Being a huge Harry Potter fan, I could not help myself from exploring the magical world of one of the best fantasy sagas of our century by interpreting the runes on Dumbledore’s wand while learning more about this fantastic stunning tool!
Let’s learn more about it and let’s see what the runes on Dumbledore’s wand mean.
Contents
The first wand’s runes meaning
When Dumbledore was young he had a first wand with some interesting runes on it. Right there on the wand’s handle, we can see a combination of some very interesting runes.
- Jeraa – This means taking action
- Ansuz – This rune means tradition, spirit
- Uruz – This rune means power
- Dagaz – This rune means light, defeating darkness
We can interpret this series of runes with this message: use your inner power to defeat darkness. Doesn’t that sound amazing and absolutely in tune with Dumbledore’s mission to bring light and be a light in the darkness for Harry when Voldemort tried to read his mind and control him?
This wand is the one we can see in the Fantastic Beasts movies.
Now let’s focus on the most iconic wand, Dumbledore’s wand that we are used to see in all the movies of the saga. The Elder Wand!
Before we continue
Working with runes takes skill and patience and isn’t recommended in most cases. I provide these “do it yourself” articles for educational purposes, but it is strongly recommended that you consult a divination expert such as Mystic Amber and allow us to do the work for you.
This way you know it’s being done by someone experienced and knowledgeable and we’re also always here to answer questions about your reading and provide follow-up at no additional charge.
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The Elder Wand: One of the most legendary and powerful magical items ever seen.
A wand stronger than all the others but that attracts wizards willing to do anything to get it. What is its history? What are the aspects that distinguish it? Is it really that extraordinary?
Dumbledore’s wand runes
| Rune | Placement on the Wand | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Algiz | Handle | Protection and guidance from higher powers |
| Ansuz | Near the tip | Amplifies wisdom and the power of communication |
| Dagaz | Along the shaft | Enhances Dumbledore’s transformative and enlightening abilities |
| Kenaz | Carved on the grip | Amplifies Dumbledore’s creative and illuminating energy |
| Mannaz | Near the base | Strengthens Dumbledore’s understanding of humanity and self-awareness |
| Sowilo | Engraved on the tip | Empowers Dumbledore’s success and positive energy |
What it looks like?
The Elder Wand is a very ancient magic wand. Fifteen inches long, it is made of elder wood and has a core of a thestral’s tail hair. They are both very difficult substances to work with, especially the one that forms the heart of the wand. The hair of a thestral’s tail is a particular material that only mages capable of accepting death can control and among these only those who have seen death.
The Elder Wand, in addition to being the most powerful wand in existence, is also recognizable by how it was made. In particular, two elements are notable: the bumps that resemble clusters of elderberries that run along the entire length of the wand and the inlay of bone with engraved ancient runes on it.
What do the runes on Elder wand mean?
The inscription with the ancient runes can be translated as “cheat once”.
Most likely it refers to the fact that with the wand one can only cheat death once.
In the Deathly Hallows symbol, it is a vertical line. It represents the power and invincibility of the gifts as a whole, like a backbone that supports the whole.
Dumbledore’s wand’s powers
The Elder Wand is the most powerful wand of them all.
Its owner can use it to cast more powerful spells than you might imagine.
Harry, for example, was able to repair his old wand using the Elder Wand, even though Ollivander had said that once a wand is broken, nothing can be done to fix it.
Ollivander and Voldemort believed that only the legendary power of the wand could break the link between Harry and the latter.
However, it appears that there were limitations to the wand’s powers, since Dumbledore was unable to cure the people petrified by the Basilisk, undo the curse on the Gaunt ring, and was unable to even overcome the spell on the potion in the basin in the cave of the locket.
All this suggests that the wand can slightly improve pre-existing spells rather than allowing the owner to practice the impossible.
Although the wand was said to be unbeatable, Dumbledore has stated that the Elder Wand, while immensely powerful, never was completely unbeatable, as it has been defeated several times. In fact, for it to pass to a new owner, the wand must be defeated.
However, as it has been passed down that the wand’s first owner was killed while sleeping and not in a duel, defeat is not needed to claim the wand.
It seems that the Elder Wand is somehow more powerful than other wands, even when the user doesn’t really have a claim to it, as seen when Voldemort had it.
It is not known how the wand increased his powers, but it is certain that he never had access to the full power of the wand, because he was never the true owner.
It is unclear what it means that the Elder Wand’s power will fail if the owner dies a natural death. It could mean that the power will have diminished to the point of becoming a normal wand, or it could instead mean that the power is totally nullified, as some wands are known to do.
How it became Dumbledore’s wand?
When Albus Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in their duel in 1945, he became the rightful owner of the Elder Wand. With Dumbledore, the wand was used extensively for good, unlike what happened with the previous owners. Dumbledore did great things with it, earning him a reputation as the most powerful wizard in the world.
In 1996, on the Astronomy Tower, Dumbledore was disarmed by Draco Malfoy and then killed by Snape.
Elder Wand after Dumbledore’s death
The wand fell from the tower and was then found and buried with its owner.
Dumbledore and Snape had agreed on how the assassination of the Headmaster of Hogwarts should go. Since Dumbledore was ready to accept death, when Snape killed him he would not be defeated and therefore the power of the Elder Wand would be nullified.
However, not everything went as Dumbledore planned, as he was disarmed and then defeated by Draco Malfoy. Without knowing it, Draco had become the new owner of the Elder Wand!
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