#warriors path

[ifesinachiadrian]

usagi fanart

[bardigang7030]

Praise to the most High

[an-stoirm]

You've been asking around for thoughts on warrior paths. I'll link you to a post I wrote awhile back because it touches on some stuff that I feel is important but our sulture makes it really hard to address. Some good comments in the notes too. See edderkopper(.)tumblr(.)com/post/116054798699/so-theres-a-post-vi-wrote-about-toxic-masculinity and edderkopper(.)tumblr(.)com/post/116133205334/grimnirs-child-lokiwtf-edderkopper

Like always, you’re the best! Thanks so much for sharing. -goes and reads-

Both these posts put in perspective a concept that I think someone was trying to get at in one of the threads on Facebook (but the person couldn’t stop praising their intellect over mine and finding ways to degrade me to fully address it) (that’s another story for another time LOL). Especially this point in the second link:

f] For many of us in the West, literal war may be something very removed from our present lives. It’s very important to keep this in mind when we use this as a metaphor, recognise the mass and epic suffering war causes and is causing, and try not to employ war-as-metaphor where it’s going to trivialise war-as-literal.

I think this person was trying to get at that, but in far more words and assuming that people who use war-as-metaphor always trash the soldiers and veterans. And I have a complicated relationship viewing the US military that I won’t get into right now, but it also distracted me from acknowledging the trivialization that war-as-metaphor can do to people in war-torn countries.

But unique to these posts is how they push the question, “Why be warriors?” instead of automatically assuming it to be a “good thing” to strive for. That’s something that I know I wasn’t doing when bringing this inquiry to different groups, and something I wasn’t considering. And I never connected it so much with toxic masculinity. But it makes sense. I also like how you pointed out how damaging it can be to frame everything as a war, since that implies there’s a way to win it. 

I like the shift to academic metaphors that @skadisman​ uses in a response, for example to another metaphorical framework. 

I think I keep my definition of “Warrior’s Path” from my wordpress: “someone who intentionally engages in protecting and defending [their community] as chosen by their community.” -- Possibly expanding that to include people who do it as a spiritual commitment (as someone pointed out in the comments, since I totally overlooked that aspect.) This being a definition derived from connotations of the phrase and what I think of when I hear it. But as I expanded on the blog, someone has to choose to call themselves a warrior and it shouldn’t be placed on someone unwillingly. 

From all this soul searching--and half-a-dozen divination pulls goodness gracious--I’ve decided that I’m not on a Warrior’s Path as defined by me, as defined by a lot of people. And I don’t have a desire to be. 

Thank you so much for sharing Eddie. I am really glad this was brought to my full attention.

[an-stoirm]

The most important thing about entering warriorship is that it is a lived practice. We do not become warriors by adopting the identity like a title. We don't become warriors by performing a ritual. We don't become warriors by taking an oath or even by making a commitment to be a warrior. We become warriors by taking up the practice of warriorship, making it apart of our life's work, and placing ourselves in service as warriors. Practice and experience make us warriors, not intention or inner orientation. It is a path of action and service, not intention.

The Book of the Great Queen by Morpheus Ravenna, pages 393-394

[an-stoirm]

As I see it, a warrior is someone who faces personal risk to life and safety on behalf of their community, as a dedicated practice or vocation. A warrior is someone who moves toward danger in order to combat that danger on behalf of others. These are, for me, the defining elements of warriorship.

The Book of the Great Queen by Morpheus Ravenna, page 392

[an-stoirm]

fia-beag answered your post: ….Okay polling the community here:when...

In a modern context, I think of people who take primary positions in fighting for truth and justice, especially for the weak/underprivileged. Traits such as strength and courage are highly valued to them. I also think of devotees of na Morrigna.

phookakin answered your post: ….Okay polling the community here:when...

A lot of things, but, in no particular order, people who follow the morrigan, people who protect others, people who train their bodies as well as their minds, I also think of a couple individuals i know of who follow a path like that.

Thank you both for your opinions! :)

[bookedinthetardis]

"As if my life were hanging in the balance, my heart held its breath."

A journey of the heart by Catherine M. Wilson