple product? Or is it more able to carry out a nuanced design, like a "non-destructive" transformation? 2. Does it incur mental effects? 3. Is it a "glamour" - creating an image or illusion? 4. Does it affect transportation - does it teleport something, stop movement, etc? 5. Can it change size of a thing? How?
And, importantly: beyond micro level concerns, how does the magic relate to existing social orders and institutions?