#titan magic

[that-ari-blogger]

An Interesting Character

Usually, when character is brought up in discussion, it is in reference to the people. If you think of the characters of The Owl House for example, you probably think of Luz, Eda, Bellos, Hunter, and Principal Bump.

But, by pure mechanics, a character is just a force at work in a story. One with personality, and agency, sure, but it's just a force.

This means that, if you squint a little, the Boiling Isles itself is a character, and the Wild Magic is an extension of that. It certainly gets treated like a character by the story, especially in Adventures In Elements.

Let me explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Before I start, let me give one attempt to argue with the pedants. By definition, a character is a person. So, hear me out, the Boiling Isles is literally the body of a titan, who actively talks to Luz later on in the series. That is my justification.

So... why is wild magic a thing?

I'm not asking for an in-universe answer, because that is multifaceted and not really the point. I'm asking why the writers decided to include this idea, and what effect it has on the story?

The phrase "magic is..." is used four times in this episode. Once by Eda, and thrice in quick succession by Luz. And it is worth taking a look at these statements.

"I know my lessons seem weird, but this is what wild magic is all about! Making a connection with nature. The earliest witches understood that. Human witches need to understand it, too. You wanna learn a second spell? ... Then you have to learn from the island."

There is a lot going on with Eda's guidance. First up is the small detail about the tense. The earliest witches knew that magic is about nature, implying now it is different. But mainly, this is an explanation of the nitty gritty of The Owl House's magic system. It's about two things, nature and connection. And I want to delve into that a little bit.

There is something fascinating about Bellos and his roots in witch-hunting. Because that was specifically defined by an opposition to things, rather than any actual views of its own.

Malleus Maleficarum, the book that kicked off the witch-hunts is a fascinating read, as long as you understand what it is that you are reading and don't use it as a set of instructions. Internet Archive has a translated version by Prof. Christopher S. Mackay, complete with commentary from latter authors that I highly recommend.

This single book caused a ton of harm to people, and you can examine it from almost any angle you like. The original was written by a terrible person with terrible intentions, and I also recommend Overly Sarcastic Productions' video on Werewolves for more information on that section of history.

What I want to focus on is the vernacular. References "devils" about 400 times and namedrops "witches" with similar regularity. The word "demon" comes up over 1000 times, and the word "pagan" comes up about 40 times. Specifically in reference to "pagan nations" which is about as racist as it sounds, as well as a ton of using the word as a catch all insult ("x type of person is worse than a pagan", etc. etc.). I don't want to get into the theology and history of this word, because it's a complicated minefield. But in this context, specifically around Europe in this time period, it means just about all regional faiths and mythologies. Celtic, Norse, Germanic, and several others.

Fun fact about me, I am Welsh, which means is that I have a connection to Welsh mythology, and so my analysis of wild magic is through that lens. If you have an understanding of other similar cultures, let me know, I'm fascinated to learn how that affects the reading of the Owl House.

Now, Modern Druidism is a living religion that I am not well versed in and want to treat with the respect befitting any living faith. So, I am sticking to what I know about the history and mythology and trying to make the differentiation between those two and Modern Druidism clear.

So, Druids in Celtic mythology are religious leaders, and peacekeepers. But what is possibly the most famous thing about them is their connection to nature. And here is where the analysis of The Owl House comes into play. Because the Owl House takes great care to associate magic with the natural, and Bellos with the unnatural.

"It means magic is a gift from the island. It means magic is everywhere. Magic is everywhere!"

Bellos creates artificial magic through his artificial staff and the destruction of the Palismen to fuel his life. Hunter wields an artificial staff, and in Adventures In Elements, Amity trains with an artificial training wand, which is linked to Bellos through the coven system.

But you would think that Luz's runes would also count as artificial. So what gives?

This episode shows them as part of nature more than the more refined spell circles. Luz's magic is that connection to the island in its purest, rawest form, and as I have said before, Luz's greatest strength is her ability to connect.

The dynamic between Wild Magic and Coven Magic isn't a dynamic between the artificial and the natural, it's a dynamic between empathy and utilitarianism. Wild Magic borrows, or is gifted, Coven magic takes and uses for its own ends. They are similar concepts, but it's in the minutia that the meaning comes out.

Final Thoughts

There is one final thing that Wild Magic reminds me of, and its off on a limb a bit. I currently live in Australia, and while Aboriginal spirituality is varied and complex and not my story to tell, I have been gifted this piece of advice that I would like to share: Humans don't own the land, we are a part of it, just as the trees and the beasts and the storms and the fires. Humans are mere custodians, our duty is to watch over and protect, and to connect.

I thought that was relevant.

I am away next week, but I'll be back in the new year with some analysis of The First Day, so stick around if that interests you.

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[wheretwofacesmeet]

[hmvw2015]

Titan Luz is SO COOL!!!

I had a sketch of her from late April.

[ketchuplaser]

@null-entity is doing Stocktober 23 as an art challenge, so here’s the start of mine!

[extinctpussy]

YO we got to see more than one king glyph in watching and dreaming!!! yes we saw the light glyph in the epilogue

but earlier when king goes beast mode he makes a magic bubble of titan glyphs just like luz later does- only for a second but it has his new glyphs surrounding the bubble!! light to the right and maybe ice up front?

[clarissasbakery]

yuri time 🫶🫶🫶 happy pride

[thingsaday]

GIRLIE WENT GOD TIER ✨

(or as my roommate keeps screaming, “GIRLIE WENT DOG TIER”) 

[fakedoe]

i think im in love

[quehecke]

remembered i have the free will to draw anything so uhhh

crossover of 7 different animes 🙏😈

[morablackbird]

card 10 wheel of fortune, wittober prompt: round boy These two, prompt and card, too perfect.

sincerely

Dove

[magicdustsworld]

DONUTS

Levi Ackerman x gn!reader

NOTES: fluff; modern setting; 100 wc; dividers by @/saradika-graphics

Event: Submission for @thedrabblecollective under the prompt of day 4 - stack.

"Can you stack donuts on it?"

"On what?"

"You know..." You drawl on the sentence, a mischievous smirk quirking your lips as your gaze shifts down to his clothed crotch.

Realization dawns on Levi a second later, but before you can laugh, a pillow hits your face.

"Hey!" Protest slips off and you shoot him a glare. "What was that for?"

He scowls, "So that you can get your head out of the gutter."

"Come on," you chuckle, inching closer to him, "Its for research purposes."

To which, he doesn't even cast you a glance. Instead, "Stop mingling with Hanji."

[wheretwofacesmeet]

[ordinaryschmuck]

Now that the show that Velma is officially over, here’s a list of animated shows that are for younger audiences which are ten times more mature than Velma

...I’m not kidding about those last two.

And the crazy thing is, I KNOW I’m missing a bunch...Feel free to add more for those who could use a pallet cleanser as well.

(Edit: Changed the title because people kept asking about it)

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 332

So the team might’ve gotten hit by a magic-user before being able to contain the whole bullshit chaos going on. But nothing happened! So they’re fine. But then when they go to sleep they…. Wake up? They’re tiny, with snouts and wings and covered in goo. They’re dreaming, they’re all confident in that, but it feels so life-like all the same. Their surroundings are alien, skies fading between unfamiliar constellations and a poisonous green as a large form encircles them. 

Stars flicker between fur and scales as a form rumbles, that same poisonous green dripping from scars as the dragon, for what else could it be, stares down at them oh-so gently. A long sinewy body twists into the shadows, flames burning a soft pink and wings upon wings coiling across its form. 

And when they awaken they nearly forget about it at first, yet each time their head hits their pillow, exhaustion weighing down their limbs, they blink their eyes back again, in that place of floating isles, broken keeps, and forms flickering in the skies. 

It’s not until they start talking that they realize they’re all dreaming of the same things. 

[felassan]

Harding was a shepherd born to a seamstress and a trader. her mom named her "Lace" hoping that her daughter would be as pretty and delicate as lace. imagine being Harding now, going home to visit ur parents for the holidays or something and having to explain that like somehow despite being a dwarf you can do magic now all of a sudden 😭