"What is mana?"

[Kuma]

Somebody used the historical/mythological Hawaiian explanation that is the one I know as the source of the terminology.

When it comes to my own opinion of how to use Mana.

Mana is more often associated with magical skills, thus how you use mana in your story depends on how you use magic on it.

If Magic is treated as a science, then the best would be for Mana to be an outer force that Magicians learn to give shape and meaning through training and study. Academic Study means normalization, so multiple characters could now the same spells, and application of them would give them interest.

If Magic is more of a state of mind thing, then Mana could be the inner power each magician posses and limits them. They need to learn how to control it, and if it's an inner thing then is more likely they can apply it in unique ways.

From what you wrote in the opening post, I surmise that your mana takes a crystalline form. If that's the case your "mages" could be Jewellers, who cut and polish Crystals to generate different types of spells or uses for the Mana Crystals apart from currency (That could be the crystals on their raw form)

[SurvivALIST]

In the fantasy genres I've read particularly web comics, mana is duly noted as energy of that magic. Everyone has limits in wielding their powers but what it is that ignites the power they control? Well, that's mana.

Thanks for sharing though. This is so that I can avoid associating mana to religion in my novel.

[HippieGhost]

Yeah I mean generally with that stuff I personally avoid it but usually my go-to advice is "ask a polynesian" or whoever is of the culture it's associated with.

[SurvivALIST]

Mana, according to the Bible means gift from the heavens. God made bread fall from the sky to feed the people of Israel while they were in the dessert looking for the promised land. This bread, was called mana.

I actually have a biblical allusion of this in my novel. Only, what falls down are stars instead of food and these life energy-filled stars is what formed the promised land of my planet. It's great seeing this sort of association again!

[SurvivALIST]

If Magic is treated as a science, then the best would be for Mana to be an outer force that Magicians learn to give shape and meaning through training and study. Academic Study means normalization, so multiple characters could now the same spells, and application of them would give them interest.

This highlight is a great reference for the time my heroine goes to school or the academy. Textbook context!

If Magic is more of a state of mind thing, then Mana could be the inner power each magician posses and limits them. They need to learn how to control it, and if it's an inner thing then is more likely they can apply it in unique ways.

Yep! My magic system is based on an internal instinctual process where "its all in the mind and sensation". Rather than control mana, my characters tame many other's mana and suck it out of them so I wouldn't say control though. TY as well.