Michael Terminology
Fragment: an individual person
Essence; Role in Essence: the unchanging part of any and all persons -- the nature of your soul -- that which is with you from first life until last. These are:
(1) Slave
(2) Artisan
(3) Warrior
(4) Scholar
(5) Sage
(6) Priest
(7) King
Polarities, and Neutralities: the relation of essences to one another in terms of function:
(1) Slave and
(6) Priests are the Inspiration Polarity
(2) Artisans and
(5) Sages are the Expression Polarity;
(3) Warriors and
(7) Kings are the Action Polarity
(4) Scholars are Neutral.
Casting and Cadences: the order in which your essence was released into the Physical Plane. Like Role in Essence, this never changes from first life to last. Cadences are groups of seven fragments, all of the same Role in Essence -- all Slaves, all Warriors, all Sages, etc. -- cast at the same time. Each fragment (person) in a Cadence contributes to a whole. A Cadence is the smallest integrated unit that Michael recognizes. Casting order tends to color the Role in Essence for all persons. For example, a
(4) Scholar fragment who is fourth cast in his or her Cadence will be more
(4) Scholarly than a sixth-cast Scholar in the same Cadence, who will have a kind of
(6) Priestlyness about him or her. By the same token, a
(1) Slave cast seventh in his or her Cadence, will have a
(7) Kingliness about him or her, that will shape the kind of Slave that particular fragment is. Cadences also have their casting number to consider -- a fifth-cast Cadence within an Entity will impart a certain
(5) Sagey-ness to all its seven members, no matter what the essences of the Cadence may be. Greater Cadences -- that is, seven full Cadences -- also have a certain amount of casting impact, as well, although it is fairly diffuse. And keep in mind, all members of a Cadence are of the same Essence: all Slaves, all Priests, all Artisans, etc, and casting, like Essence, never changes during all the lives a fragment may experience.
Entity: a group of usually three or four Essences in Cadences, numbering from roughly one thousand to fifteen hundred fragments, or between 143 and 212 Cadences. If Cadences are like siblings, the members of the Entity are like cousins. The casting of the Entities also has a bearing on its members, although it tends to be very diffuse.
Cadre: a group of seven Entities, all part of the same casting event, and linked from beginning to end.
- Slaves: (1) Ordinal Inspiration, roughly twenty-five percent of the population. Slaves, unlike all other Roles in Essence, need no special circumstances to complete their Life Tasks; they come into their own at their first incarnation. From first life until last, they have the capacity for full realization of their Essence, which gives them an adaptability no other Essence experiences. Slaves serve the Common Good, however the Slave defines that within the limits of any given life. Slaves have the greatest inherent grasp of society and culture of any Essence. Slaves do not require recompense for the service they give. Slaves are acknowledged by civic commendations in all forms. Slaves have two channels of input. The sense associated with Slaves is touch. Slaves often have to come to realize that not all service is appropriate.
- Artisans: (2) Ordinal Expression, roughly twenty-one and a half percent of the population. Artisans come into their own in the Baby (2) Cycle. Artisans are concerned with all forms of structure, and are most likely to complete their Life Tasks through expressing some sort of structure, whether actual or theoretical. Artisans will tend to want to create structure in their lives, and to expect others to adapt to it. Artisans are acknowledged by access to projects and iconic awards. Artisans have five channels of input. The sense associated with Artisans is balance. Artisans often have to come to realize that not everything can be reduced to structure.
- Warriors: (3) Ordinal Action, roughly seventeen and a half percent of the population. Warriors come into their own in the Young (3) Cycle. Warriors are concerned with challenges, however they define them, and are most likely to complete their Life Tasks through engaging in some manner of activity. Warriors are protective as well as enterprising, and will be loyal and dutiful. Warriors are acknowledged with campaign ribbons and medals in all forms. Warriors have one channel of input. The sense associated with Warriors is hearing. Warriors often have to come to realize that not every question is a challenge.
- Scholars: (4) Neutral, roughly fourteen percent of the population. Scholars come into their own in the Mature (4) Cycle. Scholars are drawn to all forms of information and learning, and are most likely to complete their Life Tasks through study of one sort or another. Scholars have a remote quality, a detachment that allows them to evaluate and assess anything and everything. Scholars are acknowledged by diplomas and degrees of all sorts. Scholars have one channel of input. The sense associated with Scholars is sight. Scholars often have to come to realize that knowing is not necessarily understanding.
- Sages: (5) Cardinal Expression, roughly ten percent of the population. Sages come into their own in the Old (5) Cycle. Sages are concerned with all manner of communication, and are most likely to achieve their Life Task through the dissemination of understanding to others. Sages are engaging and have a flair for the dramatic. Sages are acknowledged by all manner of applause. Sages have three channels of input. The sense associated with Sages is smell/taste. Sages often have to come to realize that performing is not living.
- Priests: (6) Cardinal Inspiration, roughly eight percent of the population. Priests are always linked to the Astral Plane, and do not fully come into their own until their Physical Plane incarnations have been completed, so that completing Life Tasks can prove difficult for this Essence. Priests serve a Higher Ideal, however the Priest defines it in any given life. Priests are acknowledged by spiritual validation. Priests have two channels of input. The sense associated with Priests is orientation. Priests often have to come to realize that the Higher Ideal only applies to the Priest who has it.
- Kings: (7) Cardinal Action, roughly four percent of the population. Kings are always linked to the Causal Plane, and are not able to come into their own until the Causal Plane is reached, which makes completing Life Tasks difficult without the response and validation of others. Kings present the Mandate, whatever the King conceives that to be in any given life. Kings are acknowledged by coronations in all guises. Kings have one channel of input. The sense associated with Kings is relationality. Kings often have to come to realize that the Mandate is not a command but a revelation.