Alohamora: Ritual Keys in Harry Potter's Wizarding World

Harry Potter and the Community of Seekers
The Harry Potter books, films, and various enactments have inspired dozens of critical books from all sorts of perspectives, but for Witches they have largely been relegated to “fantasy” and remained unexplored. In this essay, I identified only a fraction of the spiritual lessons based on the material culture of costumes and props in Harry Potter’s wizarding world. Yet the books and films carry some deeper truths for Witches as well. As Trevarthen explains, “On a basic level, the Harry Potter novels illustrate the very real truth that the person sitting next to us on the train may have an entirely different belief system, may in fact, live in a very ‘different world’ from our own. Most Western countries now even have large alternate ‘wizarding’ communities of various sorts, from Wiccans to shamans, ritual magicians and even practicing alchemists” (29). For those in the community of contemporary Witches, moments of recognition can be found through aspects of these fantasy books and films.

In our modern times, we enter into our mythologies through the flickering of screens and the pages of books rather than through the oral stories told around flickering campfires. These stories become the myths of our lives. As a Witch, I look forward to entering again into the wonderful wizarding world through the movie this week. Through the folkloric images of witches and wizards in Harry Potter, I find keys that help unlock a transformation of consciousness I can only describe as magical.

Works Cited
Cagle, Jess. “Cinema: The First Look at Harry.” Time.com. November 5, 2001. Web. December 17, 2009.

Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Dir. Chris Columbus. Warner Bros, 2002. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Dir. Mike Newell. Warner Bros, 2005. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Dir. David Yates. Warner Bros, 2009. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Screenplay by Michael Goldenberg. Dir. David Yates. Warner Bros, 2007. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron. Warner Bros, 2004. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Dir. Chris Columbus. Warner Bros, 2001. DVD.

K, Amber and Azrael Arynn K. Ritual Craft: Creating Rites for Transformation and Celebration. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2006.

Magliocco, Sabina. Neo-Pagan Sacred Art and Altars. Jackson, Mississippi: University of Mississippi Press, 2001.

________. Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America. Philadelphia: U of PA Press, 2004.

Matthews, John and Caitlyn. Hallowquest. Northamptshire, England: The Aquarian Press. 1990.

Pike, Sarah M. Earthly Bodies, Magical Selves: Contemporary Pagans and the Search for Community. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

Rowling, J.K. Interview by Melissa Anelli and Emerson Spartz. Mugglenet and the Leaky Cauldron. July 16, 2005. Web. December 17, 2009.

Trevarthen, Geo Athena. The Seeker’s Guide to Harry Potter. Winchester, UK: O Books, 2008.