Farewell Harry Potter

projection (noun) : a psychological defense mechanism where one subconsciously denies one's own unacceptable thoughts, desires, feelings or motivations, and instead ascribes them to other people
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Another theory developed by Sigmund Freud and it goes something like this: Suppose you don't like someone but (for whatever reason) you've repressed this or are in denial about this (meaning that your unconscious mind doesn't allow you to feel this dislike). Instead of admitting dislike, you project your dislike to the other person and end up with the feeling that the person doesn't like you.

Mumbo jumbo, right? I mean, who can't simply say "I don't like that person"? Some of us say it all the time. (Perhaps I'm speaking for myself here.)

I've discovered that, unfortunately, when the unconscious gets involved, you really don't know what you're repressing or denying. If the feeling or desire is too unacceptable or shameful or dangerous or obscene, then it's easier to attribute it to another person and save yourself the horror of finding out that you actually have that feeling or desire. The solution I've found is to at least ask the question about whether any denial or projection is going on and be open to the idea that it may be. It may not be, but why not be sure.

And where is Harry Potter in all this? Is the bluestraveler simply riding the wave of JK Rowling's success? (Would that I could, readers, would that I could.)

I believe that the fifth book (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) clearly shows Harry Potter's projection of feelings and desires that he doesn't want to have onto his friends, feelings that he's ashamed of having. JK Rowling brilliantly allows Harry Potter to discover that he is having those feelings, not his friends. That awareness makes all the difference.

And by the end of the story, JK Rowling tells us that all of us have those feelings and desires - the key is only whether and how we act on them.