Spiritual Shapeshifting: My Take.

"So imagistically -- be you a Black wolf, a Northern Gray, a Southern Red, or an Artic White -- you are the quintessential instinctual criatura . Although some might really prefer you behave yourself and not climb all over the furniture in joy or all over people in welcome, do it anyway. Some will draw back from you in fear or disgust. Your lover ,however, will cherish this new aspect of you -- if he or she be the right lover for you.

Some people will not it if you take a sniff at everything to see what it is. And for heaven's sakes, no lying on your back with your feet up in the air. Bad girl. Bad wolf. Bad dog. Right? Wrong. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself."

--- Women Who Run With the Wolves, p. 36.



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So speaks Clarissa Pinkola Estes who sees the inner self as wolf. Although Women Who Run With the Wolves is meant for women, I feel that there is truth in what Ms Este has written. She is writing, first and foremost, about the soul/spirit. Moreover, she sees the soul/spirit as wolf. For her, wolf and woman are intertwined, joined together psychically, spiritually. It is a powerful image and symbol: woman as wolf and wolf as woman.

When I first read the book, I felt an immediate connection. It was all so true! Around this time, I was at the early stages of my awereness, busy researching to find out what was going on with my life. I mean, I was given a powerful Dream (in which I shape-shifted into a black wolf) and all the while, wolf has been a predominant archetype in my own personal journey. Clarissa's book spoke (and still does) volumes. The spirit as wolf. My spirit as wolf. Wow.

Where does all these tie in spiritual shape-shifting? Well, it is my personal opinion that our inner selves are able to shape-shift. Like water, our spirits flow, swirl and can solidify. For us shifters, the imagery of water is crucial. We see water in various forms: plain flowing, solid ice, snow and even molecules. It is the ultimate shape-shifter. Super-impose the concept of shape-shifting water onto our spiritual animal selves. Taking from SFX (special effects) terminology, we can 'morph' into our spiritual animal selves.

There are many ways to spiritually shape-shift. There is the Native American way of connecting with your spirit/totem animal. There is creative visualization (or meditation). I personally choose the creative visualization method.

Firstly, if you want to shape-shift, go and find a place away from distractions. Cars, people, sounds of modernization... will easily distract you from your task. Give yourself some sacred personal time. Find a place where you find comfortable. Your room is fine but remember to un-hook your phone (if you don't want to find yourself rudely shaken by a jangling phone-call!). Going to a green area helps. A field, the nearby garden, a patch of green near your house.

Now, if you are ready, lie down. Relax. Breathe deepily (not the shallow unsatisfying one we do in our daily lives). Mute out all the tiny sounds around you. Breathe. Mentally count from one to ten. Breathe as you do.

Close your eyes, breathing deepily and slowly. Vividly imagine a forest. Tall majestic trees, the canopy of green pierced by sunlight. Imagine a brook gurgling softly, the water moving. Mentally *feel* the water on your feet.

When you are done, if you are relaxed, vividly imagine yourself changin. From your feet , you begin to see your toes becoming more and more wolf-like. Feel the change moving up your body, feel the fur growing, seeping forth. You imagine your hands turning into paws, fur taking over human skin. At the same time, there is no pain. Feel the shift as if you are putting on a huge velvet glove. Imagine growing wolf-ears, feel the ruff of fur around your head.

Run your tongue over your canine teeth. Test out your paws. Walk. Feel. Be.

Well, you feel yourself ready to return back to human form, imagine yourself standing up, straightening...slowly slowly slowly. The fur returns back into your skin. Your teeth becomes normal human ones. You are now human again.

This method might work for some. It might not work for all. Also, if you are a non-wolf shifter, use your instincts and shift to your own inner animal. It is not easy, the first time. I was so distracted by noises that I couldn't even concentrate. It was annoying and frustrating. But I persisted. The few times I'd succeeded, I could actually feel the wind rushing past my face as I ran. At one time, I thought I tasted my own fur!

Also, if you want to feel connected to your animal within/phenotype, learn and observe. Watch how an animal of the same phenotype will act in the wild. How it moves. How it interacts with its social group. How it thinks. If you are a cat shifter, mimick, learn. If you are a wolf shifter, watch wolves.

One thing though: there is no 'right' way to spiritually shape-shift. This essay contains my own experiences and I hope I haven't confused anyone yet. *smile*




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Appendix:
1. Try Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. There is a section on spiritual shape-shifting. Try also Animal Magic by D.J.Conway. If you want to research, bookstores and libraries will have material on your phenotypes. There are a lot of books on wolves, cats, tigers etc etc. Of Wolves and Men, by Barry Lopez, will be great for wolf shifters.
2. As I will always say, the path will not be easy. You will face set-backs, failures. Sometimes, you will be so distracted by physical and mental noises that you can't concentrate. But persist, be determined.
3. If you want to talk to me, well, you know to the drill: email me at sabersger@yahoo.com.

En(gendering) A Were/Shifter Identity.

All through our lives, we create our own identities. Sometimes, society imposes identities on us as well. At home, in school, in the playground, in the workplace - we have our own personal identities. Within us, we also have our core identities, the Selves we know most intimately. Close to our skin.

Why (en)gendering a were/shifter identity? Why the word-play on gender? For me, I have been a keen observer of gender identity and gender studies, thanks to my feminist training in university. I am feminist and I tend to see things in terms of gender at times. I believe that being were/shifter is also colored by how we view gender. Moreover, the line(s) defining gender are often blurred as we find gay, lesbian and bisexual weres/shifters, as well as weres/shifters who are male but having 'female' phenotypes and vice versa. Transgendered. Trans-species. The lines are blurred, the boundaries merging.

My own experience(s) of being a were/shifter are - in my personal opinion - influenced by how gender is being viewed, through societal (and psychological) filters. Furthermore, I see 'wolf' as a distinctly masculine animal/archetype. It is a 'yang' animal, bringing the yin and yang concepts of the Tao. Most interestingly, I am often being described, by friends and relatives, that I am quite tomboy-ish. Or masculine. Is it because of the fact that I see wolf as masculine or that I am already masculine, in spirit?

To me, being a were/shifter ideally transcends all boundaries. You are not your biological body. You are not your biological sex/gender. The key word here is 'ideally'. As much as we like to say that we are weres/shifters and we are not influenced by things around us, we are pretty influenced by the societies we are born in and the genders we are given/born with. Through our life experiences, we engender our own identities and we often factor in new influences as we mature through life.

We often change...or adapt our identities here and I daresay that we change our identities even as weres/shifters. Our were/animal selves/sides change as we change. By 'change', I mean 'age'. We mature, we grow, we learn new things, we discard old things, we interweave new concepts into us... and our were/animal selves change too. What role does gender play in this picture?

In Life, we find ourselves finding issues. Issues of gender and sex roles. And we often negotiate these issues in the best ways we can. Our were/animal selves will also adapt to these negotiations. What is 'male'? What is 'female'? We dance through ambiguities, adapting them to our identities. We find ourselves imbuing our were/animals with gender. Is a female were/shifter with a wolf phenotype a she- wolf because she is female or thinks that she is a she-wolf, therefor she is female? Likewise, how about those weres/shifters who are born biologically male but are feminine, because their were/animal selves are thought to be female?

In the end, our were/shifter identities are subject to the ways we view gender. The animal archetypes might be genderless but we are still negotiating the currents and flows of gender, hence influencing the way we see ourselves as weres/shifters.

The "were community": are we deceiving ourselves?

What is a community? What constitutes a community? People? Values? Laws and rules that form the bedrock and foundation of a gathering of like-minded people? There are many types of 'community' we find in society: the town center, the church congregation, schools/educational institutions, social and hobby clubs etc etc. Likewise, we find various sorts of 'community': there are groups of women, groups for adults, Star Trek and science-fiction groups that have a huge clout on the Internet and other various social/human gatherings. As long as they have the same denominator (either age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, interests etc), you will have a 'community' constructed from the said denominator and around it (if you have to add in other boundaries).

A community has its benefits. Security. Reassurance that you are not alone. Identity (of who you are). There are people whom you can talk, friends to meet and make. A community is basically and instrinically good.

I guess the online 'were community' has the same features of a beneficial (and I am not saying that it is bad) community. Weres/shifters of different races and ages are able to go online and meet fellow weres. Friends are made. People can go to Howls. Chatting in real time is made faster by chat rooms and IRC channels. Similarly, there are sites whereby newbies can go and learn more about therianthropy and wereism. Honestly speaking, it is a fantastic eye-opening experience, especially for a young learner. Furthermore, for young teenage weres/shifters, they will find people who can listen to them without censure, derision or outright discrimination.

But as time goes by, the newbie were starts to see something amiss in the community. He/she realizes that there are different groupings and factions. He/she also sees the cracks that run alongside the infrastructure and read things that are confusing, disturbing and in short, unpleasant. Then, it dawns on the young were: the were community is made up of different groups, with their own factions and agendas. There are online packs with their own politics, sites advocating their own truths and more. Worse, there are the constant bickering and bitching that go on *behind* the nice facade.

Whatever happened to the discussion of therianthropy, of who we are? The recent fiasco about shifter's disease points to a few things: politics, personal vendettas and miscommunication. The current AHWW (alt.horror.werewolves) newgroup is now populated by whiny adolescents who push their own brand of 'therianthropy' (or anti-therianthropy), calling themselves the 'Royal Family'.

Now for the young were, this realization is a harsh wake-up call. The 'were community' is no better than the Star Trek fandom or the near-by swimming club. Human politics. Human greed, avarice and the desire to jockey for the best position. He/she starts to ask: "Are we deceiving ourselves?"

So, are we?

Are we simply another bunch of fanboys and fangirls (werewolf and shape-shifter fandom, anyone?)? Indulging in fannish stuff like were art and fiction? Or, competing in website popularity? I am sure that I am going to get angry emails filled with ruffled fur and feathers, of uppity tones telling that I am wrong (along the lines of "I am a fan but so what?!" or "You don't understand me and you don't know me!") But if you really take the time to sit down and *think* about it, then ask youself: "What does the online were community remind you of?" We can say that we are weres (proudly). But... BUT ...this statement doesn't explain the kind of behavior I am seeing. I have seen the same thing happen in the Star Trek groups. A lot of bitching, smear campaigns and nasty back-stabbing. Unpleasant, yes.

Perhaps, we can blame our human sides (convenient as always).

Dang it. We are *still* human. No matter how hard we try to rise above petty human (or hyooman) squabblings, we are sadly human. We are still greedy, grasping, vainglorious and competitive. We become rather clannish (clique-ish), we stick with our own friends (or packmates). No matter how 'animal' we are, we are still fettered by such thinking. We form factions based on viewpoints, we develop Jupiter-size egos,we become *political*.

We can tie ourselves into pretzels and knots with the definitions of shifting and types of weres. We can argue until the cows come home. We can bitch about wereism being owned by nobody else (which is true, anyway. WEREISM IS NOT A COMMODITY TO BE OWNED.).

Sad, eh? The truth hurts, akin to the removal of a Band-aid. It is painful to watch and it is painful to be the one who is peeling off the Band-aid. Egos are best handled with carefully when they are sore and tender from too much bruising.

So what can *we* do about this current situation?

Do nothing about it? Sit there and stare at the ceiling?

(Though I have to admire the efforts built into Therianthropy.Org, Were.Net, the Werelist and Shifters.Org. Now, that's doing *something*.)

The ball is now in your court. You *make* the decision. You *think* about it.

*Want to rant back to me? Have something you want to get off your chest? Email me at sabersger@yahoo.com*

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Appendix
The AHWW (alt.horror.werewolves) newsgroup: I came into the 'were community' after the splintering/ winter of discontent. Alt.horror.werewolves became quite popular around 1995 (which ironically was the same period when I came online) and soon the newsgroup developed into a gathering of people who have experienced shape-shifting of various sorts. I knew that the old regulars still view that period with a sense of nostalgia (judging by the transcripts taken from AHWW). But the AHWW of today is a far cry from the AHWW of the past. It is now dominated by super egos, silly meowers (lamers, with a different name, that's all) and any shred of therianthropy has been sandblasted away.

But truely, the old AHWW was possibly the first 'were community' to be formed.

The Star Trek fandom: I was (still am, actually) involved with the online Star Trek (fan fiction) fandom and I saw the same things happening: writers having their own factions, squabbling over *writing styles* (for crying out loud), dissension over different genres/categories of writing (het vs same-sex, sex scene vs porn etc). Likewise, there are writers who have super-big egos and they simply love praise. Negative feedback is considered as a 'flame'! Of course, we have the 'loveharmonypeace' attitude that permeates some mailing lists/groups the moment there is something akin to discussion (not flaming): "We love what we write and we don't care!" Juvenile? Yes. Or better (or worse, if you like), so-called dissension/discussion is beaten down with a huge stick labelled with the age-old adage "IDIC" (staunch Trekkers will know what I mean).

Wereism is NOT instant ramen: the truth of being a shifter.

Well, it's true, folks. Wereism is not instant ramen at all. If you want fast and quick methods to become a were, then this rant-essay will probably offend your sensibilities.

Why? Well, the following words will be sharp and uncompromising. I have seen an alarming number of young people who want their wereism, fast, now instant. Just to say that such attitudes are wrong and partly due to the 'fast-food' mentality modern life has brought along.

Scenario One: You go to your favorite were message board. It's a nice day and you want to unwind by meeting like-minded folk online. Okay. You log on and lo and behold... a newbie has appeared and he (or she) wants to know how to p-shift quickly. The tone of his (or her) post gives you the impression that this newbie wants to learn it NOW. Does this sound familiar?

"hiyas, i am new here. Can somone teach me to p-shift? i want to be a were!"

Hmmm.

The incidence of such cases is rising faster than a hot-air balloon. And I have thoughts about it.

A lot of kids are brought up on the McDonalds syndrome. Go up to a counter , rattle off their orders and presto! Their breakfast/lunch/dinner is served. Likewise, you get the new-fangled stuff coming up like MP3s, downloadable material from the Internet... and oh yes, the Internet where you can get things so easily.

It's not surprising that newbie weres (or wannabes) treat wereism like a MP3 or instant noodles. Pour hot water into said container of wereism noodles, wait for three minutes and hey, you have wereism ready to be consumed/assimilated. Whatever happened to 'effort'? Whatever happened to 'taking things seriously'? Whatever happened to 'learning things the slow way'?

Because the slow way is 'not cool'. Because 'I want it now!'.

Whoa, whoa, kid. Slow down. Sit and think. Oh, is thinking too hard for you now, eh?

Well, you have found your wolf (or your wolf has found you). That's good. No, wait, you want to shift and you have to shift right now. Okay. Fine. But have you ever thought about wereism a spiritual path?

Yes, a spiritual path where you learn how to walk with your animal partner/ wereside. A path where you will find that it's not that easy to walk on. You will find land-slides, pot-holes and barren ground. Sometimes, you will encounter rose bushes with thorns. But you will also learn to fly across it when you appreciate your animal partner(s) by learning about its strengths, its weaknesses, its whole being.

You need to learn, slowly. If you are young on the path, learn by taking baby steps. Do research. Look around. The forest has a lot of things to offer you. Use your eyes, your ears and your heart. Utilize your senses. Taking baby steps is not a bad or shameful things. People who want things fast often hit ground zero and get themselves injured (or burnt) at the end. If you have accomplished learning baby steps, graduate to the next level and slowly, you will learn.

I know some of you will not listen to me. You probably find that the path of being a were...being a shifter... is not easy. Hell, who ever says that being a were is easy? The easy way out (ie, the instant noodles way) looks simple and user-friendly (taking the term from the computer world!). But like instant noodles, it will fill you up only for a short while. Also, it isn't really that nourishing either.

Moreover, have you ever questioned yourself why you want to shift? Have you ever examined your own motives?

One thing: I am not saying that wanting to shift is a bad thing. Many of us want to shift. Wanting to shift is a legitimate desire. I am just saying that you can't rush head-long into wereism. Don't force it. It will come to you slowly, but surely. If you want it now, are you trying to satisfy your own personal motivations? Are you doing it because you think it's 'cool' to p-shift (or m-shift or d-shift or phantom-shift, whatever)'? Are you doing it because you see other weres doing it?

Think about that.

If you want only to satisfy that hunger by quick methods, well... you can choose the instant ramen way. But if you really want to work together, co-operate with your animal partner(s), go slow. Learn, un-learn, enjoy and understanding.



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Appendix:
1. One thing; I like instant noodles. I ate them (as snacks) when I was finishing my university degrees. But as I have said, they are not that nourishing and prolonged eating of it will damage your health.

2. There are many ways to work with your animal partner(s) or weresides. By eating well (healthy food, no fast food!), a lot of fresh air and a healthy attitude, you and your animal sides will benefit. I mean, you can't keep an animal indoor all the time, right? It will go crazy or worse, it will become bored as heck. Exercise. Go out. Enjoy fresh air, green grass and feel the wind on your skin. There's nothing better than feeling invigorated and refreshed after a run/jog.

3. If you want to throw sodden instant noodles at me, please feel free to email me at sabersger@yahoo.com.

Roleplaying Werewolves: Killing vampires, Loyalism and attendant nonsense.

Are werewolves supposed to kill vampires?

No.

Is this something out of role-playing, ala White Wolf?

Yes.

I don't think that werewolves (and other sorts of weres) are supposed to fight vampires. They are not mortal enemies. Please do not get confused with the fictional world created by White Wolf. Yes, the creative team at White Wolf has outdone themselves by creating such a believable world ("The World of Darkness"). But this world with werewolves, vampires and other assorted creatures, is NOT real. It is a fictional world.

Often, I hear people going on about killing vampires and they are instructed by Gaia to protect the earth. Okay. Fair enough. But let's not get real weres and role-playing wannabes confused.

Real weres do not go around killing vampires. Many are peaceful folk who would rather go about their own business. They are -- in so many ways -- the people next door. Unassuming. Law-biding. Furthermore, many keep their paws/claws firmly planted on the ground. We are not some powerful vigilante force, sent out to destroy "vampires" or "the minions of the Wyrm".

It is this difference that makes me wonder about the number of role-players who go something like "Kill Vampires!" or "I am a ten-foot tall Silver Fang and I turn into a Crinos when I get angry!" Okay, let me clarify something: many weres role-play. It is a fun hobby/pastime and for me, I use it to meet my friends and unwind. However, it is NOT my life. My day-to-day living does not resolve around role-playing and my life is not defined by the lingo and jargon derived out of role-playing systems.

That is why I shake my head and sigh to myself when I see wannabe 'weres' (and I am stretching the definition of 'were' very thinly when I say this!) who do not even understand the meaning and significance of being a were-creature. We do not turn into muscle-bound warriors. We are not Gaia's defenders (although many weres are pagan and worship the Goddess Herself). We definitely do not go around advocating killing vampires as our duty. Yes, many of us are short-tempered but we do not act like Hulk when we are angered. Role-playing "werewolves" spoil the image and reputation of real werewolves.

There are many role-playing weres who seem to have blurred the line between fiction and reality. You find such individuals going to message boards. They are quite easy to spot. For example, there is a certain fellow who goes around, advocating killing vampires. He is quite fanatic about it, filling the messages with quite startling revelations. But he turns potty-mouthed when other people oppose his 'preachings'. Werewolves and other were-creatures are branded 'Traitors' by this certain fellow.

Okay. Rrrriiiight. There is something not quite okay with the 'killing-the-vampires' thing. It reminds people of Werewolf: The Apocalypse, where werewolves are the sworn enemies of the vampire Kindred. This fellow starts calling people who ask him questions(a logical step, I think) 'Traitors' : "Expected from a Traitor".

His world seems to be taken straight out from the World of Darkness, given a few minor tweaks here and there for 'authenticity'. However, I hasten to add that this world is a world dominated by this fellow alone. Worse, his literature against vampires is equally as dodgy! *rolls eyes*

For curious people, you can drop by at Werewolf.com.

Yes, we are faced with an obvious delusional role-player who spreads hatred by his sheer ignorance and schizophrenia. More of this role-playing tosh can be seen at Otherkin Resource Board (where this individual has has produced another silly slogan "Vampires are not Otherkin", after venturing into the forum).

This only shows the level of delusion (self or otherwise) the man has... or his age, both chronological and mental.

I personally feel that he is a role-player who has obvious mental and psychological problems. His world seems to be constructed around a mish-mash of White Wolf and other fictional fantasies. But what scares me (and is still raising the tiny hairs on my arms) is that he has managed to influence some impressionable young weres who seem blind to his delusions. This is role-playing gone seriously seriously wrong. This is role-playing that has been twisted and perverted.

It is both disgusting and perverse.

Fortunately, many weres are alerted to this fellow's 'exploits' and are wary (if not downright amused and bemused). We need to learn how to discern the real from the fictional. We need to separate what's real wereism from the fake.

"But Saber... I role-play too. Do you think that's bad? And I am a were!"

As I have said much earlier, many weres role-play for fun. I role-play. Role-playing is harmless...if you are able to exercise the faculty of discernment. What makes me mad are role-players who want to be werewolves and accuse real weres for not being 'loyal' or (worse) 'Traitors' (when we refuse to toe the line!). These folks have massive blinkers on and they are blind. Furthermore, they have no connection to the wolf (or other animal) whatsoever. So, it's cool to be a werewolf. But if you go around spouting "I am a Silent Strider Philodox called Always-Running" and talk about the various werewolf Tribes as if they are real ones... think again. I don't think real weres have tribes. Packs, yes. But no...we don't transform into muscular Crinos when we are pissed off with our enemies.

"Werewolf: The Apocalypse is so cool and many of the stories seem so real!"

Yes. It is a cool playing system. But like other role-playing systems, it is only a game. The reason why many weres (especially young ones new on the path) find the W:TA world so alluring...is that they are confronted with stories that are similiar to their own testimonies. The legends in the books stir something in them and they feel good about it: "Oh wow, they understand me!" Yet, a game is --in short-- a game. The stories and tales (taken from a diverse range of mythology and folklore ) are *true* but there are half-truths embedded in there. Exercise discernment and sift out the truth from the lie.

I would like to end by saying that I am NOT advocating "Don't role-play". It is healthy when you role-play but keep your feet on the ground and for goodness's sake, don't construct your life around a fictional reality.

Appendum: 1) There are heaps of websites dedicated to Werewolf: The Apocalyse. Type in 'werewolf' and you will probably find "World of Darkness" sites. These are gaming sites and when I role-play, I find them useful for the construction of my character.

2) Wereism is not a game. It never is. It is part of your life, as important as breathing and taking. You don't go rolling dices to determine how you will move.

3) William Shatner summed it well when he scolded the Star Trek fans on Saturday Night Live (and of course, they bristled with indignation when he did so): "Get a life!" If you are a werewolf (or any other were-animal), go out. Enjoy the sunshine, smell the breeze. Enjoy your senses! You don't need a role-playing system to determine your life! You are you, an unique individual! Don't live a fictional life. Go and grab Life with your paws!

4) If you are a role-player 'were' who seriously needs to re-examine who you really are or justify your position, go ahead and email me at sabersger@yahoo.com. I do enjoy a conversation or two. *grin*

Definitions of a Warrior.

I have been called a ‘warrior’ a couple of times and it is making me think. Am I a warrior? But I don’t fight, I don’t take up the sword. I might be a warrior in my past life. But right now, I am not a warrior. Do I have to fight? I am not aggressive. Even my fencing instructor has told me before. But why am I called a ‘warrior’?

What is a warrior? Who or what makes a warrior? At first, the word ‘warrior’ brings to mind men who take up the sword to fight wars. They are the stereotypical heroes who have sworn to defend the weak, the innocent. They are loyal to a cause or to a deity. The image in our minds when we think about warriors is of a man, holding a shiny sword; he might look like a knight astride a war-charger or he might look like the samurai sworn to his lord and his lord’s household.

These perceptions are perhaps skin-deep. To say that a warrior only fights is superficial. What is a warrior? Does he or she necessarily have to fight wars and battles? What are the qualities of a warrior that makes this role so powerful, so imbued with meaning?

To describe this, I will draw examples from the knights of Medieval Christendom. I will take a look at chivalry, the chivalric code which makes knighthood a highly respected and sought-after institution.

The ideal of knighthood came from humble beginnings: the knights were men belonging to a lord or a war leader’s retinue. They were – in short – his fighters, his warriors. They had sworn fealty to their lord and essentially the boundaries of the lord’s territory. As the feudal states grew, so did the concept of these warriors change with the flow of time. With the introduction of Christianity and the popularity of the Crusades, the role of knighthood was added more facets. Chivalry was nascent at this point and it soon grew more complex as values and ideals were added or changed.

What is chivalry? Pared to the most basic of values, chivalry is simply a code whereby the knight (or warrior) has taken to uphold: loyalty, fierceness in battle, bravery/courage, generosity, compassion, defence of the innocent and the weak. Christianity simply placed more importance on these basic values. The knight was not only the defender of his lord but the defender of Christendom.

Perhaps, we need to focus on these core values, instead of thinking about fighting or warriorhood because it is a popular role. I see this (mis)conception in the were/shifter and Otherkin communities. There seems to be a proliferation of warriors. These warriors’ concept of war is pretty much (to me) reactionary. Touch me and I will fight. Then again, there are others who serve particular deities and patrons, very much like – in essence – the knight of old. Some are sworn to serve and to protect. But I ask myself. Does the warrior always have to fight? Does ‘warrior’ mean violence or aggression?

To think that being a warrior is to be violent and aggressive is skewed perception. To think that the warrior has to fight is skewed perception as well. People tend to think that the way of the warrior is a code of warfare. Yes, it is. But we do not have to fight or wage war at the time. Being a warrior doesn’t mean that you have to take the sword immediately. Alert, yes. Vigilant, yes. But warriorhood doesn’t mean War.

Let’s go back to the core values of chivalry. Loyalty, courage, generosity, compassion, defense of the innocent and the weak.

These values are also applicable in this day and age. We are warriors, simply because we uphold a cause or we are loyal to our relevant deity. When we prepare ourselves, we show courage and bravery. Dealing with people, we have to show compassion. WE have to be compassionate. We see a need to protect and defend the innocent and the weak… and we do, because we want to serve others. We do all these, because this is the crux of what warriorhood is. We don’t have to violent or aggressive.

The closest I can think of are the warrior-monks of Tibet and the Jedi Knights from Star Wars. Another example is the Chinese warrior-sages. For the Jedi Knights, they are called to serve people. Their code, like the way of the warrior, teaches them to respect all sentient life-forms. They fight, only in self-defense. They don’t deliberately go about waging wars. The Chinese warrior-sages teach us to be both mindful of the body and the spirit. Teach the spirit things like poetry and music. I tend to see this as the honing of the spirit, making it strong and balanced, like a good sword.

The Jedi Knights have the Force, the source through which they draw their strength from. They also meditate, which reminds us of the Zen Buddhists. The warrior-monks are believers of Buddhism as well and they believe in compassion. The spirit, though burning bright like a flame, is honed and tempered by discipline. I am thinking also of the Asian martial arts like karate, aikido and Zen archery. The Jedi, the Tibetan warrior-monks and the Chinese warrior-sages might be warriors but they uphold discipline as well. Indeed, Asian martial arts teach self-defense and not offense.

We have to remind ourselves that a warrior serves others, placing others above his or her being. The kind of warrior we are fooled into believing is only self-seeking, self-centered and highly individualistic. This ‘warrior’ seeks glory, seeks acknowledgement. But is this ‘warrior’ a true warrior?

So, therefore, how do we define a warrior? Do you define a warrior? Do you think you are a warrior? If so, how? Do you think you are a warrior because you want to fight? Or, do you think you are a warrior because you want to serve others and protect others?

Bibliography:
“The Awakened Warrior: Living with Courage, Compassion and Discipline”, edited by Rick Fields, Tarcher/Putnam Books, New York, 1994.