Eclesis

The recognition of one's own sentience. In wizardly usage, the term also implies a being's sense that there are greater powers than the merely physical underlying the structure of the universe. A species must have achieved eclesis before being offered wizardry and Choice by the Powers that Be.

Eclesis does not absolutely require what a human being would consider intelligence, though there is something of a tendency for them to run in tandem. On Earth, eclesis tends to be manifested most clearly at the tops of food chains.

(See also: Eclestic line)