arcanum

I see exactly what you mean, and it fits really well with some of my own vaguer concerns with the belief in arcanum that marks out magic realism.

Notes on Strange Fiction: Seams Hal Duncan 2008

In fact, it's precisely because we do not know how it works that we do not rule out the possibility that it does in fact work, the possibility even that others might understand the workings we do not -- hence the term arcanum, with its associations of secret knowledge.

Archive 2008-08-01 Hal Duncan 2008

In fact, it's precisely because we do not know how it works that we do not rule out the possibility that it does in fact work, the possibility even that others might understand the workings we do not -- hence the term arcanum, with its associations of secret knowledge.

Notes on Strange Fiction: Seams Hal Duncan 2008

Freemasonry were off-shoots of the original Cabala, and that during the past 150 years new associations had been formed, and the parties who had introduced me into their arcanum were a society in affiliation with many others then in existence in different countries.

Buchanan's Journal of Man, January 1888 Volume 1, Number 12 1856

The ministers of the word preach, and would be accepted with the people; take this "arcanum," [the secret] of it, -- pray over it; and it is the only way to have it accepted in the hearts of the people: follow it on with prayer.

The Sermons of John Owen 1616-1683 1968

This is an arcanum which is brought within the range of the understanding by the doctrine of degrees.

Angelic Wisdom Concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom Emanuel Swedenborg 1730

So Dumuzi may become a chimera/arcanum as he transforms into a gazelle in his bid to escape the demons pursuing him, but relative to his society and worldscape he is disempowered, a humble shepherd, a boy crying for his mother — a nobody.

A Theory of Modes and Modalities Hal Duncan 2009

There was the arcanum; each yellow grain conduced to my exaltation, and the sum of these grains was the sum of my mightiness.

The Dignity of Dollars 2010

So Dumuzi may become a chimera/arcanum as he transforms into a gazelle in his bid to escape the demons pursuing him, but relative to his society and worldscape he is disempowered, a humble shepherd, a boy crying for his mother — a nobody.

Archive 2009-07-01 Hal Duncan 2009

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Your iPhone's on Fire, Baby! 2011