Brothers and Sisters in the Force,
Today, I want to talk about something close to all our hearts: navigating love's currents while staying true to the Jedi path. Recently, I have met someone and all I want to do is be with them. The Force practically sings the beloved's name, and the world feels bathed in a brighter light.
It's no surprise, then, that we might find ourselves longing to spend every moment with this special someone. Let's be honest, lightsaber practice can seem a little dull compared to stolen glances and whispered conversations. But hey, unlike a certain Jedi Knight who shall not be named (cough, cough, Anakin), a little imbalance won't send us hurtling towards the dark side. Still, the heady rush of new love, while wonderful, can easily disrupt our training, our meditations, and the goals we've set for ourselves.
Think of it like this: the Force flows through you even when you're not with your partner. It's a constant connection, an anchor in the midst of swirling emotions. By dedicating time to meditation and self-reflection, we cultivate that inner peace. It allows us to experience this new love with joy, but not with an all-consuming obsession.
Let's face it, even the most seasoned Jedi Master can get caught in the whirlwind of a new romance. Or am I the only one who has meditated for an hour and all I could picture was my sweetheart's smile?
Just like the tides, emotions come in waves. While this new love is amazing, clinging too tightly can only lead to heartbreak, for you or your partner. After all, a healthy relationship needs space for both of you to breathe, just like a starfighter needs room to maneuver!
Jedi Teaching #4 reminds us of the impermanence of all things. Love, like the Force itself, is a cycle. It flows and ebbs, and clinging too tightly can only lead to suffering.
So, how do we navigate these exhilarating rapids of new love while staying true to the Jedi way?
- Open Communication: Talk to your partner! Honesty is a cornerstone of our path. Explain your need for solitude, for time dedicated to your training. A relationship built on trust and understanding will weather any storm.
- Maintain Your Disciplines: Don't let your lightsaber gather dust or your studies fall by the wayside. Dedication to your Jedi path not only strengthens you but also demonstrates your commitment to self-improvement.
- Center Yourself in the Force: Remember, your connection to the Force is the foundation. Just like a skilled gardener tends to their prized flowers, dedicate time to mindfulness. Find that inner peace that allows you to be fully present, both with yourself and your partner.
Attachment, my friends, isn't the enemy. It's a powerful force, but like any force, it requires control. By staying centered, maintaining our disciplines, and communicating openly, we can experience the joys of new love while staying true to our path.
May you feel the presence of the Force, and may your relationship be filled with balance and understanding.
This sermon is taken from the past from one of our own.
I sit here on my couch, thinking what to say..... My last "Sermon" was a copy of a passage I really liked, and my thoughts on it...... Not sure how this sounds to you guys and gals, but, we'll see......
The other day, the wife and I went to the local hardware store to purchase some supplies for our Halloween setup.....
We tried this a couple of weeks ago as well... It did not work then either...... We got into a disagreement, and left with no purchases....
Why did we have a disagreement? I cannot fathom the reasons.... Why does anyone?
I am currently upset with myself.... Not terribly, but nonetheless, not happy...... I let my emotions run amuck...
I, as most of you know, try to greet each and every person, new to TOTJO.... Lately, it seems that controlling of anger has been a major thing people want to learn...... Why?
It can have adverse effects on many aspects of a persons life, such as, but in no way limited to, employment, friendship, family, physical health, mental health, the list seems too long to completely list here......
Why does it seem that people have less control over their anger, versus a generation ago?
Is it because, we were/are told to "get it off our chest", "It's bad to let it build up, you'll crack", "you'll feel better"? Whereas the older generation were told to "suck it up", "play the cards we're dealt", "be an adult", and "quit whining".
I think it might be....
In one of the lessons, I learned I had been training myself, with negative reinforcement, to respond with hostility.....
When I "tell a person off", I feel better. But then my irritation with that person soon swells again, due to that person not changing, to them, what is a perfectly fine action or idea. All I did, was make them angry/upset/irritated with me.
The cycle continues.... Thereby, reinforcing this negative action... And every time I would feel better, it would go away more quickly. Since figuring this out about myself, I have started watching the interactions of those around me, most noticeably, my co-workers and my family.
It is not an easy thing to change a known bad habit, let alone a habit that we don't even know we have developed..... After all, if it makes us feel good, and gets rid of the emotional poison, it must be right, right?
I think, we stopped thinking about the rights and feelings of other people. We forgot our original intention of grouping together was for safety and security. Mutual respect abounded. Didn't like the tribe you were with? Go find another. Or start your own with like minded people.
Every day I meet someone I didn't know the day before. Everyday, my tribe gets bigger, the world becomes a smaller place.
Not everyone of them is going to go along with my outlook. Some, will probably will tell me how wrong I am.
That's ok. They are allowed that right. I may, after all, be wrong.
Perception of the situation, the perspective of the situation, your interpretation, your opinion, your outlook, your point-of-view.....
Look around, and see if there is another way to look at the situation.... See if you can see what they are trying to say, understand where they are coming from.....
Well, anyhow, this is my "perception and perspective".....
What's yours?
The Ganymede Progression has already become a staple lesson set in TotJO over the past eight years or so. Thus, this minor face-lift to update it a bit for the degrees will not be an extensive overhaul. Indeed, it is just to be a little clearer about what the original intent of this lesson was and still is.
Whereas in the original instructions for completing these lessons I did state :
“Although it is by no means discouraged, the goal here is not to do hours of library research in order to tell us what half a dozen dead philosophers (nor living ones) said about these matters. The objective - or perhaps the "subjective" - here is to look deeply and honestly into oneself to discover one's true values.”
...it doesn’t really mean just writing down whatever one’s opinion is and getting the word count. Nor does it mean to just provide some interpreted real-life examples of what one already thinks these concepts are. Au contraire, we need to be challenging our current understanding.
The goal of these is to convey one to and beyond the edge of what one “knows”.
We do not want dictionary definitions appearing anywhere in the responses (we do not get “truth” out of dictionaries), but other sources of information, guidance, and/or inspiration are encouraged. (ex. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy &c.)
The minimum word count for each response is maintained at 750 words.
It is also strongly advised to discuss one's responses with one another (Knights and/or Clergy), to dialogue about these things, and to observe how we manifest them in our interactions and relationships with and to others.
For each degree, choose 2 electives from the list below:
Values (What are your values? Where do they come from? What are their complementary qualities, and where is the balance?)
Leadership
Duty (to yourself and to others)
Responsibility
Service
Honor
Integrity
Courage
Compassion
Spirit
Acceptance/Tolerance
The Ganymede Progression has already become a staple lesson set in TotJO over the past eight years or so. Thus, this minor face-lift to update it a bit for the degrees will not be an extensive overhaul. Indeed, it is just to be a little clearer about what the original intent of this lesson was and still is.
Whereas in the original instructions for completing these lessons I did state :
“Although it is by no means discouraged, the goal here is not to do hours of library research in order to tell us what half a dozen dead philosophers (nor living ones) said about these matters. The objective - or perhaps the "subjective" - here is to look deeply and honestly into oneself to discover one's true values.”
...it doesn’t really mean just writing down whatever one’s opinion is and getting the word count. Nor does it mean to just provide some interpreted real-life examples of what one already thinks these concepts are. Au contraire, we need to be challenging our current understanding.
The goal of these is to convey one to and beyond the edge of what one “knows”.
We do not want dictionary definitions appearing anywhere in the responses (we do not get “truth” out of dictionaries), but other sources of information, guidance, and/or inspiration are encouraged. (ex. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy &c.)
The minimum word count for each response is maintained at 750 words.
It is also strongly advised to discuss one's responses with one another (Knights and/or Clergy), to dialogue about these things, and to observe how we manifest them in our interactions and relationships with and to others.
To complete this portion of the degree there are 12 required topics. In addition please choose two Ganymede progression electives, for a total of 14
Progress
Letting Go
Dignity
Guilt / Shame
Control
Avoidance
Justification / Condemnation
Service
Questions / Answers
Resentment
Secrets
Uncertainty
