Returning To Hogwarts and The Reason Behind Our Adoration For Certain Things
September 1, 2025 | Issue #16 | Returning to Hogwarts
Happy September, Friends! This week is a special edition, as a huge fan of the Wizarding World, I couldn’t resist. Since the first of September is the day you would go back to Hogwarts, so if you’re not a fan of Harry Potter, I do apologize— I tried to keep it lightly wizarding themed.
May these words find you well, as we untangle our thoughts and explore new ideas…
“And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”
Returning To Hogwarts and The Reason Behind Our Adoration For Certain Things
It’s in our interpretation and perception of certain stories, movies, songs, places and tv shows that they become something more than what they are—they become companions we carry with us, stitched into us, sometimes… always.
Today marks the day our beloved characters would be crowding into Platform 9¾, trunks packed, owls hooting, hearts racing as they board the train to Hogwarts. It’s a scene that plays out again and again in the minds of fans all over the world, not because the story changes, but because we do.
And every year around this time, I can’t help but feel that same familiar pull to revisit the Wizarding World. Each year, as we return to those pages or films, we find ourselves not just revisiting a story, but also reconnecting with the younger versions of ourselves who first felt wonder in visiting it for the very first time.
Each return is like greeting an old friend. Comforting, nostalgic, and somehow grounding.
We know how the story goes. We know every twist, every betrayal, every victory—and yet, the comfort remains. It’s as though the predictability becomes a kind of gentle medicine.
But why do we keep coming back? Why does rereading, rewatching, or relistening feel so deeply satisfying?
Psychologists call this the “mere exposure effect,” the idea that we find comfort and enjoyment in things simply because they’re familiar. Our brains are wired to relax in the face of predictability; revisiting something we know well gives us a sense of safety and stability in a world that is often unpredictable.
There’s also a layer of therapeutic nostalgia. a psychological anchor that connects us to times and places when we felt safe, hopeful, or free. In fact, studies show that nostalgia can even reduce stress, increase feelings of meaning, and improve mood.
“It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.”
For many of us, Hogwarts is one of those anchors. For others, it might be a certain band you’ll never stop listening to, a TV Show you could quote line by line, or a book whose pages fall open on their own from being read so often. Whatever you're often-revisited is, it’s less about the story itself and more about the place it holds in you.
On a deeper level, it can even provide a sense of continuum in our lives: we grow, we change, and we age, yet the story remains unchanged, reflecting back to us the passage of time and the person we were when we first encountered it.
As for me? I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve re-watched the Harry Potter movies, listened to Jim Dale or Stephen Fry’s audiobook narrations, or pulled a volume off my shelf just to sink back into those castle’s halls. There are only a handful of works that live in me this way, and I cherish them all. I imagine you have your own collection too. Those timeless comforts you turn to when you need to feel at home in yourself.
And maybe that’s the real magic: not just in Hogwarts or Middle-earth or the songs that never leave our playlists, but in our human ability to carry these worlds with us, returning whenever we need them, and finding, without fail, that they are still waiting, ready to welcome us back.
Fun Takeaway: At the heart of it all, our love for revisiting Hogwarts or any of our favorite stories—isn’t just nostalgia, it’s self-care disguised as magic. Returning to these worlds reminds us that comfort can be found in the familiar, joy is certainly worth repeating, and that sometimes the best adventures are the ones we’ve already taken but see with new eyes each time. So next time you pull a favorite book from the shelf or rewatch that series for the hundredth time, don’t question it, embrace it. You’re not escaping, you’re refueling.
Philosophy of the Week:
Stoicism: Control What You Can
The Stoics (2nd to 1st Century BCE), from Epictetus to Marcus Aurelius believed that much of life lies beyond our control. Fortune changes, circumstances shift, and events unfold without our consent.
What is ours, however are our choices. How we respond, the values we live by, and the actions we take each day.
Harry Potter’s story reflects this ancient wisdom. He cannot undo the loss of his parents, erase Voldemort’s existence, or control the dangers around him. Yet, he consistently chooses courage, loyalty, and moral conviction.
Harry’s quiet Stoicism isn’t about ignoring his pain, it’s about directing his energy toward what he can shape, rather than dwelling on what he cannot.
Perhaps that’s the quiet invitation Stoicism offers us too:
When life feels overwhelming, it’s rarely about mastering the whole storm. It’s about noticing the small corner we do have influence over and choosing to act there, with integrity.
Day2Day Survival Tip:
Channel Your Inner Wizard
Try tapping into the magic of your imagination and personality, then let it guide your daily life. One fun way to do this is by embracing “house traits,” not just from Hogwarts, but from any group, clan, team, or fictional universe that resonates with you. The idea is simple: identify your natural strengths and use them to navigate your day more intentionally.
Gryffindor: Brave the tasks that feel most daunting first. Starting with your biggest challenges can give you momentum and a sense of accomplishment that carries through the day.
Ravenclaw: Research, plan, and gather all the information you need before diving into something new. Thoughtful preparation often leads to smoother, more creative outcomes.
Hufflepuff: Lead with kindness. Put extra care into your interactions, whether it’s offering a genuine compliment, listening actively, or performing small acts of service. These gestures build stronger connections and make your day feel brighter.
Slytherin: Strategize with intention. Prioritize what will have the most impact toward your goals, and find clever ways to navigate challenges efficiently.
The mission is to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Even if you’re not a witch or wizard—or if your adventures take place in a hobbit hole, a spaceship, or your favorite fictional universe—the principle is the same:
Immerse yourself in a mindset that makes your day feel magical. Use the traits of your “house” to transform mundane tasks into opportunities for creativity, courage, and connection.
Words of Wisdom:
*Spoiler alert* for anyone who hasn’t reached the final pages of Harry Potter* Sometimes the most profound lessons come from the moments we least expect. This exchange between Dumbledore and Snape reminds us how loyalty, love, and sacrifice can quietly shape the course of an entire story:
Dumbledore opened his eyes. Snape looked horrified. “You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?”
“Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?”
“Lately, only those whom I could not save,” said Snape. He stood up. “You have used me.”
“Meaning?”
“I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter’s son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter —”
“But this is touching, Severus,” said Dumbledore seriously. “Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?”
“For HIM?” shouted Snape.
“Expecto Patronum!"
From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe: She landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears. “After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.
Thanks for reading!
Until next time,
Guthrie
Ps. In honor of knowing my limits, I have made the decision to only do one newsletter a month. However—in place of the second issue—you will now receive an email notifying you of my blog that gets posted once a month. This will ensure my content stays up to not only my own quality standards, but yours as well!
