OT: Can there be Magic?

[rycar007]

No: HPFGUIDX 34433

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "tex23236" <jbryson at r...> wrote:
> Diagaon Alley, 
> the tents at WTC, Moody's trunk, would be a bubble in the 
space/time 
> continuum, and would work just fine.

WTC? Yikes, I think you mean QWC :)

> Quantum Theory; and especially Quantum Speculation about the 
> human brain, opens all kinds opportunities for magic-like effects.
> We don't hear much about what kinds of mental states witches and 
> wizards have to put their minds into when casting a spell, beyond 
> "Think happy thoughts," or "Visualize something funny," for 
> Patronum or Ridiklus.  But I suspect there is a mental process for
> each kind of spell, which requires a lot of attention from the spell
> caster.

Of course, because magic is all in your mind anyway. Our vision of 
reality becomes reality. Sure science works, it's a construct and it 
works within itself. So does math, so does Christianity, and we have 
Bible-thumpers just like textbook-thumpers. Neither can see outside 
of the construct, but see the construct for itself. The mind is what 
causes magic, ritual and ceremony simply fools the left side of the 
brain (the logical side) into thinking that you are doing a 
scientific, logical process. Cause and effect. Eventually, however, 
when you've trancended this and allow yourself to understand that 
anything can happen, you no longer need ritual as much, unless you're 
invoking or evoking spirits or gods (that we give life to anyway). 
This why Molly Weasley can do spells without saying the words, she 
can properly concentrate her mind on the spell without the guide of 
ritual.

> All in all, I think we would best serve ourselves by assuming the 
> Potterverse magic is impossible and unexplainable, even if, in our
> hearts, we know it's real.

How utterly defeatist :) Unexplainable, yes, but impossible? This I 
doubt, and I think fooling yourself into thinking with the crowd (in 
this case, conventional science) always causes problems. 

Just look at our president.

-Rycar