Ok, Ready? Inhale through your nose and exhale slowly, that's it, notice how the air flows through your nose, how your muscles relax, you're doing very well. Now notice how the magic begins to flow through your body, do you feel it, Claire?
I don't notice anything at all
Concentrate, sis, just concentrate!!
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Meditation as a form of relaxation
Meditation as a form of relaxation is a very old tradition. Elves were the first ones to practice it, and they say that the gods themselves thought them the techniques. Due to contacts with them, some human civilizations adopted this custom.
The Ammarites, one of the
Elven Schools of Magic and Thought recommended meditation not only as a form of magic training but as a form of relaxing from everyday life and as a way of connecting with nature, one of the main focus of their philosophy.
For example the Seris adopted this custom after their first contact with the elves south of them, and later on, it became one of the essential features of
Yemuism.
Some monastic orders or communities belonging to the
Reformed Church also practice meditation both as a form of relaxation and also as a way of connecting with the gods. Some believed this tradition was incorporated into this faith from Yemuism, since the father of the Monasticism of the reformed Church was a former Yemuist Seris converted to the teachings of the prophet, St. Ghaspar.
Meditation as a form of regenerating magic
Elves also use meditation as a form of regenerating their magic and also as a form of magical training. Elves, especially those who use magic constantly, meditate at least once a week in order to regenerate their mana.
For example, in
Unhelion and in the Kingdom of the
Snow Elves there are communal meditation sessions in temples, these sessions are done before or after prayer time.
Meditation as a form of magical training and regenerating mana is also present in Yemuism and its a key ritual in everyday life for the followers of this Seris faith. In his teachings, Yemu advises his disciples that anyone who wants to master magic for good should meditate at least once a day, if not once a month. In this meditation, the faithful must not only concentrate on making their magic flow, but must also be fully aware of the magical energy that surrounds them. They must also reflect on their behavior and on whether the way they have used magic is correct.
These teachings are followed to the letter by what we could say is the armed wing of Yemuism, the
Order of the Knights of Light. Its rules state that knights must meditate once a week in temples located within castles, or together with other faithful in chapels or temples on land owned by the Order. This should help improve their magical abilities as well as make them more calm and focused when entering combat. Practicing group meditation would also help the knights strengthen their bonds with each other.
To this end, both the Grand Master and the other Masters of the Order possess books containing different meditation exercises depending on the circumstances or the magical capacity that they wish to enhance.
Great article. I love that Claire isn't very good at it. XD