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From the Desks of Your Friendly Neighborhood Jedi… http://TempleoftheJediOrder.org Profound On Purpose As I was thinking about what to write for this issue, I was struck with something odd. It occurred to me that some of us spend money to go away and have an experience (profound or not) with people who share the same values as us for a few days. For some of us, it’s a very sacred time, and if it’s done correctly, it’s a high point in the mundane journey that we call life. But, I’d like to pose a question to you. What would happen if we worked to find moments of togetherness in our own worlds? What if we made gatherings out of each of our days? What if we looked at life not as something to be escaped, but to be embraced? Our mortal bodies will one day die, and not all the hours at work, or the time on Facebook, or the moments of absolute stress will matter then. All that will matter is the connections we made with one another. There our spirit will live on. Are you making purposeful connections? Are your waking hours spent between one computer screen and another? We go to gatherings and reunions perhaps with the expectation that they will be sacred and profound experiences, but maybe we don’t expect that in our day to day life. Or maybe that is just me. I think that we spend a lot of time trying to escape the monotony of life through various means, but this experience is finite and it will inevitably pass and we don’t know when. There is so much more to life than a mere existence, but isn’t it wonderful that we have such an existence at all? Why waste it? Smell the flowers. You may never smell them again. Eat the cake you’ve never tried. You may never have another opportunity. Speak to the man at the bus stop. You both may never meet again. Each day can be profound if we approach it with a wonder. If we approach it like the first time we saw someone get off of the airplane or the first time we ever touched the face of a person we had only seen in text. We don’t have to wait for it to happen at a certain time of year, it happens every day if we open our eyes to see it. ~ Rosalyn J. Fall 2016 Rosalyn J Knight

Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

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Page 1: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

From the Desks of Your Friendly Neighborhood Jedi…

http://TempleoftheJediOrder.org

Profound On PurposeAs I was thinking about what to write for this issue, I was struck with something odd. It occurred to me that some of us spend money to go away and have an experience (profound or not) with people who share the same values as us for a few days. For some of us, it’s a very sacred time, and if it’s done correctly, it’s a high point in the mundane journey that we call life.

But, I’d like to pose a question to you. What would happen if we worked to find moments of togetherness in our own worlds? What if we made gatherings out of each of our days? What if we looked at life not as something to be escaped, but to be embraced? Our mortal bodies will one day die, and not all the hours at work, or the time on Facebook, or the moments of absolute stress will matter then. All that will matter is the connections we made with one another. There our spirit will live on.

Are you making purposeful connections? Are your waking hours spent between one computer screen and another? We go to gatherings and reunions perhaps with the expectation that they will be sacred and profound experiences, but maybe we don’t expect that in our day to day life. Or maybe that is just me. I think that we spend a lot of time trying to escape the monotony of life through various means, but this experience is finite and it will inevitably pass and we don’t know when.

There is so much more to life than a mere existence, but isn’t it wonderful that we have such an existence at all? Why waste it? Smell the flowers. You may never smell them again. Eat the cake you’ve never tried. You may never have another opportunity. Speak to the man at the bus stop. You both may never meet again.

Each day can be profound if we approach it with a wonder. If we approach it like the first time we saw someone get off of the airplane or the first time we ever touched the face of a person we had only seen in text. We don’t have to wait for it to happen at a certain time of year, it happens every day if we open our eyes to see it.

~ Rosalyn J.

Fall 2016

Rosalyn JKnight

Page 2: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

In the Beginning: By Opie Macleod

I have been asked to discuss the beginnings of our Jedi Community. Many confuse this subject and provide misinformation under the guise of “historian,” but there are inherent problems with knowing our beginnings. Given I have a limited word count however; I'll forego the history rebuke and lecture on why misinformation exists. Instead, I'll simply tell you what it was like when the Jedi Community really began to form. For this we must jump to the year 1997.

Three things really came together in 1997: you had the re-release of the Original Star Wars trilogy in movie theaters; you had much more easy public access to the internet, including the rise of the personal home computer; and you had the passionate fan base which had been exploring Jedi concepts through online role-playing for the past couple of years. Add in the popularity of the new West End Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and more accurately the wildly popular Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight (1997), and it is no surprise that this is where we begin to see something recognizable to the Community we know today. With sites like The Star Wars Jedi Academy (often called the Jedi Praxeum to avoid confusion with a later more popular website called Jedi Academy) [1], created by Kharis Nightflyer, Jedi Lore [2], created by Gedi, and the newest addition, Jedi of the New Millennium [3], created by Jean-Luc Walker, Trad Davin, Josh Steffan, Jordan Daeloth, and Jonathan Tapp, and we can see a hint of what is to come.

Many like to point to 1995 as the beginning of our community because it is the oldest verified date we have recorded on a website associated with the idea of Jedi application [1]; actually using Jedi concepts/philosophies in our lives, but that is a misunderstanding of what the website offered at the time (which was little). It also fails to realize what the community looked like back in 1995 [4]. You were more likely to find places like The Mos Eisley Cantina (at least one of them...) [5][6][7], which were simply chat rooms and fan sites spread all over the net. They were favorites of various Star Wars fans where they could role-play, talk, and debate. However, if you were looking for Jedi stuff, you were basically out of luck, unless you wanted RP information, such as The Jedi Handbook [8]. Still this is where many Jedi Creators would get their start. ForceMaster started at Echo Station [9], while Streen, WinterHeart, and Mitth'raw got started with beseen chats [10] and later Star Network [11].

Continued On Next Page…

Opie Macleod resides in Southern California where for 20 years he has participated in the online Jedi Community and taught in its schools. His first book, "History of the Jedi Community" brought him to media attention. He has published five known books and continues to help the Jedi Community grow in educational and practical application.

Opie MacleodNovice

Page 3: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

In the early days, Star Wars fandom was par the course. Role-playing played a huge factor in the training elements, with many “Jedi Masters” leaning on the role-playing guides and fiction for their lessons [12]. It was fun and kept one in the excitement of the inspiration. Jedi was something you explored through play and stories and constant interaction, you built close friendships and shared intimate details with people you had never seen or met. It was one of those times of innocence, where you laughed and played, and time felt liked it zoomed past without warning. Talks of in-person meet-ups and Jedi Temples and all of that simply didn't come about until Episode One was released. You earned Knighthood by proving yourself in the chat rooms and what discussion forums there were. Activity, discussion, a willingness to learn from all, often elevated you to higher ranks very quickly. It had all the stability of sand castles built near the ocean.

The feel was much more exciting; it was a new time for all involved. While older individuals could impress with their Star Wars knowledge, they were just as much in the dark on the upcoming prequels as young new members. The internet was still new and while they could impress with a couple years of fan sites, the Jedi Community was not yet fully formed. No one had been truly living the life of a Jedi as we know it today; we were all embarking on new ground at the same time. As such many from those days look back with sad fondness, a time lost and never to be recaptured or experienced again; they reminiscence of the “good old days” of camaraderie, exploration, and development. Indeed, it was fun times. It was fast-paced with discussions happening at all hours of the day every day of the week. There was no such thing as an “old topic,” nothing had been debated ad nauseam. It was all new to everyone, and that left an impression.

Of course this is an experience each new Jedi feels and gets when they discover the Jedi Community. It was as fun then as it is now, but it lacked all the great things we have built over the years through personal and community experience: structure, guidance, and standards, all of which you, dear Jedi, will improve upon as you to grow. Our experiences were not so different, merely spread apart by time. I hope you enjoyed exploring those old sites and got a feel of what our community was like when I started. If you want to be a Jedi Historian, then use this time; document the dates and sources, with the lessons and websites in the present moment. This way, in twenty years we do not find ourselves grasping at lost straws and looking to fossils like me for information on our past.

References:1- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/swja/ 2- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/jedilore/3- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/jotnm/ 4- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/swhome/5- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/thecantina/ 6- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/sncantina/7- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/moseisleycantina/ 8- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/jedihandbook/9- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/echostation/ 10- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/beseen/11- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/starnetwork/ 12- http://jediliving.com/jediarchive/force/

Opie MacleodNovice

Page 4: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

Brenna is one of our Knights at the Temple and she recently took up the office of Head of PR and Marketing. Marta Lina had the pleasure of interviewing her.

MartaLina – TOTJO Times: Hi Brenna , you have been at the Temple for a while now , could you for our readers give a little personal background and how you got involved in TOTJO?Brenna: Not sure what personal background you need but, I’m married, I have a step daughter and two small very silly dogs. I studied psychology and coaching and run a health centre in Dallas. Before that I worked for charities as a consultant doing fundraising, donor development and PR/Marketing. I've travelled a lot and lived in a few different countries.I found the Temple quite by accident to be honest, but I was really drawn in by how much the philosophies mirrored some of my own beliefs. The people here are what made me stay though. It was incredible to connect with so many people from such amazingly diverse backgrounds and have something so fundamental in common with them.

MartaLina – TOTJO Times : What made you apply for the job of Head PR and Marketing?Brenna: I'd been helping out with PR on and off for a while and since I have a background in PR I thought it would be a useful skill to contribute to the running of TOTJO.

MartaLina – TOTJO Times : Could you explain to our readers what you will do as Head PR and Marketing?Brenna: Very simply put, I help ensure that we take advantage of opportunities to share an accurate and positive view of who we are and what we do with the public. That might include interviews, articles and "branded" merchandise. We do also have a team of people who contribute their own time and talents to creating newsletters, doing interviews and helping run the day to day operations.

MartaLina – TOTJO Times : What advice would you give people that want to take up an office job at TOTJO?Brenna: Don’t! (laughs) Just joking. The only advice I would give is don’t aim for an office, aim to share your skills and experience. But if you do take an office, know that it can be time consuming and needs to be taken seriously as a responsibility.

MartaLina – TOTJO Times : Where do you see yourself in a few years at TOTJO and what are your hopes?Brenna: Honestly, I don’t know! I hope to be able to add to the foundation that’s already been set up in terms of our PR and marketing. I'd love to be able to put together a group of speakers of ambassadors who have some training on handling interviews and media as I suspect that the calibre of the PR we do will only rise as we grow. The legitimacy of the Temple is important to me so I do hope to be able to keep improving its public image.

BrennaKnight

Page 5: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

We all start our journey here at the Temple in our own way, and one could say each of our experiences is truly one of a kind. But, being curious individuals, we often talk about our time here and compare experiences as we make our way down our path, especially the longer we are here.

This serves a multitude of purposes, from gathering said experience to better one another, helping each other through a tough lesson, moving towards mastering a concept, and even building community.

But often we forget what the Temple was like when we began, and even if we do, the Temple like us, and life, is always changing. A new member joining today will have a completely different introduction than I did myself, almost a year ago!

With this in mind, we wanted to reach out to a new member who was actively pursuing their path and gather some of their thoughts on what it is like to be a new member, now. To see the temple through their eyes.

Parnerium was kind enough to answer a few questions and give us some insight to their experiences.

Cayce – TOTJO Times: You created your account on the 5th of September 2016, and started your journal the very same day! Since then you've been very active, and working on your journey through the IP. What has been your favorite 'moment' here at the temple so far?Parnerium: My favorite moments have definitely been in the chat room. The conversations can span from the weather to the nature of reality itself (but, somehow, it always comes back to creepy crawly insects). I love getting to know people and I feel like that happens much better in chat than in the forum itself. Whenever the chat is bursting with people I know I'm in for a good time.

Cayce – TOTJO Times : Do you have a particular lesson in the IP which has resonated with you notably yet? Parnerium : The very first of the Joseph Campbell lessons, definitely. In my journal, I wrote about how I could apply the structure of the European dragon myths to my life. I decided that I need to constantly consider whether there is something I want in life that I have convinced myself I can't have. If there is, I need to get to the root of why I'm stopping myself from pursuing it. Thinking about that over the past three weeks led to me changing my college major from accounting to teaching. It's something I've always wanted to do. My reasons for not doing it were, honestly, terrible ones. It feels really good to have overcome those doubts.

Continued on next page…

ParneriumNovice

Page 6: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

Cayce – TOTJO Times: On the flip-side, is there perhaps a lesson or a point you disagree with? Why is that?Parnerium: The Sacrifice and Bliss lesson was a tough one for me and I have plans to revisit it. I have never been a fan of death as a metaphor for becoming a new person or resisting temptation—it feels much more convoluted than it needs to be.

Cayce – TOTJO Times: What have you taken away from your time here so far, and do you think you'll continue?Parnerium: I came here as part of a larger goal to bring religious practice back into my life in a healthy and productive way. So far, being at the Temple has helped tremendously with that. I'm building up useful and sustainable practices that I believe will (or are already) improving my life. I anticipate being here for a long time to come.

Cayce – TOTJO Times: Do you have any advice for new members to the Temple?Parnerium: The people here are really helpful. They have a lot of information and the patience to help you find what you need—don't hesitate to reach out! There are also tons and tons of conversations buried in the old threads of the forum that can be very enlightening.

Refreshing insight, and so many great views. I myself need to spend more time in the Temple chat room, and adding new self improvement practices to my daily life is a goal I continue to work on.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Parnerium and may the Force always be with you!

Written By: Cayce

ParneriumNovice

Page 7: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

In my community, I volunteer almost about any place you can think of. One day it might be a senior living home and another may be a non-profit organization. Whatever the case may be, I always try to embody and integrate my Jedi path and what I have learned from it every day.

My Jedi path is integrated into my volunteering when I am patient with others, set a good example and live out the ideals of Jediism, When I volunteer, I learn to put others needs before my own. I stay later to make sure that someone can go to the bathroom, take a shower, get into bed, or eat a meal. I sit and listen as they talk about their fears, including death, and I work with them to overcome them as best I can. One of the ways I do this is by reading books to them that speak of death as a process of life. I put my patience to work as I assist seniors who need to re-learn skills like eating or help them engage in physical therapy. As I have learned and grown, I have been given opportunities to share these ideals with others through my volunteering. I really want to empower people so that they can be their own guides to a better, healthier lifestyle. Because I have worked to integrate the Jedi path into the various areas of my life, I have learned new life skills such as patience, honesty, respect, responsibility, selflessness, and bravery. I have also gained new perspectives about life and death.

At work, I have learned to be patient not only with others but with myself as our doctrine suggests. I find creative and adaptive ways to complete tasks and allow myself to take breaks so that I can reach my full potential and produce the work I and others know I am capable of. I try to look at the work that I do as if it was given to me by the Temple itself. This helps me produce excellent work.

I have been here for four years now, and the more I learn the more I realize that my community can work together and become stronger because I have seen it at work in the Temple. I hope to help others see that as well, but it would not have been possible if I were not studying and living the ideals, and if I didn’t have the Force by my side. I wouldn’t be able to be an inspiration to others, and I wouldn’t be able to help others become the inspirations that they were meant to be.

All of these experiences and new skills has helped me to be a better person. Whatever the day is like, I always finish strong.

May the Force Be With You All! Written By: Peace

Page 8: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

The inspiration for the IP Team came from my apprentice Gwinn. He said that he wanted to help out at the Temple, and found many Novices frustrated by the lack of contact over their IP. He noticed that a few Apprentices and up would follow a Novice's journal and help them through it. So he took it on himself to follow suit. I thought about my time through the Initiate's Programme and how I felt it would be nice to have a little more contact over my lessons. I've seen a lot of people drop out of the Programme and just disappear. And I wondered how much of that was due to lack of personal support.

So I decided to build a team to focus on members going through the IP. To give constructive feedback, some mentoring, cheer-leading, and an overview of every person going through the program. We help ensure the Knights' standards are met, so when the Novice submits their completed IP, there should be little (if any) make-ups to do. We're available for any questions anyone has on the Programme or otherwise. Our goal is to help support Novices through the IP, to see more make it to Initiate. We work alongside the Apprentices and Knights who already support this effort in an organized and focused manner.

I chose Initiates and Apprentices for the IP Team for two reasons. They recently went through the Initiate's Programme themselves, so are very familiar with the material. I'm also aware that most of the positions to give back to the Temple are reserved for Knights because they're usually sensitive positions. I wanted to create a place where those who haven't made Knight yet can dedicate some time to make a really big impact directly on our community. This team is also about personal growth. As a side result, I hope that the experience my team gets from this will help them grow as people, leaders, and Jedi.I facilitate my Team, but they are really the stars of this effort. This never would have happened without their time, dedication, and passion for the project and the people we touch. We started with four members, and we put in countless hours to set up the tracking spreadsheets to get us ready to go before the official launch. We had gone back four months through the journals to find active entries and noting which they had done. Shortly after the official announcement I realized our team of four were not going to cut it! We have 108 Novices who have posted in their journal in the last six months! I don't know if you've ever gone and read any of the IP entries but there is a lot of outstanding and detailed work! We really have an amazing community here. Our team has grown to nine members since launch.

To see who's currently serving on the IP Team, please check out the thread under the Announcements section of the forums, but I wanted to acknowledge and thank every person who's been a part of our team.

~Kit

KitKnight

The IP Team:

Gwinnx57z12avalonslightelizabethMartaLinaLykeiosr3dleaderAtticus

Page 9: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

The TOTJO Times is looking for Staff

I wanted to let you all know that the TOTJO Times (our newsletter) could use some extra hands. If you are interested, reply here or send me a PM

Apprentices Brian and Loudzoo were promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight. Congratulations!

The following Jedi have began apprenticeships at TOTJO since the last issue. Lykeios, Rex, Brick, x57z12, Leah Starspectre, MadHatter and Codama.

The Clergy is excited to welcome robdegrey and Atticus as Licensed Ministers!

Jedi Knight MrBruno was promoted to Deacon by the Clergy. Thank you for your service!

Did we forget you? Our Temple is growing quickly and sometimes we miss a promotion. Let us knowso we can recognize your achievement!

Page 10: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

August 20th saw the second meeting of Jedi: Empire State, and offline Jedi training Co-Op for the state of New York.

For reference, a being a training co-op means that we do not offer formal training, but instead treat our meetings as skill-shares. With so many online training avenues, we decided that was a wheel we did not need to re-invent. Mostly, we share books and play.

TotJO: New York was invited, as they always are. I look forward to seeing more of you there in the future. Our next meeting is slated for November.

We met at noon at Columbus Circle, when the weather report put the chance of precipitation at 15%. As best as we can tell, they left a zero off the end. Torrential rain ploughed through the valleys between towers like the leading edge of a white void; a sheer wall of opaque nothingness. Quite a sight, but only a mild inconvenience once we had decided on where to find temporary shelter.

We eventually took refuge in a below-ground ramen shop and got down to business. The group had decided to read and reflect on Modern Knighthood (http://www.kerrcuhulain.com/modern-knighthood.php) by Kerr Cuhulain. Do yourself a favour and give it a read for a broader sense of the Knight ethos, specifically in a modern context. Jedi: Empire State is still in the process of fleshing out its identity and this book has done us a world of good. Other topics included building a website and designing t-shirts. On that note, I would like to thank Cayce on behalf of Jedi: Empire State for her help on clearing up our design. We appreciate her work.

After the storm cleared, we ventured into Central park and continued our discussions. It was a beautiful day and we made excellent use of it. Again, any member of the Temple willing to make the drive is invited and encouraged to join us for the afternoon!

Cabur SenaarKnight

Page 11: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

Being quite nervous on the bus to Nijmegen, I had no idea what to expect from my first Jedi Meeting ever.

When arriving in Nijmegen, Codex was already there which was nice and we had some coffee and cake and got to know each other a little before Rijuma came. We then went into town and chatted a bit. The overall impression was a very nice one.

Nijmegen is an amazing little city where some things there are downright majestic. We got along great and it was wonderful to meet other Jedi. We visited a church, a beautiful park and had a great time watching people go on some water slide that they made in the middle of town.

It was amazing to see how much fun everyone had and the weather was great. We talked about the Jedi life and the philosophies, made jokes and ate and just enjoyed being together. It was really great and we hope to see each other again in October.

I would advise anyone, if you can get together with other Jedi, please do! It’s a very enriching and nice experience.

~ MartaLina

MartaLinaApprentice

Page 12: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

It was our pleasure, for the second year, to hold the UK TOTJO Gathering in July 2016. Attending were old friends from last year (Alexandre Orion, Akkarin, V-Tog, Edan, Jeriko) and old friends who had not been able to make a UK gathering before (tzb, Martalina, Brick, Codex, Cyan Sarden). Despite being unable to attend in person this year, Proteus was able to join ‘virtually’ – and we look forward to his being with us next year! Particular thanks should go to those who came from overseas to attend: Alex, Marta, Cyan and especially Codex – who had to endure a 14 hour car journey to reach us!

The weekend afforded us the opportunity to talk, walk, eat and laugh together; bonds forged through TOTJO online, fortified by meeting in person. Many interesting discussions were had and the inconsistent English summer weather held together long enough for us to enjoy a barbeque. We heard specially prepared sermons and, as last year, we had the opportunity to participate in a Knighting Ceremony, in person.

Any TOTJO ceremony has the potential to be a moving experience for those involved, when conducted in chat. However, that potential is much more easily realised when the ceremony is conducted in person. It was a genuine privilege to share the experience with everyone in attendance!

After the more formal elements of the Gathering had been completed Akkarinsuggested that we should play a game. ‘Cards Against Humanity’ was duly chosen and it is fair to say I haven’t laughed so hard or so long, for many years, if ever. Brick proved to be a natural fit with the game’s twisted sense of humour –and won hands down. It was a wonderful counterpoint to the gravity and levity of the afternoon’s activities – truly lung bursting laughter!

Whilst there are so many benefits to our online Temple, our collective experience over the weekend reinforced feelings that there really is no substitute for meeting in person, at least every once in a while. I think we would all agree that if you, dear Jedi friends, have the opportunity to meet in person with your brothers and sisters – grab that opportunity with both hands! It will be time and effort very well spent!

~ Loudzoo & Family

LoudzooKnight

Page 13: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

New Head of PR & Marketing and FAQ Updates

Along with the usual business of approving apprenticeships, name changes and promotions, the Council has been busy updating the FAQ section of the site.

They are also reviewing the Knighthood Interview process and working on some application processing issues. Updates will come soon.

In addition, Councillor Akkarin announced that he is stepping down from his position of Head of PR & Marketing. He will continue to assist, but the position will now be filled by Knight Brenna.

What’s Happening With The Clergy?

Hiya,Ros here to let you know what has been going on in the Clergy! We were excited to admit three new people to the seminary since the publication of our last newsletter. We have also licensed two new ministers and promoted one deacon to the rank of priest. More about those in the promotion section of the newsletter.

Also, we were excited to complete our first live broadcast service/discussion on September 14th 2016 via google hangouts. Our sermon schedule is now part of the TOTJO events calendar located here: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/mytotjom/calendar. I’ll be keeping that updated, so keep your eyes pealed. We also have the monthly themes “stickied” as a part of the Weekly Sermons and Live Services section of the forum. If a theme strikes a particular chord with you and you would like to speak on it, please send me a PM on the forums. I’ll see that you get added to the calendar.

Thank all of you for the services that they provide to the temple, whether it is writing a sermon or providing a listening ear, your work does not go unnoticed. You are deeply appreciated. All of you. Rosalyn J

Knight

AkkarinCouncillor

Page 14: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

MadHatterApprentice

Day of Harmony

Today my fellows is the Temples day of Harmony and International peace day. We are encouraged today to honor peace and our connection with the Force. So what does this mean? Well, frankly we can say that its all personal as are most days of note. So this sermon is one Jedi's perspective of the holiday and what I feel we can do to honor the concept. When we speak of honoring peace many people instantly think of avoiding conflict with others. Which is a good way to mark the day. However what about avoiding conflict with yourself? I believe today the best way to honor peace is to be at peace with yourself. Let go of the anger you have because you ate the cookie you should not have or didn't get as high a grade as you wanted. Forgive yourself for your failings while making an honest effort to change them. Too often the person we fight with the most is our self. We consistently tell ourselves we are too this or not enough that. We compare ourselves to others and demand that we meet their levels of fitness, discipline, academic or workplace achievement but what does that gain us? We are at that point warring with our self to be someone else. If only for today call a cease fire and just try to be the best you that you can be rather than fighting to be someone you admire. So today take the time to love yourself for who you are and give yourself a day of rest and peace. Go take a bubble bath. Go light a candle and meditate. Go read a book that soothes the mind. Whatever you must do to feel at peace do it. Whenever you get upset today acknowledge the emotion and let it pass. Tell yourself that today is a day of peace and I will not conflict with myself today. All inner warring can stop and restart tomorrow if it seems so important. But I think that we might find that after a day of peace the worries and conflicts of yesterday do not seem as worrisome as they once did. Today is also a day to honor our connection to the Force. However, I have seen it defined one thing that seems most common is the interconnected nature of life. So no matter your views on the Force honoring the connection between all living things seems like a good way to honor your connection with the living Force. If that is the case well how do we do that? How can we honor our connection to other living things? The first is to treat them with kindness and if we for some reason find that impossible then let us try for understanding and forgiveness. Because we ourselves are not perfect and thus should at least be willing to forgive as we would like others to forgive our own failings. Secondly seeking to serve the Force today is a good way to honor it. How might we serve? Well, there are as many ways to do that as there are Jedi in the world. But I have a few ideas that I feel are fun or easy ways to do this. Service towards the Force is service to other living things. So let us take a look at how we might do that A good way to serve today is to donate to a charity be that donation time, money, or goods. It can be as simple as spending a few dollars to bring needed goods to your local shelters or food pantries. Or you could go so far as to spend time working there if they take volunteers. You could also honor your connection to the Force by taking up the care of other living things, for example, start a garden or plant a tree. Or even just give your loved ones be they pet or human a special treat on you. Whatever we do remember that we seek to give service and bring peace today. However you define those things is just fine it's really the spirit or intent of the actions that matter. I hope that I have inspired you as writing this has inspired me. May the Force be with you always.

Page 15: Fall 2016 - Jedi · 2016-10-06 · Games role-playing guides released in 1996, such as the Tales of the Jedi companion guide, as well as video games such as Dark Forces (1995), and

If today would not exist, all there is would be tomorrow

Meet for a new morning, a new hope, experience, and beginStand all next to each other and look up to the skySee the moment when we will turn around

Join a meeting, while planning the nextShare a beginning, a new chapter of hope,Experience your journey, create your book,It will come together, like fibre rope

The caterpillar is prancing on a branch, like a horse wild and freeLooking out to find a meeting, knowing will be there,

If you would, ask yourself to comehave a good time, please stay,Let us unite and the rest will be fine,this is an everlasting meetingour own temple wine

~ Codex