Holocron of Darth Draconis

The Sith Lord of fiction known as Darth Revan is a fascinating specimen of of the Star Wars Mythos. His philosophies of strategy, war, the Force, life, etc. are all intriguing if you’ve found the right stories. In the fiction, his Holocron mentions a transformation caused by the Force that some will fight and some will embrace; I embrace it(or do my best to) . Even now, my transformation continues, as it will for the rest of my life. This transformation is part of my life, it is accelerated evolution, from my perspective. As a Sith, I feel it is my responsibility to be aware of these internal changes and learn about them; know thyself to Master thyself.

The fires of the Force burn our spirit’s and make our soul’s malleable, much like the flame does to a lump of metal that is to be the blade of a sword. That leave’s us with a choice, we can choose to allow the Force(external from oneself, in this sense) to shape us, or we can choose to forge ourselves into what we want to be(internal). As a Sith, I feel that we must forge ourselves, just as we forge our own paths, but some Sith see fit to leave their fate to the Force. Regardless of the choice, the end result is change. But the question you must ask yourself is this: Do you want to supervise and control this change in accordance to your desires, or do you want to take the risk of becoming everything you despise, dislike, and/or are sickened by?

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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Recently, in the Star Wars novel Invincible, use of the shatterpoint technique was seen once again; when Darth Caedus used the more physical and (when not in combat) less practical aspect to shatter mandolorian armor, and again after Grand Master Skywalker taught the technique to Jaina so she could use it in the same manner. While shattering an object may not be possible, finding the shatterpoint of a situation certainly is. To me, it would prove to be extremely useful. If I’m not mistaken, it was first introduced when the Jedi character Mace Windu employed it. When K.O.T.O.R. II was created, we were presented with a better oppurtunity to examine the concept from a different, more personal perspective. In the game, Darth Traya(a.k.a. Kreia) taught the Jedi Exile of the echoes you could cause through a single action. Every action you take has a ripple. Every act of kindness you perform for others only weakens those you seek to help, and through smaller cruelties, greater ones are born. She taught that the key to effective manipulation of events was to find the critical point that must be struck in the correct way to cause the desired ripples/echoes. Now, I don’t know about anyone that is able to percieve such things with the Force, but I also don’t think the Force is a necassary component to this technique so much as intellect. These are just my thoughts on shatterpoint….

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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I believe that the act of submission to the will of another is a direct contradiction to the Sith ways. The Sith are about the Self, Freedom, Emotion, Control, and more, but never should any Sith allow themselves to be the tool of another. Even Jedi should not submit to others. The Jedi are about selflessness, service(helping others), and more, therefore I come to the conclusion that submission also contradicts Jedi Teachings. The Jedi of fiction served the democratic governments, and as a result they became little more than an extension of the Chancellor’s will, ultimately putting them in a position of servitude under a Sith Lord bent on revenge against Jedi. However, the Jedi Realists I’ve met, most notably at Ashla, have adapted to serve people in general, putting themselves in position to avoid submission. When this happens, you become nothing but an extension of someone else’s will. Personally, I think of myself as more than a tool to be used by others.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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Chains. To many to count…but as a Sith, the chains serve a purpose. They motivate us to become strong so that we may brake them. I suppose the end goals are power, freedom, and an attempt to reach perfection. Power can be for its own sake, but it is also another means to another end. I would argue that without power, there is little chance of freedom. And without freedom, how can we work towards the unreachable goal of perfection. It seems that the end goals are interconnected, they rely on each other. If you possess power, you have a tool that can be used to obtain freedom. If you have freedom, you have a tool that can be used to obtain near-perfection. In obtaining these things, I have no doubt in my mind that they change us. Now the question is, will we change for better or for worse? Will we deteriorate or evolve? That is a choice I feel we all can and must make. It is the transformation spoken of in what most of us consider Sith Lore, they were the words of the fictional Sith Lord, Darth Revan. Some would argue that these things are not within our control, but I beg to differ. It’s all a matter of choice, if you say you cannot control such things, you are weak and ignorant. If you say you choose to surrender control to the Force, that is your choice, and you must be prepared to accept the consequences, be they costly or beneficial. If you say you can control things of this nature with minimal effort, be mindful and make sure your words are not born out of arrogance or over-confidence.

Everything here is from my own mind, and is, as a result, only based on my point of view, so take what you will from what I write.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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I acknowledge that there are many external influences factored into my choices, and those same outside influences affect my enviroment. But does that mean I do not have free will? Definately not, in the words of Vergere: “Choose, and act”. There are certainly other factors, but they are only as important as I make them.

Most people who don’t acknowledge free will use the concepts of fate and destiny as cop-outs, they feel helpless and as such create a self-fullfilling prophecy. If you know without a doubt that you life is controlled by something or everything external, it will be. In my mind, it’s all a matter of choice. If you choose not to develop and use your will power, you will be controlled by something other than yourself.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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Love is probably the most natural emotion we have. I would theorize that it most likely comes from the fact that everything is connected, and yet there is the individual. I feel this emotion to a high degree every day in the presence of family members, but, intellectually, I dislike it. Why, because while it seems to be the most natural, it is undoubtably the most dangerous, as it is the hardest to control. It has far more potential to emotionally and mentally “blind” people. Anger, for example, is less complex, easier to comprehend, and therefore easier to cultivate, “breath” out, and generally easier to control. Taking this into account, it is a high priority for me, as a Sith, to explore my love: what causes it, why I feel that way for someone/something. In comparison to hate, its assumed opposite, it has a soft but firm feeling, and hate seems to have a sharp but erratic/jagged feeling. Love also seems to occur in extremely varying degree’s; so much so that there are other names for it in accordance to its strength and object of focus: mainly Compassion, and “True” Love. Compassion is described as love of all things in a general sense, and is probably the least intense for most people. “True” Love is usually specifically directed to one person and has the most strength and potential to blind.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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Many articles and texts written by Sith Lords speak of the masks we wear to blend in, the facades we construct to not be noticed as different than others. What these articles seldom tell us of are the dangers that these masks present. Just as with power, these masks/facades are necassary but dangerous. We seem to develop “masks” naturally and these natural “masks” should probably be abolished, but at the very least they must be acknowledged. I may seem to contradict myself here, but read on… The natural masks are dangerous, they sprout on their own, most of the time without us knowing; However, “synthetic” facades that are consciously created by you and used for purposes of your choosing can be maintained, used, discarded..they are literally mental tools. A Sith acknowledges this, a Sith, if he feels the need, creates certain masks for certain reasons and situations; a Sith also acknowledges that he must be cautious in doing this, he must always be sure to remain true to himself…the true danger of a facade/mask: anyone can lose themselves in a mask, if it is believed to be who you are; any Force-User must always know who he is.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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How do the Sith differ from the Jedi? First off, the beliefs held by each group are crucial differences. For example, compassion is a very important virtue for most Jedi, but the majority of Sith think of it as a useless aspect of a person’s character/personality.

The Sith draw on the power of the Force using emotion in much the same way as a key. Once access to the Force is gained by use of Sith Methods it is utilized almost as a tool.

Jedi allow the Force to flow through them and guide them, which implies that they are controlled, if only partially, by this mystical energy field. I don’t believe the Force to have a will, but it does have, shall we say, a pattern, a thread for us to folllow within its tapestry; that is what may Jedi do, they follow the course that’s meant for them.

As Force-sensitive beings we can percieve or feel such paths in the energy, I myself sometimes feel compelled to walk a certain direction because I am meant to if the pattern is to be kept. The Sith are among those who defy these things because to many of us the Force is subservient, controlled, and mastered.

The techniques and methods of using the Force are what separates the Jedi and the Sith most, that is what we have come to know as light or dark, the large variety of ways the Force is used.

So in reality, we are different, but not past the point of co-existence.

I have noticed how easy it is to surrender to the Force and let it guide you, but I personally prefer to conflict with this.

In the Star Wars universe wise Jedi such as Yoda said that the Dark path is the quick, easy, and seductive way of life, but I strongly disagree, they are simply different, on is not easier than the other. At different stages of training cerain things may be more difficult for Sith than Jedi and the same is true for Jedi.

Here are a few similarities for you to ponder: both need power(Sith desire it while almost all Jedi do not), both learn and have patience, both are disciplined, both gain wisdom in their studies of the Force, both use the Force(just in different ways), both are students of knowledge, and both meditate. Those are just a few things to think on. Don’t think that the short list in this paragraph covers everything.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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Peace is a Lie, there is only Passion.
Just as is bluntly stated here, peace is a lie, an illusion, a concept conjured by the compassionate through a thought process known as “wishful thinking”. Under the illusion of peace, passion can be found. During a period of peace, passion is always rustling about, just under the surface. And when passion arises, the comforting notion of peace is torn away. Passion is always there, and just like the darkness in the shadows of the light, it will never leave. While I adhere to no code, I seem to wholeheartedly agree with the points made in the Sith Code, as will become more evident in my interpretations.

Through Passion, I gain Strength
Passion, as I understand it, is a part of us, eternally ingrained into each and every person. I think that the word passion, when used in the Sith Code, is meant to encompass “passion” itself, along with the entire spectrum of emotions; from anger to happiness, from hate to love. The emotions can be suppressed, ignored, or…examined in an effort to better control them, the end goal being to be capable of bending them to my will, and making them tools for reaching my goals(yes, it sounds rather cliche, and perhaps it is, but it is also logical in my mind). In gaining control, my strength will, theoratically, be augmented to a further degree.

Through Strength, I gain Power
In strengthening aspects of myself, more possibilities become available for me. Regardless of what a person can come across, be it a situation, object, trait, or otherwise, having more strength than it means you have power over it. The problem with Sith is that while power is necassary and sought after, it also has great potential to corrupt. My personal solution, for now, is to be as brutally honest with myself as possible, and painfully mindful of everything I choose to do; this method of analysis is by no means full proof, but it acts as an aid to help meknow myself, my limits, and my weaknesses. Power can be viewed as a means to an end, which I find to be true…if I have a specific goal in mind, more power means that my goal is not as difficult to attain; from another viewpoint, power can be seen to be a purpose and goal in and of itself…in my opinion, this is also true, gaining power can be a goal, and having power could beits own purpose..power for the sake of power.

Through Power, I gain Victory
In gaining power and applying it properly as well as intelligently, I can gain victory in any situation. Some situations may not seem as if they are to be won or lost, but if there is a possibility of gaining something then a victory is possible. Power comes in many different forms, all of which are applicable, but only if I know what kind of power might better suit my situation. In obtaining victory, I gain more power. This is a beneficial paradox, as the cycle continues. Defeat is only defeat if I don’t learn, because learning also benefits me, and seen from this perspective I can’t ever truly be defeated unless I choose ignorance over knowledge.

Through Victory, my Chains are broken
Due to the round-about cycle of power and victory, I will theoratically brake the chains that shackle me, one by one. There are obvious chains, such as society, equality, lack of productive conflict, etc.; and there are subtle chains such as self-doubt, self-esteem, uncontrolled emotions, overfed pride, etc. As a Sith, I believe that part of what it means to be a Sith is to continually break these chains. I feel the need to find my limits and go beyond them. This all leads to the end goal of most Sith. Victory is absolutely dependent on the will power of the individual, it all hinges on choice.

The Force shall free me.
Freedom and near perfection is my main goal in life. Over time, learning about and controlling my passions, then gaining strength from the passion and, in turn, gaining power through use of my strength, I will gain the ultimate victory. The whole of Sith Philosophy revolves around this, and as such I regard it as the highest priority for a Sith. It is all I strive for, all I suffer for, all I live for, and all I will die for.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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There is no Emotion, there is Peace.
The majority of Jedi believe that the chaotic emotions of a human have no place in a state of “Peace”. The emotions are still there, and the Jedi wise enough to acknowledge this are growing in numbers. Emotion is always there, but the Jedi choose not to factor it into their actions or use it for “fuel”. When the Force Traditions were still being developed as Realist lifestyles, many Jedi believed that their emotions should be suppresed or ignored. Over the years, they have progressed, learned, and refined their path. They listen to, feel and acknowledge their emotions now, but do not allow their decisions to be influenced. However, in this respect the Jedi and the Sith have evolved in a similar fashion, with only subtle differences. I, as a Sith, feel my emotions and acknowledge them, but I also factor them into my decisions, ask myself why I’m feeling whatever I might be feeling, and decide whether or not it will serve as fuel for my current activities or be cultivated and strengthened for later use. This may seem dangerous or reckless to some, but that is why control is a crucial factor in any aspect of training as a Sith.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
Ignorance is bliss, but neither Sith nor Jedi seeks bliss, they seek understanding, knowledge, comprehension, and these things all bring about pain, burden, and hardship. The Jedi seek to overcome these difficulties through the strength of love and compassion, and I, as a Sith Practitioner, do my best to embrace and understand the pains themselves. Ignorance also seems to breed difficulties, especially for those on a spiritual path. Knowledge itself can be considered power, in a sense, but like all other forms of power, it is useless if not acquired and properly applied. All in all, knowledge rather than ignorance is prefered among most, even those that are particularly ignorant.

There is no passion, there is serenity.
Some consider passion and emotion to be synonymous, but from my viewpoint, passion and emotion are not so inseperable as far as terminology. “Passion” not synonymous with “emotion” can be described as a strong attachment or love for something such as reading, writing, physical fitness, and some are even passionate in their endeavor to embody the Sith or Jedi Way. I passionately pursue such embodiement of the spiritual path of Sith Realism, but it would seem contradictory to the Jedi path to pursue living as a Jedi passionately. This line states that in place of such passion is serenity, a disposition free from stress, but if a Jedi tries to obtain a state of mind without such things as stress, then how will he function when stress does occur? The way I see it is easy to say ,but difficult to integrate into living everyday life: If my physical body can function when and if it is in great pain, if my mind can function under extreme stress and pressure, and if “I” can function even in great emotional pain, then, in theory, I can function far more efficiently when there is no burden to bear in body, mind, or spirit. So, in all honesty my ideals of serenity are not at all consisitent with the Jedi Code. In my eyes, serenity has a large potential for weakening.

There is no chaos, there is harmony.
In a way, there is always the harmony of connection within the Force, every living creature is connected. However, it can also be said that there is always chaos, and through it we gain experience and strength. Chaos is an underlying part of living, without it we would not experience stress, unpredictable situations, or conflict(neither unproductive nor productive). Adaptability is also evidence of chaos, without chaos there would be no need to adapt. Chaos and harmony may also be seen as polar opposites, and from what I know of duality, an absolute cannot exist without its opposite…Which then leads me to the chaos within perception, and how harmony and chaos both depend on a persons perceptions.

There is no death, there is the Force.
True death doesn’t really occur, in my opinion; not in the sense of becoming nothingness anyways. I think this is where the Personal Force(Sub-Aspect) largely comes into play within the Jedi Code, our personal energy that is anchored to the physical body is imprinted with the identity. When its anchor, the physical body, fails, the personal energy disperses throughout the rest of the Force, causing the loss of identity, but causing a Unity with the Force as well. That’s my current ideal on the matter of death, but I may be wrong.

Tags: Academics and Training at Ashla, Musings by Darth Draconis
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