ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Introduction by Anders Sandberg

This is yet another writeup of the hermetic paradigm, based on the Aristotelian theory of True Forms. I post it on behalf of H.B. DesChenes, who wrote most of it (I added the bit about Spirit, Time and Arete on the end). Strictly speaking, it is the Platonic theory of True Forms.

The Aristotelian Paradigm

Many members of The Order of Hermes put great stock in the Platonic concept of Forms. In this paradigm, there exists a world of ideal Forms, where every concept exists in its entirety as a tangible thing. Good, Evil, Beauty, Dog, Social Contract, Redness, Pi, the number 5 all exist as Forms, not representations of such ideas. Their magick would reflect such belief.

Correspondence

The world exists as representations of true Forms of ideas (consensual reality, sort of) and sympathetic magick works through relations to these Forms. A model of a place aids in scrying the worldy location by accessing its Form. The more alike two things are, the closer they exist in ideal Form. The world of the Form is the Correspondence Point.

Entropy

Entropy is the force that breaks down the ideal Form to the less than ideal reality. Randomness and decay diffuse Forms into representations the way a prism separates pure light. Entropy is also a manifestation of the ideal Lack of Form, or Nothingness. It opposes the Forms and the Primum Mobile. It does provide ever-changing possibilities and infinite variations of an individual Form.

Forces

The forces of nature empower the Forms and are the most sublime representation of the Primum Mobile. Forces, as one of the Pattern Magicks, is both a building block and a product of the Forms. Forces animate what would otherwise be a stagnant world. As the purest expression of the Prime Mover, Forces are among the most powerful spheres, have profound direct effects on physical objects and are most likely the key to understanding the True Forms and the Prime Mover.

Life

This is the most intricate synthesis of the Pattern Magicks, existing somewhere between Forces and Matter. The Order of Hermes are skilled in healing magicks, as they can conceive of the ideal Form of a living body and bring the representation of such a body closer to it. However, by working in the opposite direction, strange, mutated creatures can be conjured or horrible wounds can be inflicted (with the assistance of Entropy in order to bring the body away from the ideal Form.)

Matter

Matter is the simplest of Pattern Magicks. After one learns of the Forms of physical objects, they can be created or modified with ease. The Scientific "Laws" of Conservation oppose the Order's beliefs of matter; thus Matter magi remain subject to great paradox flaws and backlashes. Note that physical objects can be restored by viewing their ideal Form, as described in Life.

Mind

Mind is the tool that allows one to percieve the Forms. The realm of Forms is infinite and all thought exists there as tangible things (vide Mt. Qaf of the Ahl-i-Batin. I assume that OoH mages are desperately searching for the Realm of Forms somewhere in the Tellurian.). The Order disputes the possibility of the Mind being responsible for the existance of the Forms, or if the world of the Form would exist without the Mind. Either way, it still allows for a consensual reality, albeit a limited concept of one.

Prime

See Primum Mobile in any philosophical text.

Spirit

Spirits are beings closer to the Forms. That doesn't make them holier, they are just more pure than humans who are trapped far from the Forms. Demons are closer to the Forms of Evil and Imbalance, while Angels are closer to Good and elementals to the Forms of their elements. The same is true for the various Realms, which are intermediate levels of existence between the World of Illusions and the pure Forms. It is possible, but unlikely, that there could be beings and realms even further away from the Forms. One such realm would be the Digital Web, which is essentially one big illusion.

Time

The Form of Time is one of the most powerful forces in our world, holding absolute dominion over everything material. It is one of the greatest illusions, making us percieve the world as changing while it really is the product of the immovable Forms. By learning the sphere of Time, a mage can manipulate this illusion and the temporal ordering of the physical forms.

In this paradigm, Arete represents the understanding of the Forms a mage has achieved. The better the understanding, the greater power and also greater self-insight. The Avatar is simply the Form of the mage, which seeks to guide him back into purity by showing him the nature of the world and teaching him valuable lessons.