The Owl House is a popular animated fantasy series that revolves around the adventures of a teenage girl named Luz Noceda. In this unique world, the magic is an integral part of everyday life, and there are different types of magic that exist within the show. One of the main types of magic in The Owl House is known as Wild Magic. This type of magic is raw and untamed, derived from the natural elements and forces of the world. It can be found in the hearts of magical creatures and is often unpredictable and chaotic. Wild Magic allows its users to tap into their instincts and unleash powerful spells with a touch of primal energy.
Wild Magic allows its users to tap into their instincts and unleash powerful spells with a touch of primal energy. Another form of magic showcased in the show is Glyph Magic. Glyphs are symbols of power that can be drawn or carved onto various surfaces to cast spells.
*screaming internally, eternally*
I´m a bit anxious tonight and brain won´t keep quiet, so let´s dive into the biology of witches, how magic works and then focus on Eda´s curse via SCIENCE so I can distract myself. Buckle up, because I managed to write a thousand words about this somehow.
We know following: witches can cast varied sort of magic thanks to special organ. Eda gets cursed by her sister, and the very next day she gets turned into the owl beast and then continues to transform sporadically. We do not know how she managed to change back first time, but we know that in show proper Eda´s curse can be affected by light, laughing, make Eda go back to her senses by Luz´s desperate call and so on. We also know that Eda takes potions to slow the curse process down, and we know that Lilith takes half her curse, which renders Eda´s natural magic useless, Lilith is weakened, and both acquire lesser version of the curse. I ask, how is this possible from biological standpoint? …magic, magical biological standpoint, but I’ll try to keep it close to human biology so I can draw comparisons.
First things first: the magic bile sac is attached to witch´s heart. We can therefore conclude that the magic bile travels through bloodstream. I propose that the magic bile is a special type of hormones. The bile sac is a gland secreting endocrinal magic hormone, which travels via bloodstream and affects specific response target cells just under the witch´s skin. Said target cells are located across entire witch´s body, but are heavily concentrated on hands and fingertips, which is why drawing a circle is easiest way to cast for witches.
As to how casting different spells works, I believe that each spell class (plant, abomination, illusion, elemental and so on) is caused by hormone with subtly different chemical structure. As such, depending on what the witch thinks, different spell comes out. The younger witches have sort of “precursors”, like a baby structures for each magic type programmed in their bile sac cells. By honing their skills as well as natural predisposition towards certain set of spell class structures, they can subtly teach their cells how to produce more specific and powerful structures, as well as the amount secreted. When the witch chooses a coven, they´re given a seal. This seal contains substrates that neutralize all other hormonal types of magic except the one the coven is focused on, and by having school systems already push children into specific covens, they´re even easier to neutralize as other magic types aren´t developed enough. The only coven without seals is of course, the Emperor´s coven, which accepts individuals capable and talented enough to create powerful subtypes of magic hormones.
The training wand works in such a way that it takes raw hormonal precursors and subtly changes specific parts of hormonal structure, which results in full spell. It also gives the target cells sort of reverse response, which is then carried back to brain and bile sac cells, hence why using a training wand is best option when learning as hands contain highest amount of target cells. As such the witch´s body receives a sort of helpful nudge in what direction the chemical structure of that spell´s hormone should be changed. Staffs meanwhile don´t give back information, or have anything to do with hormones; they simply amplify magic pumped through them, which is why Luz, a non-witch, can use staff during finale.
The bile sac gland, like many other glands, is affected by emotions, which is how Amity can cast through her feet (elevated response by dancing with her enchanted Grom partner, even if feet have less target cells and are covered by boots), why Eda´s curse first overtakes her after she starts walking away from Lilith (as she´s undoubtedly feeling sad that she won’t be seeing her sister for a while), or why laughter and Luz´s distress have effect on Eda.
Speaking of the curse, I imagine it functions similarly to cancer. It attacks cells of the bile sac, and cancerous curse cells slowly spread while producing mutated magic hormones that cause the target cells on Eda´s skin to send magic inside the body rather than outside, which causes the transformation. Said curse hormones must be harder to produce, so there’s less of them in Eda´s bloodstream, and as such the curse doesn’t occur all the time. If Eda is drained however, her healthy magic hormones are depleted and therefore the curse hormones have easier time accessing her target cells, transforming her. Similarly, if enough time has passed, enough curse hormones gather to activate the curse. The magic potion Eda takes slows down the process of curse hormone secretion, but it can’t stop it. Similarly, it can’t stop the cancer cell duplication, which is why Eda´s potion isn’t effective cure.
How does Lilith´s pain sharing spell work then? This part is the most complicated to work out. Let´s remember that to activate the spell Lilith has to touch Eda´s forehead with her own. What I believe is happening is that Lilith is “magically” sending specific signal via her brain into Eda´s brain and said signal affects both their bile sacs. The large portion of bile sac cells in Eda´s sac shut down completely, and part of Lilith´s cells swap for Eda´s cancerous curse cells.
That way the hormones produced are still functional, but are in much smaller capacity so Eda´s and Lilith´s magical abilities are both impaired, with Eda losing her magic almost completely (she´s still able to draw partial circle, but there´s so little healthy cells remaining their secretion just isn´t powerful enough) while Lilith´s magical ability is weakened since some healthy cells were swapped for curse cells. It is also possible the structure of curse hormones themselves was somehow affected, but we don´t yet know if Eda or Lilith transform in season 2, although it’s quite likely based on Dana shushing Spencer during recent charity stream when he tries to mention something about “Lilith turning into-”, which we can now assume was going to be “into a beast”.
So there you have it, the biology of Owl House magic, courtesy of two hours of my brain rambling in unholy morning hours.
Users of Glyph Magic are required to have a deep understanding of magical theory and must possess a keen eye for precision and detail. Each glyph represents a specific spell or action, and combining multiple glyphs can create complex and powerful magic. Additionally, the show also explores the concept of Light Magic and Dark Magic. Light Magic is associated with healing, protection, and positive energies. It is often practiced by the good witches, who use their powers for the betterment of others. Dark Magic, on the other hand, is more sinister and is often associated with sacrifice and forbidden knowledge. It is considered dangerous and tempting, as it can lead to corruption and moral decay. The Owl House also introduces viewers to the concept of Elemental Magic. This type of magic involves harnessing the power of the natural elements, such as fire, water, earth, and air. Elemental Magic allows its users to control and manipulate these elements, often using them to cast spells or create powerful attacks. This form of magic requires a deep connection with nature and an understanding of the balance and harmony between the elements. In conclusion, The Owl House presents a diverse range of magical abilities and practices. From Wild Magic to Glyph Magic, Light Magic to Dark Magic, and Elemental Magic, the show offers a rich and imaginative magical world for viewers to explore. Each form of magic brings a unique set of skills and challenges, adding depth to the characters and the fantastical world they inhabit..
Reviews for "Magic Spells and Incantations in The Owl House"
- Emily - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Owl House Type of Magic" because I love fantasy stories, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. Additionally, the pacing was off, with some episodes feeling rushed while others dragged on. Overall, I found it difficult to stay engaged and ended up losing interest halfway through the season.
- Jacob - 1 star - "Owl House Type of Magic" was a huge disappointment for me. The animation style was off-putting and the humor fell flat. The show tried too hard to be quirky and unique, but it missed the mark completely. The world-building was confusing and inconsistent, which made it hard to invest in the story. I just couldn't connect with the characters or the overall tone of the show. It's unfortunate because I had high hopes for this series, but it turned out to be a major letdown.
- Samantha - 3 stars - While "Owl House Type of Magic" had its moments, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. The concept was interesting, but the execution fell short. The writing was inconsistent, with some episodes being engaging while others felt filler. The main character, Luz, was likeable, but the supporting cast lacked depth. Additionally, the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural. Overall, it had potential, but it didn't quite live up to it.