Curse and Bless
Curses and blessings are two sides of the same coin. The practice is considered by many to be a type of enchantment cast directly onto living creatures, rather than objects, and is considered a less conventional “sister magic” to the more common enchantment practice. They are still considered to be different skills that require different educations, even if they intersect to the point that there are many known enchantments on objects that can be used to lay a curse on a person.
The act of laying a curse or blessing on a person is generally understood to be the act of binding a magical effect into the body or flesh of a person; though some spell-casters describe it more as weaving their own spells into the blood of another person, using the magic that is naturally already within them. This idea is especially supported by curses that have been laid on people via objects that are held in close emotional regard by the victim; using the energy lingering on the object to tap into the spirit of the one receiving the curse.
There is a misconception that curses are easier to lay than blessings; though this is statistically untrue, and scholars believe it is simply more common to notice the negative effects on a person than positive ones, and so most blessings go unnoticed while curses are acknowledged.
Like enchantments, curses and blessings can also be laid in any of the common magical states:
• Passive curses and blessings are long-lasting spells that are always in effect, making a person’s life better or worse. Things such as spells used to ease anxieties, or curses to create uncomfortable physical sensations, are common passive forms of this magic.
• Active curses and blessings are short-lived spells that don’t tend to remain for more than a day or two after being cast. Most commonly, curses that cause pain or distress, or blessings that boost physical abilities or stamina, are the kinds of spells expected to be found in active curse and bless magic.
• Triggered curses and blessings are spells that remain attached to the person they are laid on until specific activation criteria are met. Painful curses that only activate when a person lies are very common, as are soothing blessings that activate when a person comes into contact with certain objects or materials.
It is also to be noted that though most countries don’t outlaw curses and blessings, the act of casting magic on an unwilling person is, in most cases, considered a form of assault.