Aons and Intent

[Zelly]

Does Elantrian magic work even without intent? Or even with opposite intent?

Would a healing Aon work if the Elantrian casting it actually wanted the person to die?

[Weltall]

AonDor requires Intent and won't function without it.

Quote

Kurkistan

So is that the same thing with Commands, are there like ideals that are Commands?

Brandon Sanderson

This is more of a-- For you to interface with the magic, you need to be able to comprehend it. And so forming a Command-- The same thing happens in Elantris, you know they don't accidentally draw runes, right? The intention is part of interfacing with the magic. So it's like your mind reaching into the Spiritual Realm and you have to like conceive something. source

The Tenth Anniversary edition also makes this explicit in the Ars Arcanum entry. Khriss mentions that one must intend to draw an Aon and have an idea of the correct shape in order for anything to happen and apparently she has tested this to her satisfaction and confirmed that one can't do 'accidental AonDor'.

Edited March 14, 2018 by Weltall

[Zelly]

28 minutes ago, Weltall said:

AonDor requires Intent and won't function without it.

The Tenth Anniversary edition also makes this explicit in the Ars Arcanum entry. Khriss mentions that one must intend to draw an Aon and have an idea of the correct shape in order for anything to happen and apparently she has tested this to her satisfaction and confirmed that one can't do 'accidental AonDor'.

But are the intent to draw and the intent of the user different?

Can an practiced Elantrian, who draws a perfect healing Aon and knows it is a perfect Aon used to heal, still utilize it if the Elantrian themselves does not wish the person healed?  Does the intent of the user cancel out the intent of the Aon?

Will the Aon not even appear and glow if the user is not drawing it faithful to the purpose?

 

[Weltall]

I'm pretty sure the Dor doesn't care whether you secretly think the opposite of whatever you're trying to accomplish. Selish magic has been likened to programming and by that logic, as long as you form the necessary connection to the magic system and you draw the symbol(s) properly, the rest doesn't matter. Much like as long as you've typed everything properly and there are no external variables, a program will do what the code says regardless of what the programmer is thinking at any given moment. The Dor is what's actually doing the work, the symbols the practitioner draws are simply channeling that power.

An example of this from the book is what happens with Dilaf's wife. The Elantrian who drew the Aons presumably did not consciously intend to transform her into a proto-Hoed but they made mistakes in the modifiers so the Dor acted the way it was instructed regardless.

[Yata he/him]

Aons mostly doesn't require an appropriate intent in the regard of the effect, just the will to drawn an Aon.

But I am quite sure, there are a couple of Aons requiring the right mindset to work, now I can't rememeber them but there were mention of them into the Arcanum or the Aon's list.

To me those Aons with "extra requirements" are the one who work mainly with the Spiritual but I have a complete mindblank at the moment

[Calderis he/him]

@Yata yeah, some do, and I agree on the reasoning. The only specific one that I can think of is Aon Omi.

Spoilered for length. 

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson

Meaning

In its most basic form, Omi is used to represent love and benevolence. It is a common root Aon for a wide variety of words, including affection, care, passion, piety, zeal, and some synonyms of loyalty.

A complex Aon with strong symmetry, the Aon has often been used as an example of balance, and even perfection. The great AonDor scholar Enelan of the fourth century called it “The most perfect of Aons, fully incorporating the base of Aon Aon and spinning it into a complex icon that is artful and complicated, yet somehow basically simple at the same time.”

In later centuries, the symbol has come to mean not only love, but divinity as well, an association created by the Korathi Church’s appropriation of the Aon. Many Korathi devout also regard the symbol as representing the potential unification of all mankind through peace, temperance, and love.

History and Use

Aon Omi is best known as the official symbol of the Korathi church in Arelon. It was chosen by Korath (known as KoWho in JinDo) himself to represent the church and God. Scholars of the time say that Korath made the decision late in his life, after decades spent preaching his interpretations of the tenets of Shu-Keseg (which eventually became the Korathi religion) in Arelon and Elantris itself.

The choice was shocking to many, as the young Korathi devout saw the Elantrians and their worship as a competing religion. Their Aons, the basis for Elantrian magic an power, were then regarded as heathen symbols. Korath was always bothered by this competitive streak in his believers, and it is widely accepted that he picked an Aon to represent God and his religion as an attempt to show that all people were acceptable beneath the blanket of the Korathi doctrines. He himself called the Aon a “Thing of Beauty” and asked an Elantrian smith of his acquaintance to craft a silver pendant for him bearing the symbol.

That event, and the subsequent adoption of Aon Omi by the Korathi church, led to the odd relationship between the Elantrians and the Korathi religion which found root in their homeland. (Though, following Korath’s death, his right hand man and follower ShanVen moved the religion’s center of operations to Teod instead, where the young monarchy there had embraced Shu-Korath as its official religion.)

Over the years, many other Aons have been adopted by the Korathi religion, but this one–Aon Omi–has remained their most powerful and important symbol. It is used extensively in Korathi religious services, and pendants bearing Aon Omi are commonly worn by the devout. (Many simply call them Korathi pendants, or Korathi religious pendants.) Such pendants are commonly exchanged during Korathi wedding services. (See the end of ELANTRIS the novel for an example.)

Many Korathi priests now look at the use of Aons by their religion as symbol of the potential unity of all mankind, when different beliefs, sects, and cultures will be drawn together through sincere affection for one another.

Naming and Usage in ELANTRIS

As can be expected from its meanings, Aon Omi is a common root Aon for names in Arelon, particularly among those who follow the Korathi religion.

The most obvious word using Omi as a root is the name Domi itself, the Korathi word for God. This usage did not become common until the seventh century; before then, the Jindoeese name Dashu was used by the Korathi, and the Elantrians preferred a word using Aon Daa as its root. In an interesting exchange, the Aonic word ‘Domi’ eventually became a loan word back to Jindoeese, where the word DoMin eventually came to mean ‘god.’

The head priest of the Korathi chapel in Kae, Father Omin, also uses this Aon in his name. (As a side note, like many Korathi priests, Omin chose a new name for himself once he joined the priesthood. In his youth, he went by the name of Elenan.) Father Omin wears a jade pendant of Aon Omi.

Eondel wears a pendant of Aon Omi, his sky blue. Sarene wears one of green and gold, while Raoden wears one of black.

AonDor

Aon Omi is a powerful Aon, and before the fall of Elantris could perform powerful magics. When drawn it puts out a powerful and pure white light; any who are touched by this light find their negative emotions wiped away, replaced by a sense of serenity and peace. It is difficult indeed to maintain a sense of hatred while Aon Omi is in force.

So powerful is this Aon, however, that using it requires much of the Elantrian who draws it. The Aon will be weak unless the one drawing it feels a sincere affection for those around him, making this Aon very difficult to use in tense situations. This strange requirement has fascinated AonDor practitioners for centuries, as it is one of the few Aons which requires something other than skill in drawing from its Elantrian.

Aon Omi is also used in other places in AonDor equations. It can be used to tie other Aon chains together, and is also a weaker power modifier, if used in the correct way.

source

 

[Calderis he/him]

This is merely my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt... 

Intent is the direction of the magic. For most magics, the power flows through a person, being directed by their Cognitive aspect. The Cognitive is the source of intent in the use of investiture. 

Herein lies the problem with the Dor. The Dor is trapped in Sel's Cognitive Realm, and as such, the Cognitive aspect of a person can't act as a conduit from the Spiritual as it does in other magic systems. So Programming is the key. 

By functioning through a programming form, the intent that is required to direct the magic is imparted in the written commands itself, be they Aons or stamps or whatever form is used. 

This has positives and negatives as @Weltall mentioned with the case of Dilaf's wife. 

[Rage_Fortress he/him]

1 hour ago, Calderis said:

@Yata yeah, some do, and I agree on the reasoning. The only specific one that I can think of is Aon Omi.

Spoilered for length. 

  Reveal hidden contents

Brandon Sanderson

Meaning

In its most basic form, Omi is used to represent love and benevolence. It is a common root Aon for a wide variety of words, including affection, care, passion, piety, zeal, and some synonyms of loyalty.

A complex Aon with strong symmetry, the Aon has often been used as an example of balance, and even perfection. The great AonDor scholar Enelan of the fourth century called it “The most perfect of Aons, fully incorporating the base of Aon Aon and spinning it into a complex icon that is artful and complicated, yet somehow basically simple at the same time.”

In later centuries, the symbol has come to mean not only love, but divinity as well, an association created by the Korathi Church’s appropriation of the Aon. Many Korathi devout also regard the symbol as representing the potential unification of all mankind through peace, temperance, and love.

History and Use

Aon Omi is best known as the official symbol of the Korathi church in Arelon. It was chosen by Korath (known as KoWho in JinDo) himself to represent the church and God. Scholars of the time say that Korath made the decision late in his life, after decades spent preaching his interpretations of the tenets of Shu-Keseg (which eventually became the Korathi religion) in Arelon and Elantris itself.

The choice was shocking to many, as the young Korathi devout saw the Elantrians and their worship as a competing religion. Their Aons, the basis for Elantrian magic an power, were then regarded as heathen symbols. Korath was always bothered by this competitive streak in his believers, and it is widely accepted that he picked an Aon to represent God and his religion as an attempt to show that all people were acceptable beneath the blanket of the Korathi doctrines. He himself called the Aon a “Thing of Beauty” and asked an Elantrian smith of his acquaintance to craft a silver pendant for him bearing the symbol.

That event, and the subsequent adoption of Aon Omi by the Korathi church, led to the odd relationship between the Elantrians and the Korathi religion which found root in their homeland. (Though, following Korath’s death, his right hand man and follower ShanVen moved the religion’s center of operations to Teod instead, where the young monarchy there had embraced Shu-Korath as its official religion.)

Over the years, many other Aons have been adopted by the Korathi religion, but this one–Aon Omi–has remained their most powerful and important symbol. It is used extensively in Korathi religious services, and pendants bearing Aon Omi are commonly worn by the devout. (Many simply call them Korathi pendants, or Korathi religious pendants.) Such pendants are commonly exchanged during Korathi wedding services. (See the end of ELANTRIS the novel for an example.)

Many Korathi priests now look at the use of Aons by their religion as symbol of the potential unity of all mankind, when different beliefs, sects, and cultures will be drawn together through sincere affection for one another.

Naming and Usage in ELANTRIS

As can be expected from its meanings, Aon Omi is a common root Aon for names in Arelon, particularly among those who follow the Korathi religion.

The most obvious word using Omi as a root is the name Domi itself, the Korathi word for God. This usage did not become common until the seventh century; before then, the Jindoeese name Dashu was used by the Korathi, and the Elantrians preferred a word using Aon Daa as its root. In an interesting exchange, the Aonic word ‘Domi’ eventually became a loan word back to Jindoeese, where the word DoMin eventually came to mean ‘god.’

The head priest of the Korathi chapel in Kae, Father Omin, also uses this Aon in his name. (As a side note, like many Korathi priests, Omin chose a new name for himself once he joined the priesthood. In his youth, he went by the name of Elenan.) Father Omin wears a jade pendant of Aon Omi.

Eondel wears a pendant of Aon Omi, his sky blue. Sarene wears one of green and gold, while Raoden wears one of black.

AonDor

Aon Omi is a powerful Aon, and before the fall of Elantris could perform powerful magics. When drawn it puts out a powerful and pure white light; any who are touched by this light find their negative emotions wiped away, replaced by a sense of serenity and peace. It is difficult indeed to maintain a sense of hatred while Aon Omi is in force.

So powerful is this Aon, however, that using it requires much of the Elantrian who draws it. The Aon will be weak unless the one drawing it feels a sincere affection for those around him, making this Aon very difficult to use in tense situations. This strange requirement has fascinated AonDor practitioners for centuries, as it is one of the few Aons which requires something other than skill in drawing from its Elantrian.

Aon Omi is also used in other places in AonDor equations. It can be used to tie other Aon chains together, and is also a weaker power modifier, if used in the correct way.

source

 

Where did you get this bit of trivia about the history of Aon Omi? I don't remember ever having read it before. Are there similar ones for other Aons?

[Calderis he/him]

26 minutes ago, theuntaintedchild said:

Where did you get this bit of trivia about the history of Aon Omi? I don't remember ever having read it before. Are there similar ones for other Aons?

They were published, and I believe still are on Brandon's website, though I don't know in what section anymore.  There a a few of them, all of of similar length, but only for a a few of the Aons. 

If you search Arcanum for "Aon&meaning" you should pull up all of them. 

[Rage_Fortress he/him]

2 hours ago, Calderis said:

They were published, and I believe still are on Brandon's website, though I don't know in what section anymore.  There a a few of them, all of of similar length, but only for a a few of the Aons. 

If you search Arcanum for "Aon&meaning" you should pull up all of them. 

Thanks so much! I found that really interesting. A little bit of extra info from the Cosmere is always nice.