Weave

Moiraine practicing weaves.

For other uses of the word "weave," see Weave.

Weaves, also known as webs, are combination of flows of the Power.

There are five elements that can be affected by the One Power: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, each having its own use and purposes. Some tasks require the use of "flows" from multiple powers and these are called weaves (although simple tasks require a "flow" of only a single power).

Weaves of the Power are theoretically similar to weaves in textiles. More complex outcomes with the Power require more complexity with the weaves themselves, and thus require more skill. Once a weave is complete, it can either be held by the channeler so that it stays in place or it can be tied off so that the flows will remain even if the channeler releases the True Source. Often, however, tying off a weave will make the weave weaker than it would be if it were held.

A channeler of saidin or saidar is able to see the weaves of another person wielding the same half of the power. This is vital for the learning and practice of using the One Power, as the weaves can then be copied and memorized. However, inexperienced channelers will still have difficulty copying more complex weaves. Weaves can also be hidden so that others can in fact not see them, whether by inverting the weaves or by possessing certain ter'angreal.

Unweaving

An Aes Sedai looking at the faint residue of a past weave.

For the chapter by the same name, see Unweaving.

Typically when a channeler is finished with a weave he or she simple lets go of the threads involved and lets the weave either "wink out" or simply dissipate. If a channeler has the rare ability to see the residues of weaves then they can see how a weave was formed, a rough estimate of when it was woven, and where the weave started and ended (including Traveling), all after the weave disappears to the naked eye. Certain Shadowspawn, most notably Myrddraal and gholam, also seem to have a similar, if less effective, ability.

If a channeler unweaves, or picks apart, the web of threads that he or she has created into a weave, they make the weave impossible to detect because of the way it is disassembled.

The process of unweaving is described as pulling out the threads of the weave one at a time. Once the first thread of the weave has been removed the channeler either must continue or let the weave fall apart uncontrolled. As time passes the threads of the weave seem to feel "slippery" and hard to handle. The more complex the weave the more threads that must be "pulled out." Moridin said, while watching a gateway created by Aviendha being unwoven, that it looked like the weave was "melting," something which amazed him because even during the Second Age this was never done.

It is very dangerous to unweave anything because if done incorrectly anything from a small flash of light, to a large explosion, to burning out everybody within a certain distance can happen. The effect and degree of a failed unweaving is completely random, although a very small weave is generally safe, which is why it cannot be relied upon as a weapon. This is also why whenever an Aes Sedai even hears the mentioning of unweaving they usually react with abrupt horror.

According to the Wise Ones anyone can learn how to unweave with practice. Aviendha told how when she learned to unweave it took her over fifty tries to successfully unweave a simple flow of air, many of which would make a flash of light in her face or a loud bang. It also seems that the channeler does not need to be physically close to hold onto a thread, as demonstrated by Elayne when she unsuccessfully unwove her gateway while running away.

Standing flows

Standing flows were a series of weaves from the Age of Legends that apparently allowed non-channelers to utilize most ter'angreal.

List of known weaves

• Aligning the Matrix
• Arrows of Fire
• Balefire
• Bonding
• Calling Lightning
• Caressing the Child
• Compulsion
• Channeling Disguise - Weave to mask the ability of a man or women to channel
• Cutting weaves
• Deathgates
• Delving
• Finder
• Fire ball
• Fire Blossom
• Flame of Tar Valon
• Folded Light
• Hardened Air
• Healing
• Heating
• Illusion
• Inverting- Not so much a weave as a variation that one can do to a weave.
• Keeping
• Liquids manipulation
• Making a Bridge
• Making Fog
• Making Light
• Milking Tears - no description is given
• Mirror of Mists
• Refresh
• Riven Earth
• Sound amplification
• Shielding
• Skimming
• Spinning Earthfire - no description is given
• Stunning
• Traveling
• Turning
• Ward
• Weaving of Winds