W
ILL powers all things. With our WILL we able to understand that reality is not a rigid shape, but more like a bowl of water.Reality
What is Reality? Or what is meant by the term Reality?
Reality then, in truth, becomes an oxymoron.
Reality, or what is real and what is not, is completely defined by those who experience it. Or in other words, there are no objective truths. What is real can change from day to day or even moment to moment.
It is not that reality is an illusion; it's that reality is not independent of external influences. Much the same way that man can BE one way today and tomorrow he could be another. If man was unable to be influenced by external factors, then he would be unchanging. He would always be one way. Man is not though. He bends and sways, reacts and acts, moves and feels; all based on what is acting on him. The same holds true for everything else; trees, rocks, rivers, the sky, the stars. Reality is no
different, it is not special, nor is an exception to the some rule.
What is meant by saying that Reality can change? What can change from day to day, technically nothing, Reality is fluid. What changes are whether or not actions are valid due to the perceptions of mankind. Mankind has placed certain rules into existence; these rules forbid certain causes and effects from happening.
When it's mentioned that Reality has changed or that you can change Reality, it is meant as Reality as is defined now. These changes are the adding of causes and/or effects. These causes/effects will generally "invoke the supernatural" (as in throwing fireballs down Main Street America), however, they can be as mundane as warming your cup of coffee on a cold December morning. Changes in Reality are made possible by the application of a person's WILL. How?
WILL
In, Magick without Tears, Aleister Crowley defines Magick as the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with WILL.
WILL is that internal force which connects us to the external world. Our senses are then aspects of our WILL. We tend to see/taste/hear/etc. that which we want to. That which is seen/tasted/heard/etc. is different from person to person even though all might experience the same event. When focused, our perception of events can shape the event itself in much the same way our perception shaped our experience of the event.
"WILL-ing" something is much more than wishing for something. WILL and belief are intimately bound to each other. Belief that is channeled through WILL is then brought forth to take form in the external world. The application of WILL can then be explained as an act of empowering belief. Not your head nodding "I can belief it" type, but the grounded in the root of you soul type. One in which you would be truly surprised if it were not honestly so.
Once a person BELIEVES that Reality is fluid, then they are able to affect it. How these changes are manifested is dependant upon our perception of the changes we are making.
Magick: The art that purports to control or forecast natural
events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural. The
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
Reality: That which is real; an actual existence; that
which is not imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has objective existence, and is not merely an idea. - Webster's Definition
"When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things."
Magick
Applied, WILL can accomplish great effects. These effects are brought on by several different means.
Visualization Magick
Visualization Magick is a tool to bring about a particular effect that is powered by the WILL. Those individuals who manifest such Magick have only begun to awaken the true potential of the WILL. Unfortunately most never fully awaken it though. They remain fixed in their belief that Magick IS the way that they believe it is.
A Visualization Magician is limited to one simple rule, his effects have to be visualized in his mind, hence the name. This is not some rule imposed upon them from on high. However, because most of the time only the effect is visualized the cause is left to the WILL to fill in.
Properties of Visualization Magick
Visualization Magick requires assistance from symbols, props, and semantics to aid in visualization.
Visualization Magick requires that the magician visualize the outcome, this then is powered by the WILL and generates the desired effect. The potency of this Magick depends directly on the person’s ability to visualize. Visualization Magick is not instantaneous.
Because generally only the outcome is visualized, often the effect appears coincidental to the common observer (i.e.; a person uses Visualization Magick to gain money, they often visualize themselves with the money, the effect is produced by an uncle dieing who has left them tons of money). The player has no control over the cause.
Visualization Magick Skills
When choosing Visualization Magick as a skill, there are many different styles to choose from. One is free to experiment with the different styles given explainable reasons (a Wiccan can have hermetic skills, an Alchemist might know Hermetic Magick, etc.), although to learn more than one skill, a character should have an exception story as to why. Remember that this is about realism and not about min-maxing. Most Wiccan are not Alchemists. However, Wiccan do divinations, Hermetics can be skilled in Alchemy, and so on.
Magickal Subskills List: Alchemy
The art of transforming one substance into another. This has historically been applied to the pursuit of transforming lead into gold; however, it also applies to the creation of potions, talismans and such.
Divination
Divination is the art of telling of events that might or have already happened from signs delivered to either the diviner or someone else.
Subskills: Tarot, Rune, Ouija, Tea Leaves
Ritual
Rituals are an indirect application of WILL. They take certain verbal or mechanical components to bring about a particular effect. They can be simple in application (such as the LBRP) or complex, sometimes requiring several nights to complete (such as anything from Abramelin).
Subskills: Wiccan Ritual, Hermetic (Ceremonial) Ritual,
Vodun Ritual Scry
Scrying involves gaining knowledge of events that transpiring at another location. Sometimes the Scryer needs a portal into which to view the happenings of elsewhere, others can simply "see" them in their minds. Those who with "Clair" abilities are those closest to using their True WILL.
Subskills: Mirror, Water, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance,
Clairsentience Requirements
For a character to possess Visualization Magick they must have a WILL of 1 or greater and any Magickal Theory that supports Magick (such as God/Goddess, Cabilist, etc.).
True Magick
True Magick is another tool to bring about a particular effect that is powered by the WILL. Those individuals who manifest such Magick have been awakened to full the potential of their WILL. They are aware of the limitless possibilities that the WILL possesses.
A True Magician is not limited by any means in their application of WILL. So long as his WILL is strong enough, the magician can produce any effect desired. Reality is still shaped by the static beliefs of mankind at
Note: The progression of a character toward True
Magick and Enlightenment should be wrought with peril, adversity and uncertainty, as well as, victory, triumph and understanding. Enlightenment is supposed to represent a characters understanding of the True Nature of Reality. This should be understood as an "earth shaking" event and characters should react appropriately.
this time, so any Magick, even True Forms, must overcome the static belief in the area of effect.
Properties of True Magick
Through True Magick effects are WILL’ed into existence instantly. If the True Magician wants to magickally produce money he simply WILLS it into existence or he could rationalize it however he wishes in order to disguise his abilities.
True Magick requires no assistance from props, vocabulary or imagination, a True Magician WILLS effects into existence. The casual observer would never even know who created the effects.
True Magick has no limits to the effects that it can produce (i.e.; it can raise the dead, it can cause day to become night, etc.). Albeit that it still has to overcome the static reality of the area, but at least it is feasible. All the effects from Visualization Magick are available to True Magicians. However, if a True Magician started out with Visualization Magick, he will simply abandon those practices (except for purposes of theatrics, but the Magick is still pure WILL).
The difference between a Visualization Magician and a True Magician is
1. True Magicians COMMAND their WILLS 2. Visualization Magicians BEG their WILLS True Magick Skills
Because True Magick is the direct application of WILL, there are no skills for its use, only WILL itself. When a character gains the ability to use True Magick, just note it on the character sheet as a Gift - "True Magick". Requirements
For a character to possess True Magick they must have a WILL of 6 or more and be Enlightened (see the section on Enlightenment).
Enlightenment
What is imparted upon an individual upon Enlightenment? What secrets are they now privy to? Are they better than the rest of humanity? What is the process like? When do you get to claim Enlightenment?
Enlightened Journey
The road to enlightenment can be described in many ways, mainly because it can take place in many ways. For
some it is an inward journey of self discovery, for some they achieve it spontaneously and still for others it arrives posthumously. In the game, this should also be a personal experience tailored specifically for each individual.
In doing so, Sages must have a clear understanding of each character’s motivations, philosophy, psychology and mental state.
Once Enlightened, a character understands that Reality is fluid and dynamic. A character may have knowledge of Reality years before becoming Enlightened, but knowledge and understanding are not one in the same. It is this difference which separates the Enlightened from the masses.
Game Mechanics
When a character’s WILL is 6 or greater, they may attempt to reach Enlightenment. To do so, they must make a WILL roll (Perception + Intuition + WILL) with a difficulty of 32 (Difficult). Success means that the character may now claim as their Magickal Theory, Enlightened.
“The condition of an enlightened mind is a surrendered heart.” Alan Redpath
"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
Failure can be interpreted that they are just not quite there mentally yet. In order make another attempt, the something within the character has to change. This change must involve a process (lasting a minimum of one month) in which the character reexamines their beliefs and grows from the process.
Examples
• Talk with a person who had reached Enlightenment. • Make some extended physical gesture (i.e., fast, sweat
lodge, etc.). Can be multiple gestures or even more than one instance of the same gesture during the month.
• Gain some additional knowledge (such as from an
ancient text).
• Quite solitude devoted to contemplating the mysteries of
the universe.
After having completed the “trials” they may again attempt to reach Enlightenment. The difficulty is the same as the first (or previous) attempt(s): 32 (Difficult).
What does it mean to be Enlightened? Once a character reaches Enlightenment, what then? Basically, as the old The Bodhisattva Vows translate:
• However innumerable sentient beings there are, I vow to save them
• However inexhaustible the defilements are, I vow to extinguish them
• However immeasurable the truth is, I vow to expound it
• However incomparable enlightenment is, I vow to attain it!
The method that the character seeks to fulfill these lofty ideals with is a personal choice. Some feel that mankind's best method of salvation is Enlightenment, others feel that mankind needs parent figures to tell them what is best and yet others feel that whatever does not kill mankind makes them stronger. These are the basis for the three factions of Enlightened Beings.
More is discussed about the duties, responsibilities and restrictions of Enlightenment in the section dealing with True Magick Effects.
True Enlightenment
Once a character reaches Enlightenment, their journey is not over. Far from it, their journey has just begun in earnest. If Enlightenment grants the characters access to the truths of the universe, True Enlightenment is what a character receives after understanding these Truths. Until that point the characters are still changing, learning and growing.
True Enlightenment is the prerequisite step just prior to becoming an Enlightened Being. This is a non-playable feature. Characters should strive to reach it, but it should be the unobtainable goal. Not for torture but for game play. [Future updates will address this further]