Advanced Magic - Focus is the Key.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 122152


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tonks" <tonks_op at y...> wrote:

> > 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?  ...
> > 
> > "mrsfigg1968"



> Tonks here:
> 
> 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. 
> ...edited...
> 
> Tonks_op


bboyminn:

I don't think it is so much /Advanced Magick/ as it is /Advanced
Magicians/.

I think old, wise, powerful, and most importantly experienced wizards
can perform spells without the incantation, and of course, as Tonks
touches on, the key is focus.

Think back to the scene in the first book where the students are
learning 'Wingardium Leviosa'- the levitation spell. Only Hermione can
do it on that first try, but why? All the students are magical, they
all know the incantation, they all know the wand movements, but none
of them can do it. Yet, I suspect a few weeks later, most of them
could now do it. So what changed; same magic power in the student,
same incantation, same wand movement?

A wizard or witch performing magic is I suspect based on two things.
First, being able to access the magical power. Being able to find and
tap into that part of yourself. Second, it's about focus. Being able
to find that part of yourself, and tap into it in a specific focused
and purposeful way. The wand movements and incantation for a beginner
are part of the means by which they focus their power.

I further speculate that early magical education focuses on simple
spells for the purpose of getting students to tap into their
potential. Later magical education is more about focus. It's more
about making that internal power do significant /work/ in the external
world.

Then after many many years of that channel into yourself, into your
magical power, being opened, it becomes less about finding it, and
less about needing /aids/ to focus it, and more about accomplishing a
familiar task. 

For example, Tom, who runs the Leaky Cauldron Inn, has probably lit
countless fires in his lifetime. Now after many decades, it's second
nature to him. He enters a private room, SNAPS his fingers, and the
fire is ignited. The channel to the power is so completely open, and
the focus has become such second nature that the primary focusing
tools like wand, incantation, and clear focused intent, are no longer
required. With casual intent, he snaps, and the fire ignites.

A student must enunciate the incantation clearly, a qualified wizard
can speak the incantation casually, an experienced wizard need only
think the incantation to make it work. In a sense, in the last
example, he still speaks the incantation, he just speaks it mentally
rather than verbally. An older, well practiced, very experienced
wizard very likely need only think of the effect or result that he
wants, and that intent creates sufficient focus to accomplish the task.

Of course, for powerful and complex spells, it would truly take a
powerful gifted wizard to perform them without the various focusing
aids like wand and incantation. Dumbledore certainly fits this bill.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)