[UA] Superskills

[Gregory Paul Stolze]

At 03:40 PM 02/09/2001 -0800, you wrote:
>Since picking up UA and Post-Modern Magick, I have been trying to define
>what are the boundaries.  Suggestions of candy-magick, porcelain cat magick
>and bathroom reading material magick as “anything can be a school of magic
>as long as you’re obsessed about it” doesn’t sit well with me.  Why? I guess
>it’s because I just don’t like the element of ultimate freedom such a system
>would entail.  It doesn’t really address the issue of why some obsessive
>people would have magic and others wouldn’t.  

There also needs to be a paradoxical element.  

This is something that has developed more prominently as UA has moved
along.  In hindsight, I should have made it more explicit in the main book.
 (Along with the notion that even punks can get lucky and even masters can
drop the ball.  And a better knife fighting rules.  And better initiative
rules.  But I suppose that's what second editions are for.)  

Anyhow, the dynamic that's sort of developed (at least in my mind) is that
avatars conform to reality, as defined by the clergy, and that's the source
of their power.  They're tuned into how the world works.  They're radio
people.

Adepts work against the flow of reality.  They generate power by churning
up resistance.  That's where the paradox comes in.  It's that little frayed
edge of How Things Are that lets the adept get his grimy fingers in and
tinker.  Dehumanize yourself to humanize the inanimate.  Focus on history
to make memories false.  Weaken your flesh to strengthen it.  Control
destiny by sacrificing control to destiny.  Black is white, up is down,
smash the state, anarchy, dogs and cats sleeping together, no one refills
vending machines...

Sorry.  Seem to have lost my trail of thought.

Anyhow, paradox is important.

-G.
[F]or heaven's sake stop bugging her about all these erotic tactics like
three-ways.
We have some of those lamps in our house, and they're not as exciting as
you might think.
		-Garrison Keillor

http://www.waylay.com
http://www.thehungersite.com/index.html


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