Wand question

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 130526

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "quigonginger" 
<quigonginger at y...> wrote:
> I'm having a Star Wars weekend with my 9-year-old Godson, and out 
of 
> no where, whilst playing with my CoS Lego set, he asked me "how do 
> they know which end the magic comes out of?"  
> 
> I had never thought of this before.  I would assume a wand can be 
held backwards, and that pointing a wand the wrong way would cast 
the curse in the opposite direction.  Are they tapered (like a 
conductor's 
> baton) or do they have a definite "handle"?  Do they just feel it? 
> 
> Any thoughts?  Now he's got me curious.


Tonks:
A magic wand works because the wizard knows how to channel the 
powers of the universe and his own personal mental powers through a 
wand. Your grandson is confused about this as are many Muggle 
children. The wand does not hold the power it is only the conducting 
material.  Some such as in the RW who are specialist in some of the 
Martial Arts can do like Yoda and use wandless magic and repel an 
enemy with just the power of their mind channeling the chi. (I saw 
this demonstrated on a Bill Moyer special on PBS once some years 
ago.) Our wizards in the WW could do that as well with years of 
experience. But most wizards and certainly younger wizards use a 
wand.  I am told that there is an historical connection between the 
wand and the baton.  I was asleep a lot in History of Magic class 
and forgot most of that part of the history, but I know that one 
came from the other.  I also remember something about some wands 
being black on one end and white on the other.  This is a way for a 
straight wand to be used for positive energy or negative energy. The 
color that is pointed away from you is the one in use. (I an not 
sure where this idea came from.) Again I don't remember a lot about 
this tidbit of history either.  Ah, poor professor Bimms, it is a 
wonder any of us every pass our OWLS.  

Some wands have handles of varying sorts and some are tapered. Some 
have a crystal on the tip to help channel the energy. (Some healers 
use just a 4 to 6 inch crystal held in their hand and nothing 
else.)  Each type of wood has different magical properties and can 
enhance the type of magic that is being used by adding a bit of its 
own natural power. And in Harry's world adding a Phoenix feather, or 
dragon heart string, etc.  gives some of the power of that animal to 
the wand as well. This probably fits in with the Shaman traditions. 
Some Wicca folks, I understand, like a wand with different types of 
wood in one wand.  There are whole books written about wands.  To 
answer the basic question that was asked here, I personally think 
that the handle allows one to hold on to the wand better that just a 
straight piece of wood.  It is important that the wand not be broken 
as Ron's was, because that will mess up the flow of energy.  

Basically magic is done with the power of the mind connecting with a 
power outside of itself and channeling that power.  Some channel 
that power just through their hands as in the healing arts.  It is a 
very real power and not just in JKR made-up world. The first to use 
it were the Shaman, it is used in all religions and in New Age 
healing practices. It is only called *magic* by those who don't 
understand the source or the process. IMO.

Tonks_op