Untitled - The Secrets of the Mind & Body Shaping

The Path of the Body
The Path of the Body focuses on the
human form. Some Criamon magi believe
that the human body and the universe
refl ect each other structurally, so that
knowing the body illuminates the prison
of time. Others enhance the body as a
tool and as a vehicle for escape from the
universe. The Criamon Path of the Body
is in many ways the inverse of Hermetic
alchemy, which assumes the universe is
perfect and a magus who refl ects it perfectly
will become immortal. Criamon
magi assume that the universe, like each
body, is inevitably decaying.
The fi ve usual stations on the Path
of the Body, in their most common order,
are given below. Some Criamon magi,
however, fi nd the Station of Perfect
Movement second and the Station of
Spiritual Nourishment third. These different
branches of this path correspond
to the attitude of the magus. Those who
see the body as a vessel for the spirit
learn Nourishment fi rst, while those who
see the body in mechanistic terms learn
Movement fi rst. Each type of magus must
learn respect for the opposing view before
he can understand the Microcosmic
Station. If the order is reversed, the
Scripts for the two stations change: a
Major Flaw (Pious) is always gained in the
third avenue.
The followers of the Path of the Body
tend toward practical, useful insights. An
unusually large proportion of the Primi of
the House followed this Path. Primi who
have achieved the Microcosmic Station
on this path are active administrators
under whom the House co-ordinates its
ventures effectively.
tHe avenue of suBduing
tHe Meat and tHe station
of tHe Perfect tool
Several ritual investitures assist magi
to fi nd the fi rst station of the Path of the
Body, each of which is descended from a
different tradition of mystics adopted into
the early House. Those following this
avenue develop control over their bodies’
desires and distractions, usually through
Mystery Cults
The Path of the Body, Expressed Symbolically
The Initiation Scripts for the Path
of the Body are as follows:
tHe avenue of suBduing
tHe Meat and tHe station
of tHe Perfect tool
Target level 21, as Major Virtue
(Minor Potency in an aspect of Corpus,
may use Enigmatic Wisdom in lieu of
Medicine and Chirurgy)
Script Bonus +15: Major Ordeal
comprising three minor Flaws (Vow to
not pollute the body and to use it aptly,
Deleterious Circumstances while ill,
Disfi gured by stigmata) +9, sympathetic
bonus (a complete year cycle as a plant,
or similar) +3, special time and place
(symbolic rebirth) +3
tHe avenue of drinking tHe
Winds of insPiration and tHe
station of sPiritual nourisHMent
See the note in the introductory section
for this path to determine whether
this is gained as the third station and
Perfect Movement as the second.
Target level 12, as Major Virtue 21
(allows characters in high auras to not
eat, drink, or sleep and replaces the longevity
ritual), fi rst Initiation after Major
Ordeal –9
Script Bonus +6: Psychodramatic
visions or confl ict to secure a site (Quest)
+3, special time and place +3
painful mortifi cations, or fatiguing exertions,
that last a year. A handful of magi
have followed this avenue by being transformed
into plants for a year. The avenue
ends with a guide acting as midwife for a
symbolic rebirth.
At the fi rst station of the Path of the
Body, the magus realizes that the body
is the perfect tool for Hermetic magic
because it is adapted for magic, and magic,
in turn, is adapted for it. The magus’s close
inspection of the body allows the development
of Minor Potency in an aspect of
the Art of Corpus. Magi who have found
this station see the intrinsic links between
the body and the magical energies it
wields, and so can use their understanding
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tHe avenue of tHe tiniest seed
and tHe station of Perfect
econoMy of MoveMent
Target level 15, as Major Virtue 21
(perfectly precise movement), second
Initiation after Major Ordeal –6
Script Bonus +9: Major Flaw
(Pious) replaces Minor Flaw (Vow) +6,
Mystagogue’s time +3
tHe avenue of tHe sPHerical
Mirror and tHe station
of tHe MicrocosM
Target level 15, Major Virtue 21
(Arcane Connections to most things),
fi rst Initiation after Intermediate Ordeal
–6
Script Bonus +9: Psychodramatic
Quest +3, Mystagogue’s time +3, special
time and place +3
tHe avenue of rePose in tHe
Body and tHe tHresHold
of corPoreal rePose
Target level 17, Major Virtue 21
(purifi ed of mortal frailties), second
Initiation after Intermediate Ordeal –4
Script Bonus +12: Three Quests to
legendary places +9, special time and
place +3
of magical events to minister to the body.
They may use Enigmatic Wisdom in place
of Chirurgy and Medicine in rolls. They
also know, instinctively, if their body is ill,
and where, although they may not know
the appropriate treatment.
Initiates of this station are bound
by the lifestyle of the House (Vow)
and fi nd it more diffi cult to use their
magic when their body is ill (Deleterious
Circumstances). Some illnesses do not
block certain mystical effects; the usual
example given is that fevers do not restrict
Ignem spells because they are caused by a
surplus of fi ery humors. Wounds do not
prevent magic use, of themselves, but
open the body to infections, which may.