Omnioculars - spells - Lily - gender - virginity- S.P.E.W. - Appearance

[rycar007]

No: HPFGUIDX 33525

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> Ben wrote:
> 
> >I was wondering where spells come
> >from.  Is there something intrinsic about the word "Accio" 
embedded into 
> >the
> >magical fabric of the universe that causes things to be brought to 
the
> >speaker (imagine the poor prehistoric wizard who discovers this as 
he
> >sneezes, his wand inadvertently pointing at a woolly mammoth).  Or 
perhaps,
> >are the spells created somehow (wizard R&D) and magically assigned 
a magic
> >word upon their creation.  Or something else entirely?  Any ideas?
> 
> Ooh, I wonder!  Care to spin out these theories some more for us?  
I love 
> nature of magic stuff...
> 
> Jewish mysticism puts a heavy emphasis on the power of words in 
themselves 
> (letters, also).  The word is more than just a summary of what 
you're trying 
> to do; it has a unique power.

As I've always been interested in occult philosophy and practice, 
I'll take this opportunity to sound smart (I rarely get them!). The 
basis of many successful occult operators (Levi, Crowley, etc) is 
that what we call magic is the work of the mind. Our belief, or more 
accurately imagination, creates and shapes reality to our will. 
Imagination, creativity, the right brain, the Id, the soul, by many 
names we know the thing inside ourselves that creates, that shapes 
and defines. It's this part of ourselves that creates the gods, and 
the belief (or the only term, "manna") that keeps them alive. 
However, like it or not, from birth we're programmed with "popular" 
reality. "You can't do that," we're told, and the logical part of us 
accepts it. Ritual (in the case of Harry Potter, we'd say magic words 
and wand waving) tricks the left side of the brain into thinking that 
this is a logical process - cause and effect. Saying the English word 
with "Accio" merely helps the wizard to focus, to trick the brain. 
Certain words and symbols have a greater effect on the subconcious 
mind (as well, for the spirits one tries to invoke/evoke). This is 
also why Molly Weasley doesn't need to say "Accio" when grabbing for 
Wheezes, her subconcious has learned by now that it works inherently. 
The wand, like the tarot or the ouija board, is a focusing tool for 
magical energies, unique to the user. Muggles, I wager, are people 
without any talent for accepting the impossible, people without the 
special creative "spark" that makes a wizard. With the right 
combination of symbols, words, and imagination, anything is possible.

> Is it just me, or is JKR slyly informing us about Professor Grubbly-
Plank's 
> sexual history when she has Lavender say about the unicorn, "How 
did she get 
> it?  They're supposed to be really hard to catch!"  (Medieval 
tradition had 
> it that only a female virgin could tame a unicorn.)

Wouldn't it be hilarious if later on in the series the Gryffindors 
meet another unicorn, and it likes everyone but kicks Lavender or 
Parvati? Another subtle hint I look forward to :)

-Rycar