In the final episode of season five, Vanessa and Casper pull out a few key insights from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. They give Luna Lovegood her due praise, analyze Harry’s relationship to gifts, and Vanessa comes around more to the importance of Quidditch. Throughout the episode they unpack the growing presence of death in Harry’s life and this series. Next week, we're rounding out the season with a final Owl Post and a conversation with our mentor, Matthew Potts. And don't forget to hop over to the Women of Harry Potter feed on July 1st, to hear our episode on Lily Potter.

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Wrap-Up: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of "love" in the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we come to you live from our London show, where we were very lucky to be joined by John Green. We discuss Luna’s lost objects, John’s history with bullying, and Vanessa’s perspective on the afterlife. Throughout the show we consider the question: How can we best meet people in their grief? Next week we're doing a wrap-up of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Thanks to everyone who came out to the Indianapolis show. We have more events coming up in the fall; you can check them out at: http://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/live-events/

Love: The Second War Begins (Book 5, Chapter 38) – Live from Indianapolis with John Green

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Patience in chapter thirty-seven of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss occlumency lessons, waiting rooms, and how we feel about Dumbledore locking Harry in his office. Throughout the episode we consider the question: Can you force someone to be patient? Thanks to Kailina Mills for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be coming to you live from our Indianapolis show with John Green for the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Second War Begins, through the theme of love.

Patience: The Lost Prophecy (Book 5, Chapter 37)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Jealousy in chapter thirty-six of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss our love for Dumbledore and his relationships with Voldemort, Fudge, and Harry. Throughout the episode we consider the question: What other emotion is Jealousy hiding? Thanks to Ann-Mary Cloutier for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-seven, The Lost Prophecy, through the theme of Patience.

Jealousy: The Only One He Ever Feared (Book 5, Chapter 36)

We have two special guest on this week’s episode of Women of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text - our friends from Reading Glasses Podcast, Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara. They have chosen to bless McGonagall for being a great Boss Lady and maternal without having her own children. Vanessa invents a game about badass Scottish women. You can hear Vanessa on Reading Glasses Podcast here.

Blessing Minerva McGonagall

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Home in chapter thirty-five of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss the individuality of the Death Eaters, Harry’s relationship to Sirius, and the realities of war. Throughout the episode we consider the question: how do we appreciate a piece of text we hate? Thanks to Sarah-Jane Hasenauer-Kinsley for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-six, The Only One He Ever Feared, through the theme of Jealousy.

Home: Beyond the Veil (Book 5, Chapter 35)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Concealment in chapter thirty-four of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss Ron’s comment about the prophecy, whether Harry is fooling himself about Sirius, and the physical landscape of The Department of Mysteries. Throughout the episode we consider the question: If you could know when you die, would you want to? Thanks to Lorraine Haymen for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-five, Beyond the Veil, through the theme of Home.

Concealment: The Department of Mysteries (Book 5, Chapter 34)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Inheritance in chapter thirty-three of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week discuss Centaurs as isolationists, Neville’s wand, and Luna’s redemption in Vanessa’s eyes. Throughout the episode we consider the question: What’s the relationship between inheritance and loss? Thanks to Kimia for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-four, The Department of Mysteries, through the theme of Concealment.

Inheritance: Fight and Flight (Book 5, Chapter 33)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Redemption in chapter thirty-two of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we look at a few characters and their possible arcs of redemption: Dolores Umbridge, Severus Snape, Kreacher, and Ron Weasley. Throughout the episode we consider the question: Do we feel comfortable saying that certain people are irredeemable? Thanks to Leah Holleran for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-three, Fight and Flight, through the theme of Inheritance.

Redemption: Out of the Fire (Book 5, Chapter 32)

We have a special guest on this week’s episode of Women of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text - our dear friend Dr. Chloe Angyal. Chloe has chosen to bless Molly for invisible labor during this war. Vanessa invents a game about great animal moms.

Blessing Molly Weasley with Dr. Chloe Angyal

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Celebration in chapter thirty-one of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss Ron’s victory in the quidditch match, Harry’s opportunity to show off his Patronus skills, and joy as a tool of resistance. Throughout the episode we consider the question: How do we make celebration about collection triumph rather than individual superiority? Thanks to Erik for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty-two, Out of the Fire, through the theme of redemption.

Celebration: O.W.L.s (Book 5, Chapter 31)

Vanessa sits down with Professor Matt Potts to discuss the theology of Apocalypses. They discover that many fruitful questions come out of contemplating an Apocalypse: What makes for a good life? What am I trying to preserve? Who is my responsibility to protect? What do I want to survive? This episode we also hear owl post from Peach Perera, Stephanie Greenley, Brit Barkholtz, Kari Gottfried, and Connie Kucani. Next week, we'll be reading Chapter 31 of Order of the Phoenix, O.W.L.s, through the theme of Celebration.

Owl Post from the Apocalypse with Professor Matt Potts

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Familiarity in chapter thirty of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we really pick apart Hagrid’s decision to ask the kids to take care of Grawp. Throughout the episode we consider the question: When does familiarity keep us from seeing the dangers around us? Thanks to Tess Schleitwiler for this week's voicemail! Next week Vanessa will be joined by Professor Matt Potts to talk about the apocalypse and answer some Owl Post. 

Familiarity: Grawp (Book 5, Chapter 30)

Vanessa and Casper explore the theme of Revenge in chapter twenty-nine of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This week we discuss the tension between Umbridge and Mcgonagall, the brilliance of Fred and George, and Harry’s dream to be an Auror. Throughout the episode they consider the question: How do we dissipate our need for revenge? Thanks to Kat Zdan for this week's voicemail! Next week we’ll be reading chapter thirty, Grawp, through the theme of familiarity.

Revenge: Career Advice (Book 5, Chapter 29)

It’s Vanessa’s turn to bless a female character of Harry Potter, and she’s chosen to bless Ginny for her trauma at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Ariana invents a game about youngest members of famous groups.

Blessing Ginny Weasley

It’s the English class you didn't know you missed and the meaningful conversations you didn't know you craved. Join Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile as they bring thought, reflection and laughter to Harry Potter; not just as novels, but as instructive and inspirational texts that will teach us about our own lives. Relive the magic chapter by chapter as they explore themes such as commitment, revenge and forgiveness. This podcast creates time in your week to think about life’s big questions. Because reading fiction doesn’t just help us escape the world, it helps us live in it.

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Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

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