(no subject)

[alt_gredforge]

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

Yes, it's time once again for our annual message concerning the Lord Protector.

Marvellous Marvolo the Nihilistic Nincompoop
Lord Bunion
King of the Vom
His Flatulance

His Excellency, the Lord Protector, is STILL a stupid PONCE!!!!

The Grim Truth

[alt_goyle]

Greetings, Muggleborn Wizards, Witches, and Sympathizers.

Those in pursuit of wizarding knowledge are experiencing, in this current age, a suppression of information vital to magical understanding. A scholar from a mere fifteen years ago would be astonished at the preponderence of misinformation pertaining specifically to magical proclivity, especially as the prior knowledge of the ages has been verified again and again, and the newest theory of 'magical theft' has little to support it other than the say-so of a single charismatic non compos mentis figurehead. Medwin Gaunet himself, grand-nephew of the vaunted Salazar Slytherin and an eminent researcher, observed: "Repeated examination revealls that magical abilitie is no respecter of pedigree in birth. The manifestation of the ars magus is present with equal force in the child of the lowliest serf and the most highborn of wizard familia and moste often without benefitte of wand nor spelle." {Magical Humours: A Physiological Study 1262}. To combat a dissolution of knowledge on par with the burning of the library at Alexandria, I begin this lecture series on both the origin of magical predilection and the methodology and practice of wandless magic.

On The Use of Wandless Magic: An Elementary Guide

Though widely known only as the first sign that one has magical properties - commonly expressed between ages two and nine with rarer cases manifesting as young as four months and as old as eleven years - wandless magic is an under-utilized application of magical proclivity. The ability to perform magic without a wand decreases with lack of use, but is nonetheless a potent method of casting basic spells {Hildebiddle, Lobelia: One of Us: A Cross-Cultural Study of Wizarding Children and Adolescents. 1961}. The function of a wand, with its magical core, is both to amplify and direct the power which lies within. That power can still be expressed without the aid of a wand.

To develop and direct these latent powers takes constant, disciplined practice and a thorough understanding of both its uses and its limitations. Wandless magic is short-ranged, and cannot be used to affect situations or persons outside one's visual radius. It is as imprecise as it is powerful, and it is exceptionally powerful. Those unused to the application of wandless magic will need to begin developing those skills necessary for its use as presently as possible to yield results. The three elementary steps for implementing wandless magic are VISUALISATION, INTENT, and FORCE.

VISUALISATION is a twofold process. The first step is the formation of the general desired outcome of the spell - examples: a disarmed opponent, a neutralised threat, or a rapid escape. The second step is to think of the specific spell that will result in the desired outcome. While this does not always require an incantation, it is desirable in aiding INTENT.

INTENT can best be described as belief that the spell can and should, in fact, be performed. Conviction based on need is particularly singular to children, who, entirely without coincidence, are the population most known for using wandless magic. With the passage of time, inherent connections to magic will atrophy, the basic impulses which drive the wandless magic used by children become lost, and the cleverness of maturity allows adults to fool themselves as to what they truly desire. Confidence and honesty are the ingredients without which wandless magic will always fail. True conviction is required. Doubts cannot be ignored; they must be utterly obliterated.

FORCE is the exertion of the spell upon another - the combination of the VISUALISED spell and confident INTENT leaving the wandless caster and affecting the intended target. Force is frequently aided with the use of hand gestures. This effect is largely psychological, as the hands are most commonly used to implement one's will. Its benefit, however, cannot be disputed. In the discussion of incantations below, note the accompanying hand gestures. For the best results, one ought to use one's dominant, or writing, hand.

Visualisation, as noted above, is aided by the knowledge of the pathways along which magic is known to travel most efficiently, otherwise known as INCANTATIONS. A basic incantation to begin the practice of wandless magic is the summoning spell. 'Accio' (AH-kee-oh) uttered in conjunction with eye contact with the desired object will cause said object to come to the caster via the most direct route. For instance, focusing on a small object such as a salt-shaker and reciting 'accio salt shaker' will, if properly done, send the salt-shaker into the caster's palm. The hand gesture for this spell consists of holding one's dominant hand out, palm-up, arm extended without locking the elbow. Be braced to catch what is being summoned, and in all cases, practice only when in absolute certainty of privacy.

THE FOLLOWING INCANTATIONS ARE ONLY TO BE USED IN ACUTE NEED. There is no need to emphasise the necessity of secrecy in the face of oppression. Judge the situations in which these spells are called for with great gravity.

'Protego' (proh-TAY-goh) is a shield charm that, when cast, temporarily protects the caster from a range of jinxes, hexes, and curses. PROTEGO CANNOT BE USED TO STOP THE KILLING CURSE. It is most effectual at repelling minor spells, and, at maximum effectiveness (achieved only after extensive practise in the use of wandless magic) can minimize the impact and effects of such spells as the Cructiatus curse. The hand gesture best used to amplify and direct the protego charm is illustrated below.



The incantation for one of the most basic of defensive spells is 'expelliarmus' (eks-PEL-ee-AR-mus), which will disarm those who have come to rely upon wands as the sole means of using their magic. The hand gesture found to be most effective in casting a wandless 'expelliarmus' is illustrated below.



One should never make the mistake of thinking that a wandless wizard is a helpless one. This spell is for use only in situations where it would immediately prevent an armed wizard from casting a deadly spell upon you or another unarmed individual. The expelliarmus spell sends a wand flying away from the hand of its wizard. An infrequent but probable result of the expelliarmus spell is being placed in range of - or sometimes catching - the armed wizard's wand. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THIS WAND. Improper or uninformed use of an unmatched wand, especially in situations with inherent stress or alarm, may have dire consequences for inexperienced users of wandless magic. In the situations where 'expelliarmus' is required and a wand falls within reach, the most advisable course of action for those unaccustomed to the use of a wand is to snap it in two before making good an escape. Only experienced wand users should attempt to make use of a captured wand.

A final cautionary note on 'expelliarmus' and 'protego' - once a spell has been issued by an armed wizard, disarming them or deflecting the spell will not result in the cessation of said spell. In precise instances of timing, a spell that is in motion but has not yet reached its target - this is a passage which occurs almost instantaneously - may be redirected from its intended destination at the instant that the caster is disarmed. The resultant trajectory of the spell is variable, and cannot be controlled. Thus, in crowded situations where deadly spells are being cast, time the casting of 'expelliarmus' in such a way that stands the least chance of coinciding with the incantations of the armed wizard.

The next time I write, I will discourse on resisting the Imperius curse, the elementary steps of producing a Patronus, and basic wandless potion-making. Use this information wisely.