Magic's Child Wixen Compendium

Over the centuries, wixan governments have tried to classify magic. This has mostly been in an attempt to have some way to determine what should and shouldn't be legal. At times, they have seemed to succeed, but more often than not it has resulted in arbitrary rules that do not allow for the nuances of magic.

The simple fact that we have different magical cores is proof that some - if not all - magic can be defined. Although, our understanding of magic is ever growing, just as magic itself is ever changing. Most governments mis-define magic simply to make their legislation easier to follow. This is predominantly seen in the argument over whether dark magic is evil - the average wix believing that dark magic is basically the equivalent of "illegal magic." When in actual fact not all illegal magic is dark. Neither is all dark magic illegal. Nor should it be.

Magical Theoreticians have likewise tried and often failed to classify magic - in some instances disagreeing completely. This is in part because no two wixens have the exact same experience of magic, so our perspectives vary greatly. Even among those that spend their lifetimes researching and studying magical theory.

Although its not as simple as just mis-defining dark magic, but rather entire categories are completely ignored by most magical governments. We put magic into two camps: dark and light. When in reality, there are five defined categories - at least to the best of this author's knowledge. These categories have been agreed upon by the majority of theoreticians, although they sometimes disagree as to which magics fall into which category.

Characteristic One: Fuel Source or Magical Affinity:

There are multiple ways to categorise magic. First, we categorise by the fuel used to perform the magic. Light magic requires concentration and focus, neutral magic fuels itself, while dark magic is fueled by your emotions. It is what fuels our magic that determines it's category. Not whether it is innately good or evil. And it is this misunderstanding that is often the first stumbling block for new students of Magical Theory.

The majority of magic is either neutral or falls in the spectrum of light through dark, often times fitting into more than one category. This surprises most people when they first learn Magical Theory. It is hard to imagine that magic can be both dark and light at the same time, especially when you - like most wixen - believe light to be good and dark to be bad. But when you re-evaluate the meanings of light and dark, it becomes easier to comprehend. If magic that requires emotion are dark, while magic that requires focus and precision is light, it makes much more sense that some magic might require both concentration and emotion as fuel.

Depending upon a Wix's core type they are likely to have a greater affinity for one area of the spectrum over another. Those with a dark core will naturally favour dark magic while those with a light core will favour light magic. And those with a neutral core may lean slightly one way or the other but will have a greater ability when practicing neutral magic.

Many theoreticians believe it is best to see it more as a spectrum with Focus driven magic on one side and emotion driven magic on the other.

While still more theoreticians choose to see magical fuels slightly less linearly. Especially as many magics fall into multiple areas within the spectrum.

Characteristic Two: The Risk Involved

The second way we categorise magic is directly related to how the magic interacts with the Fundamental Laws of Magic. It is important to ask oneself if the magic being used is at risk of breaking the Fundamental Laws of Magic or if it is outside of these laws entirely when considering this characteristic.

The majority of magic will fall comfortably into the main category of magic that does not break / is not at risk of breaking the Fundamental Laws.

These first two characteristics leads theoreticians to believe that there are five key categories of magic: white magic, light magic, neutral magic, dark magic and black magic. White and Black magic while not inherently evil are at risk of breaking the fundamental laws of magic and as such should be treated with great caution. These magics are often not necessary for the average wix to know, with some notable exceptions - such as the magic used on sacred days.

Magic that does not fit into this spectrum is considered sacred and should be considered sacred as they are believed to come directly from the celestial beings. This is something of a misnomer however as surely all magic should be deemed sacred by this descriptor. As all magic studied in Magical Theory - i.e. that which fits into the Fundamental Laws of Magic - is believed to come from Mother Magic, another celestial being.

Characteristic Three: Magical Practice

All magic is practiced in one (or more) of three ways. The three types of magical practice are spellcraft, ritualistic magic and runecraft:

• Spellcraft - referring to the act of using an incantation and some sort of focus - be it a wand, staff or other foci or your hand if you were to cast wandlessly.
• Ritualistic magic - referring to any magic that involves some sort of ritual.
• Runecraft - referring to the act of using runes as a focus.

There are examples of these three magical practices across the spectrum of categories.

Adding this characteristic allows us to separate magic down into eleven categories: white magic, light spellcraft, light runecraft, light ritual magic, neutral spellcraft, neutral runecraft, neutral ritual, dark spellcraft, dark runecraft, dark ritual magic, and black magic. Black and White magic are both ritual based.

Once you are aware of the three characteristics you are able to categorise magic much more effectively. Although even the most accomplished theoreticians still miscategorise or disagree about how to categorise certain branches of magic. The study of magic, like magic itself, is ever evolving and so what we believe to be fundamentally true at the time of publishing this book, may no longer be accurate at the time of reading. This is due to the very nature of magic.

Categorising Magic by Fuel Source:

As already explained, our first determining characteristic is the fuel source used. Multiple fuel sources are often required. For example, almost all magic uses the magical reserves within your core as fuel, not just neutral or grey magic. This can and often does complicate categorisation by the first characteristic.

Magics that are Both Light and Dark:

There are some areas of magic that are both light and dark in that they require either both focus and emotion or can be fueled by either focus or emotion.

An example of this would be charms or the art of bewitchment. Most people believe that the charms we learn at Hogwarts are all light magic. While curses, hexes and jinxes are dark. This is inaccurate. The charms that have been miscategorised as light are numerous, including the patronus charm. As for curses - or dark charms as the ministry would define them - in our world today are defined as anything that has a negative effect upon an object or person. Once again though, not all curses as defined by the ministry are in fact dark.

Charms that are Both Light and Dark:

Three examples of charms that are both light and dark are the Summoning charm, the Blasting curse and the Reductor curse.

• The Summoning Charm - requires focus but it also requires a desire to have that which you are summoning.
• The Blasting Curse - can be performed either using light or dark magic - using light magic you would focus on your intention to cause an explosion. However, using dark magic to perform the blasting curse will likely have greater impact as it focuses your anger into the curse, increasing its strength if your emotions are strong enough.
• Reductor Curse - requires deliberation and anger.

 

Blood Magic:

Blood magic is considered dark by the wixen world but actually once again falls into both the light and dark categories. The Inheritance Test performed by the goblins for example is light magic as it does not require emotion. While blood adoption requires the desire to become family and some degree of love and is therefore dark magic. Blood protections are dark magic as they require the intention to protect, an intention that must be very strong to ensure the protections. In fact, all protective magic, where it protects someone beyond yourself is dark magic.

 

Potions:

Potions is yet another discipline that falls into both categories. Each potion is different and requires different things from the brewer. A single potion could potentially fall into all five of the main categories of magic. They are rarely neutral - which allows even Squibs, who have a very limited ability to access their magical core, the ability to brew. Where a potion is neutral or grey in affinity, a squib would not have the power necessary available to them.

 

Herbology:

Herbology also uses both light and dark magic. This is especially important as when working with nature one must always strive for balance.

 

Healing:

Healing combines both light and dark magic, using them often in tandem, to create the desired result.

Light Magic or 'Focus Fueled' Magic:

Light magic is deemed that which requires above all else precision and focus. To a certain degree, an absence of emotions is also necessary, or at least greater control over one's emotions rather than allowing emotion to build and empower the magic. Not all magic categorised as light by magical governments is actually light. The average wix believes that charms are light while curses, hexes and jinxes are dark. This is fundamentally untrue. As some charms are dark, and some curses are actually light. In this chapter charms, curses, jinxes and hexes will all be classified as charms.

Light Magic Charms:

Some notable light charms include:

• The Slowing Charm
• The Mending Charm
• The Unlocking Charm
• The Memory Charm
• The Gemino Curse
• The Leg Locker Curse
• The Slug Vomiting Charm
• The Tongue-Tying Curse

Not all light magic is used for good either. The Slowing Charm can - by a particularly powerful light wix - be used to slow another person's heart and the Memory Charm can be used quite sinisterly.

 

Light Blood Magic:

Blood magic is seen by most of the wixen world as dark magic. However, approximately half of the known Blood Magics are actually light in nature. As blood magic has fallen out of favour with Wix and has been made illegal by various ministries around the world, we tend to rely on the Goblins when we require the use of Blood Magic. An example of light blood magic would be the Inheritance test and magical core test performed by the goblins.

 

Elemental Magic:

Elemental magic is light in nature and is one of the most commonly used forms of light magic in warding. Elemental Magic is used to control, exploit or create the forces of nature. It directly works on the natural elements of fire, earth, air, and water. It can be used to create specific weather conditions or can be used in offensive magic, as well as in warding, to name but a few of the most common uses.

Neutral Magic or 'Core Fueled' Magic:

The vast majority of magic is technically neutral and will therefore be easiest for those with a more neutrally aligned. This magic is fueled purely from your magical core and will be more challenging for those with cores that have a lower capacity. Examples of neutral magic are: Transfiguration, arithmancy and the mind arts. The mind arts have long been deemed dark magic simply because they allow an individual to invade the minds of others and potentially protect yourself from outside influence. Rather than acknowledge that all types of magic can be dangerous, it was easier for the ministry to mis-define magical arts.

Divination is also seen as purely neutral, although many theoreticians disagree that it is a gift from Mother Magic at all. Rather, believing it to be a gift from Lady Fate, and therefore should not be categorised with Mother Magic's gifts.

Dark Magic or 'Emotion Fueled' Magic:

Dark magic is deemed that which requires emotion. An example of such a charm would be The patronus charm as it requires powerful positive emotion. It is an advanced dark charm, although it is often miscategorised as a light charm.

Dark Magic Charms:

Some dark charms include:

• The Patronus Charm - requires powerful positive emotion.
• The cruciatus curse - requires more sadistic emotions. A desire to inflict pain and some level of hatred.
• The Riddikulus charm - requires joy.
• The killing curse - requires that the caster wishes their victim dead.
• The Entrail Exploding Curse - requires some degree of anger or desire to cause physical injury.
• Fiendfyre - requires a desire for destruction.

 

Dark Blood Magic:

• Blood Adoption requires the desire to become family and some degree of love and is therefore dark magic.
• Blood protections are dark magic as they require the intention to protect, an intention that must be very strong to ensure the protections.
• Healing Blood Magic is dark in nature as it requires the desire to heal that which afflicts the sufferer.

 

Illusionary Magic:

Illusionary Magic is a form of magic frequently used offensively or in warding. It is dark in nature and should be used with great caution as what you see, feel or hear, may not in fact, be real.

 

Abjuration:

Abjuration focuses on protection and shielding. Like the vast majority of protective magic, it is dark magic.

Categorising Magic by the Risk Involved:

When considering the second characteristic it is worth stating that the majority of magic, be it light, neutral or dark, falls into the 'No Risk' category. That which falls into the 'At Risk' category is first separated by fuel source, creating two categories: White and Black Magic. White and Black magic refer to magics that are either close to or do in fact break the fundamental laws of magic.

White Magic or Focus Fueled 'At Risk' Magic:

The Ancient Art of Alchemy is an example of White Magic as it requires focus while also being at risk of breaking the fundamental laws of magic. Alchemy is able to create gold. This is in direct conflict with Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. And has the potential to unnaturally extend life, which could break more than one of the fundamental laws of magic. Alchemy is white magic and highly dangerous.

Another form of white magic, Conjuration invokes the deities. It is most commonly used when celebrating the sacred holidays and performing acts of worship to Mother Magic and the other deities. This is perhaps the most commonly used White Magic but has fallen out of favour in recent years. Which is unfortunate, as it is Conjuration that increases our connection to Mother Magic and therefore strengthens our magical proficiency.

Wild magic is another form of white magic that is said to come directly from Mother Magic.

Black Magic or Emotion Fueled 'At Risk' Magic:

Black Magic like White Magic is magic more likely to break the Fundamental Laws of Magic. They are more likely to disturb the balance, break the law of limitations or exceptions.

Soul Magic is a form of black magic which should be avoided at all costs. The soul is seen as being under the purview of the Lords of Life and Death and as such should not be touched by Wixen Magic. Shadow Magic is another form of black magic which uses shadows to enforce your own will upon the world around you. It can be very destructive. And evocation which is similar to wild magic except the raw power comes from the world around you and it is often used for destructive purposes.

Magics that do not fall under the purview of Magical Theory:

Necromancy:

Necromancy is complicated. Those studying death magic in the department of mysteries spend their whole lives studying it and barely brush the surface but one thing agreed upon by the majority of theoreticians is that Necromancy is not dark magic. Nor is it light. It's not black magic or white magic. Nor is it neutral. It is something else entirely. It is a gift from Lord Death and as such abides by its own set of rules, rules that for the most part are lost to us in the present day.

Dendora:

Time Magic is likewise believed to be a gift from Lord Time. Although, we have created our own rules for dealing with time magic, based on experience and study, it should still be treated with extreme caution. There is very precise legal framework for dealing with time magic. And the average wix should never need to use this magic.

Amrita:

The Gift of Life, Amrita, is a form of magic that wixen do not understand in its basis, let alone its complexity. It includes all forms of Love Magic.

Our understanding of these gifts is greatly limited and so we must treat them with great caution. Artifacts imbued with them should be considered sacred. They should not be tampered or meddled with.

Categorising Magic by Magical Practice:

When categorising by the final characteristic, it is easy to see that magic regardless of its fuel source is not essentially different in nature. We do not practice dark magic any differently to light magic.

Spellcraft:

• Charms - All known charms regardless of fuel source are examples of spellcraft.
• Elemental Magic - The majority of elemental magic is deemed spellcraft, although there have been some examples of both elemental runecraft and ritualistic magic in ancient transcripts. These are mostly lost to us however.
• Transfiguration - There is only one known example of Transfiguration that is not spellcraft; the Animagus ritual.
• Mind Magic - The Mind Arts are a combination of spell craft and ritualistic magic. Legilimency is spell craft based.
• Healing Arts - Some of the more basic healing arts are spellcraft.

Runecraft:

• Arithmancy - The art of Arithmancy uses both Runecraft and Ritualistic magic.
• Elemental Magic - There are some examples of elemental runecraft found in ancient transcripts but none is known to be practiced in the current day.
• Blood Magic - This magic combines runecraft and ritualistic magic. Blood protections are known to combine runecraft and ritualistic magic. The same can be said for Healing Blood Magic.
• Illusionary Magic - Frequently used in warding, Illusionary Magic is an example of dark runecraft.
• Healing Arts - There are countless examples of runecraft healing. They are slower in acting but they tend to be more exact.

Ritualistic Magic:

• Arthimancy - This art uses both Ritualistic magic and Runecraft.
• Potions - Potion brewing is an example of ritualistic magic as you follow a process of steps to create the desired potion.
• Herbology - This magic is ritualistic in nature although the ritual acts themselves are basic and often overlooked. Most wix do not consider the act of watering a plant to be an act of magic. However, you are in essence providing nourishment and magical power even if only a small amount of magical power is required.
• Blood Magic - The Inheritance test performed by the Goblins is an example of light based ritualistic magic. While blood adoption is dark ritualistic magic. Other types of Blood Magic often combine both ritualistic magic and runecraft as already stated. Such as Blood Protections and Blood Healing.
• Mind Magic - As already explained above, mind magic combines spell craft and ritualistic magic. Occlumency is ritualistic magic and requires the ritual of meditation.
• Healing Arts - Ritualistic healing arts are some of the strongest healing arts known to Wixen kind. The Goblins are known to have some of the best ritualistic healers.
• Alchemy - The White Magic art of Alchemy is an example of ritualistic magic but should be treated with great caution.
• Conjuration - This ritualistic magic invokes the deities.
• Wild Magic - This is a strange sort of ritualistic magic that mostly involves chanting.
• Soul Magic - This black magic ritualistic magic should be avoided at all costs. Perhaps the only exception to this rule would be a ritual to create a soul bond, where both parties in the bond are equal, such as in marriage ceremonies. But caution should still be advised as these magics cannot be undone.
• Evocation - This ritualistic magic requires utter silence and for the wix to be completely lost in their own emotions.
• Divination is also seen as an example of ritualistic magic although many theoreticians disagree that it is a gift from Mother Magic at all. Rather, believing it to be a gift from Lady Fate, and therefore should not be categorised with Mother Magic's gifts.

Categorising magic is complicated and the categorises are always in a state of flux. Just because we know not of any examples of ritual based charms, it does not mean that will always be the case. Equally, there is nothing to say that a herbologist may not discover a use for runes in their own field. Likewise, we cannot expect Mother Magic's gifts to remain ever unchanged. Magic has evolved since the days of the first wix and it will continue to do so. With this in mind, our categorisation of magic must always be flexible and open to re-evaluation.