Articles
Welcome to the articles section. The following are a series of articles about the spiritual symbolism behind the Harry Potter story. We are also proud to host some articles written by authors for the Accio 2005 conference and the Lumos 2006 conference.
Comments are welcome and an ongoing discussion can be followed here.
Harry Potter: The road map to liberating alchemy
How has Harry Potter, the young sorcerer's apprentice, been able to capture the hearts of hundreds of millions of children and adults around the world? I believe it is due to the dual nature of the human being. I believe Harry Potter primarily addresses the remnant of the divine, immortal and perfect human being asleep in the heart of the ordinary mortal and flawed person.
One of the most powerful ways of affecting humanity is to hand down symbolic stories which resonate powerfully in the subconscious mind due to the archetypes in the collective unconscious...
(Updated: 27th July 2005)
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Harry Potter and the Bible: Young Wizard New World Order agent or Pagan Hero?
Is it dangerous to read Harry Potter? Are the stories of J.K. Rowling noxious? According to the Christian writer Richard Abanes, they are indeed. He published an accusing study entitled Harry Potter and the Bible in the turbulent year 2001.
Abanes' book is one of the many violent or at least unfriendly responses to the children's book hype that put witches, sorcery and magic back on the literary map of the world at the end of the 20th Century. I chose his writing for this essay simply because it came my way by accident and because the objections as put forward in Harry Potter and the Bible against Ms. Rowling and the Potter stories also can be exactly the recommendations for the series, depending on the way one looks at it.
(Updated: April 2008)
The Wisdom of Fearing Only Fear: The Role of Fear in the Harry Potter Series
The way in which the characters in the Harry Potter series react to the presence or nearness of danger or evil - i.e., the way in which they deal with their fears - defines not only the characters themselves, but also the outcome of the series. This paper will explore the way in which the key characters in the series express and cope with their fears, and how their differing reactions drive their actions and define the course of events in the wizarding world.
Harry's Loves, Harry's Hates: A New Key to Their Mysteries, or, The Dumbledore Code
The Harry Potter series represents the most extraordinary publishing phenomenon of our time-and for a lot of us, a real investment of our interest, our intellect, and our emotions. We've read all six of these books over and over again, we've seen the movies, we've pondered the meanings, we've bought the replicated magic wands, we've spent untold hours on the discussion boards, and perhaps most strikingly of all, we've vociferously argued for our favorite pairings between characters...
The Phoenix in Harry Potter: the Metaphoric Power of the Past
Near the end of J. K. Rowling's most-recent book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a number of characters experience a moment of sublime enchantment, rooting them in place as they find in their pain some release from it...
Reflections in the Mirror of Erised: Clues to Harry's Ancestry and Destiny
Many believe the final revelation of the prophecy explaining why Voldemort attacked Harry as a baby also shattered the theory that Harry is the heir of Gryffindor. This paper maintains that the heir of Gryffindor theory is still very much alive, and provides a preponderance of clues to support this theory. The paper then explains the alchemical basis of the Harry Potter series and theorizes on which characters may die in the remaining two books, based on the phases of the alchemical Great Work.
As a Christian myself, I don't believe at all that Harry is an evil and corrupting influence on his fans. In fact, my view is that when we look closely at the ideas about moral choices and the nature of good and evil that are contained in the story, we find surprising parallels to themes that are prominent in biblical Christianity.
Elements of the Arthurian Tradition in Harry Potter
Elements of the Arthurian tradition are woven throughout Rowling's Harry Potter series. Both Arthur and Harry are heroes; both were taken from their parents and hidden for their own safety; both have wise, aged mentors; both are on a quest to fulfill their destiny and both have the potential to become immortal. This paper explores the parallels between the themes and characters in Arthurian legend and those in the Harry Potter series.
Harry's journey towards gold: Alchemical symbols in the Harry Potter series
Alchemy has an important role in the Harry Potter series that JK Rowling begins with the Philosopher's Stone story and the historic character of Nicolas Flamel, a medieval French alchemist, who was meant to have discovered the Philosopher's stone with the help of his wife Perenelle. Other real alchemists are mentioned in the books as Paracelsus and Cornelius Agrippa who figure on Chocolate frog cards (PS 77 -78). On those cards, Dumbledore is also mentioned as an alchemist. Moreover, Albus ...
The Two Greatest Conspiracies of the Last Two Millennia
In the Third Millennium, people are gradually waking up to a great conspiracy which has blinded man to the truth of spiritual enlightenment for at least 1700 years. At the same time there is another conspiracy happening right under our noses at this very minute. This conspiracy, however, is a Divine conspiracy ...
I'd like to suggest that maybe J.K. Rowling is using Carl Gustav Jung's ALCHEMCIAL STUDIES for her story. From this book I postulated the theory that the ending of the Harry Potter books would be that Harry Potter and Voldemort had to merge into one being (post #65).
Most of us are aware that Jo Rowling likes to foreshadow what is coming. The sorting hat saying the houses have to unite might be foreshadowing the unifying of opposites -- Harry and Voldemort. Also, Paracelsus is mentioned twice in the books. Once in the first book...
Blessed are you for Creating Harry: Jewish Affinity for Harry Potter
"Ah, that Harry Potter, pssss..such a kabbalist!" said my Jewish meditation teacher. He confirmed my suspicions. The story was about spiritual growth - all that business with the mirror of desire, and talk of hearts and love. It was like it was illustrating parts of the Jewish mystic Zohar -The Book of Enlightenment. But, was Harry supposed to be Jewish?
Conciousness of the Etheric Body
Joanne Rowling is certainly not the first author to pen an edifying tale of popular renown, and is neither going to be the last, I’m sure. But I have come to believe, and much appreciate, that Harry Potter may be the fairest of them all. Harry Potter is a person I recognise, and his story, something very familiar to me. Harry and I are both seekers, on the path of wizards, ascending the narrow winding staircase to truth and enlightenment. The more I search his story, the more I find mine. I am not alone in this...
An Astral Conjunction: The further account of a Seeker befriended by Harry Potter
Astral consciousness, what is it? What is this thing that is the love affair of so many and so varied Spiritual followings? Is it merely a word touted simply to inspire wonder in impressionable minds? Or is there something tangible to the myth. What is it that calls a seeker to aspire to an Astral connection. Where is the Astral world?
Harry Potter and the Tarot Cards
The Tarot's minor arcana are divided into four different houses, just like the houses in the Harry Potter story. This article provides a detailed comparison between the Tarot and each house in Harry Potter.
A few important observations concerning Harry Potter and his magic world
My name is Janneke Smits, I live in the Netherlands and at this moment I am 19 years old.
I found out that there are many different opinions about Harry and the magic world he is living in. I collected these opinions and thought them over; this article is the result of my research. It deals about magic, good and evil, the growing darkness, alchemy and more interesting items.
Harry Potter can radically change people's lives
A letter from Chris Nihill and Jayne Johnson who show how Harry Potter has changed their life radically with a foreword by Hans Andréa.
Sirius For Seekers: The Star Sirius in Astronomy, Myth, Religion, and History
Long before the publication of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling and the existence of her character Sirius Black, the star Sirius had attracted the attention of inquiring Humanity. Throughout time, the star Sirius has figured prominently in mythic and religious systems, and, as the brightest of the nighttime stars, caught the eye of the early sky watcher....
Open Letter To J.K. Rowling OBE
I want to thank you profoundly for writing the Harry Potter books.
Others have commented on the outstanding literary and moral value of your great work. However in your work I have discovered a supernal Light that no one else seems to have. In your work I recognise the timeless Path of Human Liberation as taught by all the great spiritual leaders of humanity throughout the millennia. By liberation...
The Harry Potter Prayer: An Explanation
An explanation of the Alchemical symbolism in the Harry Potter prayer.
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