The specific approach that a Practitioner has towards magic.
General[]
A specific approach to magic is called a Practice. It includes beliefs, philosophies, methods, techniques, areas of interest, and so on.[1] There are some underlying principles that are common to all or most Practices, but generally speaking each specific Practice helps determine what a Practitioner can accomplish with magic, how they do it, what limits they have on their magic, and what price they have to pay for it.[2] However, how powerful a Practitioner is seems to be tied to the individual, rather than their Practice.
For example, some Practices allow instant healing of wounds, while others require some sort of price, like taking blood from a donor.[3] Some Practices reject any form of communication with spirits of various forms, while others have established systems around it.[4][5] Several Practices seem to place great limits on the use of magic for money, while others allow it.[6]
A person learning magic may find that they are more or less suited to different Practices.[7] At the same time, Practices are not static. It is often possible to take techniques or approaches from one Practice and apply it to another, though it may require adaptation to lesser or greater extent.[6][8] As an example, wands are used by many Practitioners no matter their original Practice.
Evergreeners[]
A Practice oriented around religion, likely with a nature focus.[9]
Grecians[]
A Practice oriented around religion, likely a revival of Greek or Hellenistic religion and magic.[9]
Hermeticism[]
Hermeticism appears to be the dominant Practice in North America. It has a strong focus on the written word, possibly also on quantifying magic or describing it mathematically. The Brotherhood of Apollo was dominated by hermetics.[1]
It is possible that one reason Hermeticism has become a dominant tradition is that its teachings are well suited for publication in books.[10] Another possibility is that has less strictures around money than other Practices, making it more compatible with capitalism, but there is little direct evidence of that. However, many hermetics appear very well dressed and with ample access to mundane resources. It also seems to be compatible with Christian beliefs, given that Garrison was both a priest and a member of the Brotherhood of Apollo.
It is implied that there are several orders of Hermeticism.[11] How these differ from and relate to each other is unknown. Necromancy might be one such order, or simply a specific area of interest.[1]
See also Hermeticism (wikipedia).
Shamanism[]
A Practice, or group of Practices, with a focus on nature and spirits. The Native circle appears to be dominated by this Practice.[6]
See also Shamanism (wikipedia).
Witchcraft[]
The Practice of Molly and Onyx, it is a largely oral tradition with relatively few Practitioners.[10] Witchcraft straddles the line between religion and magic and includes a belief in reincarnation.[12] It appears to be relatively free-form, but seems to reject most types of contacts with spirits and have strict limits on the use of magic to generate money.[4][6]
They also have a strong focus on balance, where both good and evil acts can come back to the person doing them.[13]
Molly has said that Alex does not fit their practice, but no reason was given. One possibility is that their Practice is female-only, but there is no concrete evidence.[14]
Kashvi referred to witchcraft as “petty tricks of herbs and astrology”.[11]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Personal Demons, chapter 5
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 23
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 10
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Personal Demons, chapter 11
- ↑ “Outsourced”
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 “Authenticity”
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 15
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 4
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Personal Demons, chapter 7
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 “Legitimacy”
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Past Due, chapter 25
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 10
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 12
- ↑ “More Than Friends”