CHARMS | LESSON 01
MAGIC LESSON: WANDLORE
In ancient times, people played with magic on their own. As you might imagine, this can be quite dangerous. When they would get angry about something, they might accidentally burn up a tree or turn a person into a worm. When they were in love, they might accidentally blast a person with a hypnotic love charm. Or when they were jealous, a dog poo might appear from nowhere on their victim’s head. Things were wild and out of control.
About 3,000 years ago, a magician named Wanda Willow discovered wands and all that accidental magic mess soon became more controlled. Wanda Willow was frightened by a mountain lion that was perched on a branch ready to pounce on her. She picked up a stick from a nearby willow tree with which to defend herself from the lion. She pointed it at him in hopes it would make him pause. Instead, to Wanda’s shock, it made the lion vanish.
As word reached other magicians, wizards, and witches, they all began experimenting with the special powers of different sticks from trees and bushes. They found ways to amplify their power by adding jewels, crystals, stones, feathers, beads, and other materials.
Thanks to Wanda’s discovery, practitioners had much more control over their magic. Now, accidental magic is only seen with students or cursed wands.
As you may have guessed, wands are named after Wanda. Although she is thousands of years old, she still manages a sister school of magic in the Caymen Islands called Coral Bells. Professor Willow sells her vintage wands made from willow branches. They are available in magic shops throughout the world, and are very popular graduation presents.
There is another interesting thing about wands that few people know. The famous Harry Potter took up wand-making as a hobby when he grew-up. Wands that contain some artifact from a powerful magical creature are the most powerful wands of all. They are Master Potter’s specialty and are priceless. Here is a sample of some of his finest wand creations.
SOME OF THE WANDS CREATED BY HARRY POTTER
2. SPELL: LUMOS & NOX
The first spell taught to new students is most often Lumos, the wand-Lighting charm because it is the easiest. In addition to lighting the tip of your wand, there is also a color changing feature.
The Incantation: Say Lumos (pronounced ‘LOO-mos’).
Wand Movement: Single counter-clockwise loop.
Willpower: Makes your wand’s light change color. Very little willpower makes a milky white color. High effort makes a purple light. When you practice aim for medium effort as this will make a light the yellowish color of a candle flame.
Concentration: Lights the tip of your wand and requires low effort.
The opposite of the Lumos charm is the Nox charm to extinguish the wand’s light. It is the second spell taught to new students at most schools.
The Incantation: Nox (pronounced ‘NOCK-ss’)
Wand Movement: Flick of the wand
Determination: None
Concentration: None
3. LAB WORK
In order to practice your incantation and wand movements, you will need a practice wand. There are two ways to obtain such a wand. First, you could go to the Ollivander Wand Farm and they will help you pick out a suitable stick to use as a practice wand. They charge $100 for the wand and $10 for trimming it to size.
THE OLLIVANDER WAND FARM
If you can’t travel to England to visit the wand farm, just follow these steps:
Stand outside near trees and bushes. Look for branches on the ground. Walk toward a branch that is attracting you. It is always better if the branch is already on the ground. This means it separated and is already making its way toward you.
Hold the branch in your hand. If the branch feels powerful in your hand, move it around a little as if you are casting spells. If it still feels right, take it with you. Remember, the wands are picking you. They will not feel powerful in your hand if they want to be someone else’s wand.
Continue this process until you have gathered the most powerful feeling sticks you can find. You should have at least two or three and break them to the size you want. Our statistics show that most students will break or lose 3-10 wands in their first year. If you run out of practice wands, you should repeat this process.
Now select one of your wands and practice the movements and incantations for Lumos and Nox with your practice wand until you know them by heart.
4. Leadership development
Good magic comes from good people. There are four cardinal virtues every good witch or wizard practices. In this lesson, your leadership development focuses on the first one: COURAGE. This means to be brave and stand up for fairness. To do the right thing, even if you are afraid or embarrassed. In addition to improving your own character by practicing courage, you are also a role model for other people and can help them to live a better life.
“INHALE COURAGE. EXHALE FEAR.”
5. EXTRA CREDIT
There are three assignment options for which you will be rewarded Extra Credit Points. You can do one assignment, two assignments, all three assignments, or you can skip extra credit and do none. Sometimes you won’t like the assignment. Sometimes it will seem too hard or too boring. Most students find if they do them anyway, it is always a lot more interesting and fun than they thought - and they learn a lot. But extra credit is always optional and your decision. There is no penalty for skipping it. On the school’s home page, there is an Extra Credit section where you can read about the assignments.
LESSON ONE WRAP-UP
We will be giving your Muggle Helper a checklist and some questions to ask you at the end of the week to prepare the report on your progress. When the report is completed, she will send it to Professor Anne Argon and you will message her using The Virtual Owl portal. Type DONE, and tell her about how you liked the lesson.
In addition, we ask that you have someone take a photo of you doing your wand practice and also photos of you and your extra credit assignments, if you do some. We are all so happy to have you in our school.