Legilimency

Legilimency is the act of magically navigating through the many layers of a person's mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. It is a form of mind magic. A person who practices this art is known as a Legilimens. Muggles might call this "mind-reading," but practitioners disdain the term as naive. The opposite of Legilimency is Occlumency, which may be used to shield one's mind from the invasion and influence of a Legilimens.

Page adapted from Legilimency at the Harry Potter Lexicon.

History

It is unknown who invented the art of Legilimency and just when it was invented. It is safe to assume that the art has been around for a fairly long time, as Salazar Slytherin , a very skilled Legillimens, lived in the 11th century, and, along with the other Hogwarts founders, enchanted the Sorting Hat to have the skill. Other witches and wizards have used Legilimency on several different occasions as well.

Study & Terminology

Legilimency and Occlumency continue to be studied by wixes to this day. "A Handbook for Legilimency & Occlumency" by Yavin Morgenthau is a well-known publication used by many practitioners/academics. There are many other (often archaic) instructions on the acquirement of these skills but Morgenthau's handbook uses modern terminology, in addition to exploring the nature communication between learned minds.

It also describes how Legilimency is practiced in different cultures across the world. For example, there is a temple in Gujarat, India that is dedicated to the spiritual perfection of Dream magic. There is also a settlement in the French Alps where a secluded wizarding settlement practices Legilimency; half of its inhabitants are permanently asleep and the other half communicate with their brethren by forming a mind link between the conscious and unconscious.

Among the terms the handbook has made popular are:

• Mindscape - Referring to the interior of one Legilimens' mind when accessed by another.
• Dreamscape - Referring to the dreams of any person when accessed by a Legilimens. Also used in discussions of Dream magic.
• Mental Trap - Referring to walls and visual or audial loops used by some Occlumens to forestall infiltration by a Legilimens.

Mindscape

Also know as a Mind Palace, a more organised structure. All Legilimens and Occlumens may form dreamscapes, structures that may serve as a base to receive visitors, organise memories, or escape into a daydream.

Defenses can manifest in a number of ways. One basic approach is focusing on doors and walls—basic means of separation, but sufficient. There are more complex approaches. If an Occlumens’ will is strong enough, this can be enough; without their permission, none but the most skilled of Legilimens can break in.

Dreamscape

Both Naomi Foley and Virgil Carstairs are known to have dabbled in other people's dreamscapes.

Mental Trap

Also known as a puzzle, these traps can come in various forms. They are essentially barriers that a Legilimens might confront if they attempt to enter the mind of a very skilled Occlumens. Yavin Morgenthau uses these to protect his mind and to train his protégé in Swimming in These Empty Towns

Methods

The most advanced Legilimens can perform Legilimency nonverbally and wandlessly, but less talented practitioners must use the incantation Legilimens to enter their target's mind. If a target is not skilled in Occlumency, a Legilimens will be able to detect if the person is lying, as well as delve into their thoughts, emotions, and memories. Highly skilled Legilimens can also influence a mind that they invade.

Advanced Legilimens can trick other minds into perceiving, feeling, or smelling things that are not actually in their environment. This is difficult to do. The effect is broken if the Legilimens' concentration is broken in any way.

Aids

It is easier to perform Legilimency when the target and practitioners' eyes meet, although some practitioners such as Naomi Foley and her family find it easier through touch or through specific cultural rituals such as hair grooming/braiding/twisting instead.

Inebriated individuals are also easier to access as their natural inhibitions and mental barriers are lowered. Gillyweed use is especially susceptible to this.

Natural or gifted Legilimens are rare. Examples include Queenie Goldstein in canon, and Virgil Carstairs. These Legilimens are born with a sensitivity to other people's thoughts, which they sometimes have to block out or navigate using Occlumency. Queenie Goldstein claims that it is easier for gifted Legilimens to sense thoughts when someone is emotionally hurting.

Communication

Skilled Legilimens may communicate with one another's minds over moderate distances. This involves the sending of thoughts towards one another: it is only effective if both parties have opened their minds to the exchange. Communication is made easier by minds that have previous experience with one another.

Regulation

Like Occlumency, Legilimency is not taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Considering that it invades people's privacy, Legilimency may be a legally restricted magical practice, just as the use of Veritaserum is strictly regulated by the Ministry of Magic.

Healers and other professionals who utilise Legilimency as a part of their practice are obliged to register and declare their ability with the Ministry of Magic, for ethical reasons.