Lesson Six

Applying your will 

Needed for successful spell casting: 

• Proper pronunciation of the incantation
• Proper wand movements
• Focus 
• Willpower 

Think of Willpower as mental power similar to how strength represents physical power. For Muggles, it is the ability to control emotions, or avoid bad temptations, but or magical folk, we use it in our magic and spell casting. A lot of spells require willpower in order to keep them running smoothly (think Incendio). Careful, however. The more will you focus into a spell, the more violent the backfire if your spell fails. Applying your will to affect a spell is like pushing on a heavy box, but with your mind.

The Levitation Charm, Revisited: For heavier objets, one must visualize magic flowing from you while performing the swish and, at the flick, visualize extra magic embracing your target and making it light enough to move. This generally takes a great amount of willpower. 

The Sticking Charm: 
Incantation: Astrictus
Pronunciation: ‘a-strik-toose’
Wand Movement: “The infinity symbol starting and ending in the center.” (IE: [img class="mwe-math-fallback-png-inline tex" alt="\infty" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/d/2/4/d245777abca64ece2d5d7ca0d19fddb6.png">)

Without sufficient will power, the charm will not work at all. A good casting of the spell results in a bond that lasts for several days, or even weeks if cast well enough. 

Assigned Reading: Quintessential Magic: An Introduction to Charms, Chapters 9 and 16.