A magic system where the rules are kept vague or hidden, prioritizing mystery, wonder, and atmosphere over mechanical clarity.
A soft magic system is one where the author deliberately leaves the rules of magic unexplained, or only partially explained, to the reader. The magic feels mysterious, unpredictable, and larger than the characters who encounter it. Soft magic works best when it creates problems and atmosphere rather than solving plot conflicts, because the reader hasn't been given enough information to judge whether a magical solution is fair.
Soft magic preserves a sense of wonder that hard systems sometimes trade away. If your story is about characters confronting forces beyond their understanding, soft magic reinforces that theme beautifully. Just remember: the less your reader understands the magic, the less you should use it to resolve conflicts, or it'll feel like you're making things up as you go.
Gandalf's magic is never explained with rules. He's powerful, but the extent of his power stays mysterious, making him feel ancient and unknowable.
Magic in Westeros is rare, unsettling, and poorly understood even by the characters. It creates dread rather than providing solutions.
English magic has a deep history but its actual mechanics remain elusive, contributing to the novel's atmosphere of rediscovery and danger.
Soft magic should create obstacles and atmosphere. Save your climactic solutions for things the reader can anticipate (character choices, hard magic, clever plans).
You still need internal consistency. Soft magic means the reader doesn't know the rules, not that there are no rules. Keep notes for yourself even if you never share them.
Write a scene where a character witnesses magic they don't understand. Describe only what they see, hear, smell, and feel, without explaining the mechanism behind it. Try to make the magic feel awe-inspiring and slightly unsettling at the same time. Notice how withholding the 'how' changes the emotional register.