Elements of the Soul

*'The human soul is composed of nine elements, and this is one. Most other things have simpler souls.'*
 *'Element of the Soul'*

There are nine known elements of the soul in humans. Other beings, and even books, have simpler souls consisting of some of these elements.

## Health

 *'The dwelling-place of the soul. The ninth of the nine parts of the soul; the only one that can be touched.'*

**Health** represents the physical form, within which the rest of the parts of one’s soul may reside. Though an essential element for mortal beings, entities that dwell in the Mansus have less use for a physical vessel, and some in the process of ascension are even known to shed their bodies for a more spiritual existence. In Book of Hours, its aspects are Heart, Scale, and Nectar, reflecting the earthly, physical nature of Health.

## Wist

 *'Name, memory, that part which remains. Most librarians know that books have souls; most librarians hope for books with simple souls of wist and nothing else.'*

**Wist** (as in “Wistful”) is an element of the soul which embodies accumulated knowledge and memory, as well as knowledge of one’s self, in particular their name, which will remain long after their passing. Books, which themselves have souls, ideally only have Wist – those with more complex souls are much more dangerous. Scholars of the Haustorium have proposed that it is the most fundamental element of an individual soul, and that all others can be discarded (though whether one would trust the proposals of the Haustorium is extremely doubtful).

As the element of memory, Wist also seems to be the element which contains the remnant of the Carapace Cross that dwell within us, which can rise up and make one Shell-Crossed if not careful.

Wist has Winter and Lantern as it’s aspects, as it is the part of the soul which many dead hold on to, an element of remembrance and reflection.

## Mettle

 *'Will; self-discipline; that part of us which makes the right choice.'*

**Mettle** (called **Character** during the early design of Book of Hours) represents will and self-discipline. Someone with strong Mettle would make the same decisions whether in private or in public because such choices reflect who they understand themselves to be as a person. Its aspects are Forge and Edge, as it is an element of the soul that drives an individual to stay true to themselves, regardless of what they face.

## Chor

 *'Exuberance; instinct; rhythm.'*

**Chor**is one’s vitality and energy, the urges to move and dance and live life, the “skin of the soul”. The name “Chor” comes from “Chorus”. Its aspects are Heart and Grail – quite fitting, as a part of the soul that appears closely aligned with the nature of the Thunderskin.

According to the Haustorium, when one’s Chor or Health outpaces other elements of the soul, they may experience dramatic, unstoppable growth, even past death, in a similar nature to that of their protector, Robigo or perhaps the Crowned Growth itself. Heart-Long known as Duendrazons, spirits of music, seem to have particularly strong Chor or are almost entirely this element, and those with a weakened or vulnerable Chor may find themselves possessed by such exuberant and distracting spirits.

## Phost

 *'Sight, perception, inspiration, all the Glory's gifts.'*

**Phost** is one’s ability of interpret and understand the world around them, and likely represents a higher consciousness that originates from the Glory. Lantern-long, who have shed their mortal forms (Health) to dwell in the Mansus, have a particularly strong Phost. A strong Phost can be dangerous though, as it makes one more noticeable in the Mansus, and a Phost that grows too bright can leave a mortal fascinated. It may have been referenced in the Exile DLC of Cultist Simulator as “Barakah”, an inner light or spiritual essence bestowed from God in Islam. Its aspects are Lantern and Sky, as the element of light and higher understanding.

## Shapt

 *'Eloquence and understanding. The door opens both ways.'*

**Shapt** represents one’s voice and ability to speak and communicate. The name stems from the shabti figures used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices as servants in the afterlife. Should one’s soul open too much, though, their Shapt may become inflicted with Acusis, preventing it from being closed off. Shapt has Knock and Forge as its aspects, as the passage to and from the soul, and the tool with which one may interact and influence.

Shapt may be the element of the soul which mortals gained upon rending open the Peacock Door into the Mansus, as before then, they could not speak.

## Trist

 *'The change and the longing.'*

In each of us there is a healing sadness, which is called **Trist**. It seems to embody the melancholy and restlessness of a person, somewhat akin to ennui. When strained too much, though, a person can fall into destructive despair. A strong Trist apparently allows one to remain better hidden in dreams. Its principles are Moth and Moon, reflecting its nature as the elusive element of yearning which drives us forward.

There is the danger that a "remnant-shadow" with an avid Trist may have its longing for change survive after death and devour its Wist. The shadow may then lure others to their resting place and merge with them. This is implied to be a potential explanation for the Archaeologist origin's curse in Book of Hours.

## Ereb

 *'Pride, compassion; hatred and fear.'*

**Ereb** is the inner darkness and shadow of one’s soul, embodying our more primal emotions. It shares some similarity with the Id of Freud’s model of the Psyche, the “dark, inaccessible part of our personality,” and the source of emotional impulses. Its aspects, Grail and Edge, reflect its nature as an element of desire and aggression.

## Fet

 *'That part of us which walks in dreams.'*

**Fet** is the portion of the soul which enters the Mansus in dreams. The name likely stems from the word "fetter", a chain or shackle, in the sense that one's Fet ideally remains tethered to the rest of the soul while being sent beyond. A strong Fet allows one to better navigate the House, though it may also draw the attention of the House’s denizens. Lantern-Long also envelop themselves in their Fet, serving as a body for their existence in the Mansus.

One should beware of their Fet “gisting”, where it becomes trapped in the dreaming world. Its aspects are Rose and Moth, as is the element of dreams and discovery.

## Other Notes

* The concept of soul parts is largely inspired by a similar convention in Egyptian mythology, which also included the human body as a part of the soul. However, the nine elements in Book of Hours are not meant to correlate one-to-one with the nine parts of the Egyptian soul.
* The teaching of the soul elements is referred as "animatomy".

## Sources

1. ↑ Element of the Soul
2. ↑ Health, Health: Sick
3. ↑ Exercises in the Continuity of Self
4. ↑ Wist, Wist: Shell-Crossed
5. ↑ Mettle
6. ↑ The Deaths of the Moon
7. ↑ Chor, Chor: Duendratic
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Limassol, Easter, 1925
9. ↑ Arrange an Initial Meeting, #contact.retainer
10. ↑ Phost, Phost: Fascinated
11. ↑ Shapt, Shapt: Acusis
12. ↑ A Wound in Dreams
13. ↑ Trist, Trist: Despairing
14. ↑ The Barrowchild's Elegies
15. ↑ Ereb, Ereb: Ereb: Westengryred
16. ↑ Fet, Fet: Gisting
17. ↑ Ancient Egyptian conception of the soul