The Bastions of the Veil
Integrity
That which makes us whole
Integrity is the greatest of all virtues; it is the unity of all bastions of the Veil of the Waking Dream. It is the ultimate code and discipline. Integrity is having the courage to be true in all aspects.
Be honest with yourself and others. Keep your word, and never make promises you do not intend to keep. Place duty above all else; duty first to your creator, second to your family, and third to your cause. Do not act for your own self-interest. Offer sound advice to those who need it. Strive for humility, realizing that you are a tiny speck in this massive universe. Seek great stature of character by holding to your virtues and duties, realizing that the act of striving towards these ideals ennobles the spirit, and elevates the character.
Respect
The most desired gem
Treat others with honor and as you would wish to be treated yourself. Show deference, esteem and reverence to your Elders, never speaking ill of them in public. Issue respect as well to all others no matter if their social status is inferior or equal to your own; greet them always proper and courteously. Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, instead let others do this for you, inspired by your commendable deeds. It is only by giving that you will receive.
Respect the Household and the Members by keeping strict confidence and silence about all that transpires between the Family, both with family business as well as with personal interactions; seeking only an 'outside' ear when 'outside' mediation is required.
Loyalty
The tether of blood
Be known for your unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. Value your family as you value yourself, understanding that this is a pact of faith which you will need courage to keep to. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them. Seek always to defend and protect your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty. Be aware that you must act in accordance with the wishes of your Sire, who must in turn act in accordance with the wishes of their Elders. Observe the needs of those close to you, and give freely of yourself; self-sacrifice is the greatest symbol of loyalty.
Honesty
The solemn oath
Honesty is more than always telling the truth, it is also being true and real. Be true to yourself so that in turn you can be true to others. Know who you are and what you are capable of accomplishing. Be not two-faced, or say one thing and do another. Deceit, dissembling or duplicity of any kind is a dishonest act. .Be genuine, sincere and truthful in all your words and deeds. Above all, be honest about the intent and direction of the Household and its membership. Never take that which is not freely given. Be responsible and trustworthy in all your endeavors. Your reputation, recognition and distinction in our House and the society as a whole depend more on honesty than perhaps on any other bastion of the Veil of the Dreaming.
Accountability
The buttress of life
Every action has a reaction. Be responsible for your actions and the affect they may have on others. Choose your guides well, for your path, however inspired by others, is still your path. There is always, at least, an option. Choose carefully and be responsible for your choice. Offer sincere apologies and try always to atone for a misdeed. Accept and recognize justice as a form of compassion and honesty, we all must face the reality that there are consequence for every thing we do. Seek always the higher path, unencumbered by bias or personal gain.
Wisdom
The noblest end
To seek and understand the truth and knowledge of time. While you are born with intelligence, wisdom is acquired throughout life. A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from others’.
Practice discretion and prudence. Stand for order and justice; however, you must prioritize and streamline your involvement, and do not allow the misdeeds of the few to interfere with or taint your conscious direction. Souls choose their own particular destiny and path by the alliances they keep. Strive to create and preserve an atmosphere where justice can flourish, rather than creating justice. Be mindful of what lies behind and what lies ahead, and prepare for the parlor with destiny. The journey we call life is a vast array of perpetual challenges. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these bastions of the Veil of the Waking Dream. Remember that there is always something else to learn.
Acumen
The wisest path
Use the insight from the heart and the mind's eye. Make your decisions not just with your mind, but with all your senses. Feel each situation with all your being. Practice seeing the unseen, and sensing that which others can't. Chose carefully your thoughts, words and actions and never go against your inner feelings. Realize that everything in the world is interconnected by a sensitive spider web. Learn to foresee the emanating ripples in the pond. Be aware and receptive to alternative ideas, possibilities, reactions, motives and intentions.
There are inherent temptations that create conflict between nature and the mind, which may urge you to fall onto easier paths. Strive to avoid these trenches trenches and distractions at all costs, no matter how tempting. Focus your efforts on developing and maintaining harmony within yourself and between all things.
Fortitude
The impenetrable rock
Develop the strength of will to fight against any odds for what you know in your heart to be right. Do not hesitate in taking the more difficult path, if it is the higher nobler path. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. Courage and strength are needed when taking the side of truth in all matters; always avoid the expedient lie. Be prepared to put aside fear, regret, and uncertainty and act, retreat, surrender or perish. We all fear, but fortitude and valor shine through when we face our challenges head on, regardless of how afraid we may feel. Act fearlessly upon what you believe to be right. Fearlessness does not mean arrogance or aggressiveness; it presupposes calmness and peace of mind. Practice courage until it becomes who you are. Practice equanimity, which is to experience changes and be unmoved through calm composure. Develop the strength to remain untainted and unmoved in your path by others choices, actions and words. Have the strength to accept and embrace who you are.
Resolve
The fired bolt
Do not waver for too long. Do not hesitate in beginning your journey or bringing an issue to conclusion, change or removal. Strive to excel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and put these in motion instantly. Focus in the moment, in the now, realizing that the stylus of time cuts in the present and that history is perpetually in the making. The past is important, so is the future, but not at the expense of the present. It is true that actions speak louder than words; however, behind every action there is a motive and a purpose. Without a sound motive and purpose, action has no meaning, no destination, and lacks foundation. Focus on your path or task at hand, leaving behind all those things that waste your time with futility.
Temperance
The discipline of the soul
Cultivate clarity, balance, and calmness of the mind and heart. Realize that it is in conquering the tides of emotions and over-reactions that success ensues in all things. This inner stillness requires much patience, practice and discipline: mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Over indulgence is a weakness; these moments should be kept private, few and far between. Moderation in all things is the greatest sign of temperance. Know thyself, your capabilities and your limitations; take strides within your personal boundaries, pacing yourself to insure success in all your endeavors.
Conflict is a fact of life, but you need not embrace conflict. Detest violence; and reluctantly engage in resolving conflict with hostility as a last resort, only when all other attempts at resolution have failed. Strive to be patient with those whose sight is obfuscated, and even more so with those that oppose you. Realize that your perspective is special and unique. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, pride with humility, and your dreams with your reality.
Compassion
The noblest means
Compassion is the virtue of love. Love and respect others as you would like to be loved and respected. Show thoughtful consideration in your actions and in your speech at all times. Always place the needs of others on the same plane as your own needs. Demonstrate kindness and sympathy towards others suffering, striving to help whenever possible. Realizing that sometimes, those in need, are beyond help and that external help only goes so far, those that suffer the most often need to help themselves.
Presence
The subtle magnet
Carry yourself with poise and others will perceive you well. Conduct yourself at all times in a manner which is befitting one who claims to be honorable and genuine. Mind the proper etiquette, show kindness and lenience to those around you. Speak always in a kind and mature manner, refraining from profanity in public and abstaining from derogatory comments directed towards others. Keep confidences and discretion, not everyone needs to know everything. Allow others to share their views first, and then present your own in gentle terms. Understand that unlike our family, others do not accept individuality and free thought so readily, and you may be confronted on your differences. Handle that too with gentle terms. Always be aware that others could be watching you, waiting to find flaws which can be used against your character. Always conduct yourself in a manner that presents an honorable, kind, fearless, and generous image.
Introspection
The only recourse
Look deeply into the mirror; see yourself as no other can.
Face the beast within your heart; your fear, faults and frailties too. Accept and appreciate your ways; know well the creature that you are. Look in from the outside and see what others see in you. Choose and question what you think, ponder wisely what you say, aim and point your every action, and seek always to improve. Seek excellence in all endeavors; seeking strength to be used in the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement. Our path is a deep personal ideology of existence. It is a meaningful journey of the soul to fully embrace the Darkness, where we see our true nature as an intrinsic part of a larger whole, and stand to claim our own rightful place in symbiosis.
We are all born searching for something deeper than what can be seen or felt. It is thru introspection that we can truly embrace this search. Spend time meditating each day on your thoughts, words and actions; recognizing a mistake soon after may still allow time to make amends. Insure that emotion, ignorance, nor blind passion has intruded upon your clarity by regularly examining your motivations.