THE WAY OF THE WARDEN

The Weave is the source of all Creation - that which is, was, will be, and shall never be. Unity is the great picture produced by the Weave. It embodies all existence and potential, even that potential which is never realized. Unity exists beyond mere black and white or shades of grey. It is a plethora of colors, shades, and hues. Balance is the interplay between these threads to create Unity. Every being and object contributes a thread to this picture, intertwining with all others directly or indirectly. These threads add detail and stability. While the removal of one or a few threads may not be immediately noticeable to the overall picture, it introduces an instability that can result in the Unity unraveling.

To maintain Unity, Balance must be upheld. However, many seek towards outer extremes rather than to the Balance within. Some seek Light, while others seek the Dark. While the Light can lead to 'higher emotions' such as love and selflessness, ultimately it is self-destructive. To completely discard one's Self is to discard that which makes one alive. It attempts to remove one from the Unity. The Dark leads to more self-oriented emotions, both positive and negative. To revel in the Dark is to find absolute freedom and self-gratification. It is also to act without responsability towards one's Self or others, a road that leads only to downfall and self-destruction. To truly live, one must balance and master one's emotions, learning to give and to take in proper measure. The Balance is Life.

Just as Light and Darkness exist in Harmony in Nature as surely as day follows into night and back into day once more, so too is Life comprised of Chaos and Order. Chaos is much like a flame. Fire can be used to create, forging many things that can ease the hardships that life may bring. It can also ward off the cold, providing comfort and warmth. Without the fire of the sun, all shall freeze until no life remains. However, fire can also rage out of control, destroying all it touches. Similarly, Order can be seen as being like water. Water feeds the crops, which in turn feed the animals, thereby sustaining life. Without water there is drought, which drains the life from the land until all that remains is a barren wasteland. An overabundance of water results in a flood that drowns all life. Thus, we note the necessity of all things in their proper measure. This is Balance, and the Balance is Life.

All things in their very nature seek to maintain Balance and Unity. It is an inherent aspect of the Weave for Unity to maintain itself through Balance. This is achieved through the mandate of Nature. However, the gift of Sentience allows beings to act against their nature. Sentience gives rise to Desire, the seeking of that which is not essential to continued existence. Desire can lead to Passion, a yearning and craving beyond the basic level of existence. When left unchecked, Passion can turn into Obsession. Obsession is a burning hunger and thirst for more and ever more; a fire that will ultimately burn and lay waste all that stand between it and its addiction. Obsession is a sickness that strives to destroy Balance and Unity. It is a disease that must be warded and cured, and when necessary, excised. This is why one of the greatest traits a Warden can cultivate is Honesty.

Through Honesty we remain true to Nature, upholding Balance and safeguarding Unity. Honesty allows us to determine that which is instinctive and needed from that which is merely want. Honesty allows the tempering of desires and passions, fostering humanity while preventing obsession. Thus we are able to maintain the Balance and the ways of Nature, maintaining the health of our own selves and that of Unity.

A Warden must also foster Consideration and Objectivity. Consideration is achieved by recognition of the Unity beyond our own part in it. Most will never realize their effect upon the Unity beyond their immediate view. Rare indeed are those who catch a glimpse of the overal picture, however fleeting it may be. Realized or not, each and every being is an integeral part of the overall union. Consideration is achieved through two rules 'do unto others as you would have done unto you' and 'do unto others as they would have done unto.' The first rule presents the necessity to consider our actions and statements, to realize that how we interact with the existence around us will reflect back upon us. As we give so do we receive, and as we receive so do we give. The second statement depicts the fact that all beings are individuals despite their similarities. As such, each has their own needs, desires, capabilities, and stage of growth. It is more harmonious to interact with one another with these realizations than with the same standard of behavior across the board. Through such effort the Unity is respect and the Balance supported.

Discipline is another important part of a Warden's life. Through Discipline we are given the strength needed on all levels of our existence. Discipline allows us to achieve that which others may deem impossible. For nothing is impossible to one whose determination is great enough. Discipline allows us differentiate that which is True from that which is False. Discipline grants us the patience to see our tasks through to completion, no matter how strenuous or tedious. Discipline allows us to act properly and justly without hesitation through our familiarity with the Balance and the Unity. Discipline gives us the courage to do what is needed, even when it goes against our own Desire.

A Warden must also cultivate Spontaneity. Spontaneity acts in Harmony with Discipline through Honesty. Just as one must know when to act with forethought, one must learn when to act without thinking. This is achieved by allowing the Balance to act through us. If one is honest and open to the Balance one can move as one with Nature, not allowing the Self to have any more or less importance that the Unity in which we are all part. Thus a Warden is capable of moving properly and justly without hesitation. This is neither acting (which requires forethought) or reacting (merely responding to other actions) but simply being. This reflects the need for all things to exist in their proper time and place and exemplifies the nature of Unity and Balance.

One of the most important aspects of being a Warden is that we do not judge. There is no sin. If one or more deities exist then they, too, are part of the Unity produced by the Weave. There is no guilt. There are no laws to being a Warden, as this implies acting against Nature. Imbalance is a result of illness that prevents one from acting according to one's true nature. The sick are healed; they are not prosecuted. There is no shame. All are of equal value and worth in the Unity. There is no set standard to which one must adhere. This would would infer acting against one's true nature to live according to that of another's ideal. This would be imposed imbalance and act against the Balance. When one becomes a Warden one is reborn. Although one's past remains an important part of their existence it does not impede one's duties.

It is a Warden's duty to teach and guide. We do not seek to force our views on others, for all have the right to choose their own Paths. However, we do seek to eliminate Ignorance where we may. Ignorance leads to Fear and Hatred, which lead to Violence. Knowledge eliminates Ignorance, allowing all to greater realize their true place within Nature and Unity. This, in turn, reinforces the Balance that supports it all. Thus, Wardens must always show respect to those who teach and share wisdom and knowledge.

It is also a Warden's duty to protect and defend. As such, we never initiate hostilities. All other methods to resolve situations are to be attempted as possible. We seek to harm only when necessary. This is the way of Nature. To willingly and intentionally cause unnecessary suffering and death is to act against Nature. Such unjust and improper acts arise as a result of Obsesion, Hatred, and/or Fear. All life is to be treated with Consideration, for all are of equal worth in the great Unity. Thus, Wardens must always show respect for those who heal and show kindness and mercy.