I think that was (part of) Tao's point, 17th. All the furor and uproar over
"magic" (booga booga!!!) ... is ridiculous. There's as much of it in
The Narnia Chronicles as Harry Potter, it just has a
Christian "spin." I suppose
Disney's `Aladdin and the Magic Lamp' should be under fire, for remind us of
Persian Mysticism ... and the Djinn!!!
As an esotericist, interested in
underlying meanings and themes - even on the level of a
world symbology (
as per Plato's `Forms') - I think the people freaking out about
bad influences need to consider Tao's point. The novels are really about
Good and Evil, with plenty of
moral, yet I think they actually
do provide something of a vehicle for a new mythology (Ancient Wisdom,
resurfacing).
Consider:
when Harry travels with Hermione, via the "time-turner," to the moment of Sirius Black's death at the power of the Dementors, what happens? More specifically, on the
first time around,
what is it that Harry Potter SEES,
shining brilliantly, even blindlingly, as the SOURCE of the Patronus?
Answer?
A Silver STAG ... (anyone care to comment?)
Next:
What WAS the Patronus, the `charm' which "chased the Dementors away?"
Answer?
From Wikipedia: The Patronus
Charm conjures an incarnation of the caster's innermost positive feelings, such as joy, hope, or the desire to survive, known as a Patronus. A Patronus can be viewed as the exact opposite of a Dementor (a soul-sucking fiend).
Another definition
from Wiki: The charm summons a patronus,
a magical manifestation of good will, providing varied levels of protection against the Dementors' influence, based on the caster's strength as a wizard.
Hmph! The real
bad influence is, as I think Tao has pointed out, the
narrow-minded, short-sightedness of folks who can't recognize a GOOD THING
when it flows through their children's hearts and minds straight from on High!!! (sic)
We can't credit JK Rowling with
inventing the Patronus Charm itself. No, the forces of
Love and Light, even though still sorely needed in our world,
have always been present. Creative fiction, where children's (
and adults') imaginations
do meet with Rowling's
magical ideas ... is just one of the many vehicles - through which
Love and Light Will flow.
I, for one, am
grateful that she has given us such
treasures, and now that I am finally reading them, I can only
smile, and roll my eyes, when I hear this bunkum about
bad influences and
black magic. Yeah, yeah, and Huckleberry Finn is the Devil's work too, we know all about it.
now, time to go practice my own - Patronus ...
Love and Light,
~andrew