Dark Magic

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 114420

Tonks here:
In answer to the question What is Dark Magic?   I think that Dark 
Magic is using the personal power of the wizard and the collected 
and channeled power of the universe for ones own selfish and 
personal aims.  Shamans know not to do that. It is said that for a 
Shaman to go beyond the veil for himself or anyone close to him is 
to put himself in a position to go over to the dark side. So shamans 
are told never to go there for themselves or their loved ones.  They 
must go for others in a detached manner.  The "beyond the veil" of 
the shaman is going into the other world where the spirits are and 
to ask the sprits for help.   Shaman were the first wizards.  If we 
study shamanism we can learn a lot about the world of the wizards 
too.

Nora said:
There are things, I think, in JKR's world, that are *inherently* Dark
Magic, no matter who uses them. Now, it's also noted that perhaps,
someone who is disinclined to be a dark wizard is not going to use
these things, even though he or she could, which is a valid point.

I think there are classes of magic that are inherently dark because
what it takes to do them is inherently dark. Now, what is Dark in
JKR's world is an interesting debate, but it seems to often involve
1) force 2) the destruction of the right to be a subject (a thinking,
self-controlling entity). The Unforgiveables have been endlessly
discussed in the light of Numbah Two there. The other big piece of
Dark Magic that we've seen, the resurrection, involves the forceable
blood-letting, the misuse of human remains, etc. I can easily
envision other spells that *have no other purpose* other than to
overrun another person, in a particular way.



Tonks responds:
I agree. There are certain practices that are considered Dark 
Magic.  Necromancy is one of them, and a very dangerous practice.  
This is where the wizard commands the souls of the departed to aid 
him.  He does not go politely asking for help as a shaman would. A 
Dark Wizard commands the spirits or what are called demons (not the 
same as what the Christian church calls demons) and forces them to 
his aid. (I think Tom Riddle did this and got caught in a real 
mess.) I am aware of practices today that involve cursing others, 
etc. The idea of burning candles that look like someone you hate, or 
wishing harm to someone all involve Dark Magic.  One could say that 
Dark Magic is the opposite of Love.  It has as its aim to exploit 
and harm others. It is also said that the darkness come back upon 
the Wizard.. "what you give out comes back to your 3 fold".  I think 
that are certain practices that open one to the forces of Darkness 
in the Universe and these forces are more powerful than most wizards 
and can take them over. Again I think that this is what happened to 
Tom Riddle. He was messing with something that he should not have 
messed around with and it came back and got him.

As to what JKR puts in her books.  I think that she has done a lot 
of research into this topic, and the topic of magic in general.  I 
can see through out the books that she is well versed in the 
subject  of magic and not because she practices it herself, since we 
know that she is a Christian.  Like any good author she has done a 
lot of research.

Distaiyi said:
I suspect that JKR is using magic similarly to how they used it in
the 1996 movie "The Craft". Magic/power comes from Manu and Manu is
described somewhat as follows:

If God and Satan were football teams, Manu would be the grass, the
stadium, the sky, the sun, the stars, the air. Manu is older and
superior to all later constructs.

So the power comes from Manu. A witch/wizard learns to channel that
power. What they do with it (intent) is what makes it "light"
or "dark."

Think of it this way, a gun/sword/knife is neither evil, nor good.
What is done with it is. So, Dark Magic is created from intent and
action, not from something inherent in the magical source.


Tonks Replies:

This is the classic idea in magic and certainly LV's idea is based 
on this except that he does not believe in the football players. 
("there is no good or evil only power and those too afraid to use 
it").  I do not think that JRK as a Christian would agree with this 
interpretation either, since for a Christian God is the beginning 
and the highest power.  I think that when she refers to the "ancient 
magic" she is referring to something else.. the same as C.S. Lewis. 
And that something else, while she will never come straight out and 
say so, is God and the idea of sacrificial love.

Tonks_op