More Harry Potter Theology and More on the Basilisk
I see Ron as primarily the heart. However, Ron as "body" makes as much sense as Harry as "body" because he is the one that we eating a lot and we even see notes regarding his writhing-like-eel moments. (Those HP fans that do not like Ron at all go so far as to say he is just appetite - period.)
I suppose my best reason for thinking of Harry as soul is because soul is the highest part of ourselves. Per many theologies, that part also consists of the Holy Spirit within. Harry is clearly the main hero and focus of the books. So Harry gets the choicest portion of mind/body/soul.
Alchemically, Harry is the lead that transforms into gold. Spiritual alchemy refers to a soul that starts out leaden (with impurities) and then transforms into gold (pure). That is why opening the golden snitch at the end is so keen an image. Not only do you get the breath, Ruach, but the gold. The golden snitch is round like a stone as well.
To top things off, Harry chooses a phoenix and holly wand over the elder wand. Phoenix being another term for the Philosopher's Stone.
One major problem of saying any of the trio is "body" is that when you die, the body is left behind. Although some theologies will say that you will acquire a new spiritual body after death.
So what is left after death? The physical body is kaput, obviously. Do you lose your heart, your capacity for love, too? I don't think so. Do you lose your mind? Do you not think anymore in the beyond? Be kind of boring existence, wouldn't it, like your new spiritual body is no smarter than a turnip and can't love anymore. So I suspect that you retain your capacity for wisdom and your love. Of course, your soul obviously makes it into the beyond, and your connection with God endures.
So I feel safe saying...
Ron = Heart
Hermione = Mind
Harry = Soul
On a different Ron topic:
I got a new insight regarding weasels and basilisks. The basilisk/weasel lore describes the weasel being immune to the eyes of the basilisk and that they don't die.
If you think of LocketVoldy as a basilisk, then when the eyes of the locket were staring at Ron and taunting him, the weasel did show immunity to the eyes.
Here is an interesting quote from Pliny the Elder (not the elder wand, just an older guy!) LOL
http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast265.htm
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/basilisk.html
QUOTE
The weasel is immune to its [basilisk] glance and if it gets bitten, it withdraws from the fight to eat some rue, the only plant that does not wither, and returns with renewed strength.
So Ron withdrew from the tent fight after he got "bitten" by the locket, to eat some rue (remorse - and buddy, did he ever rue the day!) and so he returned to Harry and Hermione with renewed strength.
I think we can make a case that all the horcruxes fit with basilisk lore:
QUOTE
Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 8, 33): basilisk serpent...has white markings on its head that look like a diadem.
A diadem! Son of a gun, where have we heard of a diadem before?
Locket: Basilisk Eyes, 'ole snake eyes!
Nagini: A Snake
Tiara: Diadem
Cup: Destroyed in the basilisk's lair with basilisk fang
Diary: Destroyed in the basilisk's lair with basilisk fang
Harry: Destroyed by Voldy the Super Basilisk (but not for long)
Ring: The Guant family parseltongue connection and Peverell Hallow connection, too
Wouldn't you just love for someone to ask J.K. Rowling what she makes of all this instead of yet another question as to why Dumbledore is gay?
I suppose my best reason for thinking of Harry as soul is because soul is the highest part of ourselves. Per many theologies, that part also consists of the Holy Spirit within. Harry is clearly the main hero and focus of the books. So Harry gets the choicest portion of mind/body/soul.
Alchemically, Harry is the lead that transforms into gold. Spiritual alchemy refers to a soul that starts out leaden (with impurities) and then transforms into gold (pure). That is why opening the golden snitch at the end is so keen an image. Not only do you get the breath, Ruach, but the gold. The golden snitch is round like a stone as well.
To top things off, Harry chooses a phoenix and holly wand over the elder wand. Phoenix being another term for the Philosopher's Stone.
One major problem of saying any of the trio is "body" is that when you die, the body is left behind. Although some theologies will say that you will acquire a new spiritual body after death.
So what is left after death? The physical body is kaput, obviously. Do you lose your heart, your capacity for love, too? I don't think so. Do you lose your mind? Do you not think anymore in the beyond? Be kind of boring existence, wouldn't it, like your new spiritual body is no smarter than a turnip and can't love anymore. So I suspect that you retain your capacity for wisdom and your love. Of course, your soul obviously makes it into the beyond, and your connection with God endures.
So I feel safe saying...
Ron = Heart
Hermione = Mind
Harry = Soul
On a different Ron topic:
I got a new insight regarding weasels and basilisks. The basilisk/weasel lore describes the weasel being immune to the eyes of the basilisk and that they don't die.
If you think of LocketVoldy as a basilisk, then when the eyes of the locket were staring at Ron and taunting him, the weasel did show immunity to the eyes.
Here is an interesting quote from Pliny the Elder (not the elder wand, just an older guy!) LOL
http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast265.htm
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/basilisk.html
QUOTE
The weasel is immune to its [basilisk] glance and if it gets bitten, it withdraws from the fight to eat some rue, the only plant that does not wither, and returns with renewed strength.
So Ron withdrew from the tent fight after he got "bitten" by the locket, to eat some rue (remorse - and buddy, did he ever rue the day!) and so he returned to Harry and Hermione with renewed strength.
I think we can make a case that all the horcruxes fit with basilisk lore:
QUOTE
Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 8, 33): basilisk serpent...has white markings on its head that look like a diadem.
A diadem! Son of a gun, where have we heard of a diadem before?
Locket: Basilisk Eyes, 'ole snake eyes!
Nagini: A Snake
Tiara: Diadem
Cup: Destroyed in the basilisk's lair with basilisk fang
Diary: Destroyed in the basilisk's lair with basilisk fang
Harry: Destroyed by Voldy the Super Basilisk (but not for long)
Ring: The Guant family parseltongue connection and Peverell Hallow connection, too
Wouldn't you just love for someone to ask J.K. Rowling what she makes of all this instead of yet another question as to why Dumbledore is gay?