I feel like I betrayed the created system community in some way. Which is a silly thought. Many systems come to realize their existence through tulpamancy, and we have a full-fledged created facet from that experience (Sandstorm), but honestly the rest of our system is traumagenic. Many of the created headmates were mouthpieces for preexisting facets. Bart often stood in for Ganymede, even sitting in co-con all the time. Rune often stood in for Europa. Etsai on reflection may have been Metis. Io was of course Wren. Sandstorm was able to create lasting unique behavior and thought patterns, which cemented him as an independent facet.
There are still "seeds" of the created headmates, but they aren't active unless prodded. I wonder what other behavior/perspective niches could be filled. Sandstorm's role is "hedonist" as described by himself. He's there to help us have fun and connect with others. He also reacts to stress by reaching out for comfort and reassurance, while all the others tend to draw inward in one way or another. Both important external roles that we were able to embody through our therapy work and Sandstorm practicing them consciously.
What I do think Tulpamancy really did was give us a path to growth. It taught Europa and Io to stop clinging to control so tightly by giving them the goal of letting other headmates speak. It improved internal awareness by practicing intentional inner dialogue and listening. It gave us the mental skills to switch between facets as the situation needs. It gave shape to confusing mental processes. I think we reached for Tulpamancy because it was the least threatening but closest description to what I was feeling. And well, Galileo probably subconsciously recognized that there was something we needed in it, as it usually does.
