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
