Parallels and Contrasts in their Feminine Aspects It is with deep disappointment that I finally accept the news that Hagrid is a Gryffinder instead of being a Hufflepuff. Alas, there goes my best example of Hufflepuff's nurturing qualities. But J.K. Rowling is the final court in these matters. For a look at the original article written when I thought Hagrid was a Huff, please click here. While Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are the two houses founded by women, there are many ways in which the two houses which correspond most closely with the feminine aspect of the occult are Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Prof. Sprout exemplifies the nurturing qualities of Hufflepuff. As the head of Hufflepuff, she embodies the earthy qualities of that house. She is deeply involved in growing things. Her very name, Professor Sprout, suggests sprouting plants from seeds. Her subject is Herbology, after all. While the feminine, nurturing quality of Hufflepuff probably comes as no surprise, many readers will no doubt be wondering what's feminine about Slytherin. Their quidditch team is described as brawny as is Crabbe and Goyle. They are certainly not exactly nurturing. In explanation, let me start with the head of Slytherin House, Severus Snape. He is the potions instructor. On the first day of class, he told his students, "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses." In occult tradition, the cauldron corresponds to the feminine (representing the womb) while the wand corresponds to the masculine with it's phallic shape. Potions making is described here as "subtle" which is feminine, recessive and yin. The feminine corresponds to the moon, the unconscious and the irrational, emotional. The masculine corresponds to the sun, the conscious and to the objective and rational. In western history, the feminine side has frequently been the one associated with evil in many people's minds. That's one reason why witchcraft has been so feared and hated. Wicca is oriented to the moon and to the Goddess. The male dominated west has always tended to distrust such things. How can such a cold, harsh man be considered "feminine?" Professor Sprout makes sense. Women are motherly and nurturing. They are loving, not harsh. But in the Qabalah, the side of the Tree of Life, the Pillar of Severity, is the feminine side. SEVERus Snape is severe. He represents the less beloved aspects of the feminine which includes not only the mother but the Bitch, the Shrew, the evil stepmother and the much-feared Witch of mythology, brewing poison in her cauldron. In it's earthliness, Hufflepuff partakes of the Pagan spirit which celebrates the changing seasons, the plant and animal life that springs forth from our planet. Starhawk, one of the leading spokespeople of Wicca, wrote, "Worshipping the Goddess means choosing to take this living world, the people and creatures on it, as the ultimate meaning and purpose of life; to see the world, the Earth, and our lives as sacred."--The Spiral Dance. Professor Sprout, teaching Herbology, is the quintiessential Witch who knows what to expect from every herb under the sun. Slytherin represents another side of Wicca, the Moon as opposed to the Earth, the more sinister and magical as opposed to the more grounding and wholesome. Aleister Crowley spoke eloquently about the mystery of the Moon in his Book of Thoth. "The Moon, partaking as she does of the highest and the lowest, and filling all the space between, is the most universal of the Planets. In her higher aspect, she occupies the place of the Link between the human and divine, as shown in Atu II. In this Trump, her lowest avatar, she joins the earthy spear of Netzach with Malkuth, the culmination in matter of all superior forms. This is the waning moon, the moon of witchcraft and abominable deeds. She is the poisoned darkness which is the condition of the rebirth of light.....She is uncleanliness and sorcery. Upon the hills are the black towers of nameless mystery, of horror and of fear. All prejudice, all superstition, dead tradition and ancestral loathing, all combine to darken her face before the eyes of men. It needs unconquerable courage to begin to tread this path." The animal of Hufflepuff is the steady, industrious and patient badger. The animal of Slytherin is the snake. (Note the similarity between Snake and Snape.) But, as feminist witch, Z Budapest said, "The serpent is an ancient ally of women," although one may be tempted to think of it as phallic due to it's shape. That the snake, described as "subtle" in the Bible, is feared by solar, phallic religions such as Judio-Christianity, is shown in the story of Adam and Eve. They are tempted by the snake through the woman. SLYtherin house in Harry Potter stories represents all that is feared in the feminine aspect. Even Snape's blatant unfairness is an example of an emotional as opposed to a rational and impartial approach. Of course, they are made the "evil" house where all Harry's enemies are but that is not universally true of things that have these correspondences outside of these novels. It is interesting to examine the parallels with occult tradition while separating the fictitious and unique qualities of a character or group in a novel with the universal occurrences of those things in "real life." For more about the symbolism for the Hogwarts houses, see More About Symbolism in Harry Potter. Hufflepuff In Defense of Hufflepuff Hufflepuff Hufflepuff House Professor Sprout's Office Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory Cedric Diggory, Prefect, Quidditch captain, and innocent bystander Remember Cedric, an unusually good Cedric page Kill the Spare Remember Cedric Diggory Remember Cedric Diggory Cedric is Famous Welcome Hufflepuffs Welcome Hufflepuffs. You guys are really cool so don't let anyone get you down! Slytherin Potions Class. Very cool site. NEW Slytherin House About Slytherin House Draco Malfoy's Minions. Draco-Malfoy.com. And excellent site about Draco Malfoy. A Draco Malfoy Shrine Draco's Dungeon Draco Malfoy-Why He's the Best Draco Malfoy, the arch nemesis, and racist git Snape's Girl. Snape's Dungeon Professor Snape Professor Severusa's SEVERUS SNAPE Shrine. Unsung Hero, another paeon to Snape. Severus Snape's Slytherin Society Slytherins Castle Enchanted Diary, a Tom Riddle Shrine. Very original and interesting site! View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook Return to Harry Potter Return to Slytherin Return to Hufflepuff Gryffinder Ravenclaw TributesFloo Network Return to Hermione
It is with deep disappointment that I finally accept the news that Hagrid is a Gryffinder instead of being a Hufflepuff. Alas, there goes my best example of Hufflepuff's nurturing qualities. But J.K. Rowling is the final court in these matters. For a look at the original article written when I thought Hagrid was a Huff, please click here.
While Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are the two houses founded by women, there are many ways in which the two houses which correspond most closely with the feminine aspect of the occult are Slytherin and Hufflepuff.
Prof. Sprout exemplifies the nurturing qualities of Hufflepuff. As the head of Hufflepuff, she embodies the earthy qualities of that house. She is deeply involved in growing things. Her very name, Professor Sprout, suggests sprouting plants from seeds. Her subject is Herbology, after all.
While the feminine, nurturing quality of Hufflepuff probably comes as no surprise, many readers will no doubt be wondering what's feminine about Slytherin. Their quidditch team is described as brawny as is Crabbe and Goyle. They are certainly not exactly nurturing. In explanation, let me start with the head of Slytherin House, Severus Snape. He is the potions instructor. On the first day of class, he told his students, "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses." In occult tradition, the cauldron corresponds to the feminine (representing the womb) while the wand corresponds to the masculine with it's phallic shape. Potions making is described here as "subtle" which is feminine, recessive and yin. The feminine corresponds to the moon, the unconscious and the irrational, emotional. The masculine corresponds to the sun, the conscious and to the objective and rational. In western history, the feminine side has frequently been the one associated with evil in many people's minds. That's one reason why witchcraft has been so feared and hated. Wicca is oriented to the moon and to the Goddess. The male dominated west has always tended to distrust such things.
How can such a cold, harsh man be considered "feminine?" Professor Sprout makes sense. Women are motherly and nurturing. They are loving, not harsh. But in the Qabalah, the side of the Tree of Life, the Pillar of Severity, is the feminine side. SEVERus Snape is severe. He represents the less beloved aspects of the feminine which includes not only the mother but the Bitch, the Shrew, the evil stepmother and the much-feared Witch of mythology, brewing poison in her cauldron.
In it's earthliness, Hufflepuff partakes of the Pagan spirit which celebrates the changing seasons, the plant and animal life that springs forth from our planet. Starhawk, one of the leading spokespeople of Wicca, wrote, "Worshipping the Goddess means choosing to take this living world, the people and creatures on it, as the ultimate meaning and purpose of life; to see the world, the Earth, and our lives as sacred."--The Spiral Dance. Professor Sprout, teaching Herbology, is the quintiessential Witch who knows what to expect from every herb under the sun.
Slytherin represents another side of Wicca, the Moon as opposed to the Earth, the more sinister and magical as opposed to the more grounding and wholesome. Aleister Crowley spoke eloquently about the mystery of the Moon in his Book of Thoth. "The Moon, partaking as she does of the highest and the lowest, and filling all the space between, is the most universal of the Planets. In her higher aspect, she occupies the place of the Link between the human and divine, as shown in Atu II. In this Trump, her lowest avatar, she joins the earthy spear of Netzach with Malkuth, the culmination in matter of all superior forms. This is the waning moon, the moon of witchcraft and abominable deeds. She is the poisoned darkness which is the condition of the rebirth of light.....She is uncleanliness and sorcery. Upon the hills are the black towers of nameless mystery, of horror and of fear. All prejudice, all superstition, dead tradition and ancestral loathing, all combine to darken her face before the eyes of men. It needs unconquerable courage to begin to tread this path."
The animal of Hufflepuff is the steady, industrious and patient badger. The animal of Slytherin is the snake. (Note the similarity between Snake and Snape.) But, as feminist witch, Z Budapest said, "The serpent is an ancient ally of women," although one may be tempted to think of it as phallic due to it's shape. That the snake, described as "subtle" in the Bible, is feared by solar, phallic religions such as Judio-Christianity, is shown in the story of Adam and Eve. They are tempted by the snake through the woman.
SLYtherin house in Harry Potter stories represents all that is feared in the feminine aspect. Even Snape's blatant unfairness is an example of an emotional as opposed to a rational and impartial approach. Of course, they are made the "evil" house where all Harry's enemies are but that is not universally true of things that have these correspondences outside of these novels. It is interesting to examine the parallels with occult tradition while separating the fictitious and unique qualities of a character or group in a novel with the universal occurrences of those things in "real life."
For more about the symbolism for the Hogwarts houses, see More About Symbolism in Harry Potter.