Could you tell us more about wearing different houses and how we could use this to our 'sorting advantage'?
Confused? Pretty sure this was sent to a different blog? @wisteria-lodge had a lot of asks to answer and asked for some help from the SHC community, so I’ll be answering a few they sent my way!
And in relation to that, anon, if this is in reference to something mentioned previously on Wisteria's blog, I cannot find the original context! However, performing houses is something I'm particularly interested in, so let's talk about it. Without potential context, I’m not sure what exactly you mean by sorting advantage, so here’s my thoughts on two possible interpretations: How can we use performances to our advantage in figuring out our sorting?
Try to break down how it feels when you try to perform other houses.
Does it feel like you’re fundamentally going against something you should be doing? Okay, then it’s time to sit with that feeling. Figure out what part of you is objecting, and try to follow that line -- it may not lead to a glowing neon sign saying “congrats you’re a [x]!”, but it can get you in the ballpark.
Does it feel good? Okay, sit with that. What part of that feels good? Is there something right or natural about it? Can you try to filter to what that is? Maybe you’ve tried to put on something you are deep down. Maybe you’ve put on something that aligns on a particular axis, and can work your way from there to what your core is.
How can we use performances to help bolster our actual houses?
Oh boy, how can’t we?!
I see the benefits of performances as very similar to the benefits of models. Primary performances give you possible ways to check your primary, because all of the primaries have their areas where they need it now and again, and can help you figure out what to do when your primary doesn’t really have an opinion on the subject. Similarly, secondary performances can give you something familiar to fall back on when your secondary is unsuited to the task or the situation. They can give you something to lean on if your core house is currently struggling, to try not to tax it to the point of burning/exploding. They can just be fun to play with, especially secondaries. They can help you to write or act characters that match that performance, by giving you something to lean on in figuring them out.
Models are more rooted, so they’re going to be easier to use for most of these purposes -- it’s going to feel much more natural to do so. But performances are going to be easy to leave behind. You’re not going to get trapped between a performance and a core house, while it is definitely possible to find yourself trapped between a model and a core house, even if the core is likely to win out in the end.
It’s also helpful in understanding other people. No, a performance isn’t going to give you the same experience as living that core house -- but it can give you some inkling of it, and sometimes that can make a lot of difference.