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💌 | Myths of The Mind: Occlumency and Legilimency

Potterpoint !
Myths of The Mind. OO1 :
Occlumency and Legilimency
[ What Are They? ]

⚠ SPOILER ALERT! ⚠
This chapter contains information based
on the books and/or the movies.
If you haven't read the books or
watched the movies, proceed on
your own risk.

Occlumency and Legilimency is a practice only the most advanced and experienced wizards/witches can master. Many powerful magical beings practice it, such as Dumbledore, Voldemort, Snape, and many more.

So what is Occlumency and Legilimency? 

First of all, Legilimency is the act of penetrating the layers of someone's mind, allowing them to decipher and 'read their mind', as muggles would say. Beings who are able to make use of this feat are called Legilimens. For example, someone could enter someone else's mind to see if they are telling the truth or not. Legilimency is frowned upon in many aspects. Many great Legilimens have also been Dark wizards. 

Now, Occlumency is the opposite of Legilimency. It is used to defend against an attempt of a Legilimens. Occlumency is also the only way to repel Legilimency. Wizards who can do this are called Occlumens. 

How do they work? 

In order for someone to perform Legilimency, they have multiple options. Highly skilled practitioners may execute the task nonverbally or even wandless. Beginners will most likely use the incantation Legilimens. Legilimens can also use this talent to communicate with other witches and wizards telepathically, even across large distances. To do this, they would project their own thoughts, memories and emotions into the receiver, allowing them to see these thoughts. 

A darker way of using Legilimency would be to influence the minds of the recipient, causing them to go against their own thoughts. Because of these reasons, Legilimency is not taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

Occlumency is equally as hard to master as Legilimency. To do this, the person involved would need to rid their mind of all thoughts, making it a blank and emotionless space. With their blank mind, it makes it easier to repel the Legilimency attack with hexes, shields or by disarming the Legilimens. Skilled Occlumens can even repel a Legilimency attack without the need of needs, shields or disarming. These Occlumens are in full control of their emotions and minds, and have a great deal of self-control. They can close their minds down in a fraction of a second. 

Are they dangerous? 

Legilimency is very dangerous, and incredibly intrusive. Many dark wizards have used Legilimency to collect information that they use for terrible crimes. In some cases, the Legilimens can even get hurt, if the person they are attacking are a skilled Occlumens who are able to fight back, using hexes. 

Is Occlumency worth practicing? 

Legilimens attacks can come at any time. The most dangerous time would be when the target is sleeping, as their mind is left unguarded. They are also incredibly vulnerable when they are relaxed or excited. Occlumency can very important if you don't want your private thoughts read. A Legilimency invasion can occur at any moment, whether you're ready or not. 

Conclusion 

Overall, Legilimency and Occlumency are on the darker branch of magic. Both can be used for ruinous purposes, and can horribly damage people. Occlumency and Legilimency are very hard to master, and the ability to do them heavily depends on the practitioners's mind. Every mind is different, making every mind easier or harder to penetrate, or to develop these skills.  

Quiz !

Of the following options, who was not a Legilimens?

a. Severus Snape
b. Draco Malfoy
c. Voldemort
d. Albus Dumbledore

Answer here or in the comments >>>

Credits !
Writer: g-lil-ginny

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