"As with all things of this earth, the Gift of magic is subject to damage, and is rarely whole. That is why some children bear the mark of the Gift and yet cannot master even the simplest magics: they have the Gift, but in such a damaged form that it cannot bear the weight of Bonisagus' art. Some of these poor creatures receive years of training from stubborn and ignorant magi, and must forever after endure the knowledge that they cannot do the one thing that they have spent their whole lives trying to learn." - Rufus Urbanus scholae Jerbitonis
"Our Art comprises more than the outward rites we practice in our craft. The mundane world is but a shadow of the world of souls, and our gestures and vocalizations are mere reflections of the powers wielded by our essences. This is why no mere mortal can wield our power, no matter how well versed in the theory of Bonisagus; likewise, a master magus may invoke his magics without uttering a word or raising a finger, so adept is he with the powers of his soul." - Juliasta filia Criamon
"One might observe that, as with many of my sodales, I often choose to forego the protection of the Parma Magica in my travels. It is not that I feel so secure in my power that I feel no need to ward myself against hostile sorcery. Rather, there are certain beneficent magics that I value most highly, and against which the Parma Magica has demonstrated its sovereignty; and I do not choose to sacrifice these things, even in the interest of my own security. I speak, of course, of art and of beauty; of Sophocles and Praxiteles, of poetry and song, of the wild grace of the child and the faun, and the preternatural clarity of the cathedral-window and the rising sun. For despite being things of this world, each of these contains a shard of earthly magic, and as such, cannot pass the guard of a magus' Parma." - Rufus Urbanus scholae Jerbitonis
"One might even go so far as to say that it is due to the power of the Parma Magica that most magi of the Order of Hermes do not know how to love." - Fiarain Accipiter doctrinae Bjornaeris
"No one enters my sanctum without my permission. No one. I've killed two magi for trespassing. The second time, the Quaesitors killed my familiar as punishment. I haven't taken a new familiar since then. But you can be sure that if someone comes into my sanctum without permission again, I'll do exactly the same." - Porphyrion Gravis scholae Flambeau
"Vis is power, and control of its sources is all about power. If you have more influence, if you have more votes in tribunal, if you have the raw magical power to intimidate your neighbors, you may take what you like. If you lack power and influence, then you may scrabble for vis all you like; and if, by some chance, you happen upon a source, it is yours only for so long as you can keep its existence secret, for once others know of what you have found, they shall take it away from you." - Anonymous
On the Magic of the Mundane
"There is nothing of this world that is truly without magic. Magic is the earth's blood, the vital force that drives all things onward, and it inheres in every object, every process, and every act that you may name, no matter how mundane. As your understanding of magic grows, your understanding of the world shall grow with it, for the two are one and the same." - Myanar filius Merinita
On the Nature of Auras
"The energies of ongoing creation manifest themselves in various aspects. Unformed power is most easily tamed by Hermetic magic, while energies aligned with the Divine and the Infernal are far more difficult to manipulate. One can distinguish the aspect of an aura through careful investigation (except for Infernal auras, which can deceive even the most perceptive magus), yet each aura is a manifestation of the same elemental forces. ... Auras coinciding with the Dominion, with Faerie, and with the Infernal have been observed to affect the use of Hermetic sorcery in distinct ways. From his observations of these interactions, my colleague Melior has propounded the theory that there exist four distinct Realms of supernatural power, each with its own unique nature and behavior. While this observation, based as it is upon real data, may prove useful in the field, I do not believe it to correspond with the true state of affairs in any but the most superficial sense." - Aculeatus filius Notatus filius Bonisagus
On the Politics of the Order
"Once, before the Order, magi were instrumental in the shaping of mundane affairs. The priests of Ægypt ruled their land in all but name, while the Cult of Mercury supported and guided the legions and Emperors of Rome. Flambeau and his pater stood by Charles the Hammer as he broke the Moslem horde on the field of battle, to oppose the Saracen conjurers and their djinn. In the early days of the Order, most magi were satisfied to leave off their meddling in mundane affairs in order to pursue their studies in peace. But now the tides have turned! ... Flambeau's get serve the lords of the Reconquista and lend their support to the Crusades, whilst the children of Jerbiton give aid to Moslem princes in their jeweled citadels. Other, more ambitious magi snare bishops and kings in webs of sorcery and guile, and pull such threads as make them dance. Were the Founders here today to observe our doings, would they be pleased or disgusted with our return to such barbarous policies? A little, I think, of each..." - Musa Sabaeus doctrinae Jerbitonis
On the Power of Oaths
"Of the magics of the earthly realm, none can match the puissance of the oath, the quest, and the vow. In these things inheres a power that transcends that of Hermetic sorcery. Truly, the words of an oath partake of the Word with which the world was made! For as the echoes of the Word sustain the world and bind its parts together, so the words of a heartfelt oath sustain the soul, and bind its parties together." - Marcus Intentus scholae Jerbitonis
On Sanctum Rights
"One does not simply enter another magus' sanctum. One does not open the door to another's sanctum without permission. Indeed, it is poor form even to knock upon a sanctum door, for such noise might distract one at a crucial phase in one's laboratory activities. It is wisest simply to slip a note under the sanctum door, and wait until it is noticed." - Chiron Raucus scholae Bonisagi
On Sources of Vis
"No magus or Covenant may take vis from a source of vis that has been claimed by another Covenant. Conflicts over the ownership of a source of vis may be settled by certámen, or brought to Tribunal for adjudication." - from the Peripheral Code of the Order of Hermes
On the Utility of True Names
"Once, the power of Names dominated the use of magic. Now, with the rise of the Dominion and the free use of baptism among the common folk, its utility has diminished. Ironically, it is those who are raised in a covenant who are most likely to remain unbaptized, and who are thus made most vulnerable to the magics of others." - Enyo Corinthiensis doctrinae Tytali
Of the Voting Sigil
"The sigillum suffragatoris, or 'voting sigil,' manifests one's status as a Magus of the Order of Hermes. It must be of such size and shape as to be both obvious and portable, and must bear upon its surface a clear and visible inscription containing the owner's full Hermetic name and no other. A valid sigillum must be bound to its owner by the ritus sigilli [ref: appendix vii], as witnessed and approved by a quaesitor in good standing. A record of sigilli is to be maintained by House Guernicus at Magvillus and by House Mercere at Harco, to ensure that each is unique and may not be mistaken for another. ... Possession of one's sigillum indicates one's authority to vote in Tribunal. In the event that a magus should be unable to attend Tribunal, he may yield his sigillum to his sodalis, who may then vote on the absent magus' behalf as well as his own." - from the Peripheral Code of the Order of Hermes
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Last Updated: 03/05/01