The circle of life is a journey that we all must travel. We all experience what it is like to try new and adventurous paths. With these paths we learn that there is right and wrong, and there are consequences to every action. In A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin we travel with Ged as he goes through his journeys, and we get to see how every decision he makes will be a vital one in his journey of growing and maturing into adulthood. Ged is a young wizard who is anxious to use his powers before he knows the true meaning of the knowledge and balance that go with these powers.
During Ged's early years he was very eager to learn about his power. Ged's aunt, who is his first teacher, introduces him into the world of magic. Ged's aunt also does not know the meaning of her power. She has a spell for every circumstance, and with every spell she would have to weave another to counteract her previous one. Ged, trying to show what he could do, used a spell of Fogweaving and overspent his power, which led to him not being able to speak, eat, or sleep. When Ogion the Mage of Re Albi and a great and wise wizard heard about this he wished to make Ged his apprentice as soon as possible, "For to keep dark the mind of the mageborn, that is a dangerous thing" (p14). .
Ogion becomes Ged's second teacher and tries to teach him that he must first learn the meaning behind his power and even more importantly, he must learn how to use his power correctly. Ogion wants to teach Ged about patience by showing him that he must first learn about herbs and where they come from before he uses them, but Ged does not understand this. Ged wonders "what was the good of having power if you were too wise to use it - (p18). Ged felt that he was not learning what he wanted to learn, so he made a decision to go to the Roke School of Wizardry, for he was sure he would learn more there. .
Throughout Ged's journey in life, he is taught about the importance of the balance of power, and how important it is to use this power with the knowledge of the consequences that come with this power.
