Mage Reality 
Okay, I am going to try and keep this from becoming a book.

    A number of people have claimed that the Technocracy has already won, and that the Traditions are merely fighting for the sake of fighting. These people have either lived very sheltered lives or believe that whatever happens in America (the US) happens everywhere else -- I'm going to attempt to dispel that myth. The arguments range, but the statements are pretty much the same; the Technos have won, the Trads have lost, Marauders just 'float' somewhere, and the Nephandi are in second place. That couldn't be farther from the truth. In this discussion, everything I refer to is part of our world, not the WoD -- I will throw WoD stuff to further explain my point, but unless it's blatantly obvious don't assume that I am talking about White Wolf material.
    We'll begin the discussion with a few basic points and build on after that. Mages fall into four distinct categories explained not only in the Mage book, but discussed in the Werewolf one; these are the Wyrm (Entropy), the Weaver (Stasis), the Wyld (Chaos), and Balance (I made up the name of the last one). Specifically, the Nephandi serve the Wyrm and its dark minions, the Weaver's followers are the Technocracy, the Wyld is served by the Marauders, and the Traditions have realized that extremes are dangerous, as one entity cannot be in control without entropy setting in.
    The current winning side happens to be the Nephandi (pick up "The Book of Mirrors" if you doubt me) followed by the Technocracy in highly developed countries and the Traditions everywhere else. Now, that does not mean that fireballs in 3rd-world countries are commonplace -- the Techno's grasp is great indeed -- but magick is easier "south of the border", as it were (for our non American readers, that phrase refers to every country in the Americas south of the Untied States). Please note that while much of my discussion is set in the Americas, many countries in Africa and Asia, as well as a good number in Eastern Europe have these American "counterparts".
    We can easily begin with voodoo. The truth is I doubt there's much more I need to say about that, and that covers a great part of the Caribbean. While we're in Central America (I'll include Mexico as part of Central America, even though it is, in fact, part of North America), I'd like to point out that villagers in all of these countries still fear lots of stuff that 'civilized' people laugh at, like the Moon, comets, and eclipses. Furthermore, walking outdoors during an eclipse while you're pregnant causes your children to be born transparent (I am not making that story up -- I was told this during the 1989(?) eclipse). Things like that can easily allow a clever magus to quickly create a rather large Sanctum out of some no-name town in the middle of the jungle (a great deal of Central America is covered by jungle).
    Not feeling well? In most areas (you can somewhat exclude large cities, such as capitals) you go to the local witch (no, that is not the name they go by) and get some potion (or whatever the hell it is they do -- it varies greatly depending on the person, illness, and healer) to help you out. Keep in mind that if a boulder has just crushed your hand or if a machete is embedded in your leg, you do not go to the healer, you go to the local doctor (although it is quite possible that the healer and the doctor are one and the same, especially if the village is small). Cuts get stitches (or a Band-Aid), not a dose of magic -- at the same time, after having your hand sewn back on it would not be unusual for prayers and/or "special" healing herbs to be brought into the picture.
    Oh, incidentally, almost everyone down there is a God fearing, highly superstitious Catholic, so the Celestial Chorus' grasp is strong indeed. Most of Latin America is a weird mix of technology and superstitious beliefs. You can go to a "curandero" (a mystical healer) in the morning and then be back in time to watch the one o'clock showing of Miami Vice. What's happened is that people down there have accepted science and religion and magic all at once; science lets you drive your car and watch T.V., religion provides answers and salvation, and magic just helps in the stuff you don't wanna involve God with.
    We continue on with South America, and quite simply, it's the same as with Central America (except for people's Spanish accents and cultural diversities). You can easily exclude large portions of Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, etc. as being highly superstitious, although, ladies and gentlemen, regardless of what anyone's told you, the Amazon is so incredibly unexplored that one can easily assume magick is coincidental everywhere to within a hundred miles (and usually a lot less) of its ever shrinking borders. In there you really can throw fireballs around... although you may not want to as it can burn the jungle you're currently dwelling in.
 

    Okay, that's it for now. Have I enlightened you? Are you depressed because of what I've said? Would you be surprised to know that I myself have witnessed some of these magical acts? Would it surprise you to know that I have actually seen some of them work? Tell me what you think.
    I have not only talked to people that live(ed) in areas like that but have lived there myself -- I am by no means an expert but I do happen to know what I am talking about.