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The '''Anthem Anatheme''' is a metaphysical principle described in several pieces of lore within the [[Destiny]] universe. It is defined as "the temptation to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will," or in other words to change one's conditions to better suit one's needs and wishes.<ref>https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/whisper-of-the-worm</ref>
{{Quote|So [[Xol, Will of the Thousands|it]] whispered the Anthem Anatheme, the temptation to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will. It said, I shall be an engine to make your desire hegemon over your conditions. It said, WIELD ME, AND USE ME TO TEST YOUR FOE. This was its worship. Aiat.|[[Whisper of the Worm]] Lore tab}}


Several paracausal beings utilize, invoke or draw power from the Anthem Anatheme in some way; the most notable examples are the [[Ahamkara]] and the [[Worm God]] [[Xol]]. Ahamkara feed off of the wishes (which are manifestations of the Anthem Anatheme) of other beings, whereas Xol transformed himself into a [[Whisper of the Worm|weapon]] after his physical death in order to fulfill the Anthem Anatheme for the wielder.
The '''Anthem Anatheme''' is a concept related to several [[Paracausality|paracausal]] entities and their abilities, most notably the [[Ahamkara]]. It is defined as "the temptation to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will," or in other words the desire of sentient beings to change reality to better suit their purposes.<ref name="WotW">'''Bungie (2018/5/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]'': ''[[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] - Item Description: [[Whisper of the Worm#Lore|Whisper of the Worm]]''</ref>
 
==Overview==
{{Quote|Wishes: A verbally expressed desire expressed within audible range of any Ahamkara. This wish is granted through invocation of something known as the "Anthem Anatheme," which appears to be a manner of subjecting reality to one's will, similar to a Lightbearer's ability to affect paracausality. However, little is known about how this process unfolds in practice.|[[Queensfoil Censer]] Lore Tab}}
 
The Anthem Anatheme is foundational to Ahamkara wish-magic, as the Ahamkara derive sustenance from paracausally fulfilling the desires of other beings.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/11/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Wish]] - Item Description: [[Queensfoil Censer#Lore|Queensfoil Censer]]''</ref> The Worm God [[Xol, Will of the Thousands|Xol]] also invoked the Anthem Anatheme when he transformed himself into a [[Whisper of the Worm|weapon]] after his physical death.<ref name="WotW"/>
 
Beings who draw power from the Anthem Anatheme are known to use a specific phrase, "O/Oh (subject) mine," when addressing other beings. Despite the dubious and untrustworthy nature of the passages of [[Lore:Truth to Power|Truth to Power]], this is theorized by [[Medusa]] to invoke an ontomorphic effect, placing the target in a cage of "o" then "activational, specific, appealing, and naming" and "mine".<ref>'''Bungie (2019/4/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]] - [[Lore:Truth to Power|Truth to Power]]: [[Lore:Truth to Power#asudeM|asudeM]]''</ref> Other beings like [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]] and [[Emperor Calus]] have on occasion utilized the specific phrase, likely an attempt to use the Anthem for themselves.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/10/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]] — Transcript: [https://youtu.be/cIyBSCZBmAU Wayfinder's Voyage VII — Speak with Savathûn]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Opulence]] - [[Quest]]: [[An Imperial Summons, The Invitation]]''</ref>
 
The [[Awoken]] of the [[Reef]] are generally not subject to the Anthem Anatheme, as their desires are aligned almost perfectly with those of their [[Mara Sov|Queen]], and the Queen herself has very little desire to change reality for her own purposes. It was this alignment which allowed the Ahamkara [[Riven]] to coexist with the Awoken in relative peace for so long, although Prince [[Uldren Sov]] was prohibited from interacting with Riven because his desires for himself were less attuned to his reality.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]] - [[Lore:The Awoken of the Reef|The Awoken of the Reef]]: [[Lore:The Awoken of the Reef#Telic II|Telic II]]''</ref>
 
The Cabal were also aware of the Ahamkara and the Anthem Anatheme before coming to the Sol System, with Calus having possessed an Ahamkara bone that originated from the extinct civilization known as the [[Harmony]].<ref>'''[[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]]''', "[[Beloved_(lore)#I_am_a_few_days_older.|I am a few days older.]]", ''"An ancient bone retrieved from the debris around a once-radiant black hole. Scholars tell me, Caiatl, that eons ago, a species lived around this deepness, and built an engine to tap its polar jets. But something came upon them from the dark and killed them all. [...] Now, this bone is a predator, it feeds on the gap between what you have and what you want."''</ref> The [[Psion]]s are said to be among those that truly understand the Anthem Anatheme.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/11/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Wish]] - [[Lore:Dragonslayers|Dragonslayers]]: [[Lore:Dragonslayers#Valus Forge's Prologue|Valus Forge's Prologue]]''</ref>
 
The Anthem Anatheme appears to be linked to another concept known as the "Anathematic Arc", which according to [[Ikora Rey]] is the primary goal of the Ahamkara as a species. The Anathematic Arc is described as a path by which the Ahamkara seek to travel to somewhere "more real" than the universe, which Ikora speculated might be a "parent" universe which spawned our current one, in much the same way as the [[Distributary]] is a pocket universe which arose within our own. By fulfilling the wishes of Guardians (and possibly other beings as well), the Ahamkara apparently move closer to this objective.<ref>[https://www.bungie.net/en/explore/detail/news/51148?fbclid=IwAR0VpyHyrvhUYr6_-PGbaWGvvRj3O9NeSox6cG6Ln1wRk3YEHb5nXqfWMg8]</ref>
 
==Trivia==
*One of the earliest mentions of the Anthem might come from [[Lore:Unveiling|Unveiling]], which may relate to the Worms and Ahamkara's use of the Anthem.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - [[Lore:Unveiling|Unveiling]]: [[Lore:Unveiling#Gardener and Winnower|Gardener and Winnower]]''</ref>
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind]]'' {{Fm}}
**''[[Forsaken]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Deep]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Wish]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Hidden Dossier]]'' {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 10:22, November 21, 2024

"So it whispered the Anthem Anatheme, the temptation to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will. It said, I shall be an engine to make your desire hegemon over your conditions. It said, WIELD ME, AND USE ME TO TEST YOUR FOE. This was its worship. Aiat."
— Whisper of the Worm Lore tab

The Anthem Anatheme is a concept related to several paracausal entities and their abilities, most notably the Ahamkara. It is defined as "the temptation to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will," or in other words the desire of sentient beings to change reality to better suit their purposes.[1]

Overview[edit]

"Wishes: A verbally expressed desire expressed within audible range of any Ahamkara. This wish is granted through invocation of something known as the "Anthem Anatheme," which appears to be a manner of subjecting reality to one's will, similar to a Lightbearer's ability to affect paracausality. However, little is known about how this process unfolds in practice."
— Queensfoil Censer Lore Tab

The Anthem Anatheme is foundational to Ahamkara wish-magic, as the Ahamkara derive sustenance from paracausally fulfilling the desires of other beings.[2] The Worm God Xol also invoked the Anthem Anatheme when he transformed himself into a weapon after his physical death.[1]

Beings who draw power from the Anthem Anatheme are known to use a specific phrase, "O/Oh (subject) mine," when addressing other beings. Despite the dubious and untrustworthy nature of the passages of Truth to Power, this is theorized by Medusa to invoke an ontomorphic effect, placing the target in a cage of "o" then "activational, specific, appealing, and naming" and "mine".[3] Other beings like Savathûn, the Witch Queen and Emperor Calus have on occasion utilized the specific phrase, likely an attempt to use the Anthem for themselves.[4][5]

The Awoken of the Reef are generally not subject to the Anthem Anatheme, as their desires are aligned almost perfectly with those of their Queen, and the Queen herself has very little desire to change reality for her own purposes. It was this alignment which allowed the Ahamkara Riven to coexist with the Awoken in relative peace for so long, although Prince Uldren Sov was prohibited from interacting with Riven because his desires for himself were less attuned to his reality.[6]

The Cabal were also aware of the Ahamkara and the Anthem Anatheme before coming to the Sol System, with Calus having possessed an Ahamkara bone that originated from the extinct civilization known as the Harmony.[7] The Psions are said to be among those that truly understand the Anthem Anatheme.[8]

The Anthem Anatheme appears to be linked to another concept known as the "Anathematic Arc", which according to Ikora Rey is the primary goal of the Ahamkara as a species. The Anathematic Arc is described as a path by which the Ahamkara seek to travel to somewhere "more real" than the universe, which Ikora speculated might be a "parent" universe which spawned our current one, in much the same way as the Distributary is a pocket universe which arose within our own. By fulfilling the wishes of Guardians (and possibly other beings as well), the Ahamkara apparently move closer to this objective.[9]

Trivia[edit]

  • One of the earliest mentions of the Anthem might come from Unveiling, which may relate to the Worms and Ahamkara's use of the Anthem.[10]

List of appearances[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Bungie (2018/5/8), Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: Whisper of the Worm
  2. ^ Bungie (2023/11/28), Destiny 2: Season of the Wish - Item Description: Queensfoil Censer
  3. ^ Bungie (2019/4/23), Destiny 2: Forsaken - Truth to Power: asudeM
  4. ^ Bungie (2021/10/5), Destiny 2: Season of the Lost — Transcript: Wayfinder's Voyage VII — Speak with Savathûn
  5. ^ Bungie (2019/6/4), Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - Quest: An Imperial Summons, The Invitation
  6. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken - The Awoken of the Reef: Telic II
  7. ^ Beloved, "I am a few days older.", "An ancient bone retrieved from the debris around a once-radiant black hole. Scholars tell me, Caiatl, that eons ago, a species lived around this deepness, and built an engine to tap its polar jets. But something came upon them from the dark and killed them all. [...] Now, this bone is a predator, it feeds on the gap between what you have and what you want."
  8. ^ Bungie (2023/11/28), Destiny 2: Season of the Wish - Dragonslayers: Valus Forge's Prologue
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ Bungie (2019/10/1), Destiny 2: Shadowkeep - Unveiling: Gardener and Winnower
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