[memyslfnI]

Please use this thread to discuss the essay "Alchemy and Harry Potter Part I. Part II will be featured in the next issue of Scribbulus

Part I of the Arianhrod's essay can be found here.

Author Bio

Arianhrod is a regular poster here at the Leaky and loves every minute of it. She can't post her real name in case the boss is watching.

She was born in 1969 in Pennsylvania, USA. She has two degrees: one in Liberal Arts (1991) and another in Integrated Marketing Communications (2000). She also has an Associate's Degree in Nutrition and Food Service Management (1989). She didn't realize when she was asked to write an essay for Scribbulus that she'd be writing her master's thesis!

Arianhrod is married with two children. Her kids think she is a little nuts for spending so much time on her computer, and her husband doesn't even know about her obsession with HP. She likes to read--a lot! Her kids keep her very busy, and she loves sports, especially basketball, tennis, hiking, biking, jetskiing...anything outdoors.


Her goal in life is to move to Florida so she doesn't have to freeze to death in the winter.
Goal #2 is to raise decent human beings who are prepared for the realities of the world. Hopefully they'll make enough money to take care of her in her old age and to support Goal #3!
Goal #3 is to travel the world, especially Europe and Great Britain.

Arianhrod looks forward to all comments about her essay and hopes everyone who is interested will join the ongoing discussion in the Alchemy thread in Obscurus.

This post has been edited by AnguaTLC: 07 February 2008 - 01:49 AM

[memyslfnI]

Essay Abstract

This paper is the product of months of reading and research that began many moons ago in the Why the AK Didn't Kill Voldemort thread. At that time, it seemed that everyone's favorite topic was Voldemort's Rebirthing Party in Goblet of Fire, a subject that sent many of us into the realms of esoterica and Kabbalism. Along the way, I came across a document called The Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine, which began a research project that continues even now. Over the past ten months, it has become very clear that Rowling intentionally uses alchemy and alchemic principles in her novels, and that she is well-versed not only in alchemy but in other areas of esoterica as well. Some of the characters have alchemic names and symbolism, and the books follow a path laid out many millennia ago, a path that the alchemists believed leads ultimately to spiritual enlightenment and perfection. It is not an easy path, and few ever succeed in achieving it. As a Seeker of purity and truth, this is the arduous journey on which Harry finds himself, en route to a destination so very few of us ever reach. From the formless dregs of character and the burden of being the Chosen One to the gold that is perfection, this is his task. (This is part one of a two part series)

[coach]

I just got through the essay. I must say I am very impressed; but can't help feeling really dumb for not understanding it. That was a very good, concise summary of subject though.

It does seem obvious that alchemy and alchemic principles must play a large role in the stories, that is just so, so deep.

[marielle]

I just got through the essay. I must say I am very impressed; but can't help feeling really dumb for not understanding it. That was a very good, concise summary of subject though.

It does seem obvious that alchemy and alchemic principles must play a large role in the stories, that is just so, so deep.

.....I feel the same way as you do, i love reading about it, cause it make a lot of sense, but i only understand about the three quarter of it. At least each time i read a bit more, i understand more, so eventually, i figure i will be able to understand everything!
Good essay Arianhrod!

[MokeyMagoo]

Arianhrod, I am amazed and appreciative. To take such a ginormous subject and boil it down for us into a consice and understandable essay must have taken a lot of work, but you pulled it off. I am beginning...(emphasis on beginning) to understand! I think I have to read it once or twice more, but at least I can make some sort of sense of it all, where there were once a bunch of unfamiliar terms hanging willy nilly in my head, now there is beginning to be order. I realize it took you a year of research to gain this understanding and it was so nice of you to take the time and give us this overview. (I feel like I'm cheating!)
I can't wait for the next installment, in which I know you'll be able to tie everything together. Like I said, it's still a pretty enourmous subject and I still don't understand the majority of it, but it is starting to become clear, which is an amazing feat that you were able to do that in your essay, you know... clarify. (You know how long I've struggled trying to even understand the slightest bit of this alchemy stuff.)
So, again, good job, thanks, and cheers!

[Arianhrod]

I swear, Part II is easier. Had to get the technical mumjo jumbo out of the way up front.

If needed, I could probably come up with a glossary--I had one in the very first draft and then scrapped it because the paper was long enough to begin with.

I know it's a complicated subject, and I thank everyone for sticking with it. Part II isn't so complicated, honest.

[MokeyMagoo]

I swear, Part II is easier. Had to get the technical mumjo jumbo out of the way up front.

If needed, I could probably come up with a glossary--I had one in the very first draft and then scrapped it because the paper was long enough to begin with.

I know it's a complicated subject, and I thank everyone for sticking with it. Part II isn't so complicated, honest.

IMO you couldn't have simplified it any more without "losing" something. Alchemy is a huge concept to wrap your head around. I mean taking a huge body of philosophy and knowlege that has been thousands of years in the making and condensing it into an essay is quite a feat. I don't think anyone could have done it better, and I'm so grateful that you have done it for us. It's just a complex subject, but you have managed to clarify it very well. I'd like to read it a few more times because it is such a huge subject. Am looking forward to part two to see how you tie it in with all of the books. (btw, I never picked up on Harry reading Quintessence: A Quest...what a huge clue to the fact that Alchemy is a driving force in the series.) I just want to thank you again for doing such a great job.

BTW, a suggesion: If you think a glossary is necessary and you still have one...then maybe you could add it as a post to this thread. I can't tell you how appreciative I am of your hard work.

[cloudpic]

When we first learned about Scribbulus, I hoped we would get an essay on Alchemy from Arianhrod!

Wish fullfilled!

Thank you! I agree, it is incredibly helpful and fascinating, as well as compelling.

Now, I've got some studying to do!

[marielle]

I swear, Part II is easier. Had to get the technical mumjo jumbo out of the way up front.

If needed, I could probably come up with a glossary--I had one in the very first draft and then scrapped it because the paper was long enough to begin with.

I know it's a complicated subject, and I thank everyone for sticking with it. Part II isn't so complicated, honest.

IMO you couldn't have simplified it any more without "losing" something. Alchemy is a huge concept to wrap your head around. I mean taking a huge body of philosophy and knowlege that has been thousands of years in the making and condensing it into an essay is quite a feat. I don't think anyone could have done it better, and I'm so grateful that you have done it for us. It's just a complex subject, but you have managed to clarify it very well. I'd like to read it a few more times because it is such a huge subject. Am looking forward to part two to see how you tie it in with all of the books. (btw, I never picked up on Harry reading Quintessence: A Quest...what a huge clue to the fact that Alchemy is a driving force in the series.) I just want to thank you again for doing such a great job.

BTW, a suggesion: If you think a glossary is necessary and you still have one...then maybe you could add it as a post to this thread. I can't tell you how appreciative I am of your hard work.

__I agree i don't think it could have simplier, if it was i am sure there would be a lot of important concept missing, so in the end, we would end up more lost. I think we just have to read it the number of required times to understand it all, in my case it will have to be more than twice and i have already read what was in the alchemy thread, at least now there is a things i understand better . Also second ~Mokey's motion, i think it is a great idea to put a glossary in the thread. Again great work Arianhrod.

This post has been edited by marielle: 07 March 2006 - 06:18 AM

[susurrous]

Cool essay, and I'm really looking forward to part two.

There's a sentence which mentions "The immorality of the soul and spirit" - which sounds kind of neat, but I'm almost positive it's a typo. Maybe one of the Eds could catch it.

*edited to add that I fixed that typo..thanks for the good eye! As someone who frequents the alchemy thread alot I should be ashamed of my self! It totally did not make sense the way it was..except for maybe in Lord Voldemort's version of Alchemy!

This post has been edited by memyslfnI: 09 March 2006 - 01:01 PM