Thread by @MarcLuv2Write, I think the key to understanding how exactly Yuji is able to [...]

I think the key to understanding how exactly Yuji is able to damage mahito lies underneath Gege's intentionally misleading jargon.

"Soul shape" and "sould contours" seem to be used literally but not totally.

When mahito refers to soul shape or contours he's using shape as a visual metaphor but its not a literal outline of a body. It seems to be a literal body, but made of "soul" (whatever soul is)...a soul-body so to speak. Thats why he tells Nanami that the soul comes first.

Meaning there are "soul cells" "soul bones" etc, all the details that normal bodies require to function the soul has to have already because the body can only mimic the soul.

Thats why mahito had to practice his transfigurations until he could keep them alive because he needed to learn how to transfigure the soul without making it non-functional.

The body is just a physical manifestation of the soul, down to a cellular level.

So imagine the soul as an invisible replica of the body physically super imposed onto it. If u change anything on that soul its body will follow. It's not something within the body its-

Literally just the identical body occupying the same space as the real body.

"Contours" and "shape" are just simplifications, its not just an ethereal body shaped blob shrouding the body similar to cursed energy. Its a literal alternate body that preceeds the real. A pre-body.

So in this case where mahito changes his leg into deer legs, he didnt just mold a soul blob around his leg into a literal deer leg outline. He actually changed the biological structure, cells, tissue etc of his soul's leg to that that of a deer's, and then the body followed

Following on this theory, how does the soul interact with the world??? I think the biggest key is Mahitos explanation for why his power wont work as easily on sorcerers. Regular human beings are simply not aware of their souls BUT they can have unconscious influence on them.

If someone gets cut by a knife or breaks their leg, the regular body is damaged but the soul body doesn't HAVE to remain that way as well.

The belief that your body and soul are one and the same makes you unconsciously force your soul to mimic changes made to your body from the physical world. Kind of like a placeabo effect. If you break you leg and believe soul n body are the same you'll believe your souls leg-

Is broken to and unconsciously you'll force your soul's leg to match the physical condition.

Thats how physical things have influence on the soul indirectly but not necessarily.

Cursed energy can also interact with the soul very similarly to how it interacts with the body. Proven by the fact nanami was able to defend his soul from mahito by cloaking it in cursed energy.

The problem is, its extremely hard to detect your own soul to even attempt to consciously cloak it in energy. But it can happen unconsciously, especially if you're adept in manipulating cursed energy like sorcerers are. Albeit hard, it is possible to be aware of your soul.

Yuuji is aware of his due to being forced to be aware of a foreign one inside of him (sukuna) By being forced to recognize a foreign soul he's instinctively knows what a soul feels like and now unconsciously recognizes his own. "Percieve=recognize"
Ill get back to that later.

How does Mahito heal? Its a unique trait of being the human curse I believe. Not only is he intimately aware with his soul but he has total control as well. This means that he doesnt suffer from the same unconscious imaginary soul damage humans take when a physical object-

Damages their real body. He knows that the physical can't damage his soul so as long as he maintains (or "preserves") his soul's structure (or "shape") his body will reform to match it after the damage is done. He's constantly imagining what an undamaged mahito looks like and-

Keeping his soul in that form no matter the physical damage he takes.

I don't think humans are capable of that. Humans can't manipulate their souls, they can only interact with them.

Which brings me to to whyyyy Yuuji can damage Mahito. I think the common understanding is that yuuji "perceives the shape/countor of the soul" and so he's able to see where Mahitos soul is and hit it. I disagree. I think its written intentionally to give that impression though.

I think that when Mahito says Yuuji perceives the shape of the soul he is not only speaking of his. He's speaking of souls in general including Yuuji's own.

I believe that one of the characteristics of soul interactions is that while physical things cannot affect a soul, souls can affect other souls.

Going further I believe that if one can shroud their soul in cursed energy like Nanami, for defense then its intuitive that it can be used for offense. And THATS what i think Yuuji is capable of doing because he's so aware of his soul and thats why he can harm Mahito's soul.

No matter how much Mahito tries to preserve his soul, it doesn't matter if Yuuji's soul hits it charged with cursed energy because it will be damaged.

So my theory on soul interactions summed up is

Physical can't affect soul
Cursed energy cant affect soul
Soul can affect soul
Cursed energy can only affect soul if its used on a soul instead of a physical body

If my explanation is confusing lemme know what part confused u n ill try to explain it better!

Another insightful take: https://twitter.com/mind_playerz/status/1330228126325104640?s=19

https://twitter.com/mind_playerz/status/1330228126325104640?s=19

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