Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
T h e boundaries of space
and time and even the limitations of death can be transcended.
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T H E W R I T E R ' S JOURNEY ~ T H I R D EDITION
Christopher Vogler
M a n y cultures believed the letters of their alphabets were far more than just
symbols for communication, recording transactions, or recalling history. T h e y be
lieved letters were powerful magical symbols that could be used to cast spells and
predict the future. T h e Norse runes and the Hebrew alphabet are simple letters for
spelling words, but also deep symbols of cosmic significance.
T h i s magical sense is preserved in our word for teaching children how to
manipulate letters to make words: spelling. W h e n you "spell" a word correctly, you
are in effect casting a spell, charging these abstract, arbitrary symbols with mean
ing and power