Memoria Viam

This spell is unique to the witch Bella of the Wilds. She's perfected it over the years and it allows her to link her mind with another in order to retrieve repressed or forgotten memories. The ritual must be done in a calm, quiet environment because any distractions could ruin the spell. The target finds a comfortable position to rest in and is given an acorn to hold through the duration of the spell and its associated ritual. A candle is lit and held by the caster, providing a light in the darkness of the target's mind.
A red candle is used when retrieving memories, good or bad, that have been repressed by trauma. This ritual should not be undertaken by anyone who isn't absolutely sure that they want to confront what they've forgotten. A white candle is used in mild cases of memory retrieval, such as forgetfulness caused by a mental illness or an injury like a concussion. Memory problems caused by physical means, such as a traumatic brain injury or blood loss, are much harder to work with, but not impossible.
Memoria Viam paints a road map of the target's mind, allowing the caster to wander through their memories once their minds are linked. It's a way for a witch to untangle the knots left behind by traumatic circumstances, allowing the memories to be processed properly to aid in the target's healing process. In the case of non-traumatic memories, there's only a bit of clean-up to do in their minds before it's restored. While the spell sounds easy, it takes a strong heart to cast it as the caster will bare witness to those painful, traumatic experiences themselves.
Once the memory retrieval is complete, the ritual is concluded with a glass of cranberry juice. There's nothing magical to it, it's strictly for symbolic reasons. In some instances, a target may need to undergo the spell multiple times before the retrieval becomes permanent. This spell doesn't prevent future memory loss.

Effect

Memory retrieval.

Side/Secondary Effects

Exhaustion affects both the target and the caster when the spell's successful. The longer it takes to retrieve the memories, the more tired the target feels. If the target falls asleep during the ritual, the caster is thrust out of that person's mind, leaving both with a serious migraine. The candle can act as a signal; if it burns bright, the caster is in the clear to continue with the ritual. If the flame begins to die, it's best to end the spell before the target falls unconscious.
A failed attempt at this spell can lead to possible memory loss, specifically a memory that is connected to the repressed one that's being retrieved. While the effect isn't permanent, it does present another obstacle in the retrieval process of the ritual, making it much harder to cast on that target.

Manifestation

The spell manifests with the sweet smell of cooked cranberries and brown sugar. The light in the immediate area dims substantially, allowing the candle to be the sole provider of comfortable lighting. The spell radiates a faint warmth as well.

Source

The magic behind this particular spell is drawn from the Feywilds, specifically from the domain of Artiana Aphrona. This isn't known though and those with access to this spell believe it to be powered by their spiritual connection to nature and the creatures that reside alongside of them.

Related Deity/Higher Power

Artiana Aphrona

Related Organizations

• The Grayveils

Material Components

A white or red candle to light the way, an acorn for the target to hold for good luck, a glass of cranberry juice for health and peace of mind.

Gestures & Ritual

The only phrase needed during the ritual is, "Mind's eyes wander.", which is to be said as the candle is being lit.

Related School

Divination

Effect Duration

Permanent

Effect Casting Time

1 to 2 hours

Range

Touch

Level

Expert

Applied Restriction

It's an incredibly rare spell that can only be tapped into by those with an unusually powerful sixth sense. The knowledge of its existence isn't known to many, so memoria viam continues to lie in obscurity.

by Jessica Delp