Diagram

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Awakening ritual diagram, by Wildbow.

Not to be confused with "circle" used as a synonym for coven,<ref>This wasn’t just Laird pulling something with people looking in. He was involving them. A coven -a circle-, getting involved. - excerpt from Breach 3.3</ref><ref>“You have a familiar, and a cabal,” Conquest observed.

“I prefer ‘circle’ to ‘cabal’.”

“Your concerns matter little to me.  You are a diabolist, few would deny that.  The diabolist’s circle is traditionally called a cabal.” - Excerpt from Subordination 6.4</ref> a magic circle or ritual diagram is a geometric pattern drawn out as part of a magic ritual.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">“Something geometric.  There are two schools of thought in binding. There is like binding like, and then there’s binding with the antithesis. The former requires more raw power, but you generally won’t upset them so much. I say generally, but some beings like conflict, and there are any number of other rules.”

It was kind of eerie, to see that the driver had personality. Even to the point of geeking out about something. I said, “I think I saw something about that in the Barber’s entry, in my grandmother’s books.”

“I read that. Yes. Good memory. It’s easier to bind them with something that naturally opposes them. In this case, you’d want something geometric and man-wrought to oppose beings that are more disordered and natural by their intrinsic natures. Which is most things out there. The more powerful they are, the more you’ll want and need in terms of protections.”
[...]
I set to drawing out a border around the edge of the apartment.  Turning the apartment into a magic circle, or a magic rectangle, whatever. - Excerpt from Collateral 4.1</ref>

Symbolic Function

A circular diagram is preferred because it's inherently balanced, rather than "tilting" toward any one part of the diagram and accidentally making that the focus of the ritual.<ref name=":0">“Explain what you’re doing?” Verona asked. She sat on her heels, wincing and bringing her hand to her lower stomach as she did so, looking at the lines. “This is a magic circle?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn any diagrams,” Matthew said. “It might help to think of this as a stage. If you don’t spread things out evenly, it’s imbalanced, the stage tilts.”

“We were told, uh, one person shouldn’t do all the shopping,” Avery said. She had her hands in the pockets of her track pants. “Or bring all the things. Same idea?”

“Similar idea.”

“What happens if the stage tilts?” Verona asked.

“I… that’s complicated, and might not have a singular answer,” Matthew said, as he drew out a circle. “I could see a situation where the spirits look to one person in your group as the spokesperson or leader. One person ends up holding the cards or having more power, while the others are supporters. In the very worst case, the other two practitioners could be suppliers of energy or power for the primary figure. I wouldn’t worry, we’re well past that and into safe territory.” - Excerpt from Lost for Words 1.2</ref> A circle, even a simple one, can also act as a symbolic border for Binding or shielding something from outside connections; although the simpler and weaker the diagram, the easier it will be to break through.<ref>Subordination 6.4</ref><ref>Void 7.1</ref> Most types of Other have their natural, chaotic natures opposed by geometric shapes, making them useful for binding or repelling them.<ref name=":1" />

Appearances

• Awakening ritual
  • Bonds 1.7
  • Gathered Pages: 1
  • Subordination 6.2
  • Lost for Words 1.2
  • Pact Dice: Mile End - Essentials
  • Pact Dice - Blood Magic
• Chronomancy rituals
  • Breach 3.3
  • Sine Die 14.2
• Barbatorem's binding
  • Bonds 1.6 & 1.7
• Blake's binding of Laird & his familiar, Void 7.1

References

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