The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Katherine Kurtz and Scott MacMillan => Katherine's Corner => Q&A with Katherine => Topic started by: Bynw on January 20, 2017, 08:48:22 AM

Title: Question on Ward Cubes
Post by: Bynw on January 20, 2017, 08:48:22 AM
Donald Lantzke asks Concerning Wards Cubes: At Darkover 1999, you mentioned that the raw material the cubes were made from wasn't particularly important and that the first set were made from balsa wood. My question is: how significant is the shape of the cubes for the function(s) they perform? In spite of the name, do the wards cubes have to be cubical or could the same things be done with a series of flat discs, pebbles or some other naturally occurring shape? From this, are you able to provide any speculation on the development of wards cube 'technology' from its (presumably) prehistoric origins into its modern form?


Katherine says: For simple Warding, I suspect that one could use some other shape besides cubes. The physical items are visual keys to mnemonics that trigger psychic procedures. The salient points would seem to be the pairing and balance of opposites, light and dark, and a bringing into harmony of the forces that actually produce a protective Ward. This is probably material for Orin and Jodotha to explore.