Walden Meg's Magic is a novel written by Susan Palwick. The story revolves around Walden, a small town in America, and a young girl named Meg. Meg is an orphan who possesses a magical talent for healing. She has the ability to heal physical and emotional wounds, and this power becomes both a blessing and a burden for her. The townspeople are divided in their opinions about Meg's magic; some see her as a savior, while others fear her ability and view it as witchcraft. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the human capacity for both cruelty and kindness.
This curse would rapidly cause the death of anyone who came into contact with it, although in certain cases the spread of the curse could be slowed down by magical means. In the case of Dumbledore, this curse caused serious injury to his hand, causing it to look as if it had died, and would prove fatal in roughly one year. It was also the type of curse that would strengthen over time. [1] Regardless of the methods of delaying the spread, there was no known way of removing or completely stopping this curse, though Snape claimed that he may have been able to do more to stop the curse had Dumbledore come to him more quickly. [2] It is unknown if Dumbledore would have escaped the curse if he had simply removed his hand from his body.
Wanting to use it to revive his family and apologise for his selfishness in the past, Dumbledore lost his common sense, forget that it was a Horcrux which may have been cursed, and adorned it on his right hand. Coupled with the author s close association with the ring and curse tablet, the evidence provides a fascinating new take on what inspired The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the human capacity for both cruelty and kindness. Meg's magic is not just about physical healing; it is also about healing the emotional scars that people carry. Through her interactions with different characters in the town, Meg learns the complexities of human nature and the importance of forgiveness.
One Ring To Curse Them All
In 2013, an enigmatic gold ring associated with an ancient Roman curse resurfaced in Great Britain, going on exhibition to the pleasure of diehard J.R.R. Tolkien fans. The show was put on by Britain’s National Trust at The Vyne, and the Tolkien fandom flocked from the four corners of (Middle) Earth to see the magnificent, maledicted relic.
Discovered in 1785 in a southern English field near the remains of an ancient Roman settlement, some scholars claim this is the artifact that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic verse:
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.
But is there any truth to the idea that Tolkien knew about this archaeological find or its associated hex? Here’s what we know about the “Ring of Silvianus.”
One Ring to Curse Them All
Today, you’ll find countless gold and silver rings dating to Roman times in museums and archives around the world. There is one, however, that stands apart from the rest. The Ring of Silvianus, known alternately as the Ring of Senicianus and the Vyne Ring, comes with a remarkable story and a cursed past.
What we know about the ring’s origins are somewhat scant. In the 4th century AD, a Roman soldier stationed in Gloucestershire, England, by the name of Silvianus visited baths dedicated to the Celtic god Nodens. The Temple of Nodens sat on a hill above the River Severn at Lidney and celebrated the Roman-British deity associated with hunting, dogs, healing, and the sea.
Nodens boasts many literary and cultural references, including links to the Fisher King of Arthurian legends. Associations also exist with the Norse god Njord of the Vanir (god of wine, sailing, fishing, and fertile land), the Roman god Mars, and Nuada Airgetlam, the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Silvianus’s Desperate Plea to Nodens
While at the Temple, Silvianus’s golden ring vanished. Believing the culprit to be an individual named Senicianus, Silvianus made an appeal for supernatural justice. At the Temple, he left money before crafting a lead plate known as a curse tablet or defixio. On the tablet, he wrote the words:
Devo Nodenti Silvianus anilum perdedit demediam partem donavit Nodenti inter quibus nomen Seniciani nollis petmittas sanitatem donec perfera(t) usque templum [No-] dentis
In English, the script reads:
To the god Nodens. Silvianus has lost his ring and given half (its value) to Nodens. Among those who are called Senicianus do not allow health until he brings it to the temple of Nodens.
(This curse) comes into force again.
Why Silvianus believed Senicianus stole his ring remains a mystery. Nonetheless, a later inscription placed on the object provides evidence for Senicianus’s ownership of the anathematized artifact.
The Re-Emergence of an Ancient Treasure
Silvianus’s ring has a diameter of one inch (25 mm) and weighs 0.4 ounces (12 grams). It has ten facets and a square bezel engraved with an image of Venus, the Roman goddess. Because of the ring’s impressive size, some have speculated the owner wore it on a thumb or over a glove. When owned by the pagan Silvianus, the ring’s ten gold sides remained bare.
A later Christian owner placed a crudely executed inscription on the ring reading, “SENICIANE VIVAS IIN DE” or “Senicianus, may you live with God.” This message contains misspellings ([i]in de[o]) and may represent the work of the accused thief. Here’s where the story of the ring’s trail goes cold for 1,300 years.
Rediscovered in the late 18th-century, the artifact gleamed tantalizingly in a plowed field on a farm near Silchester. This English town boasts Roman origins and sits 80 miles (128 kilometers) from Lydney, the site of the Temple of Nodens. Whether the ring was lost or intentionally discarded by Senicianus or another individual remains a mystery. As for whether or not the thief fell victim to Silvianus’s curse? The story has been lost to history.
From Ancient Controversy to Tantalizing History
After falling on hard times, the Silchester farmer sold the ring to his neighbors, the Chutes, who lived in a grand Tudor house known as The Vyne. Despite their interest in history and antiquities, the Chutes paid little attention to the ring until 1888 when Chaloner Chute began studying it. He soon wrote a paper on its history.
The curse tablet would turn up in the early 19th century, but nobody would make the connection between these two artifacts for nearly a century. Then, in 1929, the archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler first associated the Vyne Ring and Silvianus’s curse tablet. Although Wheeler could never definitively prove the ring’s connection to the curse, material evidence supports his theory. The name Senicianus is quite rare in Roman texts. What’s more, the artifacts date to the same period.
To confirm his suspicions and learn more about the curse tablet’s connection to the ring, Wheeler called in his friend and colleague, J.R.R. Tolkien. Wheeler hoped Tolkien, a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, would help him better understand the origins of the name Nodens. On several occasions, Tolkien visited the Temple of Nodens as he worked on uncovering the mystery of the name. During these research trips, it is likely Tolkien learned about the Vyne Ring (a.k.a. Ring of Silvanius).
More Than a Ring
Within a year, Tolkien started writing The Hobbit. In the story, Bilbo Baggins comes across “one very beautiful thing, very beautiful, very wonderful. He had a ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.” Tolkien also peopled his novel with dwarves who mined the depths of the earth. The remains of the Temple of Nodens sits atop an iron-age site with ancient tunnels and mine workings, known as “Dwarf’s Hill.” (Of course, the Shire represents an idealized version of the rural English countryside.)
But wasn’t the “One Ring” in Tolkien’s novels inspired by another found in the Germanic Nibelungenlied saga? If we’re to take Tolkien at his word, such was not the case. When asked about the ring of Germanic mythology, he stated, “Both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceased.”
Some compelling similarities between the Vyne Ring and that of the “One Ring” in The Hobbit exist. Professor of archaeology, Mark Horton, of the University of Bristol, and Dr. Lynn Forest-Hill have published work on the subject.
Fascinating Similarities Beg the Question
Horton and Forest-Hill note that both rings were made of gold and mysteriously disappeared.
Silvianus lost his in Lydney as Gollum did under the Misty Mountains. Both the real-life Roman and the fictional Gollum then went on to suspect thieves whose names they openly cursed. After discovering Bilbo had the ring, Gollum raged, “Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it. we hates it, we hates it forever!”
Coupled with the author’s close association with the ring and curse tablet, the evidence provides a fascinating new take on what inspired The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. While Silvianus’s curse certainly proved more articulate than Gollum’s rants, some say the spirit of the defixio shines through in these passages from Tolkien. Fortunately, there have been no sightings of Sauron near The Vyne.
By Engrid Barnett, contributor for Ripleys.com
As the story unfolds, Meg also discovers that her magic has limits. She cannot heal everyone, and sometimes her powers have unintended consequences. This realization adds depth to her character and raises questions about the nature of power and responsibility. Walden Meg's Magic is a beautifully written novel that combines elements of fantasy and realistic fiction. It explores the power of love and forgiveness in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving. The novel leaves readers with a sense of hope and the belief that healing, in all its forms, is possible..
Reviews for "Venturing Into Walden Meg's Enchanted Forest"
1. Emma - 1/5 - I found "Walden Meg's Magic" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The plot was slow and lacked any real excitement. The characters were poorly developed, making it difficult to care about their journeys. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging read.
2. James - 2/5 - While "Walden Meg's Magic" had an intriguing premise, I was disappointed with the execution. The writing style was convoluted and overly descriptive, making it hard to follow the story. The pacing was uneven, with long periods of monotony followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Walden Meg's Magic," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was lacking, leaving much to be desired in terms of the magical elements. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their actions seemed illogical at times. The story lacked a clear direction and failed to keep me engaged. I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Michael - 1/5 - "Walden Meg's Magic" was a tedious and confusing read. The narrative jumped between different timelines and perspectives without sufficient explanation, leaving me feeling disoriented and disconnected from the story. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to establish any emotional connection with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing and frustrating experience.
5. Emily - 2/5 - I was initially drawn to "Walden Meg's Magic" due to its intriguing premise, but ultimately, I was let down. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked coherence. Additionally, the development of the magical elements felt shallow, leaving me wanting more depth and explanation. I struggled to stay engaged with this book and would not recommend it to others in search of a captivating fantasy read.