Here are the 5 major dogmas I think everyone ought to follow in one of my previous posts. In this article, I will talk about the rest, the personal and individual ones, unique to my special quirks and traits. These Dogmas are things I have identified to be good and worthy of reaching for based on my own persona and values. There is a little bit of leeway for them to change during my lifetime, should I find more things to strive for.
How to determine the Minor Dogmas?
For me, this was a sort of happy little accident. I had already done a self-inventory based on something Russel Brand discussed in his interviews, and it yielded terrifying results. Due to it, I discovered that I was incredibly cowardly, among other things. I explored all the perceivable weaknesses of my character, setting myself on an incredible path to founding my Personal Canon.
A word of warning though. Don’t start the self-inventory, and ponder on all of your traits and habits, if you aren’t fully prepared. This is not for you if you can’t look at your shadows without judging them and starting to beat yourself. Instead, you need to be able to just observe their existence and mark them down. It can be a crushing experience, and I admit it could’ve turned out badly for me as well. Luckily I was in a good mental state and in a mode of virgin curiosity.
So, how does identifying your flaws help you with things you could be doing to be aiming higher? Well, once you have your shadows, you can now find out the corresponding source of light. With cowardice comes the potential for courage. The practice of humility overshadows pride. Frustration comes with the option to become patient. All the things that are opposite to my identified shadows are the things I now strive for in my life. They are the virtues I am determined to achieve.
I speak in another post about using the method of creating avatars for Minor dogmas as a tool for remembering them. The following is an introduction to them and in essence, the virtues I strive for, my Personal Canon.
Dogmas of Control – Nilgrant
Nilgrant is a creature in the Great Matron’s Court, her butler, in a way. He is the epitome of calm, reason, and logic, never wavering no matter what came his way. There is no way Nilgrant would not have the show run pristinely behind the scenes. After all, everything has to be seamless for the Great Matron and her people.
As such, he became the avatar for the dogmas of vigilance and courage. One to face chaos, bolster discipline and self-restraint, as well as a more stoic way of looking at life. Whenever I was unsure of what to do in the past, my ever-reliable servant would speak to me. These days he serves me still. He is a reminder of the virtues that lead to the control of chaos without fear or uncontrollable rage.
Dogmas of Wisdom – Regulus
Regulus, in the world of delusions that became the third realm of my fantasy world, is the Keeper of Knowledge. He is an ancient dragon dedicated to knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes, he can get a bit full of himself because of all the things he knows. This is why he needed Aleiron as a counterforce.
Since he is the hierophant of my inner self, I call on him as a reminder of growth and development. His image helps me remember to not be so darn assuming and to practice positive optimism. His passion is to gain experience and foresight, as well as remain aware and flexible in the world around him. After all, a stagnation of the self is not really a desirable state for anyone.
Dogmas of Humility – Aleiron
As a counter to the egotistical Regulus, I summon the loyal and humble Aleiron, one of the Arctic wolf twins. She remains there, in the court of the Great Matron, as a personal servant, follower, and companion. The companion never leaves the Great Matron’s side, following her everywhere she goes. Thus her presence bears more influence on the Matron than Regulus, who’s always hauled up in his library of life.
Aleiron is an image of an extremely tame creature. She helps with dogmas like patience, courteousness, humility, respect, devotion, loyalty, and attentiveness. These might seem like traits that are not inherently media-sexy at this time. Society calls us to be hard-headed donkeys, toiling away and not following anything. However, I have found Aleiron to be exceptionally useful in keeping me on the ground level.
The world could use more humility and respect. I think people need to earn respect, but it’s also true that we must behave in a manner that’s worthy. It’s an unfortunate fact, that despite our willingness to pretend that we know best, we are but limited human beings. We ought to treat people courteously, keeping in mind that they are much like us – flawed and floating in chaos.
Dogmas of Femininity – The Great Matron
The Great Matron, the former goddess of creation, serves her people as the empress of the realm. Where she steps, the ground sprouts into vibrance. Life itself follows the Matron, warming everyone in her wake, lifting the sorrows, and offering comfort to the wretched. The Great Matron is the epitome of goodness.
In my time, I have been known to be toxic, crude, and entirely not a pleasant little lady to be around. This is the chaos, that I now aspire to tame. I also spent most of my childhood with my father, doing all sorts of boyish stuff, losing some of my femininity. Albeit my natural inclination started to sway me to the pretty things like skirts and makeup eventually.
The Great Matron is the avatar I call on when I need to remember benevolence, tenderness, and kindness. When I’m in need of encouragement to continue exploring and refining my femininity. Who knows, perhaps one day I will also be able to bring light where ever I may roam. Perhaps my creations will shine light in the darkness as well.
The Dogma of Imagination and Enthusiasm – Chazian
For a while, I was wondering why this one trait, this one particular virtue was left in its lonesome. After all, I bundled up the rest into the previous avatars. It dawned on me during one of my meditations that Chazian is the key to everything and anything motivational. He is the Vaporous Serpent that forevermore glides on the border of the Chaotic Ocean and the Void of Order.
The one thing I can say about myself with some amount of humble confidence is that I am extremely imaginative. There are worlds living inside my mind at this very moment. And as I have become to understand, we have to rein in the creative power and potential of the chaos. We need to temper them with order so that something magnificent can come forth.
Chazian, with his endless potential, is the key to remembering my core. I call upon him whenever I am feeling uninspired or stuck. Although, I am happy to let you know that I’m pretty dynamic. My mind never stops showing me all the glorious, bizarre, grotesque, and divine things it can conjure up! My imagination is a bottomless source of wonder that provokes enthusiasm, which in turn energizes me.
Conclusion
Wild, isn’t it? But in the end, it’s how I make sense of the world. And to be honest, I think it’s bloody brilliant and beautiful.
I’ve created a worthy Path for myself to use as a frame for the rest of my life. Consequently, I’ve also figured out what can help me succeed. I feel as though this is some of the human ingenuity that always gets so much clout among our kind.
I have to state that I’m by no means professional, nor some sort of authoritarian leader of ethics and morals. By going through the trouble of really looking into myself, and becoming a bit of a Jungian explorer while at it, I have found meaning and a clear direction. And if I’ve learned anything from my BPD chaos, it’s that we as humans can’t thrive on chaos alone. We need order to bring forth brilliance.
Last Updated: 18/06/2023