Alternate Rimid mechanic. Mind you, it would be a better flavor fit for the Kisme.

I really like Cognizance, but I don't like that it has a built-in drawback. It would make you afraid or unable to cast Cognizance spells if you were in a bad place, and I don't think that's good.

I was trying to keep black from accruing quasi-card draw without payment (which is usually life). I'd have to playtest to check if it can do without life loss or with a 1-life loss only. One could also offset it more with a few black lifegain effects like Blood Tithe, Douse in Gloom and other repeatable extort-like effects (Gnawing Zombie Blood Artist).

If you're dead-set on keeping the life loss, I would make it optional.

Mmm, that's a very black feeling mechanic then.

How about cognizance having a cost? So you may draw that card for its cogni-cost, which on some cards would be mana, and some would be life?

@L2i0n0k7 I'm not particularly dead-set on it, but in so far as it's not actually in any set, and I know I'm willing to change that cost after playtesting, I don't have any reason to change it at this point.

I'm not sure it's that cool if a mechanic makes a card a lot worse and it's very parasitic at the same time, because it means your deck is filled with bad cards, even if they give you card advantage.

About this card in particular, a draw spell is a bad choice for a card with cognizance, because the ability already gives you card advantage, and because not everyone will know if you follow the effect first or the cognizance ability first. I understand that putting a card on the top sets up cognizance, but that's exactly why it's confusing in the first place.

The parasitism is intended for the same reason I mentioned elsewhere in response to your comment: encouraging guild-based decks over 3 colors.