Re: Magical Potions

[SHENmagic at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 1660


In a message dated 9/18/00 7:15:10 AM, "Blaise " <blaise_writer at hotmail.com>
Subject: Potions - can Muggles make them?   writes:


>
>What exactly is magical about potions?  Obviously the ingredients are 
>not from normal Muggle plants and animals, but if a Muggle had all 
>the ingredients, could he make a potion?  Where does the magic come 
>into potions?


Absolutely Muggles can make them; not all the herbalists and flower essence 
practitioners, aromatherapists and homeopaths are magical-I've known several  
Muggle ones....perhaps they were Squibs? Machelle Wright Small of Perelandra 
and the Findhorn folks have written about co-creation, communication with 
Nature Spirits that aid them in the growing of plants and the preparation of 
remedies (read "Potions").  Patricia Kaminisky and Richard Katz have a superb 
Flower Essence Repetory. This summer, I spent over a week in the Sierra 
Nevadas with the founders of the Flower Essence Society and 29 other 
"healers" (medical doctor, acupuncturist, veterinarian, biodynamic farmer, 
chiropractor, psychologist, etc) researching and experiencing the signatures 
of plants and their effects as essences.  (The therapy I do works with Chi 
(Qi) to release trauma and emotions held in the body, so I've been following 
the abuse thread with much interest, as well). The  Flower Essence Training 
began July 9 -My Goblet of Fire arrived-thank you Amazon.com! -in time to be 
read on the plane and ended up going home on-loan with the acupuncturist; I 
knew I had another copy coming from England when I landed back in San 
Diego-gave me much more space in my suitcase to buy out the store - but 
that's another story.

When I make a remedy, there is a level of communication both conceptual and 
energetic with the ingredients that vitalizes and invigorates them.  (I'm 
stretching for English words to describe the sensations and the 
phenomena-there may be a term for it in Chinese or Tibetan- but my vocabulary 
in those languages isn't large enough).  This communication could be 
construed as analagous to magic. It probably follows that the more talented 
the wizard, or alchemist, or witch, the more potent her/his brew. The ingredie
nts themselves, being alive, carry their own chi, or spirit medicine, or 
potency. Where they grow, when they are harvested, HOW they are harvested all 
affect the chi (vitality) and shen (spirit) of the material and thus the 
effectiveness of the final potion. This would be true whether they are 
animal, vegetable or mineral ingredients. It's then understandable why Snape 
keeps his ingredients locked up- probably notjust because they are dangerous 
or rare.  So the fundamentals and techniques of potion making are scientific, 
replicable and can be learned by anyone, even muggles, And are: pharmacies, 
and so forth. However, like music or art, the final result will be affected 
by the interaction (skill/talent/magic) of the practitioner.  Hermione excels 
at potions- she has the technical knowledge as well as a superb magical 
talent (witness her Charms working even before she took her first class).

Aylihael


“ We are the ones who chase pixies,
Run with the unicorns, Dance with the faeries,
Sing with the sirens, Soar with the phoenixes,
And swim with the mermaids.
We are the ones who  believe in the Unbelievable.
We are the ones who dare to dream.”
~author unknown