The One Power
The magical force that turns the Wheel of Time, wielded through channeling.
The One Power is the magical force that rotates the Wheel of Time, the cosmic embodiment of eternal return that spins the Pattern of the Ages from the lives of men and women. Accessing and wielding it is called channeling, and only women can do so safely. The Power is divided into a male half, saidin, and a female half, saidar; originally both sexes could wield it.
Lore & Background
Artifacts called angreal amplify the One Power, sa'angreal being the most potent, while ter'angreal are limited to specific functions. The Aes Sedai, a matriarchal order of female channelers, are respected and feared across the world. At the moment of his defeat in the Age of Legends the Dark One tainted saidin, driving male channelers insane, which is why the Red Ajah hunt men who can channel and gentle them, cutting them off from the Power for good. In A Memory of Light Rand al'Thor combines saidin, saidar and the Dark One's True Power to capture the Dark One and remake his prison without flaw.
More in The One Power & Artifacts
Elsewhere in The Wheel of Time
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