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File:Correspondence sigil.jpg

Correspondence sigil.

Correspondence (previously known as Connection) is one of nine Spheres of magic in Mage: The Ascension. The Ahl-i-Batin occupied the Seat of Correspondence in the original Council of Nine Mystic Traditions, but it is currently held by the Virtual Adepts. The Shard Realm of Correspondence maps physically to Mercury.

Overview

Correspondence magic allows powers such as teleportation, seeing into distant areas, levitation and flying. At higher levels the Mage may also co-locate himself or even stack different spaces within each-other. Correspondence can be combined with almost any other sphere to create effects that span distances. Space, interrelationships and sympathetic links all become clear through the study of Correspondence. By bending space or bypassing it entirely, a mage can travel rapidly, fly or teleport from place to place. Divining locations allows the mage to see far-away places or direct magic over distances. With a link between a person and an object, Effects may be targeted through connecting rituals.

Distance forms no barrier to a master of Correspondence. Indeed, distance and even space do not exist to the student of this Sphere. Through the unifying Correspondence Point, mages realize that all things occupy the same space — or no space at all. Virtual Adepts, the most dedicated modern students of Correspondence, theorize that all things coexist in a single All-Space or Correspondence Point, and that bypassing space is simply a matter of realizing this unity. Mathematically, space is just an illusion, a convenient construct of the mind. Objects, people and places don’t really take up space, according to such theories. Instead, everything is just a Pattern, and space simply describes the relations of different Patterns to one another.

Mystically inclined mages see Correspondence through the theories of contagion and sympathy. Any two things that have touched share a little trace of that connection, which can be called on through Correspondence. Objects or places that are similar in Pattern can be manipulated through that similitude. Any sort of connection opens the door to the manipulation of Patterns. It’s always easier to work with the familiar than the strange, after all.

To utilize Arch-spheres, the Master of Correspondence has to figure out how to be in the same space as himself; the Correspondence Point lets Masters exist in many places simultaneously. Next, the mage must resolve the paradox of coexisting in space with himself as more than one simultaneous awareness of singular space.[1]

Marks

Mages who focus on Correspondence tend to develop a befuddled or faraway look, as if they wouldn't pay attention. This is because of the growing perspective and usually, they are more aware of their surroundings than their realizes. In contrast to the impression of distractment, their very motions seem to be precise and planned, thanks to their growing knowledge of distances.

Limits

Despite its capacity to bend space and distance, Correspondence functions only on whole Patterns unless combined with the various Pattern Spheres. That is, it’s impossible to just teleport away someone’s heart with Correspondence alone. In essence, Correspondence does not affect Patterns directly; such manipulations must be done with other magic. Correspondence simply lets those Patterns be affected, whole and complete, in changes of space or distance. If the mage wants to use Pattern Spheres to affect something with Correspondence, she’s limited by the Correspondence level (if it’s lower than the Pattern Sphere). Thus, a mage can teleport something with just Correspondence, but if she wants to change its Pattern at a distance, its skill with Correspondence is as important as its skill with the other Sphere.[2]

Paradigmatic Interpretations

Below is a short representation how the Sphere of Correspondence is interpretated by the various magickal factions within the World of Darkness.

Traditions

  • Akashic Brotherhood: The Akashics regard Correspondence as Lokhadhatu, the dharma of Indra's Net that keeps the impermanent elements of reality together. Since the Net connects everything, separation is an illusion inflicted by the samsara (Consensus). Mount Meru stands at the centre of the net, acting as anchor to rest of existence that travels upon the Wheel of Ages.[3]
  • Celestial Chorus: In the eyes of the Celestial Chorus, Correspondence is the omnipresence of the One. Everything is part of a pattern, which is, in its entirety, only visible and understandable by the One. Through Correspondence, a Chorister learns that as all space is under the One's rule and the One contains all things, every preposition that one can imagine in the relation between the One and space exists, being what connects everything. Some go so far and claim that all space is just an illusion.[4]
  • Cult of Ecstasy:
  • Dreamspeakers: Dreamspeakers that use Correspondence look to the easily neglected spirits of distance and dimension. By bartering with these entities, a Dreamspeaker can then step "between", similar how they step "sideways" to reach the Spirit World.[5]
  • Euthanatoi: The Euthanatoi see Correspondence as Anya Win (The Whole). Correspondence treats are woven by the movement of the Great Wheel and administered by karma, which binds all things together, driving them forward towards perfection.[6]
  • Order of Hermes: The Hermetics speak of Correspondence as the Ars Conjunctionis (sometimes properized as Ars Conligationis by pedantic masters). To them, it is the art of overcoming obstacles and transcending difficulty through enlightened Will. Correspondence guides the flow of magic between the four dimensions and the five senses, allowing a mage to expand his Will across Creation.[7]
  • Sons of Ether: For the Sons of Ether, Correspondence is Contagious Ether. Drawing on the parmenidic theory of space as an element that ensures connection within a unified cosmos, more modern Etherites point to String Theories and gravitons, fermitrons and bosons, while more esoteric speak of low-gravity orgone fields or a psychic propierty that comes into existence when minds differentiate between objects.[8]
  • Verbena: The Verbena celebrate Correspondence during Lammas, the first of August where the grain is harvested and brought home. Closely associated with the Paths of the Wyck, the Verbena see Correspondence as the art of traversion the Tellurian, of roads and pathways that lead the Wise to their destination.[9]
  • Virtual Adepts: The Virtual Adepts interpret Correspondence as the expression of the metric expansion of the universe through space-time in the form of mathematics. The Correspondence Point is the centre of the Tellurian from which every other point within the Tellurian can be reached through informational input. Between the Correspondence point and the Hypersphere that is consensual reality lies the Digital Web, through which the Virtual Adepts access the Correspondence Point.[10]

Crafts

  • Ahl-i-Batin: The Ahl-i-Batin see Correspondence as their most important asset in reaching Unity. Seeing it corresponding to Binah, the wahdat al-wujud teaches that all points are one. For the Batini, everyone is everything at once. It is only their limited understanding that prevents them from realizing this fact.[11]
  • Hem-Ka Sobk: The Hem-Ka Sobk saw space as similar to Agb (water). Like the crocodile, they use water to travel and expand their senses.[12]
  • Kopa Loei: The Kopa Loei call Correspondence "Kealanui", simply translated as "The Way". For the Kopa Loei, the way to their destination is already within them, and finding it is a simple manner of listening to your surroundings and being aware of your own presence in the world.[13]
  • Taftâni: The Taftâni do not hold Correspondence in the same regard as other, more offensive, Spheres, but utilize it to build wards against djinn and construct portals for transportation.[14]

Technocratic Union

  • The Technocratic Union (especially the New World Order) utilizes a different form of Correspondence called Data. Others, like the Void Engineers, utilize a version of Correspondence that fits closer to the version espoused by the Traditionalists.

Standard Powers

  • Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [1]
    • Immediate Spatial Perceptions: Raises the mages awareness of space to determine exact directions and distances, as well as distortions of the same. Allows to locate things that the mage cannot perceive with her human senses.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [2]
    • Sense, Touch, Thicken And Reach Through Space: Allows the mage extend her senses beyond her current location. With adjactant Spheres of Life or Matter, she can draw small lifeforms or objects through space. Allows to dampen spatial distortion that can be sensed on rank 1.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [3]
    • Pierce Space: Allows a mage to penetrate the very fabric of space itself, opening small portals that allow travel via teleportation. With adjactent Spheres, the mage can teleport Patterns from a distance.
    • Seal Gate: Allows a mage to ward an area against Correspondence Effects and mundane attempts to enter.
    • Co-Locality Perception: Allows a mage to split her perceptions over various locations, allowing her to see multiple places simultaneously.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [4]
    • Rend Space: Allows a mage to create permanent portals to any location within the Tellurian.
    • Co-locate Self: By causing her own Pattern to manifest in several perceived spaces, the mage can appear to exist in multiple places at once. Through the adjactant use of the Mind and Life Sphere, the appearence can interact and think just as the mage would.
    • Ward: The mage can isolate forces, spaces, objects, or people into their own tiny realms with the use of various auxiliary Spheres.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet [5]
    • Mutate Localities: Allows a mage to bend space according to her will, altering sizes and volumes, stretching distances and willfully manipulating any objects that appear in space.
    • Co-Locate Space: Allows a mage to merge chunks of space together, superimposing location on each other instead of creating a portal.

Archspheres

  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [6]
    • Fold Space: Allows a mage to reduce or increase the distance between two objects, or to fold the space around a person to twist her into various shapes.
    • Create Space: Allows a mage to generate space by creating a zone of emptiness.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [7]
    • No Warding: Allows a mage to step through wards or allow others to ignore them by transforming into a small "Correspondence Point" herself.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet [8]
    • Limits of Spirit: Allows a mage to transport material or spiritual realities to translocate features of a place instead of objects.
  • Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bullet Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet [9]
    • No Limits: The mage can move freely around the Tellurian.

Correspondence Range

Success Range Connection
1 Line of Sight Body sample or Blood relative
2 Very familiar Best Friend or prized possession
3 Familiar Casual friend, cousin or possession
4 Visited Once Acquaintance, object used once
5 Described location Briefly touched or saw object or person

References

^  Level 1

Immediate Spatial Perceptions Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 157
Immediate Spatial Perceptions Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513

^  Level 2

Sense Space/ Touch Space Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 157-158
Sense, Touch, Thicken And Reach Through Space Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513

^  Level 3

Pierce Space Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Pierce Space Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513
Seal Gate Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Open Or Close Gates Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513
Co-Locality Perceptions Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Co-Locality Perceptions Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513

^  Level 4

Rend Space Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Rend Space Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513
Co-Locate Self Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Co-Locate Self Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513
Ward Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513

^  Level 5

Mutate Localities Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Spatial Mutation Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513
Co-Location Mage: The Ascension Revised Pg. 158
Co-Location Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Pg. 513

^  Level 6

Fold Space Masters of the Art Pg. 66
Create Space Masters of the Art Pg. 66

^  Level 7

No Warding Masters of the Art Pg. 67


^  Level 8

Limits of Spirit Masters of the Art Pg. 67


^  Level 9

No Limits Masters of the Art Pg. 67

Mage: The Ascension Spheres
Traditional: Correspondence · Entropy · Forces · Life · Matter · Mind · Prime · Spirit · Time
Variations: Data · Dimensional Science · Primal Utility · Void Correspondence · Qlippothic Spheres
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