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| Ron (Pisces), Hermione (Virgo, obviously) and Harry (Leo) |
We started reading it together last winter and now we're are just finishing the sixth book. If ever I have forgotten a crucial detail, I check with my 8 year old, who simply seems to remember all six books pretty much verbatim (Moon in Cancer).
The Harry Potter series is an astrologer's playground, of course, because of Rowling's instinctive grasp of archetypes, psychology and the mechanics of myth.
One of the central elements of the wizarding world that she describes is the division of witches and wizards into four types, as described by the four houses at the school Hogwarts.
The first night the children arrive at the school, they are allocated a house, chosen by the Sorting Hat according to their character. For some children, the choice is obvious, but for others the Sorting Hat needs to think quite hard. For example, in Harry's case, the Hat wavers between Slytherin and Gryffindor before finally plumping for the latter.
The houses correspond roughly to the four suits in tarot and the four elements of the Zodiac and the four humours of Galen or Carl Jung's personality types.
Slytherin - water - cups - melancholic - feeling
Gryffindor - fire - wands - choleric - intuition
Hufflepuff - earth - pentacles - phlegmatic - sensation
Ravenclaw - air - swords - sanguine - thinking
The most outstanding characteristics associated with each house, however are more specific than that. They correspond uncannily to the fixed signs, which sit at the four corners of the zodiacal compass.
The best of Gryffindor is the best of Leo, Harry's own Sun sign: noble, courageous, bold, intuitive.
"You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart."
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart."
The best of Hufflepuff is the best of Taurus.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
The best of Ravenclaw is Aquarius.
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
And Slytherin, located in a dungeon, is pure Scorpio.
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
