Right, McGrath, that's one reason why I stuck "Hundred Acre Wood" in the same verse with Puff... The message in that story is very clearly that you cannot (may not?) be a productive member of the larger society and still believe in magic.

I sometimes wonder if Jackie Paper abandoned Puff by choice, though, or whether the grups (to use a Star Trek term) got to him in the end, and convinced him that Puff didn't exist.

Whereas in some cultures, such as the Lenape (aka Delaware "Indians") you are considered unfit to fully participate in society (vote, serve on tribal council, etc.) unless you've discovered your spirit guide through a vision...