"I shall inquire into truth as I please, I am a free man."

- KAJIRA OF GOR, Pg. 387

WORDS ON THE GOREAN LIFESTYLE AND HOW THE FREE MAY BECOME A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY

Many people read websites like this one. Some get through a page or so and close the site, adding its memory to the collection of "crazy" things they've found on the Internet. Some read with more interest, being intrigued or appalled by what the site contains. More hunt through it, grabbing up bits and pieces of information and style that will add to the depth of the characters they play in a game. Still others search for things they think will help them impress those they feel might care. While a few find something different, and seek to find more.

Sometimes this few find themselves more than just interested in the words that are written, but see within them a parallel to their own way of thinking, and perhaps way of living. For those people who feel this way, and who this lifestyle appeals to we welcome interaction with those of our community, so long as each is honest in their intent. We are pleased to meet others who share our interests, be they individuals who have never heard of Gor before, or those who have been involved with it for quite some time, and we are willing to help those who want to learn more about what that allegorical model, and our particular Gorean community, are all about. We are further willing to consider those who are honest and true in their intentions, who have taken a good look at the world of Gor as presented by John Norman, and in seriously examining it and themselves, desire to become a part of a community like our own. But any who come to us wishing to be taught how to "be Gorean" are mistaken, for that is not something we can teach someone to be. We can explain more of what it is to be Gorean, about the Gorean lifestyle, culture and the world as portrayed in the novels, but we cannot make a person into a Gorean, no matter how attentive the student may be.

The Gorean lifestyle is not a hobby, recreational getaway, or part time occupation. It is not something a person simply chooses to become involved with, signs up for because it sounds "cool," or a condition that is created through study and instruction. Goreans are found and likewise, find the lifestyle, for being Gorean is something that should be the result of a natural inclination towards things Gorean, coupled with an active understanding and acceptance of those ideas and themes which comprise what the word Gorean means, and together manifested in the application and display of these principles in one's daily life. In all, it is something that should be based in an honest acceptance of one's very nature, a recognition of personal truth that comes from inside the individual and is faced without embellishments or denials. External factors serve as a means to display and exhibit this inner self, to examine, recognize and develop it, but they do not create it and cannot make it other than what it is meant to be. No amount of book knowledge will in itself make a person Gorean, no matter how well versed he may seem, or how capable he is in conversation. The greatness of action and display will not alone prove a man to be something, no matter how good at it he seems or however natural it may appear to him, if he is not truly and personally acquainted with the ideas and beliefs that make that something what it is. And diligent study and portrayal of something you wish you were, even if you do understand and agree with it, will not change the truth of yourself, if that something is other than what you are inside. Actions and words can suggest that someone is Gorean, can imply the possibility, but they are nothing if not rooted in the depths of the person performing them. A Gorean is something one is, with any lessons learned, information read or examples observed serving not to "put the Gorean in you," but bring it out if it was already there and wanting to be found.

"So how do I proceed?"
There is no step by step program which takes a person through some process resulting in the title of "Gorean" being attained. The particulars which answer this question are found by each person in his own way, starting with the one asking looking closely at what Gor is and then looking inside of himself. For those who have just become acquainted with Gor, the first step in this would be to seek out the Gorean novels and read them, considering what is presented therein. Not so much the science fiction storyline, but the culture of the world as depicted by the author, the peoples he populated it with, their values, beliefs, behavior and customs, along with the viewpoints he directly shares through the characters' actions and dialogue. In a sense, the overall rhyme and reason of his creation should be looked at, for the pieces really do all fit together to create not only an atmosphere for the telling of heroic tales, but a thought out society based upon well considered philosophical ideas, many of which are incorporated into the thoughts and conversations of the characters, producing the effect of the author not only explaining his world, but arguing the merits of its values. It is upon these things that the Gorean lifestyle is founded and defined, and it is here that a person should begin his association with it. It makes no sense to claim a lifestyle as your own, or say you wish to learn more of it, if you do not first seek an understanding of just what it is though the source that has gathered the ideas and themes which comprise it. Seek to learn about the world of Gor, the cultures that exist in it, and in particular the philosophies which they are based on, before you seek to claim the mantle of "Gorean."

It is then a matter of honestly relating this culture and philosophy to your own life. Not just wanting a relationship to your own thoughts and feelings to exist, but seriously considering what is presented and deciding if this all sounds "right" to you. This does not mean one takes their own set of preexisting values and beliefs, and declares them to be Gorean, watering down what Gor is to better fit what you want it to be, and what you can more easily live according to. If the philosophies of Gor, as presented in the source novels, are not something you agree with, than this lifestyle is obviously not for you. Your own values and beliefs might be every bit as valid and worthy as those of Gor, and might hold much in common with it, but just because you want the two to be the same or call them by the same name, does not make it so. If you need to change or alter the philosophy of Gor to enjoy it and say that you live by it, why bother lying to yourself and others in the first place? Who is it that you are truly fooling, and to what ends? When a lifestyle is called "Gorean" that word is applied for a reason, one that clarifies just what kind of lifestyle is being lived. This is not defined by the individual, but by what the word itself truly means, with the individual defining by his actions just what type of lifestyle he is actually living. It is not up to Gor to fit your demands, but you to meet its requirements if you wish to honestly assume the use of that word. The novels very clearly define just what "Gorean" is, doing so in twenty-five books of examples and illustrations. Look closely at these things and relate them to your own life and your own way of thinking. Do the two have much in common? Do you find yourself not only admiring the ideals of the Gorean world and the related actions of its nobler people, but knowing that this is the way you have always sought to live? Consider these things. Is this a set of beliefs you could live by, and in doing so, would it be something that comes natural to you and you feel fulfilled in, or would it be a contradiction of how you truly would live and truly do feel, no matter how much you say you want it to be otherwise?

The only way to really tell is by doing, by applying these ideas to your life, seeking to live in accordance with them, and facing the reality of yourself. And by this, what is meant is not just going out and "collaring" yourself a "slave," but living the depth and width of the philosophy itself as it pertains to all aspects of life. You cannot live a lifestyle or call yourself by a term which is used to indicate a person who follows a particular belief system, if the limits of your involvement are an understanding of the issues and a nod of approval towards them. You also cannot if your "life" begins and ends with the turning "on" and "off" of a computer, no matter how much time you spend online or how "real" you say this is to you. Simply having a "slave" at your feet does not automatically provide the answer either, no matter how enjoyable that might be, for it does not touch on a multitude of aspects within the lifestyle, and in many ways limits what you are doing to a form of D/s relationship that is perhaps only Gorean in flavor. And you obviously cannot live a Gorean lifestyle if the lifestyle you lead simply is not one based in Gorean philosophy. To live a lifestyle such as this, you must actually live by what that lifestyle entails, embracing it within yourself and striving to act in a manner that is consistent with who you are and what the source novels present. But it should not be you trying to fit yourself into the themes that are found within the books, or proceeding to do little more than "play yourself" as you "behave Gorean" through imitation of mere fictional expressions and customs. It should instead be you looking at the way you live and seeing a connection between the ideas depicted through Gor and what you feel to be right. The philosophy then does not exist as a guide to how one should live, but a collection of values and ideals that help focus and develop personal perspective.

Being Gorean is a personal realization one comes to in time, when through honest reflection they can truly look at themselves without doubt or reservation and say - "I am Gorean."

"So how then could someone become a part of a community like Sardaria?"
If you feel yourself truly living a Gorean lifestyle, and are happy in doing so, there is no requirement to join a community or group in order to prove what is already true for you. The real truth of a man and what he believes is found in himself, and no one can give that or take it away except that individual. Even so, living a lifestyle without the exposure and influence of others who are like minded, can limit just how much of this lifestyle is realized. Involvement with one's peers can be an excellent way to further experience aspects of the lifestyle that would otherwise not be accessible, and provides a valuable means to develop a deeper understanding of your personal beliefs through exposure to others also sharing them. This would sensibly be the purpose of a community such as Sardaria, besides it being quite natural for human beings, as social animals, to gather together with others who share their philosophy of living.

If being a part of a Gorean community is something that you wish to commit to, and a responsibility you feel able to live up to, then seek out those of Sardaria and make yourself known to them. A man does not sit and wait for others to come to him, patting him on the back, praising him for his inactivity, and rewarding him for successfully accomplishing nothing. A man picks himself up and finds what it is in life that he is looking for, taking those measures necessary to have it. While the offline gatherings of our community are normally closed to our citizens and those respected people we know well enough to invite, the online environment provides a suitable means for introduction and initial interaction. Seek out those of Sardaria and make yourself known to them, expressing your desire to learn more of the community and be considered for possible acceptance into it. Expend the time and effort to communicate with them, and the determination to regularly return, for such dedication and commitment is indicative of the person and their true intentions, and is a sign to us of their desire to truly be a part of what we are seeking to accomplish. This simply means attending those rooms that are frequented by Sardarians and interacting with them, learning of their ways and the ways of Gor, and becoming known yourself. If you feel you are still learning about the Gorean lifestyle, that is fine, because in truth we all are and always will be. No man knows everything there is to know about life, but intelligent men seek to learn, and seek out these answers wherever they may be found. Every question asked, and every answer given, result in both sides learning more, not only of the topic discussed, but of each other. Anything of true worth takes time and effort to forge, especially those things founded in respect and trust. We are not at all quick to accept petitioners into our number, or just anyone who asks, especially since this community is built upon a Home Stone. If we were, what comment would that make on how dear we hold what we claim to prize, and how much meaning would being a part of it really have? No, we take time to get to know those people who wish to join our community, as we hope they take the time to get to know who and what we are.

To us, being a part of our community is a great privilege. It means something to each who is a part of it and is something that we have built through a long journey of expended effort and trails overcome. To allow another to be counted with us is to bestow upon them the respect and trust that we have developed for each other over years, and to entrust them with the responsibility of representing us all as one of our own. We do not want frail men whose strength is an illusion propped up through posturing and words. We want people who will be true to what they claim to be, and true to those things they are a part of, standing beside those others who are with them through whatever fate may present. There is no real process or series of events we follow in ascertaining this, but suffice it to say, we have come to believe that the truth makes itself known, and that those who are worth what they say they are, easily prove this to others in just being themselves, while those who fall short of their claims, are likewise found to be just what they really are. Liars waste their own time more than ours, and even if online provides an easier means to deceive, the reality still comes out in time, and in the end, what is really gained by the deception, except proving that this is not for them in more ways than they care to face.

But to those few who are worth the effort, and whose efforts are worth recognizing, we are glad to extend a hand and wish you well in what you seek.

* * *

Being a part of a Gorean community like Sardaria is not a matter of just being interested in an idealized form of Gorean philosophy and culture, but of having a kinship with it, in the sense of it being something that is a part of your life, and in essence, was even before you ever heard of Gor. The community, much like the lifestyle, is a commitment and responsibility, neither of which should be lightly taken, and neither of which would be by a Gorean. It is a commitment to a particular way of life and the philosophies inherent to it, or perhaps even more an obligation to yourself, to live as is natural and fitting for you much as that inherent philosophy suggests. This commitment is founded in honesty, first to yourself, in leading this lifestyle, recognizing who and what you are and being secure in that realization, and next to the community, in being an honest part of it, a factor upon which a shared trust is developed though one's own personal integrity and reliability. It is a responsibility in that you are held accountable for your own actions, as a man this is primarily to yourself but also to those of the community you are a part of. And because you are entrusted with the faith of those around you, whose collective name you share and who your actions represent.

"There is perhaps little to be said for the Gorean world, but in it men and women are alive. It is a world which I would not willingly surrender. It is a very different world from mine; in its way, I suppose it is worse; in its way, I know it is better. It is its own place, and not another's. It is honest and real. In it there is good air."

- SLAVE GIRL OF GOR, Pg. 212

"The Gorean tends neither to view the world as a mechanical clockwork of independent parts, as a great, regular, predictable machine, docile to equations, obedient to abstractions, nor as a game of chance, inexplicable, meaningless and random at the core. His fundamental metaphor in terms of which he would defend himself from the glory and mystery of the world is neither the machine nor the die. It is rather, if one may so speak, the stalk of grass, the rooted tree, the flower. He feels the world alive and real. He paints eyes upon his ships, that they may see their way. And if he feels so even about this vessels, then so much more the awed and reverent must he feel when he contemplates the immensity and grandeur, the beauty, the power and the mightiness within which he finds himself."

- MAGICIANS OF GOR, Pg. 254-255

"The man of Earth thinks of the world as being essentially dead; the Gorean thinks of his world as being essentially alive; one utilizes the metaphor of the blind machine, the other the metaphor of the living being; doubtless reality exceeds all metaphors; in the face of reality doubtless all metaphors are small, and must fail; indeed, what are these metaphors but instruments of fragile straw with which we, pathetic, wondering animals, would scratch at the gates of obdurate, granite mystery; yet if we must choose our way in which to fail I do not think the Gorean has made a poor choice; his choice, it seems to me, is not inferior to that of the man of Earth. He cares for his world; it is his friend; he would not care to kill it."

- BEASTS OF GOR, Pg. 30

"The Gorean sees the world less as a puzzle than an opportunity, less as a datum to be explained than a bounty in which to rejoice, less as a problem to be solved than a gift to be gratefully received."

- MAGICIANS OF GOR, Pg. 255

"Do not ask the stones or the trees how to live; they cannot tell you; they do not have tongues; do not ask the wise man how to live, for, if he knows, he will know he cannot tell you; if you would learn how to live do not ask the question; its answer is not in the question but in the answer, which is not in words; do not ask how to live, but, instead, proceed to do so."

- MARAUDERS OF GOR, Pg. 9

"I do not think that it is a bad idea for a man to be alone sometimes, and to have some time to think. This is a good way, for example, to get to know oneself. Many men, it seems, have never made their own acquaintance."

- BLOOD BROTHERS OF GOR, Pg. 308

"I know of no language in which the truth may be spoken. The truth can be seen, and felt, and known, but I do not think it may be spoken. Each of us learns it, but none of us, I think, can tell another what it is."

- HUNTERS OF GOR, Pg. 145

"High among his duties is his duty to be true to himself, his duty to be a man.
The denial of his manhood, then, by a man, is not only irrational, but morally pernicious. Men have not only a right to preserve their manhood, but a duty to do so."

- GUARDSMAN OF GOR, Pg. 153

"In such a world who will argue with the larl as to whether or not it should feed, of with a man as to whether or not he should be a man? In such a world the larl hunts, and the man is a man."

- GUARDSMAN OF GOR, Pg. 153

"I was filled then with emotions so powerful, so primitive and exultant, so ancient, so overwhelming, so mighty and glorious, that I knew then that I had caught the scent of the meaning of man, and of a woman. Could I deny my blood? Could I again repudiate the heritage of my manhood? How could it be? The meat of the mammoth roasted then again upon the greenwood spit. Once again, after an interim of ten thousand years, sparks flew from blue flint, as heavy, hairy hands shaped the head of the spear. Once more were heard the love whimpers of the thonged female, who had been displeasing, begging to be released that she might lick the thighs of her master."

- ROGUE OF GOR, Pg. 214

"'Masculinity and femininity are complementary properties,' I told her. 'If a man wishes a woman to be more feminine, he must be more masculine. If a woman wishes a man to be more masculine, she must be more feminine.'"

- EXPLORERS OF GOR, Pg. 205

"'On Gor,' she said, 'we would not even break our male slaves as the men of Earth are broken.'"

- FIGHTING SLAVE OF GOR, Pg. 73

"'If the men of Earth choose to surrender the birthright of their dominance, to exchange it for the garbage of a political perversion; if they should choose to deny their genes; if they should choose to subvert and violate the order of nature; if they should choose self-castration to manhood, that is, I suppose, their business.'
'I do not know, Master,' she said.
'Provided, of course, that they are willing to accept such penalties as anxiety, guilt, misery, frustration, sickness and shortened life spans.'
'I do not know, Master,' she said.
'A subverted nature cannot be expected not to retaliate,' I said.'"

- GUARDSMAN OF GOR, Pg.152

"'She does not yet feel as a female, so she does not yet move as a female. I think she does not yet know what it is to be female.'
'That,' I said, 'she will mearn from a man.'
'Are all women of Earth like that?' asked the man.
'Many,' I said, 'not all.'
'It must be a dreary place,' said the man.
'On Earth,' I said, 'women try to be identical with men.'
'Why should that be?' asked the man.
'Perhaps because there are few men,' I said.
'The male populationg is small?' he asked.
'There are many males,' I said, 'but few men.'
'I find this hard to understand,' said the slave master.
I smiled. 'The distinction,' I said, 'makes little sense to a Gorean.'
He shrugged."

- TRIBESMAN OF GOR, Pg. 75

"'I do not blame the males,' I said, 'nor the females. Both are fellow victims. In virtue of historical factors, social, institutional and technological, having to do with the development of a given world, the male, from the cradle, is programmed with antimasculine values, taught to distrust his instincts, to hate and fear them, and, ideally, to revel in his de-masculinization. He lives miserably, of course, unfulfilled, frustrated, subject to hideous diseases, and has little to console himself with other than the ignorant servility with which he has worn his chains, taking smug, righteous pride in his allegiance to them.'
'On such a world, then, women have won?' asked the man.
'No,' I said, 'the machine has won. Women, too, have lost.'
'Surely, someday on Earth, said the man, 'the males will dare to be men?'
'I do not think so,' I said, 'save for rare individuals. The process of teaching, unconcious, subtle, pervasive, is too effective. It is not unusual for a woman to fear her womanhood; what is less generally recognized is that many men fear their own manhood; they conceal their blood; they pretend it does not exist; it is even dangerous, in such a society, to suggest that men consider honesty in such matters, to suggest that they dare to be men, to suggest that they might, if they wished, tear away their own chains. The weakest, the most trapped among them, are often the first, with hysteria, knowing they themselves are not strong enough to take their rightful freedoms, and envying others they fear might have the strength, to denounce such modest suggestions.'
'The weak,' said the man, 'are always those who fear the strong.'
'They fear, not strangely, a world in which not everyone is like themselves.'
'Let us all be weak, for I am weak,' smiled the man.
'Yes,' I said."

- TRIBESMAN OF GOR, Pg. 75-76

"'And what of the women?' asked the man.
'They attempt to imitate the masculinity they do not find in men,' I said.
'Grotesque,' said the man.
'It is depressing,' I said."

- TRIBESMAN OF GOR, Pg. 76

"The morality of slaves says, 'You are equal to me; we are both the same;' the morality of masters says, 'We are not equal; we are not the same; become equal to me; then we will be the same.' The morality of slaves reduces all to bondage; the morality of masters encourages all to attain, if they can, the heights of freedom."

- MARAUDERS OF GOR, Pg. 8

"As was wise I avoided cities in my long journey, though I passed several, for to enter a city without permission or without satisfactory reason is tantamount to a capital crime, and the punishment is usually a swift and brutal impalement. Pikes on the walls of Gorean cities are often surmounted with the remains of unwelcome guests. The Gorean is suspicious of the stranger, particularly in the vicinity of his native walls. Indeed, in Gorean the same word is used for both stranger and enemy."

- OUTLAW OF GOR, Pg. 49

"Civilization may be predicated upon the denial of human nature; it may also be predicated upon its fulfillment. The first word that an Earth baby learns is usually, 'No.' The first word that a Gorean baby learns is commonly, 'Yes.' The machine and the flower, I suspect, will never understand one another."

- EXPLORERS OF GOR, Pg. 37