Quintessence.

it's a part of 'Mage: the Ascension' Way.


'One of the most important concepts in Mage is Quintessence.

superficially, it's the raw fuel of Magick.

more deeply, Quintessence is the very basis of reality, the spirit.


quantities of Quintessence are the building blocks of reality (and potential reality).

everything in Reality - matter, energy and the ethereal - is made from Quintessence.

most Mages believe that there is great cosmic pool of raw Quintessence (Tass) that has not been incorporated into anything, but rather floats free. anytime a new phenomenon is created in reality, Quintessence is drawn from this pool to create it. also, living things maitain a link to this pool, as all Patterns of life are continually fed a trickle of Quintessence.

the study of Quintessence falls under the Sphere of Prime. Mages who struggle to learn this Sphere attempt to grasp the nature of quintessential reality.


continuing the "beach" analogy, Quintessence is the substance from which the beach is formed - all the sand that can ever be created'.


Quintessence in "raw mystical" form is called Tass, and can be used as "fuel" for workings of magick.


blog author's observations & thoughts:
- Quintessence is associated with Karma ('Cause & Effect', more or less, in Buddhism),
- Quintessence is 'Building Block of Reality' ... Thoughts & Feelings, perhaps? There can be Finer or Larger Building Blocks, however ... There are Different Realities, Potential Realities & Realized Realities ... This Reality is Built from these Blocks, That Reality from these Blocks, Our Current Reality we Live in is built from these blocks, etc ...
- perhaps Quintessence is just another name for a 'cause' of existence of 'matter', 'energy' & 'ethereal' ... this would imply that if these return to Space, cease to exist, they 'free' the Quintessence that returns to the 'Pool'. this somewhat fits with image of Universe & Big-Bang theory. Universe has maximum & minimum size, afterall ... it spreads then shrinks & repeats the cycle later again, i think ...,
- obtaining a grasp over Quintessence is a result of Wishes, Words & Deeds done in the past - in this & previous lives,
- Quintessence is not required for Magick to work, but makes Magick work easier, Quintessence helps with Reality Changes in a Small & Subtle Way ... or even in the Significiant Way.


... see also if You wish or need, ... : Reality Aspects' Preconditions.