Journal The Weekend...of Thaumaturgy

[Taudefindi]

My first try at writing a journal, how odd it is the feeling.

I don't believe I need to mention who I am due to the fact that you can easily find it out on either my profile or on my introductory post, but in short: I'm someone seeking to learn to make miracles and I only have the weekends to devote time to it.

Let me start by saying that while I know there are many more popular labels for one that deals with the extraordinary, I prefer to call myself a thaumaturge as that isn't linked to any paradigms, just to the concept of someone that can make miracles(a miracle-maker).And no, I do not say miracles on the same vibe as those of religions(although some of the miracles I seek to achieve might be inspired by some from said religions).

And as if seeking to do thaumaturgy wasn't enough already, I'm also working on developing my own system.

Why?

Well, while I appreciate the knowledge of the more popular/older systems I always tend to feel the same thing: as if they are a Trojan Horse, bearing gifts on one hand and chains on the other, and honestly I don't like the idea of chaining myself to an ideology or belief just to be able to use a system.Plus, as someone studying design I realize that the best option for me is to figure out and make my own thing because then it will be specifically tailored to my needs and traits, rather than depend on something that might be close to what I want but not "exactly what I want".

So I will design my own system that is tailored to myself only.

What better way to put in practice than to use it on my journey as a thaumaturge?I always was someone that liked to be prepared for everything, but even I know the value of a "learn to swim or drown" method once in a while, and this is one of these moments.
At worst, nothing will happen.At best, miracles will be made.

That's a win/win on my books.

So, currently while busy learning about other systems in order to be able to design my own, I am also studying about the miracles I want to make, and they're:

• Acquire supernatural strength, far surpassing the human limit(as well as my personal limit for my physique)
• Be able to directly interact with virtual worlds(thus having a faster reaction speed in games) by projecting my consciousness into them
• Accelerate "the gains" of a workout, a steroid of sorts but without the chemical part

Of course there are many more miracles that I want to learn, but right now these thress are the ones I am focusing in due to how easy they are in comparison to the others.

Preferably I will update this when I do achieve results, but realistically I will update it with any progress no matter how small, random ideas or even simple notes for my future self.

 

[Taudefindi]

Hmmm, another one to add to the list of miracles to develop: Sudden Fear.

Lately I have had to deal with what is called "ding dong ditching", and frankly this annoys me because it breaks my concentration(as the sound is shrill and loud) and it is annoying that there are people thinking that bothering others like that is fun.
So by developing a way to instill a profound fear into people I would be killing two birds with one stone, dealing with those trying to disturb me as well as finding a way to get an "away from trouble" card so to say.


Most likely I'm looking at figuring out two ways of doing this, one that is static(I can add to the region or the house itself) and one that is mobile(I can cast at will wherever I am towards whomever I want).I already even have some materials at ready to study:

• Books about psychology, about the science of fear in order to learn how it works
• Books about the Cthulhu Mythos(as cosmic horror's feel is exactly the kind of fear I seek here, the fear of the unknown that is too great to comprehend) in order to get inspiration and the mood
• Stories about people's encounters with dangerous situations in order to understand how to surpass the possibility of courage
• Folklore about evil-eye and similar in order to figure out how to do it all

Can't wait for the weekend, the more I add to this list the busier I'll get so I better make my time be worthwhile or else I'll be too behind the schedule.Not like I actually have one, but I also want some time to just laze around on the weekends.

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2023

Some of hte inspirations that got me thinking about making my own system

Works of fiction always have something to teach us, even if we think they don't just because their worlds are fake.
The lessons are still there.

 

[Taudefindi]

Although I am still in the Research Phase-reading on older/more popular systems, learning their theories and practices-I'm also already looking into starting the Designing Phase-building and testing my system-even if all I will be doing so far is gathering ideas and thinking of what I want to use and what I want to throw away.

For example:

• Do I want my system to have a lot of ritual?If so, which kind of rituals am I talking about?
• Do I want it to use the help of spirits and other beings?Or do I want it to use a specific energy?
• Will it be something "quick to use" or will it require time?
• Should I attach it to already existent meanings/ideas or to my own?
• Etc.

There is so much I have to think about and even then I know that my mindset will also play an important part in it all, so it has to be something that I know will work.I cannot have doubts, "what ifs" or even go all skeptical.Everything will have to be proper for this to work at all, so there is no room for mistakes here because mistakes-while a natural way to learn something-will make me lose precious time.

And time is unfortunately against me.

 

[Taudefindi]

One thing I have noticed about myself is that I enjoy the use of sound, be it in music, in voice or the sounds of nature(although grating sounds like a vacuum cleaner's could disappear from the face of Earth).

So, while not 100% sure, I'm thinking of adding some musicality to my system.
Maybe not the whole of it as I am tending towards a more direct and simple-fast use-system, but perhaps a small part of it might be about doing certain rituals through sound, be it a whistle or a "hmmming" or even singing pieces of songs(with specific purposes attributed to them).

This is the nicest part about making your own system, you get to experiment and try different things and see what works best for you or what seems more interesting to your personality.

Of course, at the end of the day the main objective is that "it works", but until you get there it feels like being a kid inside a bookstore, there's so many options...

 

[Taudefindi]

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Even works of fiction have their value when it comes to magic.Be it actually having interesting bits or just helping you get inspired.

Post automatically merged: Mar 6, 2023

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Post automatically merged: Mar 6, 2023

 

[Taudefindi]

Apparently my own system will be inspired by those of fictional works from TTRPGs, I'm already resigning myself to it.
I want it to feel free and fun, and what ticks both boxes than the options of customization and "skill tree"(or whatever they call it) found in RPGs?

The fact that I am inspiring myself on tabletop ones will help me focus on the part of the rules, because as much as I want to go wild I know that for me a bit of rules will be necessary in order to make it work.Otherwise my system would be less of a system and more of a "make believe" game.
Every system needs rules, nor matter how few, they do need them.

 

[Taudefindi]

Starting to wonder which is the most difficult part:

Figure out the details of a new system or literally build it's foundation from scratch?
Perhaps both are difficult in the same level, perhaps the very first step is the hardest part, I'll know it once I finally have my own system working for me.

Post automatically merged: Apr 14, 2023

One thing I am sure of is that I want to input part of my culture(my very identiy) into it, my "Brazilianity" so it feels as personal as it can be as well as it will work to distinguish it from the thousands systems out there.

I even have already some of the words that will be paramount to the "philosophy of the system":

• Jeitinho - Improvise a solution/way whenever, wherever, however possible
• Ginga - "Misdirection" but with the body

I'm still working the details of those two words into the philosophy/core of my system, but the gist of it is this: "It's subtle and it's done".
Something that is as easy as just "being in the moment" and isn't for much fanfare on it's methods, even if the results might be shocking, so to say.