Advanced Magic (was More About Snape and Occlumency)

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 121940


Mrs. Figg wrote:

> > I just finished re-reading my HP series(semi-annual occurance).  
I 
> > noticed that in the 5th novel, in the death chamber, that most 
of 
> the  dueling takes place with very little mention to 
incantations.  
> snip> Also, several times Dumbledore conjures items almost at will 
> with his wand without having to actually speak.  Does this mean 
that 
> in advanced magic, perhaps only certain wizards/witches reach a 
> maturity level where the spoken word  is not required?  Just an 
> interesting thought, I have been curious  about this same thing 
for 
> awhile.

Then Tonks wrote:
> 
> Yes, I think this is exactly what advanced magick means. Magick 
can 
> be done without a wand, with the power of the mind. A very 
> experienced wizard does not need a wand at all. All the wand does 
is 
> to channel the power of the universe and the power of the wizard. 
It 
> is possible to channel that without a wand. And without words. And 
I 
> am talking about real *magick*. For example: I saw a PBS show once 
> where they had a very old Chinese man using I think Chi Going or 
> something and with just the power of his mind channeled through 
his 
> hand, without ever touching anyone he was able to throw attackers 
to 
> the ground. It was one of those Bill Moyer specials about the 
power 
> of the mind. So this stuff is real.  And in the WW I am sure it is 
> done the same way.

Now Inkling writes:

JKR clearly knows a lot about European Medieval and Renaissance 
magic, given all the Alchemical symbolism and the mention of Flamel, 
Agrippa, Paracelsus.  Not sure what she knows about more recent 
stuff, like the Golden Dawn or about traditions from other cultures, 
such as China.  Probably more than she lets on.  (And who can blame 
her with all the fundies who are already in a froth about her.)

One of my hopes for Books 6 and 7 is that we learn what constitutes 
advanced magic in the WW.  There have been lots of references to 
stuff that is "well beyong OWL level."  So now that the kids have 
taken their OWLs, they should be starting to learn this stuff.  
(Since JKR has said that there are no universities in the WW, they 
would have to learn it in their last years at Hogwarts, yes?)  With 
a war going on they won't be able to focus on their studies as much 
as in previous books, but I still hope JKR develops this angle of 
the story, because I've been curious about it for a long time.

Inkling