Luna Lovegood Represents Hope for Neurodivergent Wizards and Muggles
We’ve all heard the popular quote said by Luna Lovegood: “Don’t worry. You’re just as sane as I am.” When this phrase was spoken, Luna – granddaughter-in-law of famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander – was referring to Harry seeing Thestrals, ghost-winged horses that are only visible to those who have seen death. Her statement, however, explores something much deeper than just the ability to see certain magical creatures. It speaks to her emotional intelligence as someone who is neurodivergent – an individual who views and experiences the world differently than “typical” society. She comforts Harry, who is confused at having a different experience than Ron and Hermione, because she wants him to know that he is not alone and that she, too, experiences the world differently than her peers.
In the wizarding world, Luna would be considered a neurodivergent witch. As a Muggle, I identify with this as well. So how does Luna impact the awareness and hope of the neurodivergent community?
Luna has a unique perspective on the things around her.
We are introduced to Luna as “Loony” Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This was the nickname that some of her classmates gave her, which Hermione accidentally introduced to Harry and Ron. A knowledgeable Ravenclaw, Luna starts their friendship by talking about one of her special interests: Nargles. Considered an uncommon and unusual topic to know a lot about, the other students at Hogwarts do not understand why Luna would rather talk about her belief in Nargles and Wrackspurts instead of upcoming classes or plans to hang out with friends. I related to this because I also would rather talk about niche interests and deep thoughts rather than small talk and going to happy hours. However, this was considered weird and something to “get over” because the standard in society is to keep conversations light and fun. Both in childhood and adulthood, I would think of Luna and remind myself in these moments that if Luna can find a place and people who understand and appreciate her, so can I.
Luna always stays true to being herself.
Luna’s interests may have been misunderstood, but she kept enjoying them anyway – and they proved most useful in times that mattered. After Draco puts a spell on Harry and places the invisibility cloak over him in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Luna uses her knowledge and Spectrespecs to find him – “Wrackspurts. Your head is full of them!” In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Luna is the only one to know about Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem and assists Harry in finding it through her friendship with the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw. In times of need, Luna’s peculiar interests save the day. What I and others can take away from this is that even if your interests and hobbies are considered weird or “atypical” in popular society, that does not mean they are useless or a waste of time. If they make you happy, they are worth enjoying. And who knows – the knowledge you gain from them could make a difference in the world.
Luna forms strong relationships with others.
Harry and Luna share a special bond in being different from their peers, and in turn, their friendship is full of trust, love, and support. This type of bond is no different than one that can be formed in the Muggle world, so being introduced to Luna Lovegood’s character at a formative age was influential for me. Remembering how Luna handled herself growing up helped give me the strength to handle situations in the present day. Luna gives hope to all neurodivergent wizards and Muggles by keeping true to herself and finding a unique way to contribute to society and others. She is a perfect example of how what makes you different can make you stronger.
In a world so focused on being normal, be a Luna.
