Wands with no spells -- where magic comes from

[Amy Z <lupinesque@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48212


> Alora says:
> >>>
> "Does that mean that the wand and it's owner are connected in some 
> way?  Telepathy, or something of the like?"
> >>>
> 
> Dan says:
> >>>
>  That's more or less what I think--eventually wizards and witches 
> become so magically skilled they don't need to say the incantation 
> part of certain spells anymore. I think of the incantation 
> (alohomora, for example) as just being a word that triggers a 
desired 
> effect in your brain, which, in turn, causes it to manifest in the 
> real world. 
> >>>
> 
> Laura says:
> I really like this idea, it makes a lot of sense.  But then why did 
> Ron's levitating spell not work properly?  Since we all know 
> it's "Wing-GAR-dium levi-O-sa" not "wingardium levio-SA" =)
> 
> I don't know if the words are totally useless, because what would 
be 
> the point in them?  If their only purpose is to "remind" the wizard 
> of the spell, then it would be much more effective for the wizard 
to 
> personailze the spells and use words they closely associated with 
the 
> desired outcome.

It seems that the words are useful and sometimes necessary, but that 
spells also require concentration and that that can replace the words 
at times.  It can also supplement them--words are seldom (never?) 
specific enough to get across meaning without context.  
Therefore, "Accio dictionary!" refers to a particular dictionary, and 
Harry (and his wand? and the dictionary?) knows which one.  That's 
the one that comes when Summoned.  (For a very old post on this 
subject, see 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/20352.)

Laura again:

> Which leads me into a new question.  Where did magic COME from?  It 
> seems to be somewhat natural, as it can't be strictly "learned."  
> (i.e. you're born magical or you're not) so it doesn't seem as if 
> humans created it.  So then how would they have discovered how to 
> *use* it?  And how to make and use wands?

I wonder this about a lot of things, especially when I'm cooking--I 
mean, how did anyone ever figure out butter (someone just churned 
cream for an hour for the heck of it?) or baking soda or yeast?  And 
how did we ever figure out all the other abilities that come 
naturally to some humans and are then developed?  I suppose someone 
stumbled across magic the way we stumbled across the ability to drum 
and raise animals and sing and all those things humans have known how 
to do forever.  Lucky thing.

Amy "no relation to Drew" Z.