I have been considering the question of what is of great importance to me to the degree I could not imagine giving it up. My new sacred cows, as it were. In other words, the central pieces of my ideology. I surprised myself because no where did I specify the details of who the supernals are to me or even their nature. Instead, I have listed six things I consider virtues.
1) Reason
Reason is central to my faith and my life. It is about having a rational approach to living. It is about accepting as fact what is fact and discarding what is proven false. It is about logic before belief based on personal bias. Reason does not interrupt faith because faith is a matter isolate to the invisible, the matters of spirit.
2) Nobility
Nobility is extremely important to me. It is about carrying myself with personal honor. It is about living up to my own standard, keeping my word and my oaths. It is about being well spoken and self honest. It is about being loyal to what and who has earned my loyalty, and defending these with integrity and vigor. It is about being patient and balanced in respect to all things.
3) Faith
Faith is extremely important to me. It is about trusting my Lord. It is about trusting in all He reveals, teaches, promises and commands. It is about being humble before Him. It is about obeying His commands.
A) Worship
Worship is very important to me. It is about honoring my Lord for all He has given me. However, worship also serves a purpose related to Nobility. Worship keeps me balanced. It is through the humility required in worship that I cease to focus only on myself. While ultimately, all I do is self centered, worship maintains that my Lord is greater than I. Worship tempers narcissism, preventing me from falling into the trap of self deification.
4) Works
Works are vital to me and central to my faith and my life. Works are about acting on my faith. They also are about doing for myself. They are the gems in my crown, the embellishments on my robes. They are the rooms, floors and decor in my mansion. Whether they are lavish or mundane depends on me. Works earn my degrees and they prove my devotion. Works are about doing things which honor my Lord, and often works are about fulfilling commands given to me by Him. Works are about doing things also to benefit me in my life, although the works required of me by my Lord do often benefit me in the end. However, my intention is not to be self benefit when doing works in His name. It is more to state that such works of faith teach me many things and those things are priceless to me.
5) Discipline
Discipline is vital to me. It is central to my faith and my life. It is about maintaining structure in matters of faith and in life. It is about moderation and knowing what is beneficial to do to excess and what is not. It is about preventing damaging obsessions and addictions. It is about choosing the order of importance of matters in my life based on what is more beneficial and what is less.
6) Illumination
Illumination is vital to me, the capstone to my pyramid. It is about seeking knowledge within and without. It is about seeking gnosis as much as it is about having working knowledge of the sciences and advancements within them. It is also about the successful application of knowledge and the collection of experience, and these together lead to wisdom. Illumination is the only deification I know of, the only apotheosis. Realizing illumination means I have realized the fullness of my potential and may therefore seek another and greater goal, if there is one to be sought.
