Dimensional Terminology
Dimensions are complex and some of the concepts are difficult to describe so we have developed and defined terminology to provide a common frame of reference for our ongoing studies and debates. We have organized the terms into two categories: the dimensions themselves and the beings that inhabit them.
Dimensions
Dimensions are shaped by metaphysical laws and characterized by two primary attributes — aspect and magnitude.
Every dimension comprises all six aspects — named spatial, temporal, thought, motivation, essence, and process (which, in the simplest explanation, answer the questions where, when, what, why, who, and how).
Each aspect of a dimension has a magnitude. The magnitude is labeled degree and is scaled from 0 to 4 (which can be roughly described as none, only, multiple, any/every, and maybe/probably). The unique combination of six aspects and 5 degrees gives an upper bound of 15,625 dimensions.
General Terms
- origin, the native dimension of a being
- residing, the dimension where a being currently exists
- barren, a dimension with no naturally occuring native inhabitants
- aspect, one of the six metaphysical natures of a dimension, specified as spatial, temporal, thought, motivation, essence, and process
- degree, the magnitude of a dimensional aspect, from 0 to 4
Aspects and Their Magnitudes
The words chosen for the degrees of each aspect are not an accurate definition, but more of a reference to show the relative strength of the magnitude as applied to that specific aspect.
- The spatial aspect, associated with the element earth, answers the question Where? and focuses on space and movement with move as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to point, linear, planar, solid, and superposition.
- The temporal aspect, associated with the element water, answers the question When? and focuses on time and causality with synchronize as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to instant, sequence, parallel, eternity, and variable.
- The thought aspect, associated with the element air, answers the question What? and focuses on idea and understanding with communicate as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to notion, concept, imagination, knowingness, and possibilities.
- The motivation aspect, associated with the element fire, answers the question Why? and focuses on desire and ambition with act as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to instinct, impulse, purpose, destiny, and serendipity.
- The essence aspect, associated with the element spirit, answers the question Who? and focuses on consciousness and identity with manifest as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to self, awareness, form, ideal, and entanglement.
- The process aspect, associated with the element void, answers the question How? and focuses on method and tactics with reason as its limitation. Its degrees roughly equate to chaos, theory, design, planning, and contingency.
Types of Dimensions
- regular, a dimension where the sum of the degrees (for each aspect) totals 11, resulting in a maximum of 1,686 regular dimensions
- irregular, a dimension which is not a regular dimension
- host, any dimension with aspect degrees of thought 4d, essence 0d, and process 3d; resulting in 125 host dimensions
- natural host, a regular dimension with aspect degrees of thought 4d, essence 0d, and process 3d; resulting in 15 natural host dimensions
- creator, a regular dimension with aspect degrees of temporal 1d+, thought 2d+, motivation 2d+, and process 4d; resulting in 15 creator dimensions
- pocket, a relatively small area with aspects, yet contained within a dimension of differing aspects; typically these are remnants of destroyed dimensions, results of unsuccessful experiments, or areas which overlap other existing dimensions
- bubble, a small dimension completely contained within a dimension or, rarely, isolated from other dimensions
Aspects Table
| Quality | Spatial | Temporal | Thought | Motivation | Essence | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | space, movement | time, causality | idea, understanding | desire, ambition | consciousness, identity | method, tactics |
| Question | Where? | When? | What? | Why? | Who? | How? |
| Element | earth | water | air | fire | spirit | void |
| Limitation | move | synchronize | communicate | act | manifest | reason |
| 0d | point | instant | notion | instinct | self | chaos |
| 1d | linear | sequence | concept | impulse | awareness | theory |
| 2d | planar | parallel | imagination | purpose | form | design |
| 3d | solid | eternity | knowingness | destiny | ideal | planning |
| 4d | superposition | variable | possibilities | serendipity | entanglement | contingency |
Beings
General Terms
- indweller, a being (usually a numen) which inhabits another being or entity
- receptacle, a native being (of a host dimension) that is capable of successfully accommodating an indwelling numen
- limitation, the inability of a numen to use its full abilities for one or more aspects, generally occurring when the numen’s aspect degree is higher than the residing dimension’s aspect degree
- anchor, anything which can remove or reduce a limitation; anchors may be native or not; nonnative anchors often manifest differently in different dimensions; a receptacle may function as a native anchor
- barrier, TBD
States of Beings
- linked, a nonnative numen which is permanently connected to a dimension (usually a host dimension), giving the numen abilities from the linked dimension without losing abilities from their origin dimension; linking does not restrict the numen from traveling to other dimensions
- settled, a nonnative numen which permanently resides in a dimension without utilizing a receptacle; often these numen will utilize native or, rarely, nonnative anchors to allow them to use their native abilities; they may also be invoked by or imposed on native beings, the numen cannot travel to other dimensions
- imprisoned, a numen which has been imprisoned in a dimension (better definition TBD)
- merged, when an indweller chooses a voluntary receptacle
- possessed, when an indweller chooses an involuntary receptacle
- invoked, when a willing being requests/accepts the temporary indwelling of a settled numen
- imposed, when an unwiling being requests/accepts the temporary indwelling of a settled numen, typically via by triggering the action (unknowingly by them or purposefully by another)
Types of Beings
- natural, a being which naturally occurs in a regular dimension, as opposed to a being that is modified for a dimension, created in an irregular dimension, or otherwise altered
- crossbreed, a being which results from the combination of two or more other types of dimensional beings; a crossbreed’s native dimension is usually irregular; a crossbreed is not considered modified
- modified, a being which has long-term or permanent modifications from its natural state; this includes beings which are linked, settled, imprisoned, joined, invoked, homed, fostered, and avatars and thralls; typically, modifications connect the being to its residing dimension
- native, a being residing in its dimension of origin; in other words, the being’s aspect degrees match the dimension’s aspect degrees
- nonnative, a being residing in a different dimension than its origin; often these beings have limitations due to the aspect degree mismatch and may require anchors to compensate
- outsider, an unmodified being existing in a different dimension than its origin without a connection to the residing dimension; these beings are often transient and usually easier to eject from the dimension than modified beings
- numenant, a being, with nemensens ability, imbued with numenessence.
- avatar, a being where a numen has merged with an apex host
- thrall, a being where a numen has possessed an apex host
- joined, a being where a numen has merged with a host
- yoked, a being where a numen has possessed a host
- homed, a being where a numen has merged with a vessel
- fostered, a being where a numen has possessed a vessel
Types of Receptacles
Receptacles are native beings of host dimensions capable of successfully accommodating an indwelling numen.
- vessel, a receptacle capable of temporarily providing a body for an indwelling numen, usually a settled one, but upon rare occasions, a linked one
- host, a receptacle, often with numensens, capable of hosting a numen and providing it the ability to function in the host's dimension, sometimes provided it with a limite set of anchors
- true host, a receptacle, usually with numensens and sometimes numinokinesis, capable of hosting a numen and providing it with natural anchors for the receptacle's aspects, reducing or removing its limitations, and sometimes enhancing the numen's abilities
- apex host, a true host with numinokinesis, enhanced anchoring, and possibly other numen abilities; note that an apex host from a tertiary host dimension, once merged with or possessed by a numen is capable of traveling to, surviving, and functioning in other dimensions
Numen Related Terms
- numen, a being possessing or capable of using dimensional abilities
- numina, the plural of numen, although numen is often used as both singular and plural
- numen-kin, TBD
- numensens, the ability to sense or perceive numina, their presence, their effects, or local influence
- numenessence, an amorphous entity that consists of a numen's nature, but without the persona or spirit that makes it a being
- numinokinesis, the manipulation or control of numen energies, allowing for various supernatural feats or effects
- numensenser, a being with the nemensens ability
- numenant, a being with the nemensens ability that has been imbued with numenessence
- numensor, a being with numinokinesis or numensens that has a relationship or connection with a specific numen
- numenosynthesis, the creation or synthesis of new numen abilities or powers through experimentation or combination of existing ones
- numenogenesis, the process of awakening or developing numen abilities within oneself or others
- numinopathy, the study or treatment of disorders related to numen abilities, such as uncontrolled manifestations or negative effects on the user
- numinology, the study or practice of numen abilities, including their nature, mechanics, and applications
- numinurgy, the art or practice of utilizing numen abilities for specific purposes, such as healing, protection, or manipulation
Comments