Parallels in other's fiction to that of JKR.

[John]

No: HPFGUIDX 192435





--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Bart Lidofsky <bart at ...> wrote:
>
> On 6/13/2013 5:17 PM, Geoff wrote:
> > I think it all hinges round what we mean by "magic". One of my
> > dictionaries defines it as "the power of apparently influencing events
> > by using mysterious of supernatural forces" 
.which covers a multitude
> > of sins. :-)
> >
> Bart:
> A scholar once defined magic as "The alteration of objective reality 
> through the alteration of subjective reality."
> 
> Bart
>
Hi Bart.

I just wrote a longish reply about and example of just such 'change causing' I once actually witnessed, although of course the outcome could have been coincidence. However the post was wiped as I had a bit of 'finger trouble' as the old RAF pilots used to say and it vanished into the ether.

It is getting late here now so I won't re-type it all, but simply say that the definition of magic you give is essentially right, but is also often stated as being 'The ability to change external reality by an act of will alone' or for short 'The power to cause change by act of will' but then I never liked that a lot as all acts 'normal or magical that cause any sort of change at all start out as acts of will. :o)

However it is from this idea tyhat the Wiccan saying So Mote It Be comes about, meaning essentially, 'As I/We so will it so it will manifest'.

The anecdotal post I lost would demonstrate this idea in action, but it is now 1.30 am in good old London, so I mus sign off and get some 'kip'. Perhaps I'll try to post the story another time if anyone's interested? :o)

Many Blessings.
John, (Oriondruid).