Headcanon: Representations of abstract beings: Symbols, Oracles, Avatars

[~ Dr. Ocsid ~ 690]

There are many abstract things represented in Equestria, like Sun and Moon, Love, Chaos, or Harmony.

They are always around, always present in the world, but can manifest themselves in three different ways, according to my headcanon:

 

1. Symbol

In this sort of representation, the abstract thing is contained in an item which can be activated by certain people to summon the power of the abstract thing. Examples: The Elements of Harmony (Abstract things: Magic, Laughter, Loyalty, Generousity, Kindness, Honesty, and, combined, Harmony) and the Chrystal Heart (Love).

 

2. Oracle

Here, a person of high magical power (usually an alicorn) can canalize the power of the abstract thing. But they always have to keep it in limits, or they would be driven mad or evil by the pure power of the thing they represent. This is why, in my opinion, Nightmare Moon was seemingly more powerfull than Celestia (without the elements). Also, I asked me: Why exactly didn´t she fight back? If she did, would she have had to use the powers of the sun on a risky level? Did something like that happen before, e.g. when they fought Discord?

So I think that Oracls can only use a little bit of the magic from what they represent, or they would get corrupted. They also don´t represent the whole thing, but just a little part of it.

Examples: Celestia (Day and Sun), Luna (Night and Moon), Cadence (Love), Twilight (Magic and Friendship), and maybe Sombra (Fear)

 

3. Avatar

An Avatar is not a simple representation. It is the abstract thing itself, which came down to earth and took itself a body. It is a Ponymorphic Personifikation. The personality of the Avatar is based on what the abstract thing is about. For example, the Avatar of Honesty would not be able to lie at all. It could not even think a lie, and probably find it hard to understand the concept of lies. The Avatar of the Sun would probably be wonderfull on a distance, like Celestia, warm, calming and good, but horrifying nearby. 

Avatars can use the powers and the aspects of the abstract thing to their full extent, because they are indeed the Embodiments of the abstract thing themselves.

And they don´t have to eat or drink (but they could, if they want to), because they live on the thing they impersonate.

Example: Discord (Chaos). So far there are no other avatars around.

 

So, what do you think about my headcanon?

Edited June 30, 2014 by YetAnotherDiscord

[Invincible 2,092]

Hmm, there's one thing that i think i could get technical with here; Discord has his powers taken away from him by Tirek in the finale, but even without his chaos powers he still existed, this means that he serves as a vessel for his powers. Wouldn't that put him into the same catagory (Oracle) as the princesses?

 

 

 

As a side note: Where would Sombra be placed based on your classifications? He appears to have traits of both an Oracle and an Avatar:

 

As an Oracle, he freely channels the powers of hatred and fear, thriving on the despair of his slaves.

 

As an Avatar, he shows characteristics of a disembodied shadow creature, and contact with his corporeal form literally corrupts the land. Furthermore, the crystal heart's powers actually destroy him, possibly because of the lack of redeeming qualities and how intrinsic his evil was.

[~ Dr. Ocsid ~ 690]

 

 

Hmm, there's one thing that i think i could get technical with here; Discord has his powers taken away from him by Tirek in the finale, but even without his chaos powers he still existed, this means that he serves as a vessel for his powers. Wouldn't that put him into the same catagory (Oracle) as the princesses?  

 

 

I don´t think so. An Avatar is an Embodiment of a supreme being, and therefore, he would need a body. I think, when he lost his powers, he was on just this body defined. He couldn´t change anymore. He was a mere, magic-less mortal then, not an Avatar anymore. Therefore, also the Princesses weren´t Oracles anymore.

 

 

As a side note: Where would Sombra be placed based on your classifications? He appears to have traits of both an Oracle and an Avatar:

 

As an Oracle, he freely channels the powers of hatred and fear, thriving on the despair of his slaves.

 

As an Avatar, he shows characteristics of a disembodied shadow creature, and contact with his corporeal form literally corrupts the land. Furthermore, the crystal heart's powers actually destroy him, possibly because of the lack of redeeming qualities and how intrinsic his evil was.

I think he counts as an corrupted Oracle, he was an Oracle of Fear using those powers to the level where they become corruptive. The Avatar of Fear wouldn´t be pure evil, I think, because Fear is actually something good. What prevents you from walking into a bears cave? Fear. What prevents you from jumping down a cliff? Fear. What prevented WWIII so far? Fear that someone might use a nuke. 

[Invincible 2,092]

I suppose that makes sense to a certain degree.

[Pastel 7,630]

I don't think Discord is the Avatar of Chaos, he's not perfect enough for that.

Especially since he befriended the mane 6.

[~ Dr. Ocsid ~ 690]

I don't think Discord is the Avatar of Chaos, he's not perfect enough for that.

Especially since he befriended the mane 6.

Chaos is never perfect, since perfectness would not be chaotic. 

Besides, being chaotic doesn´t mean being evil. Just look at Pinkie Pie.

Without Chaos, there would be no Fun. No Live. Just boring giant rocks moving in circles for all eternity.

[~ Dr. Ocsid ~ 690]

Update to the Headcanon:

Discord doesn´t actually have to eat, he eats just for fun - and therefore anything.

I think he lives on Chaos. 

[SCS 7,537]

Your headcanon is very interesting. I often wonder about how things work on an abstract, spiritual, or otherwise non-physical level in Equestria, and this is an interesting interpretation of all of that.

[Jeric 46,890]

Thought provoking. I also like to see Discord as a byproduct of existence itself and I do take it a step further by comparing his role to how entropy is inextricable tied to thermodynamics itself on our physical world. The universe is trying to reach a natural equilibrium, and complete entropy is required for that balance. Discord/Choas is in place to bring equilibrium to Equestria (maximum entropy). Unless held by some unknown force (trapped for 1000 years).

 

Of course if you don't subscribe to the Big Freeze theory in cosmology, you probably won't like that much either.