The True Source

The True Source is composed of two energy sources; saidin and saidar. Saidin can be accessed only by men, while saidar can only be accessed by women. It is these two opposing forces that power the Wheel of Time.
The One Power

The forces known as saidin and saidar are collectively known as the One Power, and are accessed by a method known as channeling. The ability to touch the True Source and channel the One Power is only present in a small percentage of the world's population. The One Power is composed of five threads: Earth, Air/Wind, Fire, Spirt and Water. It is the manipulation of these five threads, either individually or in combinations, that allows a channeler to affect his surroundings.
The One Power and Those Who Use It

The word "magic" in the traditional fantasy sense is never used in the Wheel of Time novels, but there is a force in this world that can be manipulated by some people to create effects that would be considered "magical".

"Magical" effects are created by Channeling the One Power. The One Power is a manifestation of the True Source, the force made by the Creator to turn the Wheel of Time. The True Source is divided into two parts - saidar and saidin. Females Channel saidar, and the few male Channelers use saidin. Examples of Channeling effects include healing an injury, creating a ball of light, or attacking a monster with a fireball.

One of the most powerful factions in the world is the White Tower, located in Tar Valon. The White Tower trains women to Channel the One Power. Fully-trained Channelers are called Aes Sedai. There were male Aes Sedai in the past, but now only women are trained to Channel. The ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai was the Chinese yin-yang (without the dots). Today the symbol is split. The White Flame (yin) is a symbol the of modern Aes Sedai, and the Dragon's Fang (yang) is a symbol of evil.

Few people are born with the ability to learn to Channel, and even fewer who will Channel whether they wish to or not. In both cases, the ability does not manifest itself until puberty. Those women with the ability to learn will never Channel unless they receive training. Born Channelers who survive the effects of coming into their ability untutored learn a rough control over the One Power, but will never have the abilities of a full Aes Sedai unless they are trained. The Aes Sedai call such women "Wilders".

Three thousand years ago, during the Age of Legends, male and female Aes Sedai worked together to create many wonders with the One Power. But certain of them attempted to free the Dark One from his prison in Shayol Ghul, a risk to all of mankind. The One Hundred Companions, a group of 113 male Aes Sedai, were able to reseal his prison, but as a result, saidin, the male half of the True Source, was tainted forever more, which led to the Breaking of the World.

This taint is similar to an oil slick on water. The water - saidin - is pure, but it can't be touched without touching the oil - the taint. The taint caused all of the male Aes Sedai to die of a rotting disease like leprosy, or go mad, using their abilities in deadly ways. The earthquakes and lightning bolts they Channeled in their madness Broke the World, changing the entire known landscape and killing millions. That was the end of the Age of Legends.

Since that time, there have been no trained male Aes Sedai. Those men born with the ability to Channel still suffer from the effects of the taint and go mad or die of the rotting disease. One branch of the Aes Sedai, the Red Ajah, dedicates itself to hunting down these men and permanently cutting them off from the Source, as their madness is a risk to all around them because of their ability to Channel.

Male Channelers are very rare, and considered horrors or dangers throughout the world. Prophecies foretell that the Dragon Reborn will be a Channeler. The Dragon is destined to combat the Dark One at the Last Battle. Periodically, a man declares himself the Dragon Reborn, attracting supporters. Foes also rise up against him, and wars are often started in this way. Not all of these False Dragons can Channel, but those who can are captured by the Aes Sedai and "gentled", their ability to Channel permanently removed.

After the Breaking of the World, people naturally became mistrusting of the One Power and its users, so even female Channelers are regarded with suspicion by most people. Several countries, including Tear and Amadicia, have laws against Channeling within their borders. In most places, when a woman manifests the ability to Channel, she is immediately sent to the White Tower for training, regardless of her position in life. Only in Tar Valon and the Borderlands are Aes Sedai accepted, and Andor sends all its heirs to the throne to the White Tower for schooling.