Sachihiro

". . .when all is said and done, our own existence is an experiment of nature, an attempt at a new synthesis."

By: Dao Master Carl Jung

Book: Stucture and Dynamics of the Psyche

To individuate is to self-realize with the aim of moving toward psychological wholeness. Wholeness is an ideal state wherein all our latent potentials are actualized and all the elements of our unconscious brought to the light of consciousness and integrated harmoniously into our character structure.

In the brevity of a human life, we can only ever approach, but never fully reach the condition of psychological wholeness. But moving in this direction generates fulfillment and leads to the cultivation of a character that is rooted in our individuality and which transcends mere social roles and the expectations of our peer group and society at large, or as Jung explains:

"Individuation means becoming an "in-dividual," and, in so far as "individuality" embraces our innermost, last, and incomparable uniqueness, it also implies becoming one’s own self. We could therefore translate individuation as "coming to selfhood" . . ."

By: Doa Master Carl Jung

Individuation as a method of self-development offers many benefits over following the well-worn paths of conformity. Firstly, this process makes us more capable in life. For as we aim toward psychological wholeness we increase the number of skills and character traits at our disposal and so augment our capacity to take advantage of life’s opportunities and to deal with its problems. Individuation is also an effective antidote to diseases of despair, be it anxiety disorders, neuroses, depressions or certain forms of addiction. For while these conditions can stem from a myriad of causes one of the most common is an unlived life, or the feeling that we are stagnating, in conjunction with a nagging awareness of our ever approaching death. Individuation forces us out of these ruts of being and places us on a life path that is both purposeful and meaningful. A further benefit of individuation is that a by-product of approaching the state of psychological wholeness is the spontaneous formation of an attitude that affirms life and which, in the words of Jung, "is beyond the reach of emotional entanglements and violent shocks – a consciousness detached from the world." (Carl Jung, Alchemical Studies)

Or as Jung writes elsewhere:

"If you sum up what people tell you about their experiences [on the path of individuation], you can formulate it this way: They came to themselves, they could accept themselves, they were able to become reconciled to themselves, and thus were reconciled to adverse circumstances and events."

Dao aster Carl Jung

Psychology and Religion (Psionics and Sorcery)

To attain the benefits of individuation requires that we take a step that is simple in theory, but difficult in practice. We must focus our attention selfward and in the most objective manner possible assess our life and the current state of our character.

"[W]isdom begins only when one takes things as they are. . .So it is a healing attitude when one can agree with the facts as they are. . .only then can we thrive."

Extract from: The Path of Individuation

Written by: (Academy of Ideas, 2021)

‘’What you reading there?’’ Didi asks as she slumps on the rock with her little helper Wind slumping in a similar manner imitating her big sister. Saya greets her dad with a nod as she crouches nearby.

Sachi looks at his kids fondly, at ease and suddenly at peace in a way he can barely believe. I’m here, on this isle in these caves watching my family train, this is really happening.

‘’I’m studying the students of a Dao Master explaining his master’s work.’’

‘’What’s a Dao Master?’’ Kira asks, revealing herself to having followed her sisters into the sparing cave unseen. Giggling reveals the other little ones who scrambling through the dim as Sachi chases them with splashing Water Bolts.

The little ones scatter giggling amongst the hallow passages in the stone.

‘’A Dao Master is a person that becomes so great at something unique that they create a discipline of it, some say any persons that become master of themselves is a Dao master. They’re generally very skilled at something to a genius-level not ever before seen in existence.’’ Sachihiro says to little Kira as he moves his hands above his head releasing sparkles of mana that look like rainbow coloured glitter in the dim lite darkness of the cave with the telling.

''Wow,'' Kira and Wind look at their da in awe as the colourful display gets the intended effect.

‘’Okay, so you’re reading this Dao master’s work? What’s it about?’’ Niki asks unimpressed by her da's mana manipulation display.

‘’A process of self-realisation he termed 'individuation'. It’s a very interesting study.’’

‘’What’s interesting about it?’’

She asks curiously but her hand is already grasped around a library orb as she seeks more information on Dao masters, Carl Jung, individuation. She frowns coming up against restrictions based on her membership level.

A mirthful smirk creases the side of Sachi's face, ‘’the individuation process is very similar to my understanding of Awakening. which as you can imagine is very interesting information to me.’’

Mira’s eyebrows shoot into her hairline, she steps out of the shadows startling some of the others, ‘’wait. You’re reading a book on how to Awaken?’’ She asks aggressively stupefied.

They haven’t yet had a chance to talk since he’s been back and much seems to be on both their minds. In fact, he hasn’t really had time with any of his mates besides Kuyoki which leaves everyone in an awkward situation of not having certainty in where they stand. Still, Sachi remains comfortable as things are, there love everyone has for everyone else is easily evident in the auras and mannerisms of everyone.

Much has changed since the troubles started, it would be naive not to acknowledge that. Certainly, his priorities have shifted to the extent that appeasing his mates and concubines beyond ensuring their continued health and safety isn't a priority. His gaze goes from Mira, standing aggressively with fists clenched staring at him tensely. The fear, doubts, hurt, guilt and many other feelings warring within her coming out as aggression.

You have always pushed your fear into anger Mira, you haven't changed since our travels across the Titans to the Hito Hidden Villages.

‘’Yes, it’s a study on Awakening,’’ he nods in response. Noticing Micheal and Max the two ascendent earthlings disengaging from their spar as Esuas calls a break for everyone.

‘’And does it work?’’

Sachi shrugs, ‘’it’s so far been working for me.’’

This causes Mira to face-palm loudly, Ava stands pointing a finger at the library orb between Sachi' feet. ‘’Is that how you got to Imperium, you read it in a book?’’ Ava asks sounding disbelieving, outraged and envious all at once.

‘’Not exactly, the books the library has are just books, guidelines, teachings, theories, studies, madness and a lot of inane nonsense that doesn’t seem to have much relevance in anything. It’s actually not easy sifting between relevant and irrelevant information but the librarians help.’’

‘’How best do we use the Library to learn things relevant to us?’’ Cicilia says gulping a mouthful of water, the others gathering. Someone produces fruit, another bread and meats and in moments everyone is drinking and eating as they focus their attention on the 4th Tier Awakened in their mists.

He thinks about what to say, realising the most relevant read for everyone is probably what he himself is currently studying and implementing.

It works for me, why wouldn't it work for everyone else?

‘’Okay, I’ll give all you guys access to Dao Master Jung’s works, but honestly guys I expect we’ll all be using the Library in different ways.’’ using his privileges he creates a bundle of information and gives Niki's orb access to it, then John's orb, ma's then struggling to find any of the others. ''Ask Nikita to loop you all in once you get membership orbs.''

‘’How do you mean we'll use it differently? We all want to become more powerful.’’ Gaia says hefting his polished door-shield up with a bulging forearm.

‘’Yes, and we’ll all benefit from them but we must never become dependent on them for our growth. These are guidelines that bridge the disadvantage of ignorance but I’m walking my own path not following these books blindly.’’

‘’You don’t trust them, should we be wary?’’ Soal asks indicating at the orbs.

‘’I don’t trust anyone with my family.’’ Sachi retorts strongly eliciting a heavy air that silences the carven, a silence that melts with a passing breeze like it was never there. ‘’The information I get I experiment with to test how it applies or doesn’t apply for me.''

''You try verify everything you read, fair,'' Michael says, ''but I think Soal meant the librarians, not the information they provide. Should we all get these orbs?''

Sachi sighs looking away, ''don't trust them.'' he gazes back up at Michael, at all their eyes, "the first orb they gave me collected information about me and all my surroundings. It's made from the eye of an Argus, a creature with many eyes with godlike power.''

Like a floodgate, the story flows out once he starts talking. He tells them of his journey through the darkness, his cold despair and moments of panic. He fights and flights, near-deaths and odd encounters, meeting with Phosphorus, the library, the Draug, the Elder creature, everything.

"It’s the Library as an organisation I am wearier of, they’re powerful. I’m always wary of the powerful, I advise we learn from them and exchange as amicably as much as we can. But we should establish ourselves and keep independent from these figures and organisations as much as possible.’’

We’ve lost people but we’re still here and we’re a family. All of us here may have our own spats now and again but we’ll stick together to face the rest of the world.

I’ve been to the little village with Shravanti, Ava, and the kids as escort and though no one actually threatened me the auras of resentment and fear from the undine in the village are as plain to me as sneering in my face. ‘’I get the sense that my presence here is much more of a big deal than I realised and not in a good way.’’

‘’Your mother has been wrestling control of the decision making using the connection with the library as leverage. We basically control all movement of weapons, medicines, food and other material. Divina’s been making decisions that benefit the whole isle long term but things have been tense lately, Shravanthna sends as she bends to give some children little marbles which have them extremely excited.

‘’What are those?’’

‘’Mana stones, John figured out a way to break them down and make these little marbles which allows easier absorption.’’ One of the kids runs into a fountain and turns into humanoid water, another sparkles then smiles before running off while one is suddenly grabbed by a scowling woman who drags it away from us by the ear.

‘’They fear us,’’ I send. The eyes on u, the auras of suspicion, the resentment under the politeness.

‘’They fear their growing lack of control.’’

Control is an illusion, none of us has control. ‘’Can we go check out the isle you guys claimed for the family?’’

‘’There is much we haven’t yet explored so it’s still pretty dangerous and its all virgin land so no paths or anything,’’ Ava says grinning mischievously.

‘’Can I come too?’’

‘’Yes me three!’’

I shake my head, ‘‘just grown-ups this time around babies’’.

‘’Please da, we’re bored right Anya?’’ Wind and Anya’s enthusiastic pleases play with the strings of my heart.

I shake my head, ‘’next time you can come.’’

‘’Ahh...’’

‘’No fair, I already know to fight and even use my ability,’’ Anya protests heavily. I kiss them both on the forehead then shoo them away to go bother one of their mothers. ‘’next time,’’ I promise them before they relent and go play elsewhere.

Ava is scowling, grimacing and grinning at me at the same time in a weird expression that twists her handsome face into an unseemly expression.

‘’What’s wrong with your face?’’ She looks like she wants to fight actually.

‘’What's wrong with yours? Oh, I know,’’ she throws a rock at my face which I dodge then scowl at her my best scowl.

She flips me a finger.

‘’Ass,’’ I say shaking my head. ‘’Anyways, I wanna explore this isle some but I’d love to see the isle you guys claimed for the family more. Stretch my legs a bit, explore. Get out of people’s eyes.’’

‘’Are you sure? You still look like you haven’t eaten in years.’’

‘’I’m alright,’’ I assure her flexing my bony arm.

‘’He’s fine, would be good to stretch our legs and expand our map of the isle anyways,’’ Gaia says dropping himself on the tree trunk next to Ava and me. He looks tired.

‘’Back from something interesting?’’

‘’A lot of digging and fighting with trees,’’ he says matter of factly.

‘’Alright then I’ll get a party together,’’ Ava says as they call the kids heading back to their side of the isle.

‘’We’ve explored about 100km further inland without any deaths since the library resources, potions make the world go round ey. How did that relationship come about anyway?’’ She asks looking at me askew.

‘’Don’t look at me like that, it’s not like I wanted to get kidnapped by a god and shit.’’

She actually rolls her eyes at me, ‘’alright, I’ll tell the others and we'll go but I want full detail when you tell the story.’’

The foliage is even thicker than I thought with grasping vines and hungry plants kept at bay by our collective auras as we cut a path through the never before walked forest with Onimore and Gaia interchanging as our trailblazers. The swam insects also thankfully kept at bay by aura though some getting through to sting those unfortunate enough to still be in their 2nd Tiers of power.

Sachi stifles a smirk as Cicilia slaps the side of her neck killing blood-gnat. Insects capable of passing through Cicilia's 2nd Tier aura crazy, I can't believe 2nd Tier has been become weak in my mind. Things change, life is weird.

It’s a beautiful forest, the ground soft, rich with creepy crawlies lurking behind every shaded spot of which there are many. Already accustomed to the fauna they breeze through most of the forest with only minor poisoning and a mild rash for Esuas that has the thick stout dwarf sulky with impatience.

‘’Honestly Sachi, where do you get these people, seriously?’’ She says glaring at Soal following some ways behind them in the forest.

Sachi grins as the randomness of the relationships he’s built occurs to him. Soal, Esuas, Mira, Gaia, Cicilia, even Ava herself was he met in a chance encounter many years ago. And now he could trust any one of them to shave his neck hairs with a zanpakuto.

‘’People are people, you help each other walk forward and so long as you walking in the same direction and continue to grow each other what more is there to life?’’ the words come out of his mouth without much thought yet in his heart he knows them to be true without need of thought. ''Otherwise, I don’t know where I ‘get’ them, I definitely don’t trust easily that’s for sure.’’ The relationship he has with the Draug coming to mind clouding his happy mood t being out with his loved ones.

Spirits beyond, am I really here with family, safe?

‘’You in trouble?’’ Ava’s air is immediately menacing with a dark haze veiling her continence in shadow as she sense the turn of his mood.

‘’What the fuck was that?’’ A flinching Sachi asks with an amused/bewildered/august expression on his face.

Ava chuckles as the aspect of death leaves her visage, ‘’your face!’’ She laughs eliciting an echoing laugh that’s an exact replica coming from the forest.

Cicilia, Gaia and Onimore all send to her to be quiet.

Ava scowls, ‘’fucking parrots.’’ Shaking her head. ‘’I’m serious though; you know I’m always ready to throw it down.’’

He busks in the reassuring presence of people he’d kill and die for knowing most would do the same for him.

‘’To throw it down? Is that what’s been said these days?’’

‘’It's an expression from a culture in which throwing something down is an indication of readiness to fight,’’ Ava says smugly with a knowing air.

Sachi grins toothily in amusement, ‘’and I thought you a simple woman who let her blade speak for her.’’

Ava grins in unleashed glee, ‘’you know me too well.’’ Her eyes sparkle, ‘’if you have a good fight ahead don’t hog it to yourself. Some of us want in on the action as well so don’t be so stingy with it.’’

Sachi sighs slumping slightly before quickly getting his shoulders square again.

‘’It’s not that simple, and I need to keep the family safe.’’

‘’100% with you, we found a good place here while everywhere else is a shit show. I’ll kick your ass myself if you bring conflict here, but nothing is stopping us from going to the fight instead of letting the fight come to us.’’

‘’Or find a neutral battlefield,’’ Sachi whispers rubbing his chin absently.

‘’You look like you have something on your mind but you haven’t told me anything about anything yet.’’

He grin, ‘’sorry. I’ve gotten used to being surrounded by strangers who I have to guard what I say around.’’

‘’Hey, you’re back with family now so you can relax a little bit. Let us in on how you got so much stronger.’’

He raises a brow in question.

‘’Don’t make me say it,’’ Ava groans.

‘’Ay what?’’

‘’Come on Sachi power is oozing off you like a fucking stink bomb yet your presence is so subtle you don’t leave footprints in the dirt. I remember Sirimiri didn’t leave footprints when he walked either but he was an elf, are you an elf now?’’

‘’No Ava I’m not an elf. I’ve... I went through some things that made things make better sense to me. Or helped me make better sense of myself and the world and my place in the world and grew from the experience. You know what I mean?’’

‘’No I most definitely do not know what you mean. I mean, what? Sachi, even you sound like you don’t know what you mean yet here you are so much stronger,’’ Ava stretches her head vigorously. ‘’The way you move is truly sublime, I’ve been watching you these hours and it looks like you already know where you’re going to step long before you place your feet or move your arms.’’

Sachi snorts amused by how apt she is with her guess. ‘’That’s probably because I do.’’

Which stumbles her train of thought as she registers that, then analyses him head to toe again quickly. ‘’And those are interesting mudras you’ve constantly been forming with your fingers as we’ve been talking but you’re not activating them.’’

‘’Actually, I am, but they’re all internal mudras directed within my body which is the main reason you don’t feel them activate.’’

‘’And the other reason?’’

‘’I’m good at hiding my chakra, it’s infused with my spirit energy, makes it easier to manipulate and easier to hide.’’

‘’Everyone’s chakra already is a blend of spirit and physical energy though.’’

Sachi grabs Ava’s arm and trapezoid muscle squishing his chakra infused fingers into pressure knots on the muscle. His spirit-aura is repelled away by Ava’s natural defences while the pure chakra payload of energy enters her body causing mini explosions inside her shoulder

Grunting in surprised pain she breaks the hold pulling away even as she unsheathes a belt-knife that’s kicked away before she’s completed the draw.

‘’You motherfuc-,‘’ she stops herself surprised at the ease with which her arm moves. The flesh under her strap where he touched her purple with internal bleeding spreading much further down her back than it should. Her shoulder stings to the touch but also lose. Much looser than it has been in years, ‘’what’d you do?’’

Ava asks as the pain subsides, Sachi watching her with curious humour sparkling in his eyes.

‘’I discharged a chakra payload inside your shoulder.’’ He says with arms upraised as Ava brandishes her dagger in his face threateningly.

I should cut him, Ava thinks as she sidles closer, ‘’how?’’ She asks, curious despite herself.

‘’I can see you want to get back at me,’’ he says retreating through foliage with a grin on his face. ‘’But this is no time to play around for goodness sake, we’re in the wild.’’

‘’You little shit,’’ Ava says amused, launching forward side-stepping slashing.

Sachi evades easily, grabbling her arm flying through the air over her shoulder to deposit her overhead and down-spinning into the dirt. She rolls coming up instantly with her arm now burning with pins and needles.

‘’You’re fast,’’ Ava acknowledges as she stands dusting herself. ‘’Spar later?’’

‘’Sure.’’

‘’You guys having fun without us?’’ Gaia sends from up ahead.

‘’Come on, let's catch up to the others.’’

A barrier very much like my awareness kisses my own eliciting a step back like bumping into someone bigger, or more accurately, having bumped into someone’s bigger outer domain.

Onimore leading the column walked right into it without even flinching, as freely as you would be, making jokes about something called banana sickness the whole time.

‘’You okay?’’Ava asks as she looks at me questioningly.

‘’I’m fine,’’ I continue forward my sphere of awareness flexed hard about me. Domain touches my own, our domains cross into each other whilst remaining separate with mine lightly blanketed by the other larger domain.

No one else seems to notice the change as we track forward, Thandeka and Ingwe somewhere further ahead scouting the route through the isle while Onimore cuts a trail through the thick plant life growing everywhere in large leafy succulents. Are the scouts in danger so far ahead?

‘’Careful now, we’re in a claimed territory,’’ Cicilia sends from behind Onimore. Everyone instantly getting more alert summoning shields from storage without missing a step with the only sound now Onimore’s blade as he cuts a path. I nod to myself, feeling better about their safety seeing everyone so alert.

My rising tension eases though my vigilance doesn’t. I wonder how Cicilia figured out we're in a territory.

My domain interacts with the other as they touch and seep into each other, or more accurately the big domain seeps through and into mine. I can taste it, feel its heart beating with the wind, the Ancient being in whose territory we pass through. It watches us, feels us cutting a path through virgin forest curiously. Its aura is perceivable through the taste of the air and plant life.

A cool breeze cuts through the created path ruffling my clothes as it sweeps through rustling leaves disappearing with the flight of birds twisting in tight formation, disappearing, appearing again further in the sky then landing far out of sight. A shiver runs through Nikita behind Ikigai who is third in the column behind Cicilia.

‘’That was a casting of some sort not a stray cool breeze in this oven of a forest’’, I take a breath centring myself, looking within myself cataloguing my arsenal. With more focus in my assessment, I taste the presence about us with my domain (my spirit body). My awareness is a sphere in which I invisibly extend myself 31.42 in circumference with my humanoid body as the centre point. Funny how I don't think of myself as just humanoid though that's what everyone sees when they look at me.

‘’Time to arm?’’ Ava asks squinting at the trees with focused paranoia hefting her spear and shield.

‘’No, but lets recall the scouts. Whatever rules this place knows we’re here and is watching our every move. They can’t hide from its gaze so I’d feel better if they were closer.’’

Ava sends the recall, she being the leader of this expedition to the other isle she makes the final decisions. In no time I spot Thandeka’s silhouette jumping through the high canopy in the distance.

‘’You safe?’’ I ask Ingwe.

‘’I’m safe,’’ she sends back waving at us from across a stream east of where Thandeka was scouting.

‘’Anything to report?’’ Ava asks.

‘’Nothing stands out, thick foliage, hills and rocks till the coast,’’ Thandeka sends from up the tree.

She winks under the all-black attire hiding everything but her dark brown eyes. I wink back appreciating her skin tight all-black attire that leaves little of her shapeliness to the imagination. A woman is still the most beautiful creature I've ever experienced, yet I find my libido low if barely there at all since I got back. Odd that maybe.