- "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 metaphysical principle described in several pieces of lore within the Destiny universe. It is defined as the desire to change one's reality to suit one's purposes, or "to dominate the objective universe with the subjective will".[1] It is utilized under a shared syntax of "O/Oh (subject) mine" when addressing other beings, theorized to be a shibboleth used to invoke an ontomorphic effect, placing the target in a cage of "o" (activational, specific, appealing, and naming) and "mine" (defining ownership and subordination). [2]
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 Gods, despite having evolved separately in competition of the same ecological niche. Ahamkara feed off of the wishes (which are manifestations of the Anthem Anatheme) of other beings, whereas the Worm God Xol transformed himself into a weapon after his physical death in order to fulfill the Anthem Anatheme for the wielder.
The Awoken as a whole are 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 Uldren Sov was prohibited from interacting with Riven because his desires for himself were less attuned to his reality.[3]