[Introduction]

This lecture has been edited to fit a text format as well as to include answers to questions that were asked during the class.

To begin, the purpose of this lecture is to promote an orderly mind, specifically through the Mind Dungeon Technique. This should be encouraged in everyone but is especially important to wizards as stewards of magic. The responsible use and propagation of magic requires precision which cannot be achieved by accident.

The mystery and misinformation that often surrounds discussions of the mind must first be addressed before one can hope to learn cultivation and technique.

[Mind Myths]

It is regularly believed that the state of one's mind, when unhindered by tragedy, is unchangeable but this is simply not true. Most notably, we do not view any other part of the body this way. If someone is physical weak, we know that they can be trained diligently to be the strongest that their body will allow. If someone is slow, we know that consistent training can improve their running to whatever their physical limit.

It is only with the mind that many believe that intellect or capacity is fixed. Yet, many treat the mind like a magical box that lives outside of reality. If someone were to tell you that you had to complete a ten hour hike in harsh conditions without training the very next morning, you would rightfully believe that you might not be up to the task.

However when it comes to studying or consuming large volumes of information, many believe that this can be accomplished without consistent practise. That is is simply a facet of the mind; that one can use brute force, so to speak. It should go without saying that those that are naturally gifted will excel over others without putting in the same effort but this is true of all aspects of the body.

Similarly to how the body must be prepared and stretched for harsh training, so must be the mind. An individual cannot expect to shatter trees with their bare hands if they cannot snap twigs. One must work within their current capacity and build their tolerance from there.

The problem that many have when training the mind is that there is a slow and inconspicuous progression. When one trains the body, they develop muscles; they can move faster, lift heavier or endure more. The results are clear. The development of the mind can, at times, appear as largely abstract. It is most visible to the individual utilizing it.

It may be that this subtle, personal progression is why many believe that cultivating the mind is a mystical act.

[Cultivation]

Too often is the mind considered as something separate from the body or soul; that the mind is in some way ethereal in comparison. These notions weaken the mind and draw it away from you. You must claim it. It must be familiar in order to permit cultivation.

One achieves familiarity through self reflection. Self reflection also promotes mental fortitude. You must know yourself better than any other mind could possibly hope to. This is a constant effort because experiences, of all kinds, will alter or expand the mind.

The tools of self reflection are many; they require expression. Some popular examples of these tools are; meditation, journaling, and art. Personally I prefer inner debate for its confrontational nature. It is the method by which you explain to or argue with yourself or an imaginary opponent on a personal subject. In doing so, you flush out all aspects of the subject and consider opposite perceptions.

One cannot hope to organize a mind that they do not have a strong foundational understanding of. Without self reflection, organization is futile.

[Memory]

The ability to recall is one of the most powerful tools of the mind and often the most misunderstood. Many of us will have memories that we cherish or that haunt us; the misconception is that these memories are strong or 'fresh' because of the emotions behind them but that is only half the story.

In truth, the most potent memories are those that we recall frequently. This may sound obvious but it is an important distinction. Memories with strong emotional foundations will be the kinds that we will recall often which is why emotion tend to be confused as the source of the potency.

However when we conjure forth a memory we are recalling the last time we remembered it, not the original. This is why certain parts of the memory fade like the faces of unimportant people nearby, even if they were friends or family; or the memory alters as one grows and changes.

This system allows itself to be open to suggestion. It is this dynamic element of remembering that we use to create an orderly mind.

[The Dungeon]

Spatial memory is the core of the technique; the space becomes the mnemonic. Additionally, visualization is an important skill to develop in order to see the best results. The mind has to become a space that you can enter.

To start, you must decide on a space that you know well in your memory. It is unimportant whether or not negative or positive emotions are associated with your chosen space; only that it is inlaid with emotion because it is more likely that you've recalled it often. Although it should be a space that you can tolerate to be in so do not consider anything overly traumatic. For many, this is often their childhood home.

You must select the room that you are most familiar with however it is not uncommon for some elements of your room to be unclear. That is to be expected. It is not a cause for alarm. It does not make the space you have chosen inferior. Instead it only means that you need to practise and cultivate your space. Remembering is dynamic; either it will come to you or you will be able to fill the missing gaps with something reasonably familiar that will not offend the mind.

Preferably, you must chose a 'route' through this space that you will walk the same way every time. Once you have the place cultivated then you will need loci or points of interest. The dining room table or the old rocking chair. It is best to begin with whatever is at the 'start' of the path that you have created in your place.

At each point of interest, you must generate an object, image or person associated with the thing that you wish to remember. It is most effective if the association is exaggerated, silly, funny, vivid or able to provoke other senses like smell or emotions like disgust.

Each association will be different depending on the mind crafting it. We are all unique in our experiences which will inevitably make our associations unique. The more familiar and specific the associations to you, the better. For example, I don't like green apples. I think they are foul. In order to better remind myself that I need to buy fruit, I will put a comically large green apple at my point of interest. It will generate the most visceral response when recalling the space.

If the things that you have to remember are joined together or they need to be remembered as a unit like a spell then you build a story throughout the associations using your exaggerated objects or characters because narratives are often less burdensome for the mind to recall.

Naturally, this technique requires practise, patience and focus like all things with the body. The more the memory is accessed, the stronger your recall will be. You can use it to order and effectively recall memories, spells, language, chores, or simply arrange your thoughts.

It can also be used to deal with pain or suffering by allowing the individual to escape into their mind if their focus and visualization are potent enough however this should be user sparingly and only in dire instances so it does not become maladaptive.

Additionally, under more advanced practise, this technique can be used as a defence against enchanters or psionics through the use of highly specific associations and layouts that foreign minds will struggle to make sense of or even find hostile should they be unable to follow the requisite path.

[Conclusion]

The mind is not something that one is subjected to. It is an element of self that can be cultivated and harnessed with powerful results. More importantly, it is something that /should/ be cultivated. Over time, with practise and diligence, you will be able to expand the points of interest in your starting space and create more spaces until you've built yourself a palace, temple, castle or dungeon.

[Signed: Loomwarden of Azuth and High Magus Datura Willowgrave of the Earthkin Arcanum]