How would you define settledom, and when/how to declare it?
I personally do not like using the word settled. But, settledom is when you have reached a firm understanding of who you are and how you express yourself. Behaviors and beliefs are more set and no longer easily change. Your personality has reached a milestone where you now have a "core self".
But, sometimes these core traits can have many other changing factors that surround them. We don't ever reach a point where we stop learning, growing, and evolving our sense of self. This is how someone can have multiple different animals that fit throughout their lifetime and each settled form be as accurate as the last. We all go through different periods of stability or "settledom" every few years (from what I've observed of myself and others). It's not typically a full rewiring, it's subtle shifts and changes. So, someone who is opportunistic and conflict avoidant is likely to remain so, but their confidence levels may shift. Just as an example. Its a small shift, but this change can be enough to influence our settled forms.
Now on to the other kind of settledom. Settledom can also happen when your daemon picks a permanent, single form. This is now their "true" or "main" form. This settled form is most often one of a few things. A daemon may take the form that best reflects their person's settled identity, as is tradition. Or maybe this is the form that represents something about the daemon themselves. There are also daemons who are settled because they have only ever had one form and have no interest in changing.
But, even if a person or daemon is settled the daemon can still take on other forms if they choose. Think of it as changing clothes. Their settled form is still fixed underneath the temporary forms they shift into. A comfortable, cozy home to return to when they are done.
Some people only recognize settledom when their personality settles, others only refer to their daemon's form, and some only claim it when both align.
I find deciding you are settled really comes down to what you feel is right. Some know instantly, others wait months to see what happens. Either is correct. Sometimes you really do just *know*. But, overall it happens most often at the end of self reflection and learning how to identify key traits within yourself that then can be attached to animals the community has analyzed. This is that famous, fun activity called Form Finding! But, no matter when you decide to claim settledom, just know that if you decide you were wrong, your daemon changes, or things no longer feel accurate... you did nothing wrong! Do not beat yourself up, feel guilty, or even feel like you can't be settled just because the form wasn't right. It can take a bit to find that perfect fit, even when you *know* you are settled. If you ended up not being settled, congratulations on that self discovery and further self understanding. I'm proud of you for getting there.
There is no "official" way to declare your daemon is settled. But, you can certainly have fun with it. Throw yourself a party, get you and your daemon a gift of your settled form, tell your daemian friends, and post it to the daemonism communities. Celebrate how you choose!
