Who Are They? What Do They Do?

Within another facet of the jewel, there are those of the Darkness. They are the outspoken ones that are in search of power, both over themselves and over others, so that they might help others and themselves or perhaps simply because they have come to terms with that which is in the depths of their heart. It is the more individualistic side of things that strives forth like a hungry and rabid animal, thirsty for the blood of knowledge and understanding. It is the more predatory nature that is within the human heart and spirit; that which stalks their prey as well as themselves ruthlessly like the wolf driving the weak from the rest of the herd.

Yet, at the same time, through all of their individuality, through all of their ruthlessness and cunning, they still have within them the other side of the wolf—the side that you rarely see. The side that works towards the nurturing and education of ones young. Of the protection of one’s pack and those that they are loyal too: their family, their friends, and above all those that they love. For the safety of the whole of the pack comes first. And even though one member might be needed to be sacrificed to save the many they will not let go ’till the bitter end. Playing all of their cards ’till all of their options have run out and they are forced to do that which they must do.

—Arithion

Snowflakes

On a snowy night, all snowflakes look the same. While they all are composed of the same material, it is only when examined closely one discovers they are in fact all different. Every snowflake is unique even among countless others.

Like a snowflake you too are unique among countless others. However the differences can be difficult to detect and indeed you might need to examine yourself closely to determine what exactly it is that makes you a unique individual.

As the foundation of your being, your genes can be assumed to be the root of everything else about you. Most prominent would be the matter of your physical appearance; however two or more persons can easily look exactly the same. Therefore it is the inside of yourself you must examine to determine what makes you the individual you are.

One of the more dominating factors in defining who you are is the choices you make. Hence every time you forgo making up your own mind, you forgo a chance to define yourself. Each time you limit your choices you limit the ways in which you could define yourself. Whenever you fail to stand by the choices you make, you fail to stand up for who you are.

Values, or ideals, are another big factor of what defines you as an individual. What matters to you should to a great extent dictate your choices, in that your choices should always be in the interest of what you deem important, or otherwise valuable. If they are not, they are not really your choices and as such will not truly serve you as an individual.

Like a thick crust, your thought pattern surrounds your personality, containing all other aspects underneath its layer. At times it will dictate all other factors of your personality and at other times they will dictate it.

More so, the way you think regulates how you interpret the world around you and the experiences within it. Two or more people can interpret the world in exactly the same manner, and so it alone does not make you unique. What does is the basis of your interpretation, the things you experience. In turn your interpretations of experiences will alter your thought pattern, and thereby your whole personality. The more you experience, the more opportunities you have to define yourself. Largely based on your thought pattern and your values, there will be certain goals that mainly your choices will determine if you reach or not. The most obvious goal will often be that of self preservation, because if there are no you, there are no values, or choices of yours to take and hence no goals in the first place.

Self preservation as a priority in this day and age might seem a little paranoid. However, there is more to it than what first appears. As your values, and choices define you as a person you must make sure that they are preserved as well as your physical being, because without them you would not be who you are. Not to say that you should not change or compromise, but merely that when you do, it should, wherever possible, be a choice of your own, and not that of others.

Knowing your values, being mindful of your choices and going for your goals will greatly assist you in furthering you as an individual in the sense that you will have an easier time recognizing yourself as someone unique as opposed to just another stereotype. The importance of which cannot be overstated.

When snow falls on your shoulders it is a mere nuisance, when a snowflake is examined it is truly beautiful. While the snow outside the windows is ultimately insignificant to your life, it is the snowflake that rests in your palm you remember and that has such impact on your life.

- D.K.

Human Race

Humanity has imprisoned itself into a convoluted ostentatious stage. Their illusions of grandeur have convinced themselves that they are irreplaceable. The unseen directors have herded them into their categorical roles in which they have specialized themselves to the point they are genetically created as servers of that role. However, this absent minded focus in their one role has rendered themselves the opposite. In the face of change, they crumble under the pressure; they hold-out and rebel. They feel their lives are in jeopardy when the famous star must become a supporting actor, when the hero must become the villain, or when they must not be seen yet still heard for the story line to flow as necessary.

Some are too slow witted to be able to improvise or improvise their roles, so instead they sit apathetically waiting for the scrïpt. Too lazy to be able to define themselves, they expect the answers to come down from the heavens. This state of malaise is the reason why the story never flows or why the there is never the “happy ending”. These very people are the same ones who complain that the story does not go the way they would like it to. As the old saying goes, “It is easier to point a finger then to lend a helping hand”. They are pathetic armchair enthusiasts who have become rooted to their recliner. Instead of trying to change the story themselves, they insist on complaining, but their complaints fall on deaf ears. There is no director or producer behind the cameras and the lights trying to create a dramatic tale. This is a comedy!! Egotistical actors who are too stubborn to bend in their roles, dim-witted and slothful actors too lazy to attempt to change what they feel are wrong. No, instead the directors are sitting comfortably watching the action ensue from afar.

The truth is the denizens of the stage are mere puppets. They have no real, genuine memories, but those that are fed to them in the scrïpts. And even those memories, are but a lie. It is only the improvisers are the ones who are willing to change the story as they see fit, are the ones closest to the truth. They have no fear of being written out of the story, because they know there is no “real” story. They ultimately choose whether they wish to continue in this tragic comedy of a play, or reduce their role to something that is even beyond the eyes of the invisible director, or the audience that does not exist. They do not have the fear that the other actors have. There is no need to specialize in one aspect of the story, for it will only limit your roles on stage. There is no need to be fearful of being removed from the story. As sadistic and cynical as it sounds, the show cannot go on without their favorite puppets to abuse, even if it only comes down to one of them. Fear, fear is merely a blindfold to keep humans incapable of ever comprehending the truth. Over come fear and the truth can be seen, found and held. Succumbing to fear simply keeps you wandering blindly about the stage, with no memory or idea of who you really are inside but what you are told, and turns you away from the truth. If you turn your back from the truth, you remain nothing more than a puppet.

-Canis Lupus