You can bear anything if magic produced it. Magic has a way of enveloping us in a different reality, where the impossible becomes possible and the unimaginable unfolds before our eyes. The idea that we can endure anything if it is borne out of magic taps into the power of belief and the infinite potential of the human spirit. When we think of magic, we often conjure up images of supernatural powers and fantastical elements. It is a realm where spells are cast, potions are brewed, and curses are broken. In this enchanted world, the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable or feasible are pushed to the extreme.
The closest thing I can compare Among Others to is a Ghibli film like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Deliver Service, or Ponyo—a slow but gorgeous slice-of-life stroll through a world made up of rolling hills and valleys, idyllic small towns and villages, and kind people. Our protagonist, after defeating her mother and breaking her mother’s power, ran away from home and was placed in the care of her estranged English father by social services. She was then enrolled in a boarding school which, to Mori’s disappointment, is nothing like how they are depicted in the books. Among Others is a coming of age story about a teenage girl who loves to read—specifically sci-fi and fantasy—and about her finding her own people to belong to (or as Mori would put it using Vonnegut’s word, her “karass”). The teller of Mori’s story is fittingly, Mori herself, in the form of diary entries.
While Harry and Ron flying a car across the UK in clear view of Muggles had them losing house points and receiving detentions and Howlers, adult wizards and witches risk getting arrested, depending on the severity of the exposure. If you re with a grown-up witch or wizard, you can sometimes piggy-back off their magic such as if you need to Apparate somewhere, but ultimately, it s a dull life of washing the dishes by hand until that special birthday comes about.
In this enchanted world, the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable or feasible are pushed to the extreme. Anything can happen, and our minds are opened to the infinite possibilities that exist beyond the constraints of logic and reason. The notion that we can endure anything if magic produced it speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.
Ten Strange Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Magic
When researching the stories, choosing the objects and creating the narrative for Harry Potter: A History of Magic, we have encountered magic round every corner.
Here we explore 10 strange things you might not know about magic, unravelling strange myths and weird traditions, and being charmed by the mysterious world of witchcraft and wizardry.
1. Making yourself invisible is easy… provided you know the right words
Forget the fact you don’t have an invisibility cloak to hand, according to one 17th-century manuscript, known as The Book of King Solomon called The Key of Knowledge, you could make yourself invisible simply by reciting the following words:
“Stabbon, Asen, Gabellum, Saneney, Noty, Enobal, Labonerem, Balametem, Balnon, Tygumel, Millegaly, Juneneis, Hearma, Hamorache, Yesa, Seya, Senoy, Henen, Barucatha, Acararas, Taracub, Bucarat, Caramy, by the mercy whitch you beare towardes mann kynde, make me to be invysible.”
These instructions are found in a chapter headed ‘Howe experyments to be invysible must bee preparedd’. The writer and scholar, Gabriel Harvey, owned this manuscript, and one account of his life states that he largely disappeared from view in the final decades of his life: maybe the invisibility charm worked for him!
"A phoenix rising from the ashes, in a bestiary A phoenix rising from the ashes, in a bestiary" (13th century)Первоисточник: Harley MS 4751.
2. A phoenix takes 9 days to rise from the ashes
Phoenixes are one of the most famous mythological birds and Dumbledore’s feathered friend Fawkes was a much-loved character in the books. Their behavior and life cycle was often described in medieval bestiaries (encyclopedias about animals real and imagined). In one tradition, it was said that the phoenix was native to Arabia, lived for 500 years, and in its old age would create its own funeral pyre from branches and plants. It would then fan the flames with its own wings, in order to be consumed by the fire, before rising again from the ashes after 9 days. This legendary ability has often been compared to the Resurrection of Christ.
"‘The signification of lines and other marks in the hands’, in Old Egyptian Fortune-Teller’s Last Legacy" (1775)Первоисточник: C.194.a.825(2).
3. Moles on the buttocks are especially auspicious
The Old Egyptian Fortune-Teller’s Last Legacy, published in London in 1775, contains lots of dubious advice on how to predict your future. We’re used to tea leaves in cups, but one other way to tell the future was by interpreting the moles on your face and body. For example, did you know that “a mole on the buttock denotes honor to a man and riches to a woman”? On another page, headed: "The signification of lines and other marks in the hands", we receive the news that certain lines denote “a trusty and faithful person”, while others indicate, “Let the party take care to avoid deep water”!
"Culpeper’s English Physician; and Complete Herbal" (1789)Первоисточник: 1601/42.
4. Nicholas Culpeper was a witch
Nicholas Culpeper’s Herbal, first published in 1652, is one of the most influential books to identify the medical uses of different plants. But Culpeper was frowned upon by the medical establishment. He was an unlicensed apothecary, and he came into frequent conflict with the College of Physicians, not least because he wrote in English (for the benefit of the masses) rather than the more traditional Latin. In 1642, Culpeper was apparently tried, but acquitted, for practising witchcraft, the penalty for which was death. Today, we would describe him as a ‘hedge witch’, a wise man or woman adept at providing remedies for illnesses and ailments.
"Kitāb mawādd al-‘ilāj (Arabic version of Dioscorides, Materia medica)" (14th century)Первоисточник: Or 3366.
5. Need to harvest a mandrake? Then find yourself a dog
A lesson in Herbology now – in the Middle Ages, it was believed that mandrakes could cure headaches, earache and gout. At the same time, it was supposed that this plant was hazardous to harvest, because its roots resembled the human form; when pulled from the ground, its shrieks could cause madness. This is why medieval plant-collectors devised an elaborate method to harvest mandrakes. The best way to obtain one safely was to unearth its roots with an ivory stake, attaching the plant to a dog with a cord. A horn should then be sounded, drowning out the shrieking while at the same time startling the dog, causing it to drag out the mandrake. Another piece of advice was to stuff your ears with clods of earth before attempting to pull the mandrake from the ground!
"Pierre Pomet, A Compleat History of Druggs" (1748)Первоисточник: 546.k.19..
6. Some of the best bezoar stones are found in the stomachs of goats
We all remember the bezoar Harry used to save Ron’s life after he sipped the poisoned mead in Professor Slughorn’s office, but what actually are they? Bezoars are a mass of undigested fibre formed in the stomach of certain animals, and are believed to be an antidote to poison. They were first introduced into medieval Europe by Arabic physicians. Wealthy collectors (including kings and popes) were willing to spend considerable sums to acquire the best ‘stones’. In A Compleat History of Druggs (first published in French in 1694), it was reported that the medicinal strength of a bezoar depended on the animal that produced it. For instance, those found in the guts of cows were nowhere near as good as those which came from the so-called ‘bezoar goat’. One of our colleagues recently acquired a bezoar stone from a llama, sourced from Bolivia. We hope we never need to try it out.
"Abū al-Qāsim al-‘Irāqī, Kitāb al-aqālīm al-ab‘ah (Book of the Seven Climes)" (18th century)Первоисточник: Add MS 25724.
7. This early alchemical illustration is in fact… a record of an ancient Egyptian monument
The Book of the Seven Climes, written in the 13th century by Abū al-Qāsim Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-‘Irāqī, focuses on alchemical illustrations. This picture was supposedly taken from a ‘Hidden Book’ attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary sage-king of ancient Egypt. He was believed to have mastered the secrets of alchemy and recorded them in hieroglyphs on the walls of tombs. Unbeknown to Al-‘Irāqī, this image actually reproduces an ancient monument erected in memory of King Amenemhat II, who ruled Egypt around 1922–1878 BC.
"Unicorns, in Pierre Pomet, Histoire générale des Drogues, traitant des plantes, des animaux et des mineraux" (1694)Первоисточник: 37.h.7..
8. A unicorn can have two horns
In recent years unicorns have appeared in our hair, on our toast and on our clothes, but our fascination for the horned horse goes back centuries. In 1694, Pierre Pomet, a French pharmacist, published his Histoire générale des Drogues. One of its illustrations shows five different species of unicorn, among them the camphor (a horned ass from Arabia) and the pirassoipi. The pirassoipi’s most distinctive feature is its twin horns (surely this is cheating), as seen in the lower left-hand corner of this image. Pomet reported that this two-horned unicorn was as large as a mule and as hairy as a bear. He also noted that unicorn horn was “well used, on account of the great properties attributed to it, principally against poisons”.
"Culpeper’s English Physician; and Complete Herbal" (1789)Первоисточник: 1601/42.
It suggests that when faced with the unimaginable, we have the ability to tap into a wellspring of inner strength that allows us to persevere. This perspective encourages us to believe in our own capacity to overcome adversity and embrace the unknown. It implores us to not shy away from challenges, but to instead embrace them as opportunities for growth and transformation. Furthermore, the idea that we can bear anything if magic produced it underscores the power of belief. When we believe in the extraordinary, we open ourselves up to the possibility of achieving the impossible. Belief fuels action, and action leads to progress. By embracing the magical, we tap into a well of untapped potential within ourselves. However, it is important to recognize that the concept of "bearing anything" should not be taken literally. There are limits to what we as individuals can endure, regardless of whether it is borne out of magic or not. It is crucial to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed. In conclusion, the idea that we can bear anything if magic produced it symbolizes the resilience of the human spirit and the power of belief. By embracing the extraordinary, we tap into a wellspring of inner strength that allows us to persevere in the face of adversity. While the concept is inspiring, it is crucial to remember to prioritize self-care and seek support when necessary..
Reviews for "Magic as a Catalyst for Transformation: Helping Us Rise above Challenges"
1. Mary - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "You can bear anything if magic produced it" but was quickly disappointed. The plot was all over the place and seemed to lack direction. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The magical elements felt forced and out of place, adding nothing to the story. Overall, I found the book to be a confusing mess and a waste of my time.
2. John - 1 star
I don't understand all the hype around "You can bear anything if magic produced it". The writing style was pretentious and trying too hard to be profound. The story was predictable and lacked any real depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't care less about what happened to them. The magical elements felt gimmicky and didn't enhance the plot in any meaningful way. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was excited to dive into "You can bear anything if magic produced it" but ended up feeling underwhelmed. The pacing was slow and the story seemed to drag on without any real purpose. The characters were forgettable and their actions felt forced. The magical elements were poorly explained and left me with more questions than answers. Overall, I found the book to be lackluster and didn't live up to the hype surrounding it.
4. Michael - 1 star
"You can bear anything if magic produced it" was a complete disappointment. The writing was amateurish and lacked any sort of finesse. The plot was predictable and offered no surprises. The characters were cliched and lacked depth. The magical elements felt tacked on and were poorly integrated into the story. I found myself rolling my eyes at the supposed "magical" moments instead of being captivated. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging story.