The Age of Enlightenment... The Why of a Wizard???

Why a wizard?

​The question was asked (mainly by my husband), "Why a wizard?   Why not an alchemist, or a sorcerer, or a druid?”  They do have cool toys to play with after all.  To start with, I had to educate him with what the difference between each one was (other than that is what Dewin told me he was) and why I would choose a wizard.

​An alchemist did peak my interest.  According to history, an alchemist is someone who transforms or creates something through a seemingly magical process.  You would think the wizard is doing the same thing.  But an alchemists believes that lead can be “perfected” into gold, diseases can be cured, and that life can be prolonged through transmutation or a change of some essential element into a superior form.  Their secretive experiments usually involve heat and the mixing of liquids.  Their power is to transform things for the better, real or imagined. Dewin knows these things but he is more than just about transformation.

​What is a sorcerer then?  This one was a little harder to research as most definitions involve the use of magic (nothing wrong with that).  I mean, telling me it is someone who practices sorcery does not help much.  Again, that would be the same as saying a wizard practices magic.  It was when I started reading up on sorcery that I realized that this still was not Dewin’s style.  His powers were not gained from the assistance or control of other spirits.  He was more than that. 

​Finally, what is a druid?  The origin of the word ‘druid’ is unclear, but it is the Irish-Gaelic word for oak tree (which is also a symbol of knowledge and wisdom).  Druidism relies on a combination of contact with the spirit world and nature.  A druid is someone who connects others with the gods but also has other highly respected roles.  They are teachers, judges, herbalists, and historians for their people as well as storytellers, musicians, and environmentalist.  The earth and all living things give them their knowledge which makes the druids more like a library of knowledge and power.  Dewin, I felt, has some of these skills and knowledge, but he was not interested in being a teacher or leading in the path of a druid.  His unending search for knowledge was not for others, it was for himself. 

​So, that brought me back to ‘why a wizard?’  Wizards are said to have great skill and are clever in their doings and are able to influence powerful magics through their innate abilities and learning.  Their thirst for knowledge and hunger to learn unknown magic focuses them on a single path.  It may take a wizard years to achieve this knowledge, but the years will not be noticed as long as it takes them to their desired goal.

​A wizard is a practitioner of magic who has gained the greatest of skill and is worthy of the highest praise for their ability.  To coin a phrase – to be a "wiz" at it... or a wizard!  That fit Dewin!  

​My hubby has now been enlighted (which is partially why he never complains about the body parts or magical elements laying around the house that all go into the creations of each of my characters as he enjoys this as much as I do).