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(A little lost? Read the Intro, the Prelude, and if you’re game, Chapter One)

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Ladies and gentlemen? This is it.

The Analysis and Review we’ve all been waiting for.

This edition covers Chapter Five and Chapter Six of Arc II.

It’s worth getting a little excited over, for these are the chapters where Maedoc first attempts — and wildly succeeds at — a new form of Aethretic technique.

One which allows him to comprehensively nullify an N.O.B from a distance. No touch required.

Since many of us will not be physically touching the N.O.Bs in our lives — much less armwrestling them — this is a welcome revelation.

This will very much become the theme of the Saga from here on out: more and more convenient, even downright magical approaches to addressing the roadblocks in our lives. This allows you the room to substantially improve and enrich your everyday experience.

Once these thorns have been removed from your side, you can fully enjoy the fruits of energetic enhancement.

In Arc II the roadblocks we focus on are rude, annoying and overbearing individuals who do their best to bring you down. I’ve labeled these types of individuals N.O.Bs, or negatively oriented beings.

Without further ado, let’s get right to it.

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ARC II, CHAPTER FIVE

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SURROUNDED

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Tell me if this situation sounds familiar.

You walk into a crowded room. All eyes are on you, and it ain’t pleasant.

Maybe it’s a party where you only know a person or two. Perhaps it’s a presentation for your school or workplace.

It might even be a shopping mall, or grocery store. Even if you don’t have everyone staring at you, some populated places simply feel unwelcoming, and your anxiety skyrockets as a result.

You might find it hard to breathe or focus, as Maedoc does.

Everyone has had this happen to them at least once, and many of us experience something like this more often than we would like to admit.

If this is the case for you, there is either a powerful phobia instilled upon you — built upon and fortified over the years — or these locales have a healthy number of N.O.Bs mulling about.

There are many educational classes, pharmaceuticals, therapy techniques and the like which discuss the handling and acceptance of personal phobias, but there is nothing publicly available on how to address energetically toxic individuals who bring you down — and all without a single word or gesture.

Naturally, I’m here to fill that void.

After giving these techniques I present a try, you might find a significant shift in your so called phobias.

Much like I did.

At the end of Arc II, Chapter Four, Maedoc walked into a veritable nest of N.O.Bs, making themselves at home within the tavern he lives and works at. This is, of course, after he finds them roaming the streets of his town, as well as taking up the position of his new boss in the fields (his other job).

In short, he feels that he’s being suffocated with unpleasant people in every nook and cranny of his life.

I’ve been in a similar situation before. Perhaps you have, too.

Perhaps you’re there right now.

Naturally, as Maedoc walks into this chaotic cesspool of negativity he’s feeling a little intimidated. His breath feels as though it’s stuck in his mouth, and his heart takes on that familiar sensation of “cold cement” that is so often paired with anxiety.

One or two N.O.Bs at once is more than enough for most people.

A whole room? Forget about it.

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N.O.B PERSONALITY QUIRKS

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Stollin, having dealt with this crowd for an indeterminate amount of time, was quite tired of waiting on them. Upon Maedoc showing up at the front door he was more than happy to hand them off to the boy as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Now it was up to him to answer the questions, take the orders and overall tend to their every need.

What a blessing.

I took special care to use the beginning of Chapter Five as a “highlights reel” of sorts, so I could display some commonly observed N.O.B behavior. If you’ve spent a day working in the retail and service industries, some of these might sound quite familiar.

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a) the “Can’t See Two Inches In Front of Her Face” N.O.B

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If there’s one thing N.O.Bs cannot get enough of, it’s the wasting of your time.

This is often accomplished by asking you a series of pointless questions. Inquiries that can typically be answered by looking directly in front of them, for example, or which cover something that is basic knowledge.

In this situation, an older woman asks Maedoc where she could obtain some silverware. The boy, stunned, points out that they’re on the table in front of her.

To some this might seem a gross exaggeration, but for those in the service industry — it’s not all that farfetched.

I also took some care in describing her facial expressions, for these are a common sight. Those with gigantic phony smiles — the sort that never seem to fade — are far more likely to be N.O.Bs than others. More than twice as likely, I would estimate.

Notable phoniness in general is often a good indicator. But if you see a man or woman flash you a big smile as they bug their eyes out at you, they are more often than not attempting to stun you with a small visual shock.

It’s a little jarring to see such a forcefully widened expression come out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason.

Really, it’s the plastic and artificial nature of the smile — the sociopathic qualities woven throughout the expression — that we’re looking for.

Just remember: while this expression is common amongst N.O.Bs, it is their bad energy that ultimately proves what they are.

Try not to judge a book by its cover.

Some who are all smiles are simply nervous, or trying to be polite.

At the same time, don’t be afraid to make use of these visual clues. Some of these folk choose to make their identify more obvious in this way, and there’s little reason not to take advantage of it.

With practice, utilizing these visual clues will quicken your identification skills.

In a nutshell: keep an eye out for the painfully phony. Focus your energetic efforts on them and you will be more likely to uncloak a genuine N.O.B than if you poured your time into some average looking schmo.

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b) the “Powerfully Annoying Voice” N.O.B

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It’s hard for me to answer which is the more revealing trait for an N.O.B: a painfully fake smile with bugged out eyes, or a voice so annoying it makes you cringe.

Both are extremely common traits for an N.O.B, and both serve the same purpose: to destabilize and intrude upon a person’s emotions and energy.

The jarring phony smile serves as a visual shock, and the annoying voice is an audial shock.

I can see you now, shaking your head “no” with certainty.

Naturally our first response as a citizen of this society is to laugh this notion off, and steadfastly create excuses for these folks’ behavior.

Some people just do big, phony smiles! While bugging their eyes out! It’s just their personality. They’re being friendly, and who are we to judge a visually friendly person?

If anything, it’s we who have the problem. The anxiety we feel around them is our fault, not theirs.

Right?

How about annoying voices? Some people just talk in a way that bugs us and everyone around them. It’s unfortunate that they’re somehow unaware of their effect on others, but in the end it is purely accidental and coincidental. Listening to them feels like nails on a chalkboard — or a cartoon voice actor gone wrong — but it’s simply an unfortunate circumstance for the individual.

The fact that their voice makes you sick and/or tired isn’t their fault at all. It is somehow yours.

Sound about right?

We’re trained to smile back at people whom smile, and to perceive them as friendly. But what does your heart feel as you speak with them?

Does it feel good?

Or does it feel mysteriously anxious?

Voice-wise it can be easier to tell if it’s done intentionally, for they tend to feel a little forced.

As if they’re trying to make it annoying.

A little too loud. Too whiny. Too passive-aggressive.

You can wrack your brain trying to come up with a good excuse for them, but you will be hard pressed to find one.

The question we ask when we encounter people like this is “why?”

Why would someone actively try and be annoying? Wouldn’t they prefer to be liked, as a normal person would?

Why is this happening?

Now you have an answer.

Sometimes the voice doesn’t sound forcefully annoying, and yet you find yourself annoyed regardless. Something about the audio in itself is jarring, discomforting, or stressful. This is due to the noxious energy of the individual carrying over through one’s words.

Pretty wild, I know.

We won’t get too much into that here, but there are numerous ways the energy of an individual can be transmitted to another. A person’s voice is only one of them.

Let’s get back on track, here.

The individual who embodies this audial trait is the second customer Maedoc interacts with. His voice is high pitched, whiny, sarcastic and demanding. A lovely cocktail of qualities, we can all surely agree.

If you’ve ever had a customer speak to you in a way as to make you desire to do anything BUT help them, that person could very well have been an N.O.B.

Upon encountering this individual, Maedoc hears his request for a chair and, upon finding one later on, hides it from view.

Bravo.

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c) the “Unbearable Witch” N.O.B

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The most fearsome of the N.O.Bs in my opinion.

These sorts are often the easiest to spot, for they have a style that is apparently timeless:

Stiff, shiny hair — often quite curled, but always “fake looking” as if it were a wig. If they choose to forego the wig look, it will often instead look dirty and unkempt. Greasy.

Skin with a pallid, unhealthy hue. Almost as if they’re already dead. Zombie-like.

Smiles and expressions a little too big for their faces. Like a toad.

Scents and perfumes too strong for a single person — often akin to patchouli.

And eyes that are so stark, bright, and cold that they appear manufactured.

Doll eyes.

These visual and olfactory cues are also sometimes paired with behavioral anomalies.

Needless and unwarranted rudeness.

Nonsensical statements and/or lies to further a hostile interaction.

Nothing warm or human to be felt within their words or action. “Cold reptile.”

To top off this charming ensemble, you can be made aware of the elevated power of your prospective N.O.B through some internal indicators such as the following:

A ringing in one or both ears before or after seeing this person, i.e. tinnitus.

A localized headache soon before or after seeing this person.

Notice the ending of these sentences. Before or after seeing them.

It’s true — an N.O.B can negatively affect you from a distance. I discuss the scientific properties of “remote influence” in the second installment of my Intro to N.O.Bs series.

If you happen to encounter these symptoms — mysterious ear ringing, or a spontaneous headache — be certain to take a look around you. See if anyone is staring in your direction.

Take a mental note to more deeply examine them with an Aether device when you get an opportunity. Or, if you’re armed with a Ray, do so right away.

Simply point and shoot.

Utilize proper breathe and focus. Observe and calibrate accordingly.

l will mention that not every N.O.B is prone to overtly stare at you from a distance, so you may want to also look for those whom might be watching you with their peripheral vision.

These are also easy to spot.

You’ll find them standing around you awkwardly, pretending to stare at some inane object or sign. Point a Ray at them, put some backbone into it, and watch them scurry off.

If you are the sort to encounter these overtly grimy types often, I feel for you.

They are NOT easy to deal with, and almost always leave a dirty, sickening vibe that lingers for a while.

Before Aether came around, these sorts were the stuff of nightmares.

Soon enough, they will become your absolute favorite target for “practice.”

Who doesn’t appreciate a good table-turning?

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INTENSE ENCOUNTERS — ZERO EFFECT

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Shortly after interacting with the Toad — an endearing nickname based on the woman’s too-large mouth and squat stature — he comes across her a second time.

This second encounter happens soon after she requested a salad from the boy, only for him to return and announce to the bar that they had run out of greens.

He was well aware that he was in for a hellish response. Despite this, he walked forward with some sense of bravery — for he now had his Ray aimed directly at her.

Unfortunately for him, she didn’t seem the least bit phased. If anything, she became spookier still. Her crisp, cold eyes now appeared to be an utter mockery of what a human eye should look like.

Powerfully artificial. So much so, the boy could hardly bear to see them.

Here’s the thing: I wasn’t being poetic here.

There have been hundreds of individuals over the past years who have brandished eyes such as these. Eyes that simply don’t appear to be real. A real life Instagram filter.

Some eyes are so glassy — so utterly dead — that I’ve honestly strongly suspected they belong to an alien.

If there’s a such thing as all-powerful subtle energy projectors, I suppose a human-shaped alien isn’t that much further a leap.

Of course, I can’t attest to how true a notion like this will be. In all honesty I have no clue why their eyes are so different.

All I can tell you is that these types of eyes become more and more obvious when exposed to a strong Aetheric field.

It’s quite possible you’ll come across an individual much like this one. And you might find your situation to be similar to Maedoc’s.

That is to say that you aim a Ray at your target, yet their behavior doesn’t change one bit.

However, you might notice their appearance shift a little. Or their movement.

In this case, it was her eyes.

If you notice a “chink in the armor” such as this, let it embolden you!

It means you’re making progress. Let this motivate you to push harder, to focus more clearly, and to put the entirety of your heart into the channeling of Aetheric energy to your target.

By keeping this up you will continuously deplete their store of toxic energy.

It might take a minute, it might take ten minutes, but eventually they WILL run out.

And when that happens you’ll see some real blatant changes.

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A BOLD NEW TECHNIQUE

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The last third of the chapter has Maedoc prepping himself for a brand new application of energy.

Who knew it could take so long to describe a single technique?

This was to be a combination of Conduction, Charge, and something new.

As he hid himself away in the tavern’s restroom, the boy wracked his brain for a way to clear out this room of creeps.

Recalling the night before, he wonders what it was that made Bearnard so petrified and eager to leave.

Thinking on it, he realized that the main difference was the physical contact. The direct conduction of energy to the man’s heart.

Of course, Maedoc had no desire to touch any of these people. Nor did he have a feasible way of doing so.

What he needed to do was touch without touching. To utilize Conduction without a physical tether.

Aiming a Ray at his target inspired changes of a sort, but that wasn’t enough to send them running. It appeared to take more than that.

Seconds ticking by, he let the water in the sink run as he let his mind wander. Thinking back to the stream he had drank from earlier that day, he remembered that he was able to feel its motion while the Ray was in his hand.

That is to say, he was able to touch without touching.

What this breaks down to: the energy of the moving water triggered a reaction in the energy of the Ray.

Which, in turn, affected the energy of the boy, resulting in a physical sensation.

The entirety of that perception is simply energy affecting energy.

The more energy you have at your disposal, the bigger “web” or “net” you can cast out to your surroundings. This makes you more likely to perceive other systems of energy, especially if they’re moving.

Or, if you prefer an electromagnetic approach, the bigger your energy field, the more likely you are to attract and bump into other energy fields.

Especially if they’re polar opposites.

Maedoc’s theory is that as long as he’s able to feel something — be it physical or energetic — he can connect to it. We can think of this as a “long distance Conduction” approach.

And truly, this is how it works in the real world. As long as you can feel the energy —connect to it — you can affect it.

While Maedoc may not have consciously been aware of this fact, his body made up for the slack.

After selecting a target to test this new technique on — the lovely Mister Chair from earlier — Maedoc primes his body for ultimate effectiveness.

In his left hand rests the Spearmint Ray, the energy of which he allows to slowly spool throughout his body.

He then extends and slightly engages his right arm, straightening his palm out for maximum reception. The youth feels that there’s a proper “spot” to rest his hand in order for this to work best, though he’s unable to logically determine why.

This spot was determined purely by feel.

In the chapter I describe it as a sail catching wind, or pruning a plant so that all its branches and leaves get proper sunlight.

Is there a “best way” to position yourself for energetic practice?

Not really. As long as you feel an accumulation of energy take place, slowly building and churning as you maintain the position, then you’re good to go.

Just be sure to maintain proper breathing, posture and intention as you do so. You can make sure you’re doing this properly by comparing your form to my instructions, which I provide here. Pay special attention to the Personal Bodily Use video, which covers these subjects in detail.

You can also browse the Extended Tips articles, which cover additional physiological aspects of achieving maximum energetic charge.

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ARC II, CHAPTER SIX

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ATTEMPTING THE IMPOSSIBLE

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Arc II, Chapter Six begins right where Chapter Five left off.

Maedoc, having chosen his test subject, began his first attempt at remote Conduction – Charge hybridization.

Nothing like this was ever even hinted to be possible by Cynwrig, so the boy truly has no clue if this will work — even a little bit.

Even though he is literally buzzing with energy, he doesn’t feel it going anywhere, or doing anything. Beyond feeling pleasant and warm, the boy finds himself at a standstill.

In order to have this surplus energy do some traveling of its own, three things had to happen:

1) an unraveling of the target’s energetic “cloaking”

2) utilizing the archetype of the furnace

3) a small unfurling of Maedoc’s heart

At the time the boy has no idea that his target is cloaked, or “armored” or anything like that. All he knows is that he has to connect to the target’s core, and to do that he has to feel something.

It is this feeling that serves as an “extra-dimensional handle” to latch onto.

He recalls that aiming the Ray toward Bearnard the night before had made the man’s negative core far easier to feel — and so he proceeds to do just that. A small tweak in direction and bam, the Ray is locked onto his target.

In his straining to feel an energetic clash, the boy finds that his breathing ceases — up until he begins to feel the energy recede from his body, until it resides solely in the hand holding the Ray.

I included this segment as an important reminder: don’t stop breathing.

You might not be aware of it, but many of us hold our breath instinctively for numerous situations, one of which is when we try to perceive something subtle.

Don’t worry. A little breathing won’t fudge up your perception. Just breathe slow, steady and deep.

Not only will this ensure you don’t poison yourself with CO2 (which causes anxiety, lethargy and more) — it also keeps your accumulated energy alive. Breath and energy go intimately hand in hand.

This is displayed most prominently in Chinese, Indian and Polynesian cultures. Take a look at my Energetic Worldviews page, and you’ll see that breath is the backbone of their entire energy practice.

Without breath there is little buoyancy or natural flow to your energy, and you’ll find yourself choking up like a mistreated engine.

Now that we have that covered, we’ll return to the technique currently in progress.

By aiming the Ray at his target, Maedoc accomplishes the first step. Aether naturally begins the process of stripping away the “veneer” that so effectively masks an N.O.B’s noxious core. All it takes is a little unraveling for you to gain access to their center.

So we have the energy stockpiled and ready. We have a route to the core of the target. What’s next?

A streamlined method to push that energy forward.

The faster and more forcefully you can do this, the more immediate the effect. So it was no wonder that Maedoc’s mind wandered to the furnace. This brings us to step 2: utilizing the archetype of the furnace.

It wasn’t anything too bold or spooky. It was simply a turning of the dial.

This was the mechanism which allowed more air into the furnace, allowing it to burn hotter and brighter.

Even this little piece, this small facet of his experience proved useful enough to the boy. It allowed him a visual and tactile manner to inspire a larger energy transfer than was currently flowing.

This was how Maedoc chose to utilize the furnace archetype. It’s a relatively simple method that the boy intuitively understood to measure and increase flow. It also has emotional significance, which gives the visualization added oomph.

After all, e-motion is simply energy in motion. The more emotion you can tap into, the greater your energetic haul will be.

Believe me. It’s a powerful feat, to be in tune with your emotions. It’s worthwhile to learn the ropes. Please do not attempt to stifle or mute them, as is all the rage in our modern day society. It will weaken you more than you know.

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SENDING ENERGY INTO THE UNKNOWN

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It amazes me how automatic some of these feats become with only the tiniest tweak or shift in focus. This is truly a nuanced art form with infinite permutations to explore.

All it took for Maedoc to make something happen was a visualization of a dial turning. No big secret!

If you desire, you can borrow these same techniques to assist your energy in its travels.

Just remember, energy follows intention. And while you can manipulate energy quite well with a simple intention such as “my hand is a magnet,” you are also free to make your intention more intricate.

If you choose, an entire blueprint could be written within you and your surroundings which your energy supply will then follow and execute.

Give it some time. You’ll get there.

For now we’ll stick to the simple turning of a dial.

Much like the physical furnace, this action gave him the clearance to access a greater amount — only this time it was energy rather than air.

Now that the energy has a motion to it, you will find it easier to send to a target.

Some might try and send it to an N.O.B’s heart, or perhaps their head. This all works fine and good, but you want to know a big secret?

You aren’t required to have a single clue where the energy ends up.

As long as you focus on your target and intend to reach their “core,” the energy will get there just fine.

This explains why Maedoc had a visualization of an intricate pitcher of sorts pouring a fluid onto . . .  something.

And this fluid then seeped off to . . .  somewhere.

He didn’t picture a human heart, or the shape of a skull, or anything like that. It was simply a pitcher pouring a fluid into the unknown.

Try not to feel like you have to micromanage every little aspect of this energy transfer. It is a natural and universally supported mechanism, and it does just fine on its own once it is set up properly.

Just follow these steps, trust that it will work, and admire the results that follow.

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THE INTERIOR OF AN N.O.B

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This increase in rate and quantity was enough to allow Maedoc a glimpse inside his target.

What he found wasn’t pretty.

The chapter explains it thoroughly, so I won’t go too much into it. In essence, the man’s interior felt like a dead, dried up riverbed. Sharp, jagged rocks litter the area, making it an area rather inhospitable to life.

This surprises the boy. He had no idea the inside of an N.O.B could be so parched and desolate.

After dwelling on this discovery for a moment, he is able to reach step 3.

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INTRO TO THE ELEMENTAL

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As I mentioned earlier, the second Arc brings the reader closer and closer to achieving capabilities one might perceive as magical.

The beginning section of Chapter Six brings that goal a little closer to home by giving us a peek at elemental Aethretics.

It’s a strongly similar idea to your standard magical methods — be they Wiccan or Hermetic, Golden Dawn or O.T.O, they will typically utilize the elements in some way.

Earth. Wind. Fire. Water. You know the deal.

The first instance of elemental Aethretics comes into play when Maedoc feels a strong sense of pity for his target, Mister Chair.

By opening up his heart just a little, the boy is instantly inspired to flood the parched energetic scenery with a warm torrent of spiraling fluid.

An open heart is a human’s most powerful tool for accessing our deepest emotional power. It connects us to all other living things in the universe, and it’s the gateway to our souls.

At least, this has been my experience up until now.

As you can imagine, utilizing it can pave the way for some extraordinary energetic maneuvers.

Lest I get carried away, let’s reign it in a little and get back to the fluid.

Being a visualization, there is no actual water here, nor is there an actual riverbed. These are simply vantage points of the human mind — astral constructs, if you will — which result from an unknowable, extra-dimensional tide pool of activity.

By giving an image, or a sensation, or a material quality to these energies, we are better able to relate to them, and thus better able to interact with and manipulate them.

This scene delved into the water element for only a paragraph or two, so we were unable to glean much of its potential, or exactly what it accomplished.

All we see is that it was enough to get the man to his feet, in addition to voiding him of his more grating qualities.

It was as if he had been muted or subdued in some way. His voice seemed tired and deflated, and his manner of walking appeared stiff and forced.

If you ever find yourself trying something similar to an N.O.B of your own, see if you encounter similar results.

This is how you know you’ve achieved the supposedly impossible: affecting another person from a distance with tangible certainty — all while using nothing but subtle energy and intention.

Or, you know. Magick.

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UTILIZING AETHER WITHOUT HOLDING IT

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Soon after this momentous event, Maedoc is summoned to the kitchen and told to divvy up the prepared dishes to the tavern’s customers.

It is only upon getting there that he realizes . . .

With his hands full, he won’t be able to hold his Ray.

Thinking quick, he sticks it in his waistband.

And you know what? It’s not a bad idea.

There’s been a number of times where I’ve found myself in a funk, and I decide to try something new like sticking a Ray in my waistband.

Lo and behold — I felt a unique sort of relief. Fancy that.

It seems there is a tangible shift in sensation when you place Aether upon your torso, or head, legs, or really anywhere.

It may be easiest to perceive the nuances of Aether through the hands, since we’re used to perceiving touch through our palms and fingers, but it is FAR from the only way to interact with it.

Naturally, being the first time the boy has ever tried this, he finds it faintly relaxing at most. Perhaps a bar full of N.O.Bs isn’t the best location to try this.

But with a little practice, it certainly has its place and time.

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N.O.B DIVIDE AND CONQUER

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. . . of your attention, that is.

A common tactic for N.O.Bs, you may sometimes find yourself interacting with more than one of them at once.

While one member of the group keeps you busy with a series of questions or pointless stories, another individual will stare bullets into you. This is typically done without blinking, which is discomforting enough.

But if it’s an N.O.B worth his or her salt, a sizable dose of toxic energy will stream through their gaze, raising your anxiety and stifling your ability to think.

If you find yourself suddenly choking up as you interact with a group, there’s a chance one or more of them could be a genuine N.O.B.

This is the situation Maedoc finds himself in as he approaches his first table. Just his luck, it happens to belong to Mister Chair and his newly arrived acquaintance.

This newcomer has a more notably shrill voice than the other, whose nasal squeaks and whiny tone were already palpable.

One might wonder: why did I decide to make these guys into each other?

Maedoc observed an obvious sensual bond between the two, and it stood out to him mainly because he had never observed this in his village before. It’s quite a first.

Be that as it may, is that all that there is to it?

Well, as it turns out, it has been observed that a sizable percentage of N.O.Bs live a wide assortment of varied and noteworthy lifestyles.

I don’t wish to spoil the surprise, so if you’re eager to find out more tune into my ongoing Intro to N.O.Bs series.

Just a note: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with an LBGT lifestyle.

The truth of the matter  would be that it appears to attract certain negative sorts whom are in search of very particular energies that a standard relationship would not provide.

If you wish to perform some research on the subject, look into Aleister Crowley and homosexual magick.

Crowley, as we know, has been quite the popular figure in the magical scene for the last hundred or so years. Love him or hate him, he’s had a sizable impact on a wide number of magickal systems and orders which continue to live on to this day.

So no, I cannot say that I’m making this notion up, but all the same I am sorry to whomever I might offend with this information.

For the moment let’s just chalk the moment up to a unique quirk of an odd couple and move on.

Upon meeting them Maedoc did his best to utilize his new “Distant Conduction” technique, but as the chapter revealed he was unable to drum up a proper charge while his focus was divided between the two.

Not to mention the constant energetic vitriol the second man was sending his way. This didn’t help much, either.

At the time the boy was unable to juggle all of this at once, so we didn’t see any developments resembling triumph here.

Really we just see the fellow duck out of the conversation and run off. It’s not his proudest moment.

It takes a while — a long while — for any given individual to be capable of juggling a decent conversation and N.O.B nullification at the same time.

No one can drop right into this scene and instantly be an expert in it.

Me, for example. It took quite the passing of near daily practice to achieve the place I’m at today.

Years, to be honest.

I was lucky to find myself engaged in certain day jobs at the time. Working in the retail and service industries does have its perks.

If you are so blessed as to have a position in these industries, please realize that this placement allows you to perform

an endless sharpening of these tools,

direct field experience in their usage,

and a never-ending carousel of N.O.B target practice.

What was that I uttered earlier? About it taking years to reach a decent footing?

That’s a bit of a bummer, isn’t it. We don’t all have years to pour away into our pet projects.

Some people don’t have that kind of time to wait for results.

Fortunately these lines of work have provided me the materials to develop and produce a more efficient and direct training regimen to achieve similar results to mine in a fraction of the time.

It need only take a few weeks of loose effort to reach a relatively advanced stage.

This Saga makes up a good chunk of that regimen, so read up!

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BREAKING THROUGH

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After all the divvying of dishes is done — and a quick scene where Maedoc encounters a duo of travelers who somehow know his name — he takes a moment to himself and rests at the back of the tavern.

He has a quick and hazy dream of a life where he could more fully enjoy and experience this newfound gift, develop it to its fullest, and bask in the radiance might result.

This respite is soon foiled by the return of the Toad, who in her search for an alternate eatery is forced to re-attend the Glen — the only purveyor of prepared meals in town.

Take note that he felt a headache before he caught sight of her approaching. This is quite the common occurrence.

Clumsily snatching the Ray from his waistband, he does what he can to prepare himself before she verbally and energetically assaults him.

Unfortunately, being caught off guard tends to make this difficult to achieve.

A small glimmer of hope is seen when Maedoc displays bravery. He fesses up that the tavern is currently devoid of food — he even takes a small step toward his fearsome adversary — and quips the line “better luck next time.”

Just this smidgen of rebellion, this spurt of courage, was enough to draw power.

Quite automatically the visualization of the furnace dial manifests in his mind, turning itself an inch to the left.

What, precisely, is being displayed here?

A channeling of genuine courage is a surefire way to access a quick bolt of strength. It is a unique and mysterious quality that underlies the secret to humanity’s strength . . .  and for that reason it’s difficult for me to explain.

It’s something instilled deeply within us, and which has likely been so for many thousands of years. Tightly stitched within our souls and woven throughout our many cultures’ favorite stories.

For reasons that remain shrouded, it appears a spark of bravery raises the body and spirit both.

Try it out sometime.

As for Maedoc? This sudden approach proves to be empowering, but it results in a bold response.

With a raised voice and some aggressive gesturing, the Toad stupefies the boy into a stunned silence. Extreme enunciations and sentence pacing gives her a frightful — yet powerfully hypnotic — presence.

Any of you ever encounter something like this?

A spooky old lady or gentleman who becomes quite irritated with you, and proceeds to vocally rake you over the coals? It never feels good to be yelled at, but you might find yourself feeling eerily terrified, or sickened, or any number of negative sensations.

This material was written to represent all of these situations — a resultant literary culmination of all the nastiest encounters we could have with a tangibly toxic individual.

99% of us don’t currently find ourselves in a position to talk back to individuals like these. We’re often forced to simply stand there and take it. Seconds tick by as this continual wave of pressure, discomfort and heat builds upon you — and there’s seemingly no place to put it all.

As it turns out, this amassment of anxious energy can be a good thing!

Do you recall me mentioning the importance of human emotion?

When I said that, I meant all of them.

Each and every emotion can have a useful impact on our energy. Even those we perceive to be destructive.

A swell of anger, for example, can be quite useful in a situation like this.

It typically serves to drum up energy fast, much like a blast of heat, speedily elevating it to your head and chest.

This might be why our thinking becomes fuzzy if we become ticked off — our brains are now swirling with a hot, dense energy!

If left alone this energy will bleed into your thoughts, clouding them and potentially leading to some clumsy decisions. This is sometimes the case for many of us.

Some of us have managed to pick up a few breathing techniques, or an entire physical regimen even, to manage spikes in emotional stress.

Many of these techniques allow one to smooth out excess discordant energy, and to have it safely transferred away from the head. Some methods might, for example, have you mentally direct this excess energy down your legs and into the Earth — akin to a lightning rod.

This is a fine approach if your goal is to gain a little breathing room. It is certain to clear your head, relax your body, and help you feel tangibly more comfortable.

As far as our options go, sending that anxious energy down into the ground is mighty tempting.

Just know that there is a third option, and this is the option that Maedoc engages.

Rather than have it stay stuck in his head (#1), and rather than coax it down into the Earth (#2), the energy instead goes up.

Up through his legs. Up through his torso, into his head and — POP!

Straight past it.

When a human has a large, spiraling mass of energy pour up through the body and past the head, we can liken such a phenomenon to a kundalini awakening.

Here’s a site I found on the first page of Google. It will suffice.

So what is kundalini?

“This force is the energizing potential of life itself. Kundalini energy lies dormant in most people, like a sleeping serpent. However, when she begins to awaken, this can lead to a profound spiritual experience.”

Now that we’ve described the energy, here’s a quote on how they define such an awakening.

“A Kundalini awakening is when this dormant force starts to rise up through the body, cleansing and awakening spiritual energies as it travels. It is the reuniting of the separate self with the universal divine, resulting in spiritual awakening. In essence, a Kundalini awakening is a process of expanding beyond the boundaries of human form.”

Now doesn’t that sound like fun?

Kundalini is not an unheard of topic — even over here in the West.

There are likely workshops and teachers within your very own city, all of whom are teaching these materials at this time. Not to mention the dozens of books on the subject that can be found at any given bookstore.

There are likely thousands of websites on it.

What I’m trying to say is there is little need for me to go very much in depth, here.

Curious about the subject? There’s a lot of good material out there to learn from.

What I will say is that powerful spiritual occurrences such as these will prove to be far more common with Aether in hand.

Not only are these little powerhouses flooding your body with excess energy, they are also serving to clear numerous blockages and subtle emotional hang-ups within your energetic circuitry.

The summation of these subtle and beneficial tweaks really sets the stage for a large scale movement of energy, such as a kundalini awakening.

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AN UNKNOWN PLACE

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The instant the boy’s energy rushes past the top of his skull, he finds himself in . . .

Well . . .

It’s honestly hard to say.

There’s little visual information beyond the hazily perceptible and murky mingling of shadow and light.

And while he doesn’t see anyone in particular, Maedoc spends his time there communicating with . . .

Well . . .

This is also hard to say.

All he can tell is that it’s a form of instant knowing, spilled out in intermittent bursts of information.

Friendly, unfriendly, human, nonhuman — there’s really no way to tell.

It doesn’t help that this correspondence to his questions speaks in a purely obtuse and indirect manner.

It’s akin to a man speaking only haikus.

Unfortunately I will not be analyzing what was conveyed in this portion of the chapter.

There are tidbits here that might spoil future Saga developments.

What I can tell you is that you might very well experience something reminiscent of this scene.

Once you’ve given your head and body a decent wash you will be able to tune into some rather distinct and exotic intelligences.

If you ask a question of the universe, and dwell upon it, answers of a sort will veritably fall into your lap!

Simply mull over a problem or a challenge, and you will find that creative solutions mentally materialize in an instant. Seemingly out of nowhere.

Where do they hail from? God? Angels? Aliens? Demons?

Personally I feel they’re from a higher aspect of myself. A part of me that resonates with different timelines. Different lives.

Some people call them “Higher Selves.”

Though to be perfectly honest, I have no clue where my data comes from.

And yet, if it feels valuable to me or others, you can bet I’ll make good use of it.

I experience this process often. And you can as well, with little difficulty.

Just trust your intuition.

It serves as the ultimate springboard into your unpredictably vast potential.

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A HIGHER STATE

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While the boy didn’t learn all that much from his disjointedly philosophical encounter, he did emerge from it equipped with a sudden shift in perspective.

The furnace archetype had now turned entirely on its head.

For the following few moments Maedoc is the furnace personified.

In contrast to his typically polite and introverted self, he operates in a looser format — more free flowing.

Seeing it from the perception of a furnace, an entity of pure consumption and radiance has no need for social constructs or legislation.

A furnace simply builds heat and burns on.

Rather than overthink every bit of data that comes his way, he verbally spills his answers without a thought as to what constitutes them.

Maedoc momentarily embodies a being which mentally burns freely through any given instant — one which comes equipped with a free-to-access conduit to fully formed ideas and concepts.

It’s quite a change of pace.

While it is certainly a far departure from his standard routine, this state is universally achievable were we to simply abandon our emotional bondage and plug in to our highest intelligence.

(It sounds harder than it is)

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SEEING NEGATIVE ENERGIES AS “FLAMMABLE”

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While it is true that the boy’s speech and mannerisms have shifted considerably, it is his new vantage point on energy that really sets this event apart.

In the wake of it he finds himself feeling a palpable hunger only a few sentences into his monologue.

Something seems to be missing, and whatever it is, he needs it now.

When one is in the furnace state of mind, a steady supply of fuel to burn is a definite priority.

This demanding frustration persists only a moment, for he realizes that there is, in fact, fuel all around him.

It lies locked away, concealed within the N.O.Bs that encircle him — ripe for the taking.

This is a wildly different take on what one would typically perceive from an N.O.B.

And just so we’re on the same page, you wouldn’t want anything to do with an N.O.B’s innards.

Everything about their energy, their very core, is all-around energetic toxicity to a typical human.

It will make you feel irritated, distracted, uncomfortable and anxious. Too much exposure it and you might come to feel quite sick.

How, then, can it be perceived as a form of sustenance?

Indeed, to make such a shift in yourself is not easy. It’s not as if these negative energies become suddenly vibrant and sweet to behold.

It will still prove to make you nervous, and it will still weigh heavily upon your heart.

The vital difference that takes place here is the notion that this energy can be burnt, and thus transformed.

It is, in actuality, a form of fuel.

Fuel, but a little thornier than most are used to.

If you’re personifying a construct with the sole purpose of harnessing a flame, then that flame is certain to desire consumption.

And fire isn’t picky. It will burn whatever falls within reach.

It is fortunate, then, that the fire Maedoc channeled on this evening hungered purely for negatively oriented energies!

Thankfully, when working with Aether there is little need to worry about our resulting techniques being destructive to those whom are primarily positive and friendly.

If you train alongside the guidance of the Aether’s output, your energetic works will prove to be consistently positive in nature. These constructs simply cannot pose a harm to those whom harbor positive cores.

So don’t worry. Go “all out” as often as you’d like.

Only those with powerfully noxious tidings towards others will be adversely affected.

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SELF MADE PINCUSHION

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Despite Maedoc harboring full knowledge of these newfound delectables hidden within his guests, he chooses not to immediately indulge himself.

The boy wasn’t thinking about why he waited, or doing much thinking at all. Some part of him simply knew to wait for the proper moment.

He chose to do this despite the harsh, anxious energy washing down on him. In his current state he was able to perceive this affront as tangible lines of ill intent issuing forward from the eyes of the woman before him, penetrating him and causing him discomfort.

Despite this phenomenon harpooning him from every corner of the room, he persists.

There are indeed times in our extra-dimensional battles where absorbing an attack can be a wise tactic.

Don’t be so eager to escape harassment the instant you come across it. Give it a moment to reveal more about itself.

By allowing it to spool into you, there is an interesting phenomenon that takes place.

Your attacker is able to flush you with their toxic influences, true. Yet at the same time you are able to learn more about the individual and their energy. Their strengths and their weaknesses.

This occurs because a little bit of themselves is woven into the exchange. This “signature” is an unavoidable aspect of how remote influence works.

Once a doorway to another is created, that person now has equally as much access to you.

While they are indeed able to bowl into you with some ferocity, they also open themselves up for a devastating counterattack — straight to their core.

The closer they inch their way under your skin, the harder you’re able to hit them back.

This is why Maedoc knew full well that it was okay to allow this to happen.

For as it says in the chapter, all of this can very well be burnt away.

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IDEOLOGICAL TURNING POINTS

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You may recall that Maedoc had a real moment of cognizance during this episode.

It occurs when the notion of responsibility enters his brain.

Upon realizing that he is indeed responsible for the mass influx of N.O.Bs in his village — into his home — he finally slows down enough to have a personal thought to himself.

Of course, slowing down to a speed such as this makes one more vulnerable to outside influence.

Why would this be?

Living in your most ecstatic state — a state of zero mental chatter, pure inspiration and instant action — has a powerful effect on one’s energy.

It’s as if the bubble of energy which surrounds you grows in diameter and its rotational speed increases. You are surrounded by a dense, spinning vortex that is quite difficult for another to pierce.

Try it out sometime. The next time you become vividly inspired, see if others’ behavior has the same pull on you as before.

It’s as if your inertia takes a steep hike! You’re unmovable!

In any case, despite his moment of vulnerability, this introspection proves to be valuable.

Up until now, he was merely everyone’s victim. A boat attempting to stay afloat in an ocean storm.

When one feels detached from the situation — just trying to get along and through the day — it is a simple matter to go with the flow.

If bad things happen, avoid them. If good things happen, enjoy them.

But if you’re the one responsible for the situation, there’s a shift in perspective.

If you weren’t involved, nothing would have happened. This entire branch of space of time would be nonexistent.

Yet you are involved, and a course of events is now in motion.

This is your canvas. Your block of marble.

A scene of unfolding art is taking place, and you are its sole creator.

While the idea of responsibility is often seen as a weight around one’s shoulders, I’ve come to see it differently.

You are bestowed with the power of choice.

You and you alone will decide the outcome of the situation you find yourself in.

Responsibility puts you in the driver’s seat. You now shepherd the fates of everyone involved.

To be honest, it is quite the privilege.

As Maedoc comes to terms with this he makes the most powerful choice one can make for any possible situation one could find himself in.

He choose to do the right thing.

Running is still an option here, after all. In fact, running was always an option. From the furnace that threatened to burn down the mill, to the arm wrestling match with Bearnard — he was never unaware of his escape routes.

Each and every time he chose to stick it out.

This is admirable in its own way, but there is a distinct difference between those events and this one.

The other two were analyzed quite thoroughly by the boy. He weighed his options, performed tests of logic and estimations of success. He proceeded to choose the actions he felt he had to do.

Both for his sake and the sakes of those around him.

Granted, his reasoning was rooted in his heart. A significant share of his decision-making was for the sake of those who lied in harm’s way.

So what’s the difference?

By doing the right thing — without hesitation or thought — you are provided access to a special power.

I suppose I’ll call it the embodiment of righteousness.

When one chooses to embody righteousness, their heart surges open in a unique way. There is a strength one uncovers which shines fierce and bright.

It’s much like love, but in a warrior’s state.

Once you feel it rupture open inside of you, there is a very real and tangible feeling of being unstoppable.

Upon allowing this aspect of yourself to come to life, innumerable options become open to you.

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CREATION OF A WICK

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As mentioned above, a slowing of this “inspired state” will make a person more vulnerable to the influence of others. The cumulative weight of the room’s hostility now has a direct route to his core — and naturally they jump on the opportunity.

N.O.Bs are quite suited to detect weaknesses in their target. You may have noticed this at some points in your life. Any moment that you feel most vulnerable, embarrassed, anxious, or ashamed, they will jump on you en masse. If timed right, all it takes is a little push to make a person have a little emotional breakdown.

For example, upon undergoing copious bullying a popular line is often uttered: “What, you gonna cry?”

Or, perhaps a more modern iteration: “u mad, bro?”

Vulnerability is akin to a drop of blood in a shark tank.

Thus it is fortunate that this unified encroachment worked to Maedoc’s advantage.

It is at this point of greatest pressure and saturation that this mass of toxic energy becomes tangibly useful.

As you might recall from earlier, whenever an amassment of negative energy is sent your way, the sender gives you access to their core.

What’s more, the stronger this negative energy is, the more power you can draw from an Aether device. Think of it as providing pure oxygen to a flame. The more oxygen present, the bigger and brighter the flame grows as to better consume it.

And if we factor in the unknowable benefits that embodying righteousness entails, we have ourselves a situation with decidedly high potential.

When you find yourself in something with similar stakes, you might be able to twist aspects of reality to your advantage.

Making full use of his freshly acquired fiery tool set, he perceives this amalgamation of ill intent as an intricately wound wick, leading straight to the core of every N.O.B in the room.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

The boy could have chosen to see this amalgamation as an inescapable blanket of anxiety. Or he could have been spooked by the fact that there was a room full of people who wished him harm. He could have seen this in a number of ways that stripped him of power and left him feeling panicked.

Yet with nothing more than a simple tweak in perspective he was able to make the situation work for him.

Hardly any actual effort was needed to perform what followed next.

With a route that is essentially made of fuel, Maedoc merely allowed the flame that had built up inside him to do what it does naturally.

To engulf all it touches.

With the slightest of nudges it then proceeds to do so, burning through every speck of noxious energy these people possess. Maedoc couldn’t help but delight in it, for there was a unique and vivid satisfaction that resulted.

Much like taking out some strongly woven feelings on a punching bag. Or using them to fuel a high intensity run.

It can sting, and it can tire you out. But at the same time, at the end of it all, there is a special sort of euphoria to be had.

Now imagine this happening in all directions, both in and outside of your body.

I have to say . . .

It can become a little addictive.

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ENDGAME

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Thanking the newly hollowed woman for helping him “make up his mind,” Maedoc exits the tavern.

Standing outside in the sun makes the prior events seem a world away.

In a sense, I suppose they were.

The boy leaves the building a different person. At least, for the time being.

Stollin is able to see it right away. A sort of steely resolve that wasn’t there before. A bright and earnest light in his eyes, solid and unwavering.

The boy shares his wishes to depart, and Stollin knows full well he cannot stop him.

Knowing the horrors that might linger after his absence, Maedoc gives the man his Ray without a second thought.

I’m sure many of you found this to be a worrying decision. We’ll see how it plays out for him.

As for the patrons in the tavern? They’ve all been relieved of their noxious cores. How does all this play out for them?

No one died or anything. So technically no crime was committed.

All that resulted was a supremely in-depth cleansing — one which scrubs deeper than can be accurately perceived.

Does it hurt?

It might.

I’ve never been an N.O.B, and I’ve never had someone with strong positive energy try and roast me.

I have, however, been a victim of N.O.Bs throwing everything they’ve got at me. Strong spells of anxiety, confusion and sickness have been laid upon me every which way, and it has been none too pleasant.

So please understand if I do a little something to return the favor.

If you were to take this information, utilize an Aetheric tool, and perform an in-depth scrubbing of some N.O.Bs in your own life, you will find that the resultant scene is much like the end of this chapter.

The people who earn the entirety of your ire will feel as if they’ve been hollowed out.

A mere shadow of their former selves.

Maybe they’ll scrounge up enough energy over time to be a pain in your neck another day. But for the moment they are utterly spent, and can no longer be felt as a threat to you.

Some N.O.Bs change permanently after a good roasting. Never again able to drum up the levels of toxicity they once did.

Personally I like when this happens.

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A NEW DIRECTION

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With that, we have reached the conclusion of the A&Rs for Arc II.

Please allow a sigh of relief.

With this final A&R, you should now be armed with a sufficient number of techniques to protect yourself in the modern world.

Offensive and defensive magick are crucial if you’re going to make steady progress in your aims to be a true Aethernaut.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Arc III, which delves into the realm of powerful techniques of healing and empowerment.

I’ll see you there!

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