User blog comment:WarrenWitch/Dust is not magic/@comment-11588669-20130719180032/@comment-5217560-20130719190322

Well keep in mind that magic is broad term, and that in many fictional universes what the characters do may look similar to magic but isn't what it is. Have you read any of the "Children of the lamp" books? It's interesting because it revolves around djjinns, however what they do isn't actually magic like the humans in the book think it is. Their powers work on a subatomic level, altering protons, molecules, electrons, and all that. Another example would be Avatar the last airbender. They're able to essentially manipulate nature itself, but it isn't nessecarily magic. Rather, the ability to manipulate certain energies within their world. Same way with Charmed(I know bad example cause it's witchcraft) but Piper's abilities work on a molecular level.

Basically, in the world of RWBY I think it'll be easier to imagine that Dust is just energy source used to fuel their specific type of energy attacks/feats. How they do this? I gather by using their minds.