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Authors: Tere Stouffer
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to exist only near the Equator.
The word Lethifold likely derives from lethal (meaning deadly) and fold (that thing you do when you put your clothes in a drawer). Lethe is also the river of forgetfulness that flowed through Hades—if you drink this water, you lose your memory.
Part 2
Where and How the Wizards Are
Everything you ever wanted to know about the everyday lives of wizards is in this part. Here, you get the lowdown on basic wizard tools: wands, robes, quills, and other magical gadgetry. You also find out how wizards spend their days—from cooking and gardening to sending mail, getting around town, and playing games and sports, including Quidditch, wizard chess, and Gobstones. And don’t forget to read a bit about wizard and British cuisine!
Chapter 3
The Wizard’s Wardrobe and Toolbox
In This Chapter
•Locating the seat of a wizard’s power: the wand
•Looking smart in robes, cloaks, and hats
•Writing the old-fashioned way: quills and parchment
•Digging deeper into a variety of magical gadgets
A wizard’s basic tools are simple: a wand; a robe (and, if it’s chilly, a cloak); and perhaps a pointed hat. All are discussed in this chapter. In addition, various optional equipment is available to wizards: writing materials; Dark Detectors; and other cool gadgets. You get the lowdown here.
A Wizard’s Most Important Tool: The Wand
A wizard without a wand simply isn’t a wizard, because he’ll have a tough time whipping up potions (discussed in Chapter 11) or conjuring spells, charms, hexes, or curses (all in Chapter 12). However, a wand acts only as a channeler of magic from the wizard; the lesser the wizard, the lesser the power of whatever comes from his or her wand. This is why, if provoked, a wandless wizard can make “funny” things happen (funny strange, not funny ha-ha). But for the most part, a wizard without a wand is a wizard without magical powers, because the wand focuses all a wizard’s magical power into a small, but potent, space.
MAGIC TALE
Historically, nearly all wizards have employed a magical wand of some sort—whether a short rod or long staff—to cook up potions and weave spells. Circe (in Homer’s The Odyssey ) uses a wand to bewitch Odysseus’s men; Gandalf and Saruman (in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings ) both carry staffs; the White Witch (in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ) carries a long golden wand; and Merlyn (in T.H. White’s The Once and Future King ) carries a wand made from lignum vitae (reportedly the hardest wood in the world; the name is Latin for "long life”).
A wand or staff not only acts to channel a wizard’s power, but also serves as a symbol of authority, drawing from its origins as a shepherd’s staff. As a shepherd has authority over his flock, so do wizards carry authority over nonmagic folk. In the same way, gods and kings have power over their people, thus the ancient tradition of kings carrying a scepter (a highly ornamental rod or staff). Likewise, a caduceus (a staff with wings at the top and two snakes coiled around the rod; the caduceus is now the worldwide symbol of physicians) established the authority of Greek god Hermes/Roman god Mercury/Celtic god Lugus, who aided, acted as messenger for, and rescued many gods and goddesses. Ancient priests carried short rods; carrying on the tradition, Catholic bishops, cardinals, and the pope still carry scepters as a symbol of their wisdom and authority. Leaders of musical groups, whether a conductor or a drum major, carry batons, which can be small rods (as in the case of a conductor) or a large staff (as with a drum major).
One wizard can use another’s wand in a pinch (or, for that matter, any nonhuman creature can “borrow” a wizard’s wand, although that is expressly forbidden by the Ministry), but that wand will not perform as well as the wizard’s own. Ultimately, there is one wand that’s exactly right for each wizard. As the story goes,
The word Lethifold likely derives from lethal (meaning deadly) and fold (that thing you do when you put your clothes in a drawer). Lethe is also the river of forgetfulness that flowed through Hades—if you drink this water, you lose your memory.
Part 2
Where and How the Wizards Are
Everything you ever wanted to know about the everyday lives of wizards is in this part. Here, you get the lowdown on basic wizard tools: wands, robes, quills, and other magical gadgetry. You also find out how wizards spend their days—from cooking and gardening to sending mail, getting around town, and playing games and sports, including Quidditch, wizard chess, and Gobstones. And don’t forget to read a bit about wizard and British cuisine!
Chapter 3
The Wizard’s Wardrobe and Toolbox
In This Chapter
•Locating the seat of a wizard’s power: the wand
•Looking smart in robes, cloaks, and hats
•Writing the old-fashioned way: quills and parchment
•Digging deeper into a variety of magical gadgets
A wizard’s basic tools are simple: a wand; a robe (and, if it’s chilly, a cloak); and perhaps a pointed hat. All are discussed in this chapter. In addition, various optional equipment is available to wizards: writing materials; Dark Detectors; and other cool gadgets. You get the lowdown here.
A Wizard’s Most Important Tool: The Wand
A wizard without a wand simply isn’t a wizard, because he’ll have a tough time whipping up potions (discussed in Chapter 11) or conjuring spells, charms, hexes, or curses (all in Chapter 12). However, a wand acts only as a channeler of magic from the wizard; the lesser the wizard, the lesser the power of whatever comes from his or her wand. This is why, if provoked, a wandless wizard can make “funny” things happen (funny strange, not funny ha-ha). But for the most part, a wizard without a wand is a wizard without magical powers, because the wand focuses all a wizard’s magical power into a small, but potent, space.
MAGIC TALE
Historically, nearly all wizards have employed a magical wand of some sort—whether a short rod or long staff—to cook up potions and weave spells. Circe (in Homer’s The Odyssey ) uses a wand to bewitch Odysseus’s men; Gandalf and Saruman (in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings ) both carry staffs; the White Witch (in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ) carries a long golden wand; and Merlyn (in T.H. White’s The Once and Future King ) carries a wand made from lignum vitae (reportedly the hardest wood in the world; the name is Latin for "long life”).
A wand or staff not only acts to channel a wizard’s power, but also serves as a symbol of authority, drawing from its origins as a shepherd’s staff. As a shepherd has authority over his flock, so do wizards carry authority over nonmagic folk. In the same way, gods and kings have power over their people, thus the ancient tradition of kings carrying a scepter (a highly ornamental rod or staff). Likewise, a caduceus (a staff with wings at the top and two snakes coiled around the rod; the caduceus is now the worldwide symbol of physicians) established the authority of Greek god Hermes/Roman god Mercury/Celtic god Lugus, who aided, acted as messenger for, and rescued many gods and goddesses. Ancient priests carried short rods; carrying on the tradition, Catholic bishops, cardinals, and the pope still carry scepters as a symbol of their wisdom and authority. Leaders of musical groups, whether a conductor or a drum major, carry batons, which can be small rods (as in the case of a conductor) or a large staff (as with a drum major).
One wizard can use another’s wand in a pinch (or, for that matter, any nonhuman creature can “borrow” a wizard’s wand, although that is expressly forbidden by the Ministry), but that wand will not perform as well as the wizard’s own. Ultimately, there is one wand that’s exactly right for each wizard. As the story goes,
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