Editing Spiritweb

{{Magic
|related=[[Realmatic Theory]]
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
}}
{{spoilers|yumi}}
{{update|sa4|mb7|yumi}}

{{quote
|The actual outlet of the power is not chosen by the practitioner, but instead is hardwritten into their spiritweb.
|[[Khriss]]{{book ref|mb7|part=ars}}
}}
The '''spiritweb''' is the network of [[Connection]]s and [[Investiture]] which make up the soul of a creature, place, or object. Residing in the [[Spiritual Realm]], Spiritwebs lack any tangible shape or size, with their borders defined by their [[Identity]]. Contained within a spiritweb are various pieces, including '''Spiritual DNA''', the '''Spiritual Aspect''', and one’s '''Spiritual Ideal'''.{{wob ref|3923}}

== Mechanics ==
=== Spiritual DNA ===
A person’s spiritweb, closely related to Spiritual DNA,{{wob ref|115}} makes up their presence in the Spiritual Realm. Measuring and quantifying a spiritweb is possible, if difficult, to do.{{wob ref|13361}} Spiritual DNA can be passed from parent to child like regular DNA,{{wob ref|5514}} yet does not function exactly the same as identical twins can have different Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|3037}}{{wob ref|7761}} Some ways of utilizing Investiture are written into Spiritual DNA. Spiritwebs can be manufactured, though the process of how is unknown.{{wob ref|15234}}

=== Damaging and Healing ===
A person's spiritweb can be damaged either through physical or emotional trauma. This creates "cracks" in the soul. It is easier for Shards to [[Invest]] in people who are damaged in this way, as Investiture can enter the soul through these "cracks". This is why [[Allomancer]]s need to undergo [[Snapping]] in order to awaken their powers, and is implied to be the reason why [[Surgebinder]]s tend to have psychological problems.{{wob ref|5469}}{{book ref|sa2|68}}{{book ref|sa4|110}}Spiritwebs can be damaged with weapons like hemalurgic spikes and Shardblades. Those wounds can then be healed with a graft of Investiture. The healing process does leave a permanent wound on a person's spiritweb.{{wob ref|126}} Investing an object or person for a long period of time will warp and change their spiritweb.{{wob ref|2690}} In humans, this process leads to [[Savant]]ism.{{wob ref|7267}}

==== Healing the Physical ====
Most forms of healing work by using the three aspects of the user's self; their Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual.{{wob ref|9441}}{{wob ref|5306}} Healing typically heals the Physical version by matching it to their Spiritual Ideal, which is filtered through the lens of their minds (the Cognitive aspect).{{wob ref|3923}} Almost all forms of healing in the [[cosmere]], even natural healing, are filtered through the perception of the user, {{wob ref|7024}}{{wob ref|9623}} which means that if a person hasn't accepted a wound as a part of themselves, they can still heal it regardless of how long they've had it.{{wob ref|12149}} However, even if a wound is recent, if the person has changed their mindset to see it as a part of themselves, they will not be able to heal from it.{{wob ref|6501}}{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} An example of this can be found when [[Kaladin]] was unable to heal his slave brand until he swore the fourth oath and recognized that it wasn't a part of him.{{book ref|sa4|110}}

== Interactions ==
All forms of Investiture which one can use are related to the spiritweb. Some manifestations of Investiture are built into a person's Spiritual DNA, such as [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]]. Other abilities, such as [[Hemalurgy]] and [[Surgebinding]], involve manipulating Spiritual DNA. A few types of Investiture even work by manipulating or overwriting the spiritweb directly, such as [[Forgery]]. 

=== The Dor ===

==== AonDor ====
[[AonDor]] requires some innate Spiritual DNA, but the [[Shaod]] that turns someone into an [[Elantrian]] likely involves some sort of change to the Spiritual DNA during the transition.{{cite}}

==== Forgery ====
[[Forgery]] works by overlaying an object’s or person’s history and spiritweb with an alternative one. This may indicate that it is possible to remove the effects of a [[soulstamp]], though it is currently unknown.{{wob ref|837}}

=== Awakening ===
The ability to give [[Breath]], which is a part of a person's Spiritual aspect, is built into a [[Nalthis|Nalthian]]'s Spiritual DNA.{{cite}} The ability to [[Awakening|Awaken]] is not limited to Nalthians, as shown by [[Hoid]]'s use of it.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}

=== The Metallic Arts ===
==== Allomancy ====
Multiple forms of Allomancy relate to the spiritweb. Allomantic [[zinc]] and [[brass]] will work only on creatures with a sufficient level of sapience and work better on creatures whose spiritweb has been damaged, as with Hemalurgic constructs.{{cite}} The ability to use Allomancy is passed down via Spiritual DNA.

==== Feruchemy ====
Several of the Feruchemical Attributes are deeply connected to the spiritweb, especially the Spiritual metals such as [[aluminum]] and [[duralumin]], which allow for Identity and Connection, respectively, to be stored. Similarly to Allomancy, the ability to use Feruchemy is passed down through Spiritual DNA.

==== Hemalurgy ====
In Hemalurgy, portions of the spiritweb seem to be ripped off of one person and grafted onto another person's spiritweb.{{wob ref|5969}} This causes lasting damage to the spiritweb of the creature in which a Hemalurgic Spike is placed.{{wob ref|4961}}

=== Surgebinding ===

==== Nahel Bond ====
A [[Surgebinder]]'s [[Nahel bond]] with a [[spren]] works in a similar way, a spren becoming spiritually attached to a certain point on a person's spiritweb, merging together as the [[Surgebinder]] progresses in their [[Immortal Words|Oaths]].{{wob ref|184}}{{cite|WOB on merging more as oaths progress}}

==== Soulcasting ====
Although it does not directly alter the spiritweb, [[Soulcasting]] can alter a spiritweb if the Cognitive aspect stays altered for long enough.{{cite}}

==== Regrowth ====
[[Regrowth]] allows for healing both the Physical form of a living thing and its spiritweb, as does a sufficient amount of Stormlight. This likely functions by restoring one’s physical form to the state of their Spiritual Ideal.{{wob ref|9441}} Regrowth can even go so far as to reattach the soul of one recently deceased, as seen with [[Szeth]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa3|90}}

=== Shardblades ===
A [[Shardblade]] can be stolen with Hemalurgy,{{wob ref|1153}}{{wob ref|4548}} because it is Connected to a person's spiritweb. When a Shardblade cuts through living matter, its edge fuzzes, leaving the physical body uninjured, whilst cutting the being's Cognitive self - not their spiritweb.{{book ref|sa1|13}}

=== Fabrials ===
There are fabrials, that are capable of accurately [[Aura fabrial|reading a person's spiritweb]]. However, these devices tend to go haywire if the person being read is heavily Invested, such as a [[Returned]], [[Elantrian]], or [[yoki-hijo]].{{book ref|yumi|32}}

=== Bondsmith ===
A [[Bondsmith]] that is bonded to the [[Stormfather]] is able to read a person's spiritweb. The person's spiritweb appears to the Bondsmith as faintly glowing lines of varying thickness. It is currently unknown if others share this ability.

== Notes ==
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[[es:Red espiritual]]