Considering the Effect of Celestial Bodies
The effects of celestial bodies are so subtle that we often don’t realize them in our daily lives, and yet they are there. If you live on or near a coast, you are probably more aware of them because of the daily ebb and flow of the tides, which are caused by the pull of the moon’s gravity on the earth.
Many people swear that things get crazy around the full moon, especially those working in the medical field. Gardeners and farmers know that both the lunar and solar cycles have an effect on growing plants. If the moon and sun can play that large of a role with mundane life in our (sort of?) non-magical real world, then what kind of effect might they have in a magical world?
If your magic system is elemental or based in nature, then you will need to work the effects of the moon, sun, and stars into your planning. Everything that is a part of nature or the elements will influence how that magic works.
Worldbuilding Exercises:
- Does performing magic in certain lunar or solar phases affect how the magic turns out?
- What types of magic might be amplified or dampened in certain cycles?
- What types of magic can only be performed during certain solar/lunar cycle phases? What are the conditions that must be met?
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Rebekah Loper began creating epic worlds and stories as a child and never stopped. She is the author of The A-Zs of Worldbuilding series, and has a fantasy novella published in Beatitudes and Woes: A Speculative Fiction Anthology.
She lives in Tulsa, OK with her husband, dog, two formerly feral cats, a small flock of feathered dragons (…ok, ok, they’re chickens), and an extensive tea collection. When she is not writing, she can be found battling the elements in an effort to create a productive, permaculture urban homestead.
I’ve always been fascinated with the moon, not just her influence on every living being and the element, but also the lengends and myths connected to her.
Lots of inspiration for a fantasy world.