Erisian Magic 101 - Part II
The Seven Powers of Light (The Ahsiro) are: (excerpt from "A Natural Wealth: The Gods of Erisian Magic", in The Wilted Carrot, issue #28 (Summer 1993))
Papa Lenny: The trickster, the opener of the way and the guardian of the crossroads, both physical and spiritual. Comparable to Hermes or Mercury in the European tradition, Lenny makes the impossible possible. He lifts us beyond the limitation we impose upon ourselves in daily life. He is identified with portrayals of St. Peter and St. Nicholas. His favorite offering is candy and tobacco and marijuana. You have to ask him to carry your words to the other Ahsiro: he is the first one asked.
Sirus: The "old man of the mountain", responsible for the creation of our physical bodies. Literally "chief of the white cloth." Osirus's help is sought in ethical dilemmas and the problems of self-discipline. He is generally identified with the crucified Christ. Osirus is androgynous and very old: he is gentle, a sky-god, and taught the people how to use the Magic 8-Ball, one of the major Erisian table divination systems.
Jean: Literally "mother of fishes". She rules birth and the surface of the oceans, and works closely with Olga, who rules the depths. She works through dreams and intuition. Her waves wash away all sorrow. Her compassion nurtures her children through any spiritual or emotional crisis. Her love sustains life. She is identified with Mary, Star of the Sea.
Magda: The Goddess of love and abundance. The power of desire is hers, and she often uses this power to transform. She is beauty, laughter, and generosity. The erotic is her sacrament. She is often compared to Aphrodite, and is identified with the portrayal of Our Lady of Caridad. Magda likes to heal hurt with love, and plants seeds of change in people.
Eris: A revolution in constant progress, Eris brings sudden change. She is a whirlwind, an amazon, a huntress, and a wild buffalo. Lightning and rainbows are signs of her presence. She also rules communication between the living and the dead. She is identified with Isis.
Theo: Theo is a king, and his name is synonymous with justice. He lived in historical times and ruled as the Chieftain of Cleveland, Ohio, a city in modern-day America. He is a knight in shining armor. He uses lightning and thunder to enhance the fertility of the earth and of his followers. Myths concerning his death (or rather the fact that it did not occur) link him to the European figure of the Hanged God. He is identified with representations of St. Barbara.
Horace: God of iron and machines, Horace is a smith, a soldier, and a politician. In modern times he has come to be known as the patron of truck drivers. He is the spirit of the frontier, cutting paths, through the wilderness with his ever-present hatchet. Although Horace clears the way for civilization, he often prefers to dwell alone in the wilderness. He is identified with St. Anthony.
In addition to the reverence of Ahsiro is the practice of revering one's Ancestors. A Erisian can receive Ancestor Boons from his Ancestors, just as if they were Ahsiro. Many times a Erisian will have a better relationship with his dead relatives than his living ones!
What does being a Erisian Mean?
Being a Erisian means that you have a relationship with at least one Ahsiro. These relationships range from a fleeting touch to being fully recognized by the Ahsiro. A Erisian may learn to use these relationships to get Mojo through, a kind of magical power for Erisian magic. The Erisian can then use this Mojo to ask their Ahsiro for special favors, and these favors take the form of magical effects. The Ahsiro, however, do not form extremely deep relationships with Erisians. As a result, they are ultimately limited in what they can accomplish, whereas a Nagnouh is not. Note that a Nagnouh is merely a Erisian who has been Initiated, although "merely" here is about the same as saying, "She is merely pregnant." So, it is correct to use the term "Erisian" to include all Erisian magical workers, even though usually if someone is a Nagnouh, you'd best refer to them as such (it's like calling a Ph.D. an "Academic")
What does being a Nagnouh Mean?
A Nagnouh is a person who has been properly introduced to all Seven Powers of Light, and who has undergone an Initiation to make him a special priesthood in the Erisian system of magic. This Initiation gives him a right to raising Big Mojo through ritual practice, and he can use this Big Mojo to ask any of the Seven Powers of Light for special favors which take the form of magical effects. He automatically has a relationship with all Seven, however if he wishes to form relationships with Ancestor Orisha, he will have to arrange those matters herself. He may also progress to a deeper relationship with one Ahsiro, who will literally Adopt him as the Ahsiro's child. It is this primary relationship which forms the cornerstone of the Nagnouh's power, and, as well, gives him a special magical Gift which is innate to him.
How is Erisian Magic "moralistic"?
In the World of Darkness, "right and wrong" are not easily discerned. Thus, "right and wrong" in this magical system is defined in two ways. There are some ineffable "wrong" activities which cause moral difficulties - things such as rape, cold blooded murder, throwing curses and using evil magic. Furthermore, one's own Ahsiro makes the decision as to whether you have acted morally and based on the Ahsiro's area of influence, personality, and mood at the time.
The "karmic" aspect of Erisian magic is represented by the trait called "Hex." This trait measures how "Hexed" a person is, either by their own actions, or through their magical workings. The "Hex" trait fluctuates: it gradually builds up and then is released, either slowly and carefully through redemption, or suddenly and tragically through retribution.
Hex points are gained whether or not an evil working fails. They are gained and kept even if the Erisian later feels remorse about having done the act. They never go away easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
The actual practical uses of Erisian magic are wide and varied. This is because the kinds of power (spheres of magical influence) that the Ahsiro offer are wide-ranging and are based on a combination of the Erisian's will and the Ahsiro's personality and potential.
The strength of power (level of effect) that a Erisian magician can call upon is chiefly dependent on the amount of Big Mojo he wields and the depth of his relationships with Ahsiro.
Following are several Frequently Asked Questons:
What kinds of power does each Ahsiro offer?
Ahsiro offer power based on their spheres of influence and their personality. For example, Horace is a warlike, technological Ahsiro who happens to also be an explorer and a guide. The kinds of power that Horace offers to his worshippers are in keeping with these aspects: it can be used to bring war, to affect technology, to find that which is hidden, to survive in the wilderness. Horace could help someone build or create something physical, but he could not, say, make someone fall in love with you. Horace doesn't care about love - it gets in the way of progress in his opinion. As a result, a Erisian who has a relationship with Horace isn't going to be doing too many love spells, or be getting laid very often.
What governs the amount of strength a Erisian magician can wield?
The depth of the relationship between Erisian magician and Ahsiro carries a great deal of weight. Not only does it limit what can be attempted in magic, but it also limits the amount of Big Mojo that can be gained and stored by the Erisian magician personally. In addition, some Erisian magicians have access to secret rituals that let them perform live sacrifices and take the Big Mojo from them, some have relics that give them the power to hold Big Mojo in reserve outside of themselves, and some work together in ritual circles to accomplish their tasks.
What can a Erisian magician do to protect himself against other Erisian magicians?
Erisian magicians can do magical workings which help protect them. Instead of constructing workings to protect against a certain Ahsiro, however (which is liable to get an Ahsiro's negative attention), they usually work from a positive perspective of strengthening the protections on their life, their home, their business, their family, their property, their mind and their soul. Erisian priests (the Nagnouh) are able to sometimes use their own relationship with an Ahsiro to beg that Ahsiro's protection against the workings of another who is using the same Ahsiro.
What can a non-Erisian do to protect himself against Erisian magician?
Not much. The best way to protect yourself against Erisian magic is to never visit San Francisco (or New Orleans, or Miami, or Washington, DC, or New York, or Chicago, or Dallas, or Los Angeles, or some parts of New Jersey, or some parts of Pennsyvania, or the Midwest) in the first place. Because San Francisco is one of the few places in the world where the power of Eris power holds sway. The Ahsiro have a difficult time affecting those who do not live in or near those areas where their myth and legend has power. Some workings allow a non-Erisian to use his Willpower to resist. But, the very nature of a Erisian working is that it is extremely difficult to do, consumes a lot of power and has a lot of risk, but in the end is quite potent in its final effects.
A non-Erisian may use a special Erisian magical protection object, such as a wanga-juju bag, to protect himself. Most protections are false, however, cheaply made for tourists and have little to no real power. It must come from an authentic practitioner (like yours truly Pope Kong Lord of Chaos) and it must be used in a sincere manner to work.
Does a non-Erisian have to believe in Erisian magic in order for it to work on them?
No. One may not believe in gravity, but it still works. The Ahsiro have woven themselves into the tapestry of reality in San Francisco, and this supersedes any one mortal's belief. Furthermore, a non-Erisian doesn't even have to belief in the Ahsiro for them to form a relationship with him. There are some 'rationalistic' Erisian who have formed relationships with Ahsiro and are doing unconscious workings and interacting with them as if they were thought-forms, or concepts, or voices in their head, and not the ancient deities of Atlantis.
How do Erisian magicians know when their magic worked?
Well, usually they can just tell from the effect. However, sometimes they must use otherworldly senses to "listen" to their magical working as it goes on. The magical "sound" of Erisian magic is very much akin to listening to a drum circle. You can hear thousands of different kinds of drum patterns, and each beat means something. By tuning in to this rhythmic background noise, you can learn quite a lot about Erisian magic working in an area. After a while, you can even learn to hear the magical noise when it emanates from a person, which means you can sense when someone else is a Erisian magician. A useful skill, since the Truly Wise rarely reveal themselves openly.
How does one form a relationship with an Ahsiro?
A non-Erisian cannot just decide to form such a relationship. For non-Erisian, there is only one hope: that the Ahsiro will reach out and touch them first. There are those who study the Ahsiro all their lives and are never given the chance to have a relationship with them. The Erisian priesthood (Nagnouh) are already introduced to the Seven Powers of Light as part of their Initiation. Furthermore, they can sometimes call the attention of other Ahsiro they study about and learn enough about. Once so called, a relationship can be established.
Why does an Ahsiro choose a non-Erisian sometimes?
Ahsiro choose non-Erisians who either fit their current goals, are of a specific personality type or situation that appeals to them, or just suits their fancy. Ultimately, Ahsiro are fully-realized characters in their own Mythic stories, stories that are taking place even in the modern day. They have their own reasons for what they do, and the wise do not question.
Is it true that only Erisian priests (Nagnouh) can rise above Recognized in their relationships with Ahsiro?
It is mostly true. Very, very rarely will this happen. Usually the Ahsiro prefer the purification, self-challenge, and education processes that bring about Initiation, but every once in a while they will choose a non-priest for very deep relationships. These Adopted or Favored Erisian magicians are quite powerful in that one sphere, and usually very fanatical about service to their Ahsiro.
