Religion
All mages can channel their energy, so there is no doubt that a source exists – a higher power that unites all living beings. Mages call this power “Divine.” The Magic Anatomy section of the encyclopedia already discussed how mages use their powers. Here, we will focus on the belief system surrounding Divine.
1. THE PATH
Magical science has shown that the fundamental human motivation is to avoid pain and seek pleasure. However, true development occurs only when we face and overcome challenges. In fact, failures teach us everything we know about life and ourselves, while episodes of ‘good luck’ teach us nothing at all.
In Crystal World, mages have adopted a mindset that allows them to face life’s challenges, viewing them as stepping stones for spiritual development. This philosophy teaches that all mages came into this world voluntarily, as a spiritual choice made before physical birth. Everyone arrives with a mission they must accomplish during their life journey.
Every mage’s path is unique. There is no manual, so the path must be discovered rather than planned. It is important to listen to one’s heart and rely on intuition. This allows mages to understand whether they are living their true lives or have become stuck, living according to someone else’s expectations.
The path can be thorny. Sometimes, mages encounter more trauma than they can handle, and life may seem dark and hopeless. At such moments, it is important to seek support and guidance from those who have already faced life’s tragedies. Mages have created multiple communities, and their doors are always open to those who struggle.
Mages can also connect with Divine energy through rituals such as prayer or meditation. During these rituals, the mage should not ask to ‘have all my problems solved.’ Instead, the rituals are meant to seek guidance to help them see new opportunities or recognize something within themselves they can change to become a better version of who they are. This approach ultimately leads to expanding their horizons and seeing a way to resolve their problem.
Related Images
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Image: At the moment of uncertainty, Becca asks Divine to give her a sign whether or not she should help her friends with the investigation. She opens her eyes and sees the first snowflakes. A scene from Reading You (Beginning series, book 1). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
Image: Julia is practicing meditation, sitting in the forest glade. She has received a magical pendant from her grandmother - an ancient artifact with a diamond. It helped her female ancestors walk their path, guiding them through hardships and uncertainty. A scene inspired by the final chapters of Ghost (Beginning series, book 3). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
2. SACRED RITUALS
Mages love holding various rituals. It helps them feel connected with Divine energy and keep walking their path. The rituals associated with key seasonal events are reflected in the Traditions and Celebrations section of the encyclopedia, so here we will focus on the rituals that hold more sacred meaning.
Birth
From the moment a mage is born, every birthday is considered an important milestone. Birthdays are occasions for reflection, allowing mages to look back on their journey, see the bigger picture, and set new goals to master skills or improve areas of their lives. Self-reflection helps mages stay connected to their path and better understand their mission.
Unions
Mages begin forming connections early in life, including making friends, finding romantic partners, and starting families. Each union holds significance, as mages believe their network provides an environment for true self-discovery. By helping others or receiving help, they learn new ideas and cultivate mindsets that benefit their own lives.
Most unions are celebrated annually, commemorating the days mages became friends, started dating, or married.
Funeral
The final sacred ritual a mage receives is the funeral, marking the end of their physical life. Though the person is gone, mages believe that the life lived deserves acknowledgment and celebration, which takes place during the burial ceremony and repast.
Mages believe the physical body is a sacred vessel, meant to provide a mage with the chance to experience life. When someone passes away, their ashes are returned to the earth. After the burial, those present cast their Light balls into the sky – a ritual that allows them to bid a final farewell to the one they once knew and loved.
Afterward, mages plant flowers on the grave. It is believed these flowers retain a trace of the deceased’s spiritual energy, allowing relatives and friends to visit, pray, and connect with the spirit at any time. Some mages believe those who have passed may linger between realms for a while, watching over and helping their loved ones.
Related Images
Video: Elisa is at the funeral of her friend, a schoolgirl murdered by a serial killer. A scene from Ghost (Beginning series, book 3). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
Image: Lana and Richard dance on the day of their wedding. A scene inspired by the final chapters of Ghost (Beginning series, book 3). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
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Image: Becca walks into the church with six stone statues. A scene from Reading You (Beginning series, book 1). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
4. DOGMAS
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During the patriarchy, the Order attempted to erase all ideas of The Path, promoting the belief that only men could choose their own lifestyles, while women were regarded solely as “sacred vessels” whose purpose was to create and nurture new life.
What began as an agenda to “help repopulation” across all Kingdoms quickly became a trap for both women and lower-status men. Many men worked grueling graveyard shifts in coal shafts or factories, never having the chance to enjoy living their lives. Their wives, overwhelmed by raising many children (with contraception and family planning considered taboo) and managing the household, were simply too exhausted to question the system.
This was precisely the system’s goal: society served a narrow circle of ‘elites’ which included royal families and high-ranking guardians. It helped them preserve power and thrive, while the majority remained in poverty.
Dogmas were enforced everywhere: in churches, schools, and even by doctors, who often ‘encouraged’ young women to have multiple children and to start as early as possible, instilling fear that it would be ‘too late’ if a woman gave birth after twenty. The so-called ‘bridal age’ was sixteen, when parents were permitted to force their daughters to marry and leave home.
The goal of these dogmas was to silence intuition and control the population through fear, allowing the elites to maintain their power.
With the rise of feminism, women regained the right to control their bodies and lives. This allowed them to work in fields previously closed to them and to take on leading roles as scientists, guardians, journalists, lawyers, and even politicians. As a result, the quality of life improved for both men and women who had suffered under the old regime, and the world became a more welcoming, livable place where every mage could follow their Divine path and enjoy the gift of life.
Related Image
Image: Becca tries to follow her mother's steps - she reads 'permitted' literature, which teaches that women can only know true happiness once they help men create new life (Childbirth Dogma). A scene inspired by Reading You (Beginning series, book 1). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
5. CULTS
Even after the fall of patriarchy, it took decades for beliefs to shift and for society to begin healing. During this period, old manipulative schemes still thrived, and some mages serving in the church exploited them to their advantage, creating religious cults and convincing young women to do their bidding.
One of the most notorious cult-related crimes was committed by the leader of The Daughters of Divine, a small community near Middle Lake. The church leader, a middle-aged woman, welcomed young girls who had reached ‘bridal age’ and escaped home, hoping to break free from prearranged marriages and start new lives. She provided them with rooms and required them to work, such as baking, gardening, or crafting. Thanks to their labor, the community could sell goods at the market and remain self-sustaining.
At first, the leader promised the girls they could leave freely once they felt more confident and had learned basic skills. Later, as the community grew, she began targeting the most traumatized, promising “to put an end to the suffering.” In reality, she convinced them to participate in a ritual involving black magic, taking their lives to use their Light for her own purposes.
This investigation serves as the basis for the plot of Forbidden Manuscript, book 2 of the Magic Squad series.
Related Images
Image: Anna is participating in the cult ritual - welcoming a new 'Daughter of Divine.' A scene from Forbidden Manuscript (Magic Squad series, book 2). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
Image: Jackie starts working undercover to find a cult leader - a person who ended lives of four young women. A cover of Forbidden Manuscript (Magic Squad series, book 2). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.
6. DIVINE WISDOM
Mages believe that Divine is the eternal energy behind the creation of all living beings. From the beginning of time, every detail of human existence was carefully designed – from a world providing food, shelter, and medicinal plants, to a remarkably thoughtful magic system.
One of the most intriguing magical mysteries is that Gifts always manifest during adolescence, at an age when young mages are beginning to decide how to use their powers to serve their needs and impact their community. The Gift itself can become a tool for change, and its power lies in its secrecy: no one knows what Gifts they possess until the day they manifest. Even Gift readers and Oracles are helpless in predicting what powers are hidden inside a young mage.
This detail might seem amusing, but in reality, it made the Order’s work much more difficult—no matter how hard they tried to control society, they could never be certain what awaited them. They had to invest enormous resources to build a complex network to spy on teenagers in schools and spread propaganda in an attempt to eliminate those who could shatter the system. Unsurprisingly, despite all their efforts, sooner or later someone always slipped through the cracks…
Another interesting aspect of Gifts is that many come with limitations, such as blood relation or romantic attraction. For instance, mind-readers cannot read the thoughts of their relatives or people they love or once loved. Mages believe that Divine created this limitation out of wisdom – if mind-readers could uncover all their partners’ secrets, it would be impossible to build relationships based on trust. Though some mages initially find this frustrating, they ultimately agree that such a limitation allows them to form better, healthier relationships.
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Image: Lana has a Gift block as she is falling in love with Richard. Unable to fall asleep, she is thinking if she can trust him or not. A scene from Ghost (Beginning series, book 3). Magical2Worlds Studio copyright.