What's the source of power of wizard in the Potter universe?

[OrangeDog]

Maybe they are all on acid and it is just a great big hallucination..mmmmmaaaannnnnnnnn.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Maybe they are all on acid and it is just a great big hallucination..mmmmmaaaannnnnnnnn.

I miss the '70s too, man.

 

[Khatti]

I miss the '70s too, man.

Please God, let me got back to that time. I promise I'll be good this time!

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Please God, let me got back to that time. I promise I'll be good this time!

Where's the fun in that?

 

[Khatti]

Where's the fun in that?

That certainly is a dilemma.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

That certainly is a dilemma.

"From a certain point of view." ;)

 

[Hoophy]

I think that the source of wizard power is magnetic fields produced by cellular electromagnets in their muscles. They can ionize particles in the world with a type of subatomic particle that comes to Earth from the sun, they can capture it through their skin (kind of like a plant capturing photons) from the sun. Their cells capture these 'wizard particles' and redirect them to matter outside the body so that they may allow the matter to follow the local magnetic fields generated by the wizards, however their exotic nature allows the particles to behave in exotic ways, these special magnetic fields only affect 'wizard particles' and NOTHING else, on the same note the 'wizard particles' can only be directed by 'wizard magnetic fields'. Evolution 'Jerry-Rigged' the language controlling center of the brain to also control the position and shape of the magnetic fields that direct the 'wizard particles'. Actually saying the words also makes the muscles in the face to produce the magnetic fields of certain shapes based on the type of facial movement. The English language was actually created when wizards associated real world phenomenon with the results of their vocal spells. 'Wizard Particles dissipate from conjoined atoms over time and may even dispel thermal energy over many light years evenly. This explains where they go even though their signature can not feasibly be measured. Talismans can manipulate 'magic' by being imbued with certain 'wizard magnetic fields' they can be magnetized by these special magnetic fields. Wands augment magic because they contain dead cells of organisms who were especially good at generating 'wizard magnetic fields' the structure of the cells helps stabilize the fields produced by the wizard. They contain proteins that even though denatured can still direct 'wizard magnetic fields' Keep in mind that these 'wizard magnetic fields' are not actually magnetic at all, they only seem to share a few properties. Imagine it as an undiscovered force in the universe that does not really affect anything abiotic unless structures are designed to harness it. Also I made all of this up right now, this is just a way for me to imagine the reason wizards can wield magic and muggles can not. I use this to explain biologically and physically why they can use magic. The source of the energy is the food the wizard eats. (Just like how most animals get energy). The specialized cells and proteins are inherited in the DNA as complete dominant traits. Mudbloods can manipulate magic because a even more dominant (IKR :D) trait was not present that normally suppresses the wizard genes. Wizards need a lot more energy to survive than muggles. In some survival scenarios a muggle would be naturally selected for more so than an unskilled unaided wizard.

 

[Hoophy]

I think that the source of wizard power is magnetic fields produced by cellular electromagnets in their muscles. They can ionize particles in the world with a type of subatomic particle that comes to Earth from the sun, they can capture it through their skin (kind of like a plant capturing photons) from the sun. Their cells capture these 'wizard particles' and redirect them to matter outside the body so that they may allow the matter to follow the local magnetic fields generated by the wizards, however their exotic nature allows the particles to behave in exotic ways, these special magnetic fields only affect 'wizard particles' and NOTHING else, on the same note the 'wizard particles' can only be directed by 'wizard magnetic fields'. Evolution 'Jerry-Rigged' the language controlling center of the brain to also control the position and shape of the magnetic fields that direct the 'wizard particles'. Actually saying the words also makes the muscles in the face to produce the magnetic fields of certain shapes based on the type of facial movement. The English language was actually created when wizards associated real world phenomenon with the results of their vocal spells. 'Wizard Particles dissipate from conjoined atoms over time and may even dispel thermal energy over many light years evenly. This explains where they go even though their signature can not feasibly be measured. Talismans can manipulate 'magic' by being imbued with certain 'wizard magnetic fields' they can be magnetized by these special magnetic fields. Wands augment magic because they contain dead cells of organisms who were especially good at generating 'wizard magnetic fields' the structure of the cells helps stabilize the fields produced by the wizard. They contain proteins that even though denatured can still direct 'wizard magnetic fields' Keep in mind that these 'wizard magnetic fields' are not actually magnetic at all, they only seem to share a few properties. Imagine it as an undiscovered force in the universe that does not really affect anything abiotic unless structures are designed to harness it. Also I made all of this up right now, this is just a way for me to imagine the reason wizards can wield magic and muggles can not. I use this to explain biologically and physically why they can use magic. The source of the energy is the food the wizard eats. (Just like how most animals get energy). The specialized cells and proteins are inherited in the DNA as complete dominant traits. Mudbloods can manipulate magic because a even more dominant (IKR :D) trait was not present that normally suppresses the wizard genes. Wizards need a lot more energy to survive than muggles. In some survival scenarios a muggle would be naturally selected for more so than an unskilled unaided wizard.

I forgot to mention, this is rubbish.

 

[Khatti]

I forgot to mention, this is rubbish.

But intricately reasoned, elaborately pondered rubbish!

 

[Hoophy]

But intricately reasoned, elaborately pondered rubbish!

I was sitting in a waiting room on my phone, perhaps it made me a little bit nuts from waiting so long. Once I started there was no stopping the flow. Maybe if I mention that the laws used pertain to phenomenon that are not traditional, in that case you can make anything obey 'physics law' in a fictional universe. They are just revisions to the fictional worlds universal laws. :D

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

What changes would have to occur for HPverse-style magic to work here? Total rewrite? Minor tweaks? Somewhere in between?

 

[Hoophy]

What changes would have to occur for HPverse-style magic to work here? Total rewrite? Minor tweaks? Somewhere in between?

It's up to you, but if the 'new' forces could not be produced or used abiotically then it would be up to the author to mention them. No difference would be observed on the cosmic scale or any scale without the presence of magical organisms. It would be of no consequence to avoid mentioning the source of power but if you did then people would be picking apart the explanation. If the forces interacted with the universe naturally (in the absence and presence of life) though it would be very interesting.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

I meant "here" as in the real world. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Hoophy]

I meant "here" as in the real world. Sorry for the confusion.

No clue! :D

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

No clue! :D

I have none either, but if somebody comes up with a way I've got a fiver that it includes the word "quantum".

 

[Khatti]

I have none either, but if somebody comes up with a way I've got a fiver that it includes the word "quantum".

My personal favorite is the accessing of another universe with slightly different laws of physics, magic is created when our universe interfaces with another universe. My personal opinion is that Superman is in fact an alien from another universe. His superpowers arise from the interactions of the exotic universe that is Superman's body interfacing with the normal universe we live in. How else could he survive in the heart of a star? Star Wars didn't happen in a Galaxy Far Far Away... It happened in a wholly different universe where sound travels through space and light-speed is fast enough to get you from one point in that galaxy to another in just a few hours.

Quantum Mechanics is based on the odds of a particle being in a specific location at a specific time. However, we do have to allow for the possibility that all possible positions of the particle have taken place...somewhere.

 

[Hoophy]

I have none either, but if somebody comes up with a way I've got a fiver that it includes the word "QUANTUM".

QUANTUM Mechanics is based on the...

Nice post by the way Khatti! :D

 

[cube137]

Actually guys.. if Mind and Matter will become a symmetry just like Space and Time.. then all these things in Harry Potter are explainable. Please tell me. What laws of physics or rules forbid the symmetry of Mind and Matter where as Hilbert-like statement would convey:

"The views of mind and matter which I wish to lay before you have sprung from the soil of advanced experimental physics, and therein lies their strength. They are radical. Henceforth matter by itself, and mind by itself, are doomed to fade away into mere shadows, and only a kind of union of the two will preserve an independent reality."

Come on. Just this once. Be brave to ponder on this. Physicists comfort zone are quantum mechanics and Einstein relativity.. anything beyond they get very uncomfortable to the extend of taking refuge in QM/SR and GR not knowing the unification of QM and GR may need another order different than each.

I'm guessing that those who can't take this.. i'll be just banned so not to ruffle their comfort zone.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

"Physicists comfort zone are quantum mechanics and Einstein relativity.. anything beyond they get very uncomfortable to the extend of taking refuge in QM/SR and GR not knowing the unification of QM and GR may need another order different than each."

If it may need another order different than each would you also say that it may not need such? Or are you absolutely convinced?

 

[cube137]

The thread question is specifically the source of a wizards power. The worldbuilding of the books does contain many rules about the magic (though the worldbuilding itself is weak in favour of entertainment, which is by no means necessarily a bad thing), for instance:

• Ability to use it is mostly inherited in some manner
• It requires specific artefacts (wands, potions etc) to work properly
• Performing spells almost always requires specific words to be clearly said/thought along with appropriate wand movements

But no where do we get an inclination of why these things work. To my knowledge there's no part of the mythology that accounts for what the difference is between wizards and muggles, where the energy comes from to power spells, why spellcasting actions lead to the consequences they do etc. Contrast that to fantasy such as the KingKiller Chronicle or anything by Brandon Sanderson where all parts of magic have explanations for how and why they work within that universes rules.

This isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. Some fiction works well with having the science of magic set out and explained (the discovery is often a good part of the plot). For others it's unnessary and not the focus of the story (like LOTR that had very loose mythology on what magic was, let alone how it worked).If you click the reply button on someone's post a copy of that post is automatically quoted for you. If you hit the quote button the forum software adds the quote to a list of quotes. If you click "insert quotes" in the bottom left of the text box you can review all quotes in that list and remove them as needed,

Ryan_m_b and others..

I'll answer the following:

1. difference is between wizards and muggles,
2. where the energy comes from to power spells,
3. why spellcasting actions lead to the consequences they do etc

I'll share with you what esoteric schools teach about them. This knowledge is not just theoretical but also direct applications that I'm personally privy to. So please be open minded for a while.

1. Consciousness have an energy/field aspect. Wizards simply have more evolved conscious energy. Do you know why there are halos in the heads of saints. This is manifestation of the energy in visible form. Once I tried to awaken my kundalini and I also got halos in head. What is kundalini.. beats me.. it is advanced physics.

2. Kundalini development can lead to very advanced conscious field in the body. In china.. some kids can do telekinesis.. we have observed some form of energy from the kundalini aiming at objects and initiating molecular transformation.

3. Spellcasting is simply programmable conscious energy that can interact with objects in the molecular level.

Well.. About the physics of them. Well.. anyone who figures out how they work get Nobel Prize. And that's the challenge.

What I said came from teachings in the esoteric schools that I'm privy to. But if you can't take it or ruffling your comfort zone.. then just replace the world "esoteric schools" with "harry potter school of magick" :)

 

[Drakkith]

What I said came from teachings in the esoteric schools that I'm privy to.

I'd get your money back, as they don't appear to have taught you anything useful.

What changes would have to occur for HPverse-style magic to work here? Total rewrite? Minor tweaks? Somewhere in between?

The rules of nature would have to have substantial additions and changes. Even basic conservation laws would change and may or may not even hold in all situations.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

The rules of nature would have to have substantial additions and changes. Even basic conservation laws would change and may or may not even hold in all situations.

That's always been the problem with magic, it requires a different set of laws (and thus a different universe) to work. Sadly, that makes real magicians as rare as qualified unicorn riders.

 

[Khatti]

Ability to use it is mostly inherited in some manner

The Sami in Northern Scandinavia are a shamanic culture (well were, now they're just as Lutheran as everyone else in Scandinavia). Their abilities as sorcerers and wizards were known as far away as England during the Dark Ages. In the case of the Sami, sorcerous ability is inherited. This has always implied that there must be some genetic proclivity to sorcery. So Harry Potter has some real-life precedents in this particular matter.

 

[Drakkith]

Sadly, that makes real magicians as rare as qualified unicorn riders.

Buahaha!

 

[Hoophy]

Cube137 please don't get this good thread closed like the others... I am not trying to be mean but I just really like this thread. Now I know I am not one to be talking but I do not think the PF staff will take kindly to this just as they didn't in the "How To Be Funny" thread... I hope you understand it's nothing personal, and I do hope you are successful with whatever you believe in. Thanks. :)

 

[cube137]

So what's the source of power of wizard in the Potter universe?

Inventing fiction is even harder.. lol

Epicycles pills or wands? what is this?

 

[cube137]

The author of Harry Potter has billions of dollars of money already. Has anyone read her book? I still haven't.. is the English she used kinda poetry? I mean is her English extraordinary good.. or just like other writers? I want to write fictions too but don't have any skills to write... why is she so good.. does she answer what is the source of power of wizard in the potter universe? If I have to read one of her books only to see her writing style.. what book volume should that be?

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

The author of Harry Potter has billions of dollars of money already. Has anyone read her book? I still haven't.. is the English she used kinda poetry? I mean is her English extraordinary good.. or just like other writers? I want to write fictions too but don't have any skills to write... why is she so good.. does she answer what is the source of power of wizard in the potter universe? If I have to read one of her books only to see her writing style.. what book volume should that be?

The books are graduated so that the reader matures with the writing style, reading the book that is equivalent to their age as they keep pace with Harry. Of course that doesn't work out any more, kids demand to read as many of the Potter books as they can. Good way to get kids back into actual reading. As for writing style, The Deathly Hallows pulls very few punches, including killing off a few main characters. It's also her longest book. I read Harry Potter's and the Philosopher's Stone in one day.

 

[Hoophy]

I started to read the series when I was 11 and if I had not done this I do not think I would appreciate reading as much as I do now. It is not like poetry cube137, but in my opinion the series is amazing. The source of power is never mentioned.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

I started to read the series when I was 11 and if I had not done this I do not think I would appreciate reading as much as I do now. It is not like poetry cube137, but in my opinion the series is amazing. The source of power is never mentioned.

I was in my fifties. My then-wife, Brenda, was studying to be a children's librarian and wanted someone she could argue about the books with.