What Magical Theoreticians Won't Tell You
Magical Theory is the study of the very nature of magic. It is a complex subject that is constantly changing and evolving as both our understanding of magic grows and magic itself changes. Magic ebbs and flows through generations, sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker, in relative proportion to our respect for Mother Magic. But it's ebb and flow also depends upon what Mother Magic chooses to bestow. Therefore what might be possible for one generation may not for the next or a future generation might supersede the one before.
Equally there are parts of the world where magic is stronger than others, where it is easier to sense it, use it and connect with it. There is evidence that suggests that countries where magic is not divided between dark and light have magically stronger wixen. While countries out of balance birth wix with a weaker connection to magic. There are several countries throughout the world where either Light or Dark magicals are persecuted against and based on wizarding schools' exam results alone it is clear to see that there is a reduction in magical proficiency.
There are of course, magical's who are more powerful than the average wix of their generation or those of their country of origin. But the question remains what makes them different from others. Are they gifted by Mother Magic herself, perhaps to fulfill a specific role or function - such as the Lords of Magic of old, who were ordained to return our world to balance.
For several generations Magical Theory has been a subject that has been under appreciated in academic circles in Wixen Britain. This is mostly seen in the reduction of the length of the course at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry but is also evidenced in the lowered number of Magical Theoreticians that have reached mastery level in the last several decades. In this regard, previous generations have and continue to fail the future generations of the wixen world of Great Britain. Because where an understanding of magic is lacking, one's ability in any number of crafts will equally be lacking, not to mention one's personal connection with magic will be stifled. The result if we do not act to fix this will be generations of magically weak wixen and potentially the loss of magic itself.
Magical Theory covers a range of topics that we will no doubt delve into deeper in future chapters. Such as knowing how individual spells work, the study of our magical cores, the categories or types of magic, how magic interacts with wix, the natural world and even muggles, and so much more.
Magical Theoreticians would have you believe - in their arrogance - that they are all knowing on the subject of magic. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. For Magical Theoreticians know more than anyone that our understanding of magic is hampered by our own humanity and our lack of understanding of the divine. After all, who are we to understand the very nature of magic, when it is a gift from Mother Magic herself. Even if we were to brave the use of white magic necessary to ask Mother Magic, this author is unconvinced that we'd ever truly understand the complexities of Magic.
Most Magical Theoreticians will agree that an understanding of magic must begin with an understanding of Mother Magic herself. However, incomplete that understanding might be. Wixen around the world believe in five deities; Mother Magic, the Lord of Life, the Lord of Death, Lady Fate (or Lady Luck), and Lord Time. These celestial beings, depending on who you speak to, are either kind and loving gods who deserve respect and worship or are beings of great power who like to play petty games with our lives who out of fear we would do well to honour.
Personally, this author, holds with those who believe them kind and loving gods and as such believes in the continuing of the Old Ways - the traditions that not only maintain our connection with these celestial beings but also prove our respect for them.
Magical Theory does not relate to the magics or gifts bestowed on wix by the other four deities with the possible exception of Divination (as this has led to much disagreement among Magical Theoreticians). For example, the study of Dendora (Time Magic), such as that used in the ancient artifact, the Time Turner, cannot be understood by the laws and rules we have established in Magical Theory. As Lord Time has rules of his own, that differ from those of Mother Magic. The same can be said for Necromancy as it is a gift from Lord Death and Amrita (The Gift of Life) as it is a gift from Lord Life. These magical gifts likewise do not follow the traditional rules of magic.
This leads Magical Theoreticians to hesitance. After all, it is dangerous to practice that which you do not understand. One would not attempt the Animagus ritual without thorough research. This knowledge has been lost for thousands of years in regards to Dendora, Necromancy and Amrita, and therefore it is advised to practice these magics with great caution, if at all.
Divination, which many Magical Theoreticians believe to be a gift of Lady Fate is perhaps the only exception to this rule. As we have some - though limited - understanding of the Art of Divination, it has therefore for generations been classed as Grey or Neutral Magic. There are many Theoreticians who would argue that this is a mistake and that it should not be cataloged amongst Mother Magic's gifts. And should therefore, also be practiced with the same caution as gifts from the other deities. This caution is perhaps negated by the fact that the Gift of Sight seems to be restricted heavily to those who appear to be gifted directly by Lady Fate herself. Those without said gift have very little success - if any - when attempting to practice divination. And therefore, perhaps no harm is done by this mistake in categorisation. Although, this author would suggest that just because no harm is done by being wrong, one should still attempt to remedy one's shortcomings and therefore, he would have to agree with those who would prefer to remove Divination from the Neutral classification.
As for Mother Magic, like her fellow deities, our understanding is limited. But because generations of wix have witnessed how magic interacts with our world, we are able to extrapolate more information about the source of our magic than the other deities. There are countless Theoreticians who have dedicated their lives to studying the ancient texts of previous Theoreticians so they too can have a greater understanding without once feeling the need to share their new found knowledge with the greater wixen world. But one thing they will all agree on, though perhaps never admit outside of Theoretician circles, is that they understand next to nothing of what magic is capable of. Magic is always changing and as such our knowledge of it is constantly evolving. Even if one were to spend one's entire lifetime studying Magic, one would never find even a quarter of the answers one seeks.