Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today, we’re going to be discussing ANCIENT MAGIC- a phenomenon that has recently become
popularized through the best-selling Harry Potter game: Hogwarts Legacy.
"A magic this powerful can do great harm in the wrong hands.
It must be wielded by a select few."
But, what exactly IS ancient magic?
How does it differ from REGULAR magic, WHERE does it pop up in the Harry Potter story,
and what do we know of its history?
All of these questions, and more, will be answered in today’s video, so sit back,
relax, and enjoy as we peel back the layers of the enigmatic phenomenon known as ANCIENT
magic.
What is it?
In the world of Harry Potter, ancient magic refers to powerful, complex spells and rituals
that have been passed down through wizarding history for thousands of years.
These magical practices are often shrouded in mystery and legend, and many of them are
considered dangerous or forbidden.
Perhaps the most enigmatic component of ancient magic, however, is that its prevalence has
seemingly diminished over time, with very little ancient magic still existing in the
current era.
By the 19th century, ancient magic had become an obscure and powerful form of magic that
was steeped in mystery- a rarity that had seemingly all but vanished from the wizarding
world.
Those who had the capability to perceive and manipulate it were considered to have a unique
and exceptional ability, and even Hogwarts professors had a limited understanding of
it.
The Harry Potter lexicon described it as follows:
"Ancient Magic is magic which happens independently of efforts by wizards, an effect which is
triggered by events and powers endemic to the nature of reality.
It is extremely old and mysterious, and a wand is not necessary for it to work.
It is part of the “magical-ness” of the universe.”
On the whole, ancient magic in Harry Potter represents the rich history and complexity
of the wizarding world, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to an already enigmatic
universe.
How is it different from REGULAR Magic?
Who can use it?
Ancient magic is different from modern magic in several ways.
First, it requires a deeper understanding of the nature of magic itself, and often involves
more complex incantations, wand movements, and other magical gestures.
Second, ancient magic is often tied to ancient artifacts or locations, and requires a certain
level of knowledge or expertise to access.
It’s also worth noting that ancient magic appeared in traces or whispers to those with
the ability to harness it.
Over the course of history few individuals have truly possessed the ability to wield
ancient magic, and it’s mastery is widely appreciated as a sign of a particularly powerful
witch or wizard.
What’s even more interesting about Ancient Magic is that all known practitioners of Ancient
Magic discovered that they were capable of wielding it upon starting their education
at Hogwarts in their FIFTH year.
This suggests that there may be a link between using ancient magic and being a late-bloomer.
The Hogwarts Castle itself is also said to have been built by ancient magic, which makes
it a stronghold of sorts.
This could be part of the link between ancient magic and Hogwarts STUDENTS being able to
take advantage of it.
History
Though the true origins of ancient magic are still unclear, I do have a plethora of theories
that touch on where it may have originated.
Hopefully one of them hits the nail on the head, but you guys will be the judge of that:
My first theory is that ancient magic has ALWAYS existed, and is linked to the natural
world and the forces of the universe.
In this way, the power of ancient magic is rooted in the same fundamental forces that
govern the physical world, such as gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force and the
weak force.
This theory suggests that ancient magic is a kind of cosmic energy and/or universal language
that can be harnessed and directed by a select group of witches and wizards.
My second theory is that ancient magic is tied to the spirits and creatures of the wizarding
world.
In this instance, ancient magical practices would have been developed in close collaboration
with the magical creatures and beings that populate the wizarding world, such as dragons,
unicorns, and centaurs.
This theory takes on a much narrower scope than the last, and instead suggests that ‘ancient
magic’ originates from a microcosm of the wizarding world.
My third theory is that ancient magic is somehow tied to the spirits of the dead.
The afterlife is a common theme in Harry Potter, and we know that the border between life and
death is a lot more complex in the wizarding world- with various stages of being existing
in between.
This theory suggests that skilled practitioners of ancient magic are able to (unknowingly)
communicate with and even command the spirits of deceased witches and wizards, drawing on
their knowledge and power.
My fourth theory is that ancient magic is tied to the earliest days of the wizarding
world, when magic was still new and untamed.
According to this theory, the first wizards and witches may have discovered powerful magical
practices through trial and error, and these practices were then passed down through the
generations as ancient magic.
This theory suggests that perhaps ancient magic stems from some form of cultural inheritance,
passed down through the generations as a way of preserving the history and traditions of
the wizarding world.
At the end of the day these are just THEORIES, and the origins of ancient magic remain unclear,
BUT at least I’m living up to my channel name.
Examples of Ancient Magic in Harry Potter
To some, the concept of ‘ancient magic’ may have appeared to have originated entirely
from Hogwarts Legacy.
However, the ultra-perceptive will know that Ancient Magic has already been discussed in
the Harry Potter story- many many years before the release of Hogwarts Legacy.
It’s also put on our radar right near the beginning of the very first book, when Voldemort
attempts to kill baby Harry.
To quote Dumbledore:
"You would be protected by an ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, and
which he has always, therefore, underestimated - to his cost.
I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you.
She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your
veins to this day.”
In this passage, Dumbledore is referring to ‘Sacrificial Protection’, the loving enchantment
that Lily Potter placed on Harry in order to save him from Voldemort’s killing curse.
She sacrificed herself to protect her son, and this act of selflessness created a powerful
magical shield that protected Harry from harm.
This shield continued to protect Harry throughout his life, and was a major factor in his eventual
victory over Voldemort.
In Harry Potter, the power of love is often portrayed as a powerful and mysterious force,
but what you may have never realized is that it’s actually a form of ancient magic.
This is reinforced by the fact that, in many ways, the power of love operates on a level
that is beyond the purely physical or material.
It taps into something deeper and more fundamental than simple spells or potions.
The same ancient magic, LOVE, awakened Isolt Sayre and her husband during Gormlaith Gaunt’s
attack on Ilvermorny School.
Ancient Magic is also responsible for the inherent magic resistance in the skin of dragons
and giants.
But these are just a few tangible examples of Ancient Magic.
In reality, it’s likely that Ancient Magic is at least somewhat woven in to the very
structure of the wizarding world.
As for the fate of Ancient magic?
Well, it’s somewhat touched on in Hogwarts Legacy, and I don’t want to spoil anything.
Perhaps I’ll make a revised video with a more complete answer once everyone’s had
a chance to play / beat the game.
And that’s it for this video!
I hope you learned something about the origins of ancient magic.
If you have any more questions related to this topic or others, then please leave a
comment down below.
Until next time
Remember
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.