Christian Symbolism in HP

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 153817

Let me mention just one more little clue of some strange symbolism 
that JKR seems to be using. Many have noticed that when DD was 
killed his body was blasted into the sky and off the tower. People 
have pointed out that every other AK in the books has only caused 
the murdered person to slum to the ground. We have come up with 
different theories as to why DD's murder was different. Some say it 
wasn't really an AK. I even came up with the idea that Snape did a 
non-verbal to send DD's body off the tower so that Greyback would 
not try to take a bite or two. But I have been listening to the CD, 
and there is an image that comes to mind when we read/hear the 
event. It goes like this:

"Harry's screams of horror never left him, silent and unmoving, he 
was forced to watch as DD was blasted into the air. For a split 
second he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull, and 
then he fell slowly backward, like a great rag doll, over the 
battlements and out of sight. 

The key part of this for me is "he seemed to hang suspended beneath 
the shining skull". She does not say the dark mark, she does not say 
the skull with snake, she says simply "skull". I have said before 
that to me the death of DD on the tower was symbolically the 
crucifixion of Christ at Golgotha or "the place of the skull". I 
think that JKR did not just have DD slum to the floor, because she 
needed that extra image of the crucified Christ to stick in our 
mind. True not everyone would see it, and even those that might know 
the symbol would probably only see it through the eyes of their 
unconscious mind.

It has been very difficult to explain to others what I intuitively 
feel is the framework of the books. I have tried, but do not have 
the words to convey what is essence an intuitive process. Perhaps it 
would help if I explained that I am trained in a type of hypnosis 
that uses stories to heal. In the context of therapy I can talk to a 
client, put them into a trance, do the work that needs to be done 
within their subconscious mind, bring them back out of trance and 
all the while they think that I was just telling a little story. 
Permission to use hypnosis in the sessions is given at the intake 
interview by saying "at some point in our work together I may use 
hypnosis, do I have your permission to do that?" And the person will 
say "yes". That is all the permission one needs. They may have their 
final session and wonder why you never did any hypnosis when that 
was what you were doing all along. Because of this training I am 
extra sensitive to seeing what might lie beneath the surface of a 
story, that part of the story that only your subconscious mind is 
suppose to hear.

An Invitation:

Now I would like to offer a special invitation. I am going to start 
a special society. The Luna Lovegood Society. We will be known far 
and wide as the "Loonies".  Anyone who sees symbols in the HP 
stories that others do not see may join. Anyone persecuted for 
saying that they see what others say are not there may also join. I 
happen to be a `Christian Symbolism' Loony myself, but all Loonies 
of whatever persuasion are welcome to join. Heck, it might even be 
like having friends. Now I know that some of you are shy and would 
prefer to be secret Loonies, and that is OK too, just write to me 
off list.

The day will come when the Loonies will be recognized for their true 
contributions to the cause. I predict that the day will indeed come 
with JKR will, if not *tell all*, will confess that she has used 
symbols from Christianity in telling her story. She might even admit 
to plagiarizing the bible. Our day will come fellow Loonies, our day 
will come!!

Tonks_op