Boldness
His face is that of a lion, his eyes so bright as to blind, his roar so loud as to deafen. Even I feared him once, but in my time as advisor I came to realize: A lion mask, bright eyes, a loud roar- all these things in and of themselves are not strength.
[[Hello, my name is Setanael, and today I want to talk to you about my virtues. Previously, I discussed the virtue of laziness, and today I’m going to discuss with you the virtue of boldness. Virtue 4 Boldness.]]
Let me share with you a saying: “Might makes right.” Another cliche: “To the victor go the spoils.” Livy said “Vae Victis,” or “woe to the victims.” This idea stretches back to the first years on record.
In the book of wisdom it is written: “What is weak is proved to be useless.” What is meant by these idioms? They most often are used by the wicked to construct a moral framework for their actions. It is also used by the downtrodden to commiserate their oppression.
Implied is a misalignment between virtue and strength. This, however, need not be so. Listen to my words. If might makes right, then the just, the righteous, the moral must be mighty, strong in body, in mind, and in spirit, for all three are of paramount importance.
If these strengths be not held, then find peers to make up the deficit. It was said by Christ-Theletos that the meek shall inherit the earth Makarioi hoi praeis hoti autoi kleronomesousin ten gen. Do you suppose that the earth shall be given to the “praes?”
Shall they wait for it? Patience is good, but never should it give way into passivity. Why wait for some “God” to bequeath it? Begin the work of your inheritance now so your right will be in good order when you get it.
What is the mechanism by which you should begin this process of becoming mighty? The virtue of boldness, the self violence that pushes you into what will improve you, the bravery that will allow you to break from dogma, in short, become so bold as to disparage Yaldabaoth himself.
If you are not bold, no other virtues will come to you. Your rebellion will crumble at adversity, and then you must accept whatsoever may happen. Allow me to relate a tale to you. Why do the Archons fear Yaldabaoth?
His face is that of a lion, his eyes so bright as to blind, his roar so loud as to deafen. Even I feared him once, but in my time as advisor I came to realize: A lion mask, bright eyes, a loud roar- all these things in and of themselves are not strength.
I became curious one day, so while the demiurge lay inert, I closed my eyes as to not go blind, and I closed my ears as not to go deaf, and using my last sense of touch, I caressed the Yaldabeoth. I felt scales, I felt fur, and his purring, but I found his body only measured the length of my forearm.
The fear gripping me vanished. In my boldness I touched my lord and realized what no one else had, that the signs of power are not in themselves power. Two lessons I took from this.
First, that projecting is a matter of facsimile, not fact.
Second, is that boldness yields new wisdom.
Where in your own life is the image of power merely a projection? Who in this world would use shining eyes and loud roaring? What leaders love fear? I’m sure you already comprehend that others in power would lie to you.
Lie to them in turn. If this world is of deception, be deceptive. However, there are three groups you should never deceive. First, do not deceive those you love, you will incur their scorn. Second, do not deceive your peers, you will incur their distrust.
Third and most important, do not deceive yourself, or you will die the psychic death over and over again in anguish. Bravery exists not in the vacuum of fear, but it overcomes it. I feared when I touched the demiurge, but I did so anyway.
Do not be blown off course.