My first essence! Using Eruheran's helpful SEM explanation and my own conglomeration of format, I've made a substantial essence map for the MC of Alaidia (Peter's Angel) - Peter himself. I think it went well... once you start listing metaphors, it's hard to stop.

One thing I couldn't figure out, however, was how to divide MIND from SPIRIT and how to subdivide the categories beneath those headers. So right now I just have a list of attributes and related metaphors which, while not proper, is sufficiently helpful, I think.

Advice and opinions greatly desired!

***
PETER

{APPEARANCE}
-HAIR
--Color
---Light Blond
*strands of white moonlight
*refined white-gold
*finely-spun flax
--Texture
---Slick, Fine, Straight
*thin silk yarn
*polished metal threads
*wind in a field of prairie-grass

-EYES
--Color
---Light Blue
*a sliver of summer sky
*blue diamonds
*robin’s egg shell
--Depth
---Clear, Sharp
*a slice of mirror reflecting the sky
*shards of broken glass
*purified ice

-BODY
--Build
---Slender
*a sturdy pole
*a crouching leopard
--Height
---Tall
*a guard tower
*a fruit tree
--Posture
---Straight
*fence rails
*solider at attention


{SPIRIT}
---Powerful
*a drawn bow
*a snake posed to strike
*a professional pianist at a grand piano
---Authoritative
*a king’s scepter
*a disinterested judge
*a military commander
---Passionate
*an abolitionist
*a trespassing and disregarding protestor
*an outspoken patriot
---Faithful
*a dogged suitor pursuing an uninterested lady
*a martyr
---Prideful
*a tall stone tower
*an unfurled flag in the wind
*ceremonious trumpets
*a call to war


{MIND}
---Bitter, Vengeful
*a searching hawk
*a weakened bridge groaning under weight
---Affectionate
*a doting suitor
*a father coaxing his child to walk
---Shamed, Guilty
*the prodigal son
*a smear of ink on a long scroll of text
*a person’s trailing shadow
*Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
*an accidental murderer pursued by the avenger of blood
*a false witness waiting for the judge’s verdict
---Charming
*a flattering salesman
*a suave gentleman at the center of a party

This is awesome! The metaphors you used are really amazing (especially for hair: refined white gold? genious!). Anyways, the way I divide up mind and soul is that the mind is simply the WAY the character thinks. So Logic, Clarity, and Knowledge whereas the soul is more the INNER CORE of your character's being. So, Depth (how deep/mysterious is a way you could put it), Purity (how good/evil/innocent/corrupted is your character) and Longing (I got this from a friend, but how much does the character long for something. some character really long for love and others long for power etc.)

I hope this sort of helped. It totally makes sense to me but that's because I do it this way... Great job though!

Thank you muchly, Lady Dusk! Yes, I think that does make sense - I will have to review my essence map and see if I can apply those divisions.

You pretty much divide them up however you want to.
Great job! Beautiful use of metaphors. I personally am not a fan of semaps, but you used it well

Thank you, Seer!

Great map, Philli! I think my favorite metaphor would have to be:



eruheran

Thanks, you two!