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29-04-2023, 02:00 PM
Essay: An Initiate Guide to “Seething”, or, the art of Sith Meditation
It was recently brought to my attention that, of all the wealth of knowledge offered to Acolytes in House Horuset, specific instructions on the art of meditation are sadly missing; it is not a subject on which there are lessons, and though many of the Acolytes we train are instinctively able to draw on the Dark Side by channeling the Force and letting their emotions rule their actions, this is an unrefined method in which the practitioner has little control over the power they seek to wield; indeed, that form of unwieldy and base technique merely scratches the surface of the Dark Side. In this essay,I will dissect the core steps in achieving a meditative state that will allow the user to channel the Dark Side more readily, more purely. Some of you reading this may be familiar with the technique, as it is one which is developed during the very earliest stages of training in the Sith Academies; however, I have no doubt that there will also be some Acolytes among you who have never properly refined your technique of “seething” beyond the application of your powers.
Memories:
Any fool will tell you that the Dark Side is powered and controlled by Emotion; this is a certain fact of life, one which any who are trained in the Force are aware of. It would be logical to assume that the place to start with meditation on the Dark Side is to summon emotions from within yourself-- but where do emotions come from? Emotions are not forced up by discipline, they are not generated at will; emotions are a direct result of your surroundings, a response to stimuli and actions which brig pain - pleasure - anger - joy - fear - despair. To begin this meditation, search deep within yourself; find a memory which brings forth strong emotion, the stronger the better. Find a memory which inspires hatred, anger, fear, disgust, and relive it. Let the memory fill your mind, and your emotions will rise in response; allow yourself to feel the emotions as though they are fresh, as though the event just occurred.
Domination:
You should now be in a state where your emotions are raised, heightened; already the Dark Side will pulse within you, present, watching. The Dark Side is almost like a living creature; by acting with emotions, those who are blessed with Force Sensitivity draw its attention, and draw from its power. This is how lesser Dark-Side worshipping cultures in the past have ridden the coat-tails of great civilisations like the Sith. The next stage, now that the Dark Side flows, is to control the flow; to dominate the Force and command it as only a Sith can. Focus your mind on the emotions within yourself, the sensations they cause - the physical white-hot heat of rage, the burning cold of hatred - and let those fill your mind instead. These feelings, these sensations, are the Dark Side. But, unlike the base worshippers of the Dark-Side who rise and fall, the Sith command the Force. Discipline your mind, sharpen your focus and your emotions; if anger is what you wish to use, then focus the entirety of your being on it; let no other emotions pollute your anger, let it be pure. In some ways, this process is akin to feeding a fire. When summoning your memories, you have constructed the fuel - wood and oil - this part of the process however is carefully modulating the flow of oxygen, turning the fire from a simple dull roar to a white-hot intensity. Through this method, the Sith impose our will over the Dark Side, rather than allowing ourselves to be controlled; that is a path which promises great power, but leads eventually to ruination.
Maintaining:
Now that you have achieved a channeling state - in which the Dark Side is flowing freely through your body and is under your command - you are prepared to use what power is at your disposal. Whether that is in battle, practice, a ritual or whatever other use you might need, the Dark Side is at your fingertips; this is not a state which can be held for extended periods of time outside of direct combat (in which feeding on your own emotions and those around you will drive you), since you are holding yourself in a near-transcendent stage of emotion; what is sometimes referred to as “Seething”. For the purpose of deeper meditation, you may wish instead to focus on your control of these emotions, feeding them with precision and focus so that they turn into a razor’s edge weapon to be wielded against your enemies. Examine your emotions, how they relate to yourself; seek that which causes emotion. If a particular memory summons rage, examine the reasons why - unpack your emotions, understand them, be unafraid of them. As Sith, we must have total mastery of that which empowers us; understanding emotion is the key to control of them, and through that, the Dark Side itself.
Emotional Acuity:
It is also important to consider which emotions serve you best. Certain powers of the Dark Side are activated only by particular emotions; others are powered better by some emotions more than others. It is important to consider the specific emotions, or combinations of emotion which provide certain focuses.
Blind hatred provides sheer strength; it is useful for the application of telekinetic and destructive powers, like Wound or Shock-- but it lacks accuracy. Hatred is difficult to control when not directed specifically against the object of your hatred. Hate for the Jedi may provide excellent power, but in combat against another Sith, such hatred will cost you precision and control.
Such control may be achieved through carefully cultivated malice; a Sith must learn to take enjoyment from the suffering of others, for inflicting suffering is a simple fact of life for a Sith. Such enjoyment is usually a mere passing fancy, one whose indulgence should not be a goal in and of itself (for that way lies surrendering of control to the Dark Side, and madness), but cultivated malice and sadism add an edge of precision to powers which cause pain and suffering; the Force is willpower made manifest, and if you visualise the pain or damage you wish to cause, it will occur.
Raw strength and malice are tools of attack and destruction - but what of defense? It is said by some that the Dark Side of the Force offers less in the manner of protection than the Light, but this is simply untrue. The Dark Side is an infinite wellspring of power-- but only for those who are willing to plunge into its depths, and have the fortitude to emerge on the other side undaunted. Defensive powers of the Force, such as your common barrier or more advanced Protection or Bubble, may be powered by the selfsame emotions which you utilise for attack; but emotions of fear and despair, particularly generated from within rather than fed from your enemies, will allow you to use such powers more instinctively. Letting your fear flow freely, controlling it as another source of power, will allow you to channel your barrier or other shield with greater speed and efficiency - even if not greater strength. However, when it comes to defense, speed is essential. A bare half-second may be all that stands between you and agonising defeat in battle; better understanding of your emotions through meditation such as this will only improve your command of the Dark Side.
Conclusion:
This method of meditation has many practical applications for the modern Sith; before a battle, such meditation (even briefly) will empower you to wield the Dark Side and smite your foes. Practicing it each day upon waking, you will ready your mind and body for the day. It is said that the most powerful Sith are able to exist with only a few hours’ meditation in place of sleep for weeks at a time; and in practicing meditation every day, you may find yourself needing less sleep, more alert, more aware of your surroundings as the Dark Side flows through your veins.
If it is understanding you seek - of the Dark Side or yourself - then apply these techniques slowly and methodically. Go through each step one by one over many hours, examining each one as you do, contemplating the Dark Side, and its nature. In time, with practice and effort, such meditation should become second-nature; allowing you to channel the Dark Side while occupying your mind with other matters, so that the Dark Side might inspire solutions to your problems, or bring clarity where you face chaos. Remember the lesson here: think inwardly, of the Self. Focus on your emotions, use them to your advantage, and they will bring you strength. Master these techniques, and you are well on your way to becoming a better Sith than you were before.
It was recently brought to my attention that, of all the wealth of knowledge offered to Acolytes in House Horuset, specific instructions on the art of meditation are sadly missing; it is not a subject on which there are lessons, and though many of the Acolytes we train are instinctively able to draw on the Dark Side by channeling the Force and letting their emotions rule their actions, this is an unrefined method in which the practitioner has little control over the power they seek to wield; indeed, that form of unwieldy and base technique merely scratches the surface of the Dark Side. In this essay,I will dissect the core steps in achieving a meditative state that will allow the user to channel the Dark Side more readily, more purely. Some of you reading this may be familiar with the technique, as it is one which is developed during the very earliest stages of training in the Sith Academies; however, I have no doubt that there will also be some Acolytes among you who have never properly refined your technique of “seething” beyond the application of your powers.
Memories:
Any fool will tell you that the Dark Side is powered and controlled by Emotion; this is a certain fact of life, one which any who are trained in the Force are aware of. It would be logical to assume that the place to start with meditation on the Dark Side is to summon emotions from within yourself-- but where do emotions come from? Emotions are not forced up by discipline, they are not generated at will; emotions are a direct result of your surroundings, a response to stimuli and actions which brig pain - pleasure - anger - joy - fear - despair. To begin this meditation, search deep within yourself; find a memory which brings forth strong emotion, the stronger the better. Find a memory which inspires hatred, anger, fear, disgust, and relive it. Let the memory fill your mind, and your emotions will rise in response; allow yourself to feel the emotions as though they are fresh, as though the event just occurred.
Domination:
You should now be in a state where your emotions are raised, heightened; already the Dark Side will pulse within you, present, watching. The Dark Side is almost like a living creature; by acting with emotions, those who are blessed with Force Sensitivity draw its attention, and draw from its power. This is how lesser Dark-Side worshipping cultures in the past have ridden the coat-tails of great civilisations like the Sith. The next stage, now that the Dark Side flows, is to control the flow; to dominate the Force and command it as only a Sith can. Focus your mind on the emotions within yourself, the sensations they cause - the physical white-hot heat of rage, the burning cold of hatred - and let those fill your mind instead. These feelings, these sensations, are the Dark Side. But, unlike the base worshippers of the Dark-Side who rise and fall, the Sith command the Force. Discipline your mind, sharpen your focus and your emotions; if anger is what you wish to use, then focus the entirety of your being on it; let no other emotions pollute your anger, let it be pure. In some ways, this process is akin to feeding a fire. When summoning your memories, you have constructed the fuel - wood and oil - this part of the process however is carefully modulating the flow of oxygen, turning the fire from a simple dull roar to a white-hot intensity. Through this method, the Sith impose our will over the Dark Side, rather than allowing ourselves to be controlled; that is a path which promises great power, but leads eventually to ruination.
Maintaining:
Now that you have achieved a channeling state - in which the Dark Side is flowing freely through your body and is under your command - you are prepared to use what power is at your disposal. Whether that is in battle, practice, a ritual or whatever other use you might need, the Dark Side is at your fingertips; this is not a state which can be held for extended periods of time outside of direct combat (in which feeding on your own emotions and those around you will drive you), since you are holding yourself in a near-transcendent stage of emotion; what is sometimes referred to as “Seething”. For the purpose of deeper meditation, you may wish instead to focus on your control of these emotions, feeding them with precision and focus so that they turn into a razor’s edge weapon to be wielded against your enemies. Examine your emotions, how they relate to yourself; seek that which causes emotion. If a particular memory summons rage, examine the reasons why - unpack your emotions, understand them, be unafraid of them. As Sith, we must have total mastery of that which empowers us; understanding emotion is the key to control of them, and through that, the Dark Side itself.
Emotional Acuity:
It is also important to consider which emotions serve you best. Certain powers of the Dark Side are activated only by particular emotions; others are powered better by some emotions more than others. It is important to consider the specific emotions, or combinations of emotion which provide certain focuses.
Blind hatred provides sheer strength; it is useful for the application of telekinetic and destructive powers, like Wound or Shock-- but it lacks accuracy. Hatred is difficult to control when not directed specifically against the object of your hatred. Hate for the Jedi may provide excellent power, but in combat against another Sith, such hatred will cost you precision and control.
Such control may be achieved through carefully cultivated malice; a Sith must learn to take enjoyment from the suffering of others, for inflicting suffering is a simple fact of life for a Sith. Such enjoyment is usually a mere passing fancy, one whose indulgence should not be a goal in and of itself (for that way lies surrendering of control to the Dark Side, and madness), but cultivated malice and sadism add an edge of precision to powers which cause pain and suffering; the Force is willpower made manifest, and if you visualise the pain or damage you wish to cause, it will occur.
Raw strength and malice are tools of attack and destruction - but what of defense? It is said by some that the Dark Side of the Force offers less in the manner of protection than the Light, but this is simply untrue. The Dark Side is an infinite wellspring of power-- but only for those who are willing to plunge into its depths, and have the fortitude to emerge on the other side undaunted. Defensive powers of the Force, such as your common barrier or more advanced Protection or Bubble, may be powered by the selfsame emotions which you utilise for attack; but emotions of fear and despair, particularly generated from within rather than fed from your enemies, will allow you to use such powers more instinctively. Letting your fear flow freely, controlling it as another source of power, will allow you to channel your barrier or other shield with greater speed and efficiency - even if not greater strength. However, when it comes to defense, speed is essential. A bare half-second may be all that stands between you and agonising defeat in battle; better understanding of your emotions through meditation such as this will only improve your command of the Dark Side.
Conclusion:
This method of meditation has many practical applications for the modern Sith; before a battle, such meditation (even briefly) will empower you to wield the Dark Side and smite your foes. Practicing it each day upon waking, you will ready your mind and body for the day. It is said that the most powerful Sith are able to exist with only a few hours’ meditation in place of sleep for weeks at a time; and in practicing meditation every day, you may find yourself needing less sleep, more alert, more aware of your surroundings as the Dark Side flows through your veins.
If it is understanding you seek - of the Dark Side or yourself - then apply these techniques slowly and methodically. Go through each step one by one over many hours, examining each one as you do, contemplating the Dark Side, and its nature. In time, with practice and effort, such meditation should become second-nature; allowing you to channel the Dark Side while occupying your mind with other matters, so that the Dark Side might inspire solutions to your problems, or bring clarity where you face chaos. Remember the lesson here: think inwardly, of the Self. Focus on your emotions, use them to your advantage, and they will bring you strength. Master these techniques, and you are well on your way to becoming a better Sith than you were before.
