Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Mythical creatures....aren't so mythical?

Don't forget to visit Jen, Colene, LaurelLisa and Renae for more Harry Potter themed magic! (Seriously, I'd like you to open their blogs in a separate window so you don't forget.)

If you are anything close to an avid fan like me, you've probably thought to yourself on more than one occassion, "I wish the Wizarding World was real." I have news for you guys, it is! (And no, I'm not talking about the theme park.) The mythical creatures that JK Rowling uses are around us everyday.

They are disguised as people in our everyday lives:

Dementors: The people who drain you until you're left with nothing. Sometimes, it can be so subtle and gradual you don't notice until after it's over. They leave you feeling cold and empty.

Thestrals: The people we don't see or acknowledge but they are their supporting life, helping us continue our way of existence. They generally provide valuable service that we take for granted. It usually takes a cataclysmic event in one's life for them to acknowledge these types of people.

Hippogriff: Seems reluctant to embark on new friendships, so much so that they may come off as arrogant. You wouldn't think of turning to them in a time of need yet surprisingly they are their to back you up, loyal and true until the end. 

Basilisk (snakes in general): Will blindly follow the only person who seems to understand them. Wherever that may take them.

Centaurs: The wise and knowledgeable people who are, unfortunately, rather unhelpful because they believe that we all must come to our own answers in our own time. 

Acromantula: Only focused on their own needs, selfish and uncaring until the end.

House elves: So ingrained in their ways and wanting to keep with the status quo that even when freedom is presented to them, they won't take it. They don't like change. At all. 

Unicorns: Are the innocents, they are pure and full of light. It takes a truly awful person to try and steal any of that away.

Werewolves: The people who are truly, unfortunately, and sadly misunderstood.  

Phoenix: It doesn't matter how horribly life affects them, their entire world could erupt in a flash of fire and they'd still get up. They gather the wreckage about them, acknowledge it and stand - stronger and wiser than ever before. (We should all strive to be like this.)

What sort of mythical creatures do you see around you? Anything else to add to my list? How do you see yourself?

41 comments:

  1. This was amazing Melissa! Brilliant comparisons! I think I deal with dementors on a daily basis because when I get home from work I feel drained!

    Loved this!

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  2. Melissa--this was made of all kinds of awesome!!! <<<333 ya girl!

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  3. Oh, those crazy Dementors. They do seem to be real, don't they?

    Loved this, Melissa!

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  4. jiminey christmas! this was positively brilliant!!! must save link! :) very cool! :)

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  5. What a great post! I WISH I were the Pheonix, but still working on it. :)

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  6. HI Melissa,

    Fantastic post! I really enjoyed you comparisons. I have one....

    Cornish Pixies. They are the mischief makers in our lives. Causing havoc and obstacles we must all overcome.

    Melissa, when you get the chance I still need your address. You won the trivia challenge on Sunday.

    Michael

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  7. This was a great list! I very much enjoyed it, Thanks for posting. I'd wish to be the phoenix. or at least strive to be. :)

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  8. Cool post... sadly, I've come across quite a few dementors in my day. It's best to just run the other way (or, like Harry, think happy thoughts) :)

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  9. What an awesome post! Love, love, LOVE Harry Potter. I see myself as a unicorn and a werewolf. I guess it depends on how i'm feeling that day.

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  10. This is so brilliant! I wish I'd thought of this post, but I could never have done it justice like you have.
    :)

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  11. omg--supercool, Mel. As I was reading this, there were actual people I know springing to mind... yikes and yay! :D <3

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  12. Yay how cool was this post?! I'll tell you - it was like SUPER cool! You're so badazz, I can't even stand it!

    Awesome (PS love the photo!)

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  13. WOW I totally love this! Yes, yes, yes, I think you're on the money that Rowling is commenting on types of people through these mythical creatures. And your reads are so insighful.

    I think what you said about Thestrals really stuck me. I remember how I was suddenly so aware of every teeny, tiny kindness when my father was dying. The fact a janitor held an elevator for me practically made me break down with gratitude.

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  14. Haha, this is so true! And we should all strive to be phoenixes. Plus, they're pretty :)

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  15. Melissa, I LOVE this post! And you could so take this further, examining each creature.

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  16. Um. WOW! Way to pull amazing connections to real life from Harry Potter! So wise. Love it!

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  17. I asked for there to be a mention of the pegasus- even in postscript. They are so beautiful and just that much better then a regular horse, powerful animals yet happy to be of service. Representative of those people in your life that are the wings beneath you and help in lifting you up. Now they are on your blog. :)

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  18. I love the way you compared the creatures to actual experiences!

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  19. YOU ARE MY DEMENTOR!!:)

    Im only kidding! I think you have got some pheonix in you, friend.

    I remember Hargrids hut! Thats where we saw our first salimandar and thought it was pretty amazing. However, then we realized they were everywhere.

    I enjoy this Harry Potter thing you guys are doing. It brings a smile to my face.

    Also I cannot wait till friday!

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  20. Melissa, this was a GREAT idea!! I heart it. I wish I had thought of it! I am a Phoenix - I've been through the fire and rebirth several times. I always get up and keep going. Luckily, as I got older, less fire. My dad is a Centaur - I laughed when I read that! And the hubster is totally a Hippogriff.

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  21. Love this post! Thank you. I've gotta watch out for those silly Dementors!!

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  22. This is a totally creative interpretation of mythical creatures! Cool beans.

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  23. You.Are.BRILLIANT! Seriously.

    I'm bookmarking this to share with my husband. We already have our tickets for Thursday's midnight showing. :-)

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  24. Great post, yea I see vampires all the time… they suck the life right out of me, and sluggish trolls too lazy to get off the cough or on a treadmill.

    I see myself as a gryphon…

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  25. lol, awesome list here. This post is a great take on mythical creatures. Thanks for the chuckle. :)

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  26. I teach high school, so definitely surrounded by dementors and all their life-draining potential.

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  27. Like your list of critters.
    And I'm a powerful, ferocious lycan beast with ninja powers! No? My wife's not buying it either.

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  28. OMG! I think I'm married to a "House Elf". Absolutely awesome post. I think I'm more of a cross between a unicorn and a werewolf. He better be nice to me.

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  29. Great post! I love the comparison of HP creatures to real people, my favorite being the Phoenix analogy.

    Unicorns are my favorite mystical creature, and I think I strive to have similar qualities, though I have yet to master the ability to be positive all the time.

    I see a little Hippogriff in myself. My shyness can be misinterpreted and sometimes it takes me awhile to open up.

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  30. I think I work with a few Thestrals. They keep the organisation running and are definitely under-appreciated because they lurk in the background so much.

    My children are Cornish Pixies. Thank you gideon 86 for the reminder, and how could you have missed them out, Melissa?

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  31. I can definitely say that I would centaurs as friends - as for myself? It changes daily...

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  32. There's a unicorn in my backyard! Oh wait. No. There isn't. Damn.

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  33. I realised I haven't been around to your blog since forever. I'm so sorry.

    You're storming ahead with you nano word count! Keep it up.

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  34. great job with this! I loved your definitions of each and they were so true! And I love your new layout too!

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  35. Ha! I recently told someone who'd been sucked dry of hope by an encounter with someone else that they'd met a Dementor.
    I love your descriptions. This is a brilliant post and very much an homage to Rowling's skill. Thanks!

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  36. THis was inspired and creative!! What a wonderful imagination and how true to life these creatures are having now read this post! Loved it!!

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  37. This is beautiful Melissa! Just love your comparrisons. How about the mermaids- they may be a litle scary on the outside, maybe all bark and screech, but underneath they really have beautiful voices if you just take the time to go to their level to listen to them.

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  38. I missed this first time around ... absolutely BRILLIANT!

    Not forgetting the Goblins - those that put the accumulation of wealth ahead of everything else.

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  39. Oh I love this post!! Hmmmm, I'd have to say that I would either be a Thestral or a Werewolf. Ok, almost definitely a Werewolf.

    As for those around me, ugh. Unfortunately I see a lot of Dementors lately. Where ARE those darn dragons and unicorns when I need them?

    Enjoy the premiere tonight!
    Jen

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Thank you in advance for commenting, I read and appreciate every single word.