Phoenix fire?

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 154100

Tonks:

> I think we need to take these ideas and stir them in 
> a cauldron and strain the potion and see what comes out. 
> I sense something in all of this, but can't quite put my 
> finger on it.  We have the Gryffindor and Slytherin 
> symbolism both present in Fawkes -- is this some sort 
> of ying/yang kind of thing? And what does it mean?

houyhnhnm:

I don't know.  I can't quite put my finger on it either.  Except that 
we aready have the suggestion (from the Sorting Hat) that the healing 
of the Wizarding World must come from unification of the qualities of 
*all* the houses, not the triumph of the "good" house over the "bad" 
house.

We have Rowling's word that Slytherin House is associated with the 
element of water, and the watery signs in general not just the Scorpio 
phoenix, are associated with healing.  The phoenix, in legend, is 
always associated with fire and with resurrection, but I'm not sure 
about the healing tears (I'm no expert on mythology).  The fact that 
Rowling chose to emphasize the healing powers of Fawkes, and that he 
sounds so much much like the Scorpio-Phoenix, makes me think that we 
are supposed to see Slytherin qualities in Fawkes as well as 
Gryffindorish ones.

Tonks:
 
> And in your Slytherin idea associated with Fawkes you 
> mention the Eagle.  This is associated with Ravenclaw.  
> What does this me ?? How does the Ravenclaw Eagle and the 
> Phoenix combine?  What abou the Lion of Gryffindor.  And 
> the Badger.  Are they represented in astrology any where?

houyhnhnm:

I don't see any connection between the Scorpio-Eagle and the Ravenclaw 
eagle.  The eagle is a symbol in so many cultures because of its high 
flight, because it is the master of the skies.  The Scorpio-Eagle is 
so-called because s/he can fly over the situations in which s/he is 
placed, above the petty emotions of others and be unaffected by them 
until choosing to swoop down for his or her own advantage.  I 
immediately think of Horace Slughorn, not Fawkes, when contemplating 
the Scorpio-Eagle.

Ravenclaw House is symbolized by an eagle because it is the house 
associated with the element of air, with the high flight of intellect. 
Aquarius (fixed air) is the astrological sign ruling large birds.

Are there qualities asscociated with Ravenclaw in Fawkes?  This is a 
separate question.  I can't see any qualities of either Ravenclaw or 
Hufflepuff in Fawkes.  Maybe it is because I haven't thought about it 
long enough or maybe it is that, both in the past and in the 
"present", the conflict was and is essentially between Gryffindor and 
Slytherin, with the other two founders/houses chiefly in the role of 
onlookers.