For those who don't know or might have forgotten, Aspects is an old word that the 3literati used back in the early days to describe the broadest grouping of metaphors for Essence Maps. Typically for characters they were Body, Mind, Spirit, and Soul and usually they were organized in that same order so your average character map would something like this:
Body{
.....Face[
............Eyes(
..................Sparkle(
............................<Twilight vampires>))]
.....Motion[
..............Speed(
.......................<a fart dispersing>)]}
Mind{
.....Intelligence[
....................Sharpness(
..................................<plastic butter knife>)]}
Spirit{
.......Aspect[
................Depth(
.........................<mud puddle>)]}
Soul{
......Intuition[
.................Accuracy(
..............................<broad side of a barn>)]}
Now why were they organized like this? Why does the Body come first? And why of the Body is the Face usually the first thing described? This comes from Jay's philosophy of Essence Mapping (Juliet and Patrick, feel free to correct me if I get this wrong). Jay usually suggested that when working on an Essence Map, you start with the most immediately observable layer or angle and work your way inward.
It's a valid approach. However, for many authors/readers, the most extensive observations of a character are usually more about their personality and conduct than their physical appearance. In Beyond the Summerland, the first book of the Binding of the Blade series, by L. B. Graham, we're only ever given two concrete descriptions of the protagonist: he has short blond hair, and blue eyes. So, my personal preference (though admittedly I've yet to actually use it in an Essence Map) is to order a map not based on which Aspects are most easily observed, but rather based on which Aspects most influence your impression of a person/thing's Essence.
This really applies more to X+ maps than it does to FirstX or Freestyle maps. But I thought I'd share it anyways. But in reality, you can arrange the order of your essence map however you like. Don't believe me? Ask Tsahraf! His maps follow an order all their own which I don't think anyone other than a Lauser can ever truly follow
Happy mapping!!!!
