Spirit Binding

Spirit binding is the sacred technique of binding spirits to humans to wield magic. There are two main types, full-binding and half-binding. The Makkah Spirit Binders use only half-bindings, considering full-bindings to be cursed and immoral. Binders of the mountain tribe half-bind as training and full-bind as fully recognized warriors.

Effect

Spirit binding is used to bind spirits to humans, which allows the human to draw spiritual energy--commonly called magic--from the spirit. This energy can be channeled by the human to give them boosted physical capabilities, like added strength or more speed. That's only the beginning, however.
Half-binds, if channeled correctly, can give the human added abilities depending on the "type" of spirit. For example, binding the spirit of a rock may give you incredibly tough skin that can't bruise or bleed. These changes fade away soon after the half-bind has ended.
Full-binds allow humans to wield the spirit outside their own bodies, to "control elements" in Earthspeak. Binding the spirit of a fire would give you the ability to control that fire as if it were an extension of yourself, manipulate it however you wish.

Side/Secondary Effects

Spirit binding is hard on the heart, because when active the binder's heart has to beat at the same rhythm of the spirit's heartbeat. Many extended-use binders suffer or die from heart attacks and the like. Binding can also wear down on the rest of the body if the spirit energy isn't channeled correctly. That's the only real side effect for half-binds, and the likelihood of dying from a weak heart is low as long as the binder uses their magic right.
Full-binds leave lots of side effects. The primary one being the constant presence of a spirit. Full-binding means having the spirit connected to your heart, mind, and body always. The binder and spirit become one. The spirit lives inside the binder's body--the heart, specifically--and experiences the same things the binder experiences. The closer they are, the more instant/telepathic their communication can become. If the binder allows it, the spirit can move the human body as if it were their own. Also, after long enough, the body starts to change physically. For example, after full-binding the spirit of a rock long enough, pebble-like growth can appear on the hands and feet, or the person's voice gets lower and raspier, or the bones get thicker and heavier.

Manifestation

In most cases, the heart rate has to go up to bind a spirit. So the binder will be sweaty, hot, full of adrenaline perhaps. Once the proper heart rate has been achieved and a spirit is summoned and willing to be bound, binders describe half-binding a spirit as the world around them fading away. They're still aware of what's happening around them, but dimly. Sounds are muffled, sight is gently blurred. Like being asleep, except their heart is pounding; they can feel it pulse through their entire body. For some, there's something else--a pressure, a light, the sensation of dipping your face in a pool of water--that they can't quite explain but wish they could have it. In this in-between place, the thin layer separating the spirit land and physical world, the binder and spirit talk, work out terms, and form the binding. Immediately the binder is sucked back into the physical world, all the sights and sounds and feelings rushing back with a pop.
While in a binding--either half or full--the binder can feel a second heartbeat thumping alongside their own.
A person in a half-binding doesn't look, feel, or sound any different, but the flush of energy will likely make them act different, more energetic, excited, or impatient perhaps.

Source

All the power/energy comes from the spirit and its tie to the spirit land and its High Spirit.

Discovery

Spirit binding techniques were first discovered and developed by the Star Spirit and first binder. The first binder taught others how to spirit bind, and it spread from there.
It's not known how the mountain tribe learned how to spirit bind, except they started to after the grassland peoples.

Related Organizations

• Makkah Spirit Binders

Material Components

Typically a binder can only bind a spirit if its "type" is around. You can't bind the spirit of a fire if the fire isn't there. Makkah binders usually bind stone or wind spirits, because those are plentiful in the grasslands.
A drum is helpful. Not a requirement, but it helps keep the beat and speed of the dance.

Gestures & Ritual

To half-bind, a binder needs two things: 1) the specific prayer, and 2) the dance designated for the High Spirit. The dance raises the binder's heart rate and preps their body for the magic. The prayer, chanted in the spirits' language, attracts nearby spirits and draws the High Spirit's attention. A binder will begin the dance and prayer at the same time. Once the prayer is finished, the binder slides into that in-between place and forms the binding. Time doesn't really exist in that in-between place, so no matter how long it takes to argue over the terms, the dance wraps up once the binding is complete. It might've felt like too long or too short, but once the binder slips back into the physical world, they find themselves poised in the last posture of the dance and two heartbeats in their chest.
The only time a dance isn't necessary is if the binder is using a horse bond . The horse bonded to the rider typically has to be running, trotting at the very least. Something about the way the horse moves (perhaps due to its High Spirit heritage) is a dance in of itself, and can be used to attract spirits and prepare the horse's and rider's body for a half-binding.

Related Element

Spirits are sometimes categorized by their element/type, but really they're defined by their High Spirit. The power comes from the High Spirit; minor spirits just borrow pieces of it.

Effect Duration

However long the binder and spirit agree on - half-binds are short, likely for just the duration of a battle or practice, and full-binds are typically for life.

Effect Casting Time

The duration of the dance, unless no spirit agrees to be bound.

Level

With the right training and knowledge, anyone can learn how to spirit bind. The more spiritual/faithful you are though, likely the more powerful spirits you can bind and control.

Applied Restriction

In order to bind a spirit, a trade must be made. A full-binder gives their whole self to a spirit to receive the spirit's full power. A half-binder offers a piece or two of their self in return for a portion of the spirit's power. Often a binder will trade the ability to smell, see, or hear, or trade a specific emotion or memory, things like that.
It's forbidden in the Makkah Nation to full-bind because it takes a spirit captive, steals it from its master, and that messes up the balance of the world. The Cycle means all things are temporary, all things rise and fall, die and are reborn--binding a spirit forever in a full-bind disrupts that pattern.