This journal was begun in Summer, 1360 A.A. (Summer, 1221 A.D.).
"Learn magic, for it is the only truth of this reality. Become magic, and you will become the essence of truth. Fear not what others call the Twilight, for that realm of dim illumination is not dusk, but is, in fact, dawn."
- Criamon, the Founder
It has occurred to me that it may be of interest to me, in the future, to be able to clearly recall the events of my past without resort to excessively cluttered palaces of memory. I have therefore elected to keep a journal. May it be of interest to you, whomsoever it is that reads this.
During the season of Summer in this 1360th year of Aries my sodales Rene, Quintus, and Phoca travelled to Manumittere Per Vis, the covenant of my socius Constantine, in order to attend the meeting of the Tribunal. I elected to remain behind, given my vow to not participate in political affairs. I entrusted my sigil to my sodales asking only that they use it only when the three of them agreed on an issue. I felt that this was sufficient to ensure that it was not misused.
While my sodales were away, I spent my time in the library reading "On The Revealing Of Secrets". The book was most informative and my time was spent productively. I know feel that I should be able to comprehend the pervulsions involved in learning the Sight of the the Active Magics spell that is contained in "Magic Revealed". This spell will be of significant use in my investigations of magical phenomenon.
When my sodales returned the members of the covenant gathered in the hall to hear the news and to learn what exchanges of texts had been arranged. Thankfully, Quintus and Rene has managed not to traffic any of our vis supply. We were told that we were to receive new texts on Perdo, Corpus, Ignem, and Terram in exchange for copies of "On The Revealing Of Secrets" and "On The Workings Of The Mind" which is Quintus' work on Mentem. Phoca also mentioned that Rene and Quintus had had an argument before the Tribunal regarding the Jerbiton tradition of "larta magi". It appears that Quintus had not heard of this tradition before the Tribunal, when three larta "apprentices" where to be announced as "magi". I must confess here that I had not given the tradition much thought myself, but I did find that I personally agreed with Quintus position. The origin of this "larta" tradition seems to be predicated on the political machinations that seem to plague our great Order and I am not predisposed to support such things. Rene, of course, disagreed with Quintus and the two quarrelled. I found Rene's arguments, when they were restated to us, to be uncompelling. It appears that the Tribunal agreed and there has been a decision to not recognise any more "larta" magi within the Tribunal. The Jerbiton magi of Mont-Sainte-Genevieve, who had "gauntleted" these "magi" declared that they were to take this issue to the Grand Tribunal in seven years, and the matter was closed. Somewhat interesting, although I believe that such wastes of time are the ultimate product of the intersection of magi and politics, and that such intersections should be avoided at all costs. Sadly, my views do not appear to be widely held.
Once the reports from the Tribunal had been heard, the conversation was given over to discussion about how to restructure the covenant charter to more fairly and directly apportion duties and privileges. Both Orfeo and Phoca departed shortly into this discussion however. I suspect that both of them will accept whatever is arrived at, whether or not they will actually undertake and tasks to benefit the covenant remains to be seen. The council ended after a brief reignition of the "larta magi" argument.
Somewhat later in the season I was able to observe a sight that I had hitherto not been able to observe. It transpires that Rene had married Maria, the vis-hunter that had alerted us to the supply of Perdo vis in the leperosarium. It is interesting what goes on when one is not paying attention. In any event, it also transpired that Rene had caused Maria to become pregnant, in the usual mundane fashion I might add. The child was born in the summer, although not without some complications. Rene was required to enlarge Maria in order that the child be extracted without injury to either party. I exerted my magic to return Maria to the conventional size after the proceedings since Rene's understanding of Muto Corpus magic exceeds his of Perdo Vim. I observed the procedure with magically assisted sight, but saw no evidence of anything unusual, so far as I am aware. There was, at least, no infernal, faerie, divine, or magical interference. I examined the child, which is male, for any inkling of the Gift, but it appears that it has not yet become evident. I spoke briefly with Rene, who seemed rather pleased with the whole matter, which is to be anticipated from one like him, regarding the matter of magical ceremonies. He seemed to be in favour of some ritual involving the naming and inundating of the child. I specified to him certain rituals that were specified in the texts of the ancients and he seemed interested to perform them as well. I neglected to mention to Rene that these rituals were still practiced by my socii in the Cult since I am unsure of his tolerance for "pagan" ideas despite his own command of the magical arts.
I returned to my study of Intellego for the rest of the season and paused only to write this first entry before attending to the solistice rites. I completed the rites alone again, since I have yet to invite any of my sodales to join me. I am unsure if they would be interested in any event, they seem at times to be frightfully uneducated about important magical matters such as these.
This season was free from interruptions. As a consequence I was able to devote myself to a preliminary reading of "The Essence of Unmaking", the summa on Perdo that my socii were able to obtain at the Tribunal. A most fascinating work, and probably worth a year or so of further study.''
Another fortunately uneventful season. I observed the normal ceremonies and spent the rest of the time making more indepth readings of "The Essence of Unmaking". Messengers from Ad Vis Per Veritas and Manumittere Per Vis arrived bearing with them copies of the promised books, and bearing away copies of those we had offered. I missed the messenger from Ad Vis Per Veritas, but sent a brief note to my fellow thaisotas Constantine regarding the ceremony for Spring.
I had decided that I would use this year to increae my comprehension of Bonisagus' theories on the Hermetic Arts. I had procured the summa created by the magus Brecca, an elder of the covenant who has since achieved salvation. This book "The Essence of Magic" was most informative and very well written, a pleasure to read from. It was almost sad to have to set it aside in order to make my travels to the normal location set aside for the rites of Lemuria and Mercury's Day. The other thaisotai found my deeds worthy enough and I was able to participate in the rite, and so I again strengthened my ties to the Magical Realm. I returned swiftly, using the Cloak, and I estimate that I will have finished with Brecca's fine book by the time the autumnal constellations begin to rise.
And so I have finished Brecca's summa. It seems a shame to have done so. If only I could read it again. I will go on with his study on the aurae that surround the covenant now, I do believe.
Brecca's tractatus on the local aurae is a most illuminating piece of writing. I am glad that I was able to speak with him though as it certainly was of aid in clarifying a few points. I am going to have to carry on his work, I can see, I will attempt it from a teurgic perspective though. Perhaps I can learn new insights and build on his work by adjuring and conversing with the genius locus that surely must reside in such a powerful and interesting system of interlocking aurae.
I elected to attempt something somewhat different to my normal course of study this season. I enclosed myself in my sanctum and gave those in charge of preparing the foods for the members of the covenant strict instructions. I then devoted myself to an intensive practice of the various rituals of adjuration that I know. I did not complete these rituals, I only sought to insure that my ability to devote my attentions to these often arduous procedures was absolute. I plan to complete a course of vigourous adjurations once I have determined the formulae needed to call forth Pukis' socii and I wished to be well prepared for it. I am pleased to say that I feel that the exercise was a success. It was not without its trials though and, useful though it was, it is not wise to tax one's fragile and all to mundane flesh to often. Perhaps again in three winter's time?
Extract Vim vis. Perform 'Salvation's Progress'.
Go to visit the Cathedral in Vannes. Horribly terrify the partially-Gifted deacon there. Go and get some Christian books from the monks at Redon Abbey.
Write a commentary on MT. Copies of 'The Bible' and 'Twelve Years in a Monastery' arrive. Go out and punish kidnappers and destroy some nasty demonic types in Landrador?.
Write a summa on Vim.
Gloss the Chaldean Oracles.
Study Chaldean Oracles. Salvation's Progress.
Study Chaldean Oracles.
Research Hungis.
Invent Hungis.
Research Ferris. Salvation's Progress.
Invent Ferris.
Research Authis.
Invent Authis.
Study On the Revealing of Secrets. Salvation's Progress. Unleashing the Mind Initiation Ordeals.
Study On the Revealing of Secrets.