Realm of Void

Everything in the world is created from the four elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. The student of the Void, however, knows that all things are all four elements, held together by the intangible Void. The element of Void is that which exists outside of and surrounding the other four elements, defining them in its absence as silence defines the musical note it surrounds. This is the nature of the Realm of Void.

Void and the Untrained
To those not attuned to the Realm of Void, exposure can be a dangerous thing. Void requires a special perception on the part of the shugenja to allow them to comprehend the swirling patterns of the fifth ring. Those who are exposed to the Void without this gift will either see nothing at all or be driven mad by the experience. (Phoenix pp. 51-52)

Dangers of the Void
Shugenja of the four elements are commonly understood to undertake certain risks when they use their abilites. For the Void shugenja, the risks are much greater. Whereas the average shugenja risks unleashing raw force into the world, the Void shugenja risks releasing himself into the universe.

While within the Realm between the elements and the mortals, remembering either becomes more and more confusing, so that eventually the shugenja comes to believe the Void is their home and they simply shoose never to leave. The poor souls who suffer this fate lose the ability to distinguish between the elements, seeing the entire world merely as a swirling canvas of colors bleeding into each other.

As those sensitive to the Realm of Void are constantly aware of its energy around them, even if only periphrially, this is a constant danger. For this reason, the Isawa Ishiken are constantly vigilant for those with the gift, so that they can be properly trained and spared from the sheer sensory overload that would eventually lead them to such a catatonic state.

Major References

 * Way of the Phoenix Pages 55-56.