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The Dictionaries > Places and Things > Real Life Magic
NOTE: This page should not be taken as support or an endorsement of the occult, witchcraft, devil worship, paganism, contacting spirits, fortune telling or any occult things in general! It is intended only as a factual discussion of the real-life practices that inspired Rowling’s school. Parents who do not want their children exposed to Harry Potter should bar their kids from the books, just as they would turn off the TV in response to garbage programming.
This essay examines the real basis for the classes offered at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Collectively, many of these topics are known as the "occult." Others are related to the occult but could be found in a Muggle school, such as Herbology.
In its most basic meaning, the world "occult" means "hidden," as in something that is unknown to people, such as spirits or their futures. In medical jargon, "occult" blood is traces of it so small as to be hidden in a biological sample. As a noun, the "occult" is a collection of practices that includes fortune telling, Ouija boards, witchcraft, contacting spirits and astrology. These things also are called "New Age" activities, referring to spiritualist or mystical pursuits. These practices are also very controversial, because Christians point to the Bible's stance against them, and because they are not considered valid or real by some.
DIVINATION
In the simplest of words, divination is fortune telling, which is further implied in the textbook title Unfogging the Future. Divination attempts to see what future is in store for a person, using supernatural means, combined with devices, such as crystal balls or tarot cards; and/or looking at or analyzing patterns, as in tea leaves, planets and stars, or combinations of numbers. People who perform divination are known by many names – fortune tellers, psychics, seers, soothsayers. Divination is taught by Professor Sybill Trelawney at Hogwarts.
There are a number of activities within divination. Arithmancy is a forerunner to numerology, both of which try to determine the future through values and combinations of numbers. Arithmancy originated with the ancient Chaldeans and Greeks. The Chaldeans, living in what is now modern Iraq in the Middle East, divided their 21-letter alphabet into three groups of seven, which were matched to seven planets of the solar system that were known to people in those days. Greeks would examine their opponents and try to use numbers to predict how a contest would turn out.
Numerology grew out of arithmancy. Numerology also is the study of numbers and how their value determines people’s characteristics and skills. Pythagoras (569-470 B.C./B.C.E), the ancient Greek mathematician, has been credited with inventing numerology, but it probably existed even before his time.
Each number carries a value. Different calculations performed with these values, such as adding or subtracting, are supposed to provide the client with insight into their personality, purpose and path of life. For example, a significant value could be determined by adding the number values for a person’s birthdate, to the total number of letters in their name. These values, like any form of divination, are supposed to advise a person in making their choices for the future, such as job selection or marriage.
A woman reads tea leaves in this illustration from 1880s London, England. |
Tasseomancy is a fancy word for reading tea leaves. Tea is a beverage that has been drunk for centuries and is brewed from the leaves and buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, especially cultivated in China, Japan, and the East Indies. Tea also can be made from leaves other species, such as sassafras.
Tea leaf reading is mostly strongly associated with the British and the Romanys (sometimes called "Gypsies"). The client drinks a cup of tea, leaving the "dregs," or remaining leaves from which the tea was brewed. He or she turns the cup over on a saucer. The reader inspects the leaves for patterns. The patterns form symbols that carry various meanings for the client. The distance of leaves from the rim of the saucer determines how far into the future something will occur; the closer to the rim, the farther off something will be.
Crystal ball gazing uses a sphere, often made of glass, that is clear or at least translucent (meaning it is slightly foggy but can still be seen into). The average crystal ball is 2 to 5 inches in diameter and is best used in dim light or during a full moon. The user is instructed to gaze into the ball, but not stare, and blink as little as possible.
The mind is emptied of all stray or distracting thoughts as the person concentrates. With skill, a person is supposed to see a cloudiness in the center of the ball, which is where visions are supposed to appear. Visions may be real people, places or things, or symbolic figures or colors. For example, blue means success in business or life, or gray signifies bad fortune.
While the crystal ball is best known as a divination device, Uma Sibley, an author of a how-to guide, says, "It's also about extending your perceptions beyond what is commonly thought of as ‘reality,’ extending your awareness past normal time and space considerations, along with increasing your awareness of who you are in your deepest self."
ASTROLOGY
Astrology is another form of divination, but because it is such a major discipline, it is discussed in its own section. Astrology in general is studying the positions of heavenly bodies, such as the sun, stars and planets, to determine how the future will affect a person and what decisions they should make. It is one of the most popular forms of divination today, as embodied by the daily horoscopes found in newspapers and on Web sites.
A horoscope is actually a two-dimensional chart or map that shows positions of the sun, moon and planets at the time and date of a person’s birth. This is supposed to reflect or explain their personality, talents, shortcomings and aptitudes. The map is also called a birth or natal chart.
The classic zodiac
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Astrology is also determined by the sign or house under which a person is born. There are 12 of these signs or houses on the traditional zodiac, which what the set of them, or a chart illustrating them or their positions in the heavens, is called. Each sign also has an equivalent constellation of stars: there is a group of stars called “Leo,” for instance, representing a lion. The following are the 12 western zodiac signs and the dates they encompass:
A person born in the first day or part of a sign is said to have been born “on the cusp.” The signs are often listed in the manner above because the old Julian (after Julius Caesar) calendar used 25 March as New Year’s Day. The current calendar, with 1 January as the New Year, originated under Pope Gregory XIII in the 16th century.
Astrology in this day and age is not considered a legitimate science by some, but centuries ago was viewed as a serious academic discipline. It operates with the philosophy that your birth chart and your horoscope for the future are roadmaps, not the path of your life set in stone. You still have free will to make decisions for yourself.
The kings of the minor arcana in an early 19th century Spanish deck (from top left) swords, cups, wands and coins.
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THE TAROT
This is another major form of divination, which uses an illustrated deck of cards laid out in patterns to tell the future. Using cards to tell fortunes is called cartomancy. Tarot uses a deck of 78 cards, with the major arcana, and four sets of four suits called the minor arcana.
Tarot may have originated in Italy in the 1400s, where the first documented card deck appeared, but its exact origins are unknown. Some historians think they may date back to the ancient Egyptians or to the first century A.D./C.E. Tarot cards may be used not only for divination, but answering questions about life or philosophy.
The 22-card major arcana includes such figures as the Fool, the Magician and the Lovers. These correspond to the signs of the zodiac and the planets. There are four suits of the minor acrana: the cups (symbolizing water); the wands (fire); swords (air); and pentacles/coins (earth). The four suits each contain 14 cards. These suits are numbered 1-10 and then Knave (or Page), Knight, Queen and King.
The Magician is one of the 22 "major arcana." This card is from the famous "Rider" deck that is widely used.
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The four suits of the minor arcana also gave birth to the standard sets of 52 playing cards used for regular games. This connection to the tarot may be why some Christians believe playing card games is immoral, aside from the fact that cards can be used for gambling or fortune telling.
Each of the 78 cards of the tarot deck has some meaning. The major arcana address people’s principles, experiences and universal laws of life. These cards are more specific and represent individual events, emotions or situations that could occur in life. Cards are laid out in combinations or patterns called “spreads” and are analyzed after they are completed.
POTIONS
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a potion as a “liquid or liquid mixture, especially one that is medicinal, poisonous or magical.” J.K. Rowling has created many imaginary potions, such as Polyjuice, which can make a person take the form of another, usually for an hour (though the fake Mad-Eye Moody stayed in this form for months by constantly drinking it in Goblet of Fire.)
These liquids always have a purpose, and in real life they do, too. Real witches do make love potions, for instance, or ones for fortune, or to curse some kind of ailment. Potions can include herbs (why herbology is important), minerals, spices, oils, or animal-derived ingredients, although nowadays witches may not use animal things because they view it as cruel. Instead, they use animal “essences.”
A potion also may include saying an incantation either before or during its consumption by someone. Incantations may be poems or phrases that describe or command the desired action in the potion. Potions may be drunk, rubbed on someone or something, tossed onto them, or however the potion recipe instructs.
RUNES
Runes by themselves are not an aspect of the occult, but are alphabets. However, runes and magic are closely intertwined.
A chart of the runic alphabet compared with Roman letters.
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Runes are ancient alphabets that probably originated with the Germanic and Gothic tribes of north and central Europe, perhaps around 100 to 200 A.D./C.E. Some believe runes may have been based on the ancient Greek or Roman alphabets. There is only an upper case letter set. Runes began to spread all over Europe due to the nomadic nature of some of the tribes.
Among the peoples using runes in south and middle Europe were Goths, Frisians and Germans, and Angles and Saxons in the west. Runes were the alphabets of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden area), but began to fade in central Europe as the Roman alphabet and Christianity grew in popularity. The best-known users of runes were the Vikings of Scandinavia.
Runes could be written left to right, or vice versa. They also could be written with the first sentence, right side up and left to right, and the second right to left; upside down; in a mirror image; or joined together. Two runes joined could mean one letter. Runes usually did not have any spacing between the words – somethinglikethis. Other writers used X’s or dots to separate words. Runes were used extensively to communicate and for decorative purposes, on a variety of surfaces.
Runes were not only symbols representing sounds, but their names were words with meaning in Germanic languages, and had strong connections to different ideas. For example, the first three letters, Fehu means cattle, uruz is “auroch” and purisaz means “giant.” (An auroch was an ancient species of wild cattle.) Runes were divided into three groups or families called aetts. Fehu, or "cattle," could in fortune telling mean prosperity, wealth and self esteem, and in magic usage, would mean the career or starting a business.
As for their occult role, runes are sometimes part of magic called the Northern Path. This branch of magic uses gods, rituals and myths of the northern Germanic tribes of Europe. The Northern Path includes rituals, talismans and other things or activities performed with the letters. Each rune is also a symbol for some kind of characteristic, wish, protection, charm or spell.
One practice is to use runes is to concentrate on the one of choice and communicate with a higher power and ancestors. The purpose of this is to unleash the rune’s power and therefore accomplish what the user desires. Another was to use rune(s) to cast spells to cause desired effects.
A runestone
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Rune stones were decorative markers sometimes constructed as a tribute to someone who had died, or even prominent people while still alive. Many of the old runes tones were destroyed by Christian groups entering Scandinavia in waves to convert the pagan peoples there.
Runes are ancient alphabets that probably originated with the Germanic and Gothic tribes of north and central Europe, perhaps around 100 to 200 A.D./C.E. Some believe runes may have been based on the ancient Greek or Roman alphabets. There is only an upper case letter set. Runes began to spread all over Europe due to the nomadic nature of some of the tribes.
Among the peoples using runes in south and middle Europe were Goths, Frisians and Germans, and Angles and Saxons in the west. Runes were the alphabets of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden area), but began to fade in central Europe as the Roman alphabet and Christianity grew in popularity. The best-known users of runes were the Vikings of Scandinavia.
Detail of runes carved into the top of a cross from Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
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Runes could be written left to right, or vice versa. They also could be written with the first sentence, right side up and left to right, and the second right to left; upside down; in a mirror image; or joined together. Two runes joined could mean one letter. Runes usually did not have any spacing between the words – somethinglikethis. Other writers used X’s or dots to separate words. Runes were used extensively to communicate and for decorative purposes, on a variety of surfaces.
Runes were not only symbols representing sounds, but their names were words with meaning in Germanic languages, and had strong connections to different ideas. For example, the first three letters, Fehu means cattle, uruz is “auroch” and purisaz means “giant.” Runes were divided into three groups or families called aetts. Fehu, or cattle, could in fortune telling mean prosperity, wealth and self esteem, and in magic usage, would mean the career or starting a business.
As for their occult role, runes are sometimes part of magic called the Northern Path. This branch of magic uses gods, rituals and myths of the northern Germanic tribes of Europe. The Northern Path includes rituals, talismans and other things or activities performed with the letters. Each rune is also a symbol for some kind of characteristic, wish, protection, charm or spell.
Rune stones were decorative markers sometimes constructed as a tribute to someone who had died, or even prominent people while still alive. Many of the old rune stones were destroyed by Christian groups entering Scandinavia in waves to convert the pagan peoples there.
HERBOLOGY
Herbology is the study of herbs, or plants that have real or imagined powers to improve health or the quality of life. In the context of witchcraft, it is learning about how herbs can be used alone or in potions to improve fortune, protect someone, heal, cast spells, change someone’s life in some positive or negative way, or any other function.
In the non-magic sense, modern enthusiasts and even health professionals are discovering the healing and enhancing benefits of traditional herbs. Before prescription drugs – some of which are still plant based – “doctoring” was done with medicinal herbs. The first written record of herb usage is 5,000 years old and is from the Sumerian culture. Written materials dating back 4,000 years describe the use of medicinal herbs in European and Mediterranean cultures. The first Chinese herb book appeared around 2700 B.C./B.C.E. and listed 365 different plants and their uses. The Old Testament of the Bible mentions use of caraway, vetch, rye and mandrake, a prominent herb in Book 2 of the Harry Potter series.
The word herb itself is from the Latin herba. Herb originally meant only non-woody plants, but today means any part – seeds, leaves, stem, etc. – that has nutritional or medicinal value.
There are numerous herbal systems from cultures around the world, including European, American Indian, Chinese, Ayurvedic (a spiritual type from India) and western. Herbal systems may be classified by plant species, colors, morphology (study of forms), or energy centers of the body, as in Chinese.
Herbology for some has not just been scientific or physical, but also takes on a spiritual dimension. Often the culture that includes a spiritual aspect also has a nature-centered religion, such as certain American Indian nations, the Chinese, and East Indians. At times, these nature religions had a Great Spirit or some other deity or deities (gods) who was united with mankind and all of nature. Herbs were to be used according to the religion’s rules. Nature religions also stress mind, body and spirit and maintenance of all three to their fullest potential and in an ideal balance.
Nature religions fall under the heading of paganism, which often included nature worship and multiple gods. Paganism can refer to ancient religions that operated before Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc. became dominant worldwide. It also can mean the modern practitioners of nature-based religions, often with two or more gods.
Herbology does appear in real-life witchcraft and is an important discipline within it. One witchcraft site states that herbology “is a vehicle to express the oneness of creation, and foster the divinity of nature and the earth." Herbs offer people the opportunity to use the earth’s benefits, and in a way pays respect to the planet and its resources. A witch herbalist could be considered a specialist in his or her belief system.
Modern witches use plants to make elixirs, potions, incenses, ointments, balms, oils and amulets. Herbs may be used for various spells, or rituals, such as on witch holidays, or more mundane uses, such as house decorations. Herbs are used to have an effect on life, primarily in healing and improvement. Positive or healing magic, sometimes dubbed “white” magic, would work to improve the quality of life.
There are hundreds of plants that are used in real witchcraft. Examples of plants used by real witches might be ginseng, for love, healing or health; garlic, for protection and healing (similar to its association with vampires); dandelion, for having wishes granted; and lily, for protection or breaking love spells. Basil, when rubbed on a green candle, will bring wealth; it also can be used for warding off evil or negativity. Mugwort (artemisia) can be used for strength, power, prophecy and healing.
One legend is that witches like to gather plants in the light of the full moon. One writer points out that this has scientific validity, as the drug effects of some medicinal plants are at their peak in the full moon. Full moons are important in witch rituals and holidays as well.
MANDRAKE
Mandrake, which figures prominently in The Chamber of Secrets, can be used protection, love, money, good luck, or health. Mandrake, Mandragora officinarum, is a poisonous perennial plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is associated with medieval era witchcraft and is considered one of the most powerful of the plants used in magic. It is ruled by the planets Venus or Mercury.
Other names for mandrake are “man-dragon,” “warlock root,” “root of evil” and “little gallows man,” because of medieval legends that it grows near places where blood has dripped from evil or heathen people.
Mandrake is closely related to another poisonous plant, the deadly nightshade. It has purplish or green-yellow flowers and berries that may look phosphorescent (glow in the dark) at sunrise. The flowers in the past have been used to make a narcotic (addictive) drug.
The shape of its thick, branching root often resembles a man; hence J.K. Rowling making mandrakes virtually human in Chamber of Secrets. Some believe that the roots also are male or female and have body shapes according to these genders and are both quite powerful. Some female witches prefer the “female” roots when working on love-related spells.
Mandrake is one of the most powerful herbs in love spells or potions (sometimes called philters). It also is used in divination. The witch asks the root a question, and its “head” is supposed to indicate yes or no. They also supposedly can be made to speak aloud or telepathically to discuss the future. As for good fortune, placing mandrake in a money box is said to double it overnight. Some people put mandrake into a “charm bag” to use as a good luck charm.
Rowling also portrayed the young mandrake roots as shrieking babies whose cries can strike a person senseless. This is based upon a legend from the Middle Ages that says a mandrake root will scream and begin to drip blood if it is uprooted. An extension of the legend is if a person pulls up the plant and hears the scream, he or she will die an instant, extremely painful death.
The method of stuffing the ears and gently loosening the mandrakes in Chamber of Secrets also has a connection to one legendary method magic practitioners created to harvest the root. A witch, with his/her ears stopped up with cotton, would first loosen the dirt around the mandrake with a shovel. One end of a rope would be tied to the plant, and the other to a dog. The dog was called or offered food, pulling up the plant as it ran. The scream would kill the dog, but the animal's death actually passed on a power to the mandrake to protect the sorcerer from demons or evil power.
Sources: Paralumun, Michael McClain’s Astrology-Numerology Site. Astrology Online; New Vision Psychic Services; India Times’ Astrospeak; Watersmoon Tarot; Viable Herbal Solutions, Y Tylwyth Teg (Beautiful People); Wicca and Shamanism Site; Sisters in Stregheria; Arild Hauge’s Viking and Runes Home Page; Runes: Alphabet of Mystery; The Runic Journey; Lucky Mojo.
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