16. Semyaz says:

I've got a question for you guys: Do you think that, as Winger said, in the 18th century a wolf dæmian would be the stereotypical wolf of the time or do you think that person would settle as something that actually fit their personality as if they had all the scientific facts about it? This is assuming that dæmonons are corporeal and that we're not just making extremely educated and often correct guesses.

Just wanted to add that I think, like you, that they would settle as something that objectively fit them. I believe dæmons can take forms unknown to us, but even if they couldn't, the dæmon would probably take a form they knew fit, not one where the mere stereotype fit. But still, if Lyra's experience in any indication, they don't control what their dæmon settles as. It's not a conscious effort - it just happens. Sometimes they don't even recognize the animal, but that doesn't change the fact that it's right. Even if observers can't name the animal, just by watching the two together they would feel how right it was. Even if they couldn't call out 'marten,' they would agree that a large weasel was fitting (or a wild canine, or a small wild cat, etc).

I've argued in the past that our own dæmons do the same thing, even if I can't explain it. But evidence certainly points to that. We've just had so many dæmons take what is supposedly an unknown form, and at times even settle as it. So I don't think familiarity matters so much as the facts.

As for forms dying out...? I don't know. If dæmons can become an unknown animal, why not an unknown mythic? Only problem is the person would likely think they made the form up and try to make their dæmon become something else. Plus, I think even if a dæmon could possibly be an obscure mythic and have it work, there is probably a real animal out there that works even better. A real animal out competes an old mythic when it comes to amount of available information, and that means the more it can describe you. :)



17. Asking me if I'll stop talking to Rookie is like asking me if I'll grow out of blinking. Not only is it beneficial, but it's second-nature to me. His random comments in my mind are not something that cause effort or strain. Without my conscious effort, Rookie is just there. Never in our eight years together have I 'forgotten' about him for any period of time, so I see no reason to believe when I'm older that'd suddenly happen. Internal dialogue is natural to me now, and I feel empty without it. I'd have to once again get used to a different way of thinking, and though it's possible, I see no advantage. Rookie is not a need or an aide that I'll shed when the time comes. He's just... me. He's my best friend. Why let go of that when there's no reason to? Sure, he might become more subdued through the decades along with me, but he's not one to go silent. And as they say, use it or lose it -- so long as I keep stimulating myself mentally, my voice of reason will also be active. Plus, if he keeps singing to every freakin' song I hear, I'll never get rid of him. ;)



18. I believe dæmon forms should be universal, in that people can garner information about you just from knowing about the animal. If you met someone settled as, say, a horse, and they weren't anything like a horse, we'd notice that something was wrong there, and that the animal wasn't a sufficient reflection of who they are. We shouldn't need to inquire as to why someone is settled as a fox, because fox is clearly right for them. We know it's right, and they know it's right, even if to fully understand why they have to do some research and introspection. Trying to go merely off the symbolism of a real animal is, to me, making excuses, and you shouldn't need to make excuses for your true form. A form that only matches in folklore only matches you on the surface, and doesn't describe all the depth underneath. Sure, someone settled as a snake might be perceived to be conniving and cruel, but who are they really? For that you need an analysis (in one form or another) of the animal's habits. Anything else rings hollow. Plus symbolism can change from culture to culture, but you yourself are static, just like the facts. =/ In America we might say someone with a cow dæmon is slow and lazy, whereas in the Middle East that same person would quickly earn everyone's respect. But no matter where they went they would still be... a cow, with all that the form incorporates. Symbolism doesn't even need to fit you, though for some people the additional info fills in the gaps. And what about where the stereotype doesn't actually fit the animal? (Owls are wise?) Again, you'd be projecting a false image for all to see. The settled form isn't supposed to fit you because of a handful of facts, it's supposed to describe who you are as an individual, and it takes at least the animal's entire range of behaviors to do so. Basically, I believe the settled form is supposed to reflect from with-out, not just from within. If it were only about personal interpretation anyone could be a dragon or a wolf. ;)



19. And, ah, I've got something I've kind of been stewing on for a while, and seeing as this thread is very vaguely relevant I'm going to use the opportunity to get it out. I realise some people may feel targeted by this, but I'm tired of the diplomacy dance, so you may have to just bear with the bitchiness this time =P I think I've saved up enough good karma that I can let loose a little.

Some of you may (or...maybe not) have noticed my general habit of protesting every time someone mentions ye olde analysis interpretation of rare form equals rare/unique person. Yet it still happens a lot. It's still on a bunch of analyses, it's still brought up regularly, and I just don't think there's a proper understanding of just how vehement I - and perhaps others - am about this, and why we feel so strongly.

I am a coyote-soul. Nothing more. There are no unusual markings on Killy, not even in the ever popular eye colour, and his stature is perfectly average. He's not a crossbreed, nor a colour morph, nothing. Ain't a single physical attribute about him that could be referred to as atypical, let alone unique.

And by that regular analysis interpretation, this means I would be lumped in the category of common. After all, if I'm not rare or unique, that's all that's left, right? Nothing special, just another faceless figure in a crowd of faceless figures.

So am I simply angry because my daemon's form, and thus myself, don't fall under the supposed category of unique? Well yes! Of course I bloody am! How do you expect me to feel when people are practically telling me all the time that I'm worth less? Of course no one would call me worthless, no, but it seems perfectly acceptable to label me as worth less. It gets to the point where it feels as though the worldly population is divided into those special higher unique people, and then us regular old commoners. Quotas are drawn up on the forum dictating how many of...colour morphs and rare forms there are allowed to be, preserving that uniqueness. But do we have the right to do that? Just because you somehow got here first, you get the right to set limits on others? Coincidence shouldn't be allowed to have that much effect.

Rare = unique seems like the most basic, and derogatory, interpretation available, when to my eye there are others that make more sense and don't involve shunting someone sideways. See, with me, I don't immediately stand out in a crowd. I'm a conservative dresser, I'm not hugely outgoing in new situations, I don't have the kind of personality that shouts "LOOKIT MEEE!", I'm not a dynamic person, I'm quiet and fairly placid. My reputation is built on negotiating and wariness, rather than in-your-face vitality. That's how I interpret it; and I'm happy with it because it's who I am and I'm quite proud of who I am, flaws and unnoticability and all.

But when someone tells me I'm not unique, it's a different thing. It's also wrong. There can be a hundred coyotes on this forum and we will all be different. We will have different parents, different life experiences, different degrees of personality. Though there is overlapping across the human population, we each have different lives. In our entirety, we are all unique.

So I hate this constant misconception with every fibre of my being, and I wish we could erase it altogether. I mean, a fair while ago someone - yes, someone with a 'rare' daemon form - told me they did believe some people were more unique than others and, though I'm sure it was not their intention, I felt thoroughly belittled. Honestly, truthfully, the insinuation is one of the few things that deeply offends me. If someone told me they thought I was ugly, it would hurt quite sharply, but in a superficial way. This feels like everything I am is being dismissed as uninteresting, and it hurts in a deep way that builds up all this resentment and frustration and general pissed off inside me.

Thus I'd really, really appreciate it if people took just a little more time, put a little more thought in, and instead of going "rare animal = unique", think about why they are rare. Are they hunted? Slow breeders? Losing habitat? Rather shy?

It would mean a lot to those of us who aren't as noticeable.


I no longer think a rare settled form should be taken as "unique," because like Winger said, we're all unique. Dæmon forms express that whether it's a robin or a unicorn. I figure forms like the latter just might indicate a person who stands out more - turns heads, finds it difficult to fade into the backdrop. Or you need to look at the reasons why an animal is rare and interpret that.



20. Sorry to nag, but I still don't see what the issue is. >> Unless you believe a form can still be the "right one" without anyone seeing that animal in you, without the facts about the animal fitting, without it really fitting period, so long as it makes you warm and fuzzy inside... we probably agree. But if you do think the form is completely arbitrary - that someone can be a lone wolf - then I question why everyone's settled form here would fit them, and that we can readily agree that it fits them. If the form has no significance other than showing you who you WANT to be, or making you feel good, that sounds more like a totem or spirit guide. But the dæmon form is supposed to represent you. The point of this philosophy is that the settled form helps you understand and love who you really are, the good and bad. It's about self-discovery. This is lost if you're in denial and the form you cling to doesn't even match with your personality; it's analogous to trying to be someone you aren't instead of maturing. We shouldn't have to make excuses, but be able to proudly say, 'This is me.' But if you believe we choose a form - it doesn't choose us - they are nothing more than imaginary friends. And maybe that's how some of you feel, but part of what ties this community together is the significance of the true form. Without that being relevant, we're just Head Voices R Us. When it comes to the definition of what dæmons are, none of us will have the same exact answer, so what are we left with?

Understand that it's rather insulting to those of us who care about what our settled form represents to say, 'It doesn't matter.' My Rannock could not be a pink unicorn or a sand piper or a raccoon and have it amount to the same thing. =/ We are a black coyote for a reason, because it fits. Formal analysis doesn't matter. We know it fits us, and everyone else knows it fits us. We constantly discover new ways that it fits us. Our essence screams coyote. For anyone who does not resonate with Coyote to say they are one, too, there's something wrong there. They're not being true to themselves and everyone would know it.

And I wish everyone would stop attacking analyses. No one here believes their own analysis should fit someone with that sort of dæmon perfectly. That's not what they're for. Lynx and cheetah, when looking at a written analysis, fit me very well, but we're still coyote. Not because of some line of text, but because I can see with my own eyes, with my own heart, how the facts translate to fit who I've become. With us and the coyote it's a continuous journey, and I feel that one with the cheetah form would end prematurely. It wouldn't be right for us. When I write an analysis of a red fox, for example, it's not supposed to be 'This is everything there is to know about a red fox.' It's my personal summary on how I'd interpret the fox form, though I try to do it objectively so it's useful to many foxes out there. I believe a fox dæmian should identify with the majority of the analysis because, like I said, it's a summary on how foxes behave and all that. It's for settled individuals who are curious about what their settled form represents, or to help unsettleds see if a form is way off the mark. Analyses aren't necessary, they're just fun. But I firmly believe "personal analyses" are necessary. If you know the animal acts nothing like you, it's not the true form.

So to pretend this is mildly on topic, I fear that some people have the totally wrong idea about analyses. =P



21. Interestingly enough, the subjective qualities about you (i.e. other's opinions), are often represented well by the animal's stereotype which is also wholly subjective. But I believe when it comes to our opinions of ourselves we can be a lot more objective. I am shy around strangers, I don't like crowds, I'm possessive... This is what I see in myself, and it's fact. But we subjectively interpret facts about an animal, right? I don't patiently hunt mice like a coyote, I just use that as a reference and through time find out what it means to me. And since analyzing is subjective, a lot of the representation can be subjective, but what we're basing everything off of is FACTS about the actual animal. (I didn't create Man or end immorality like the indians say Coyote did.) I couldn't rightfully call myself a coyote if the basic, fundamental aspects of that animal didn't fit. Culture just doesn't come into play as much for both the objective and subjective aspects. Maybe that's because society's views of an animal vary so wildly from culture to culture - but then again, not everyone feels the same way about us, so the wide range of opinions fits in that respect.

...........

I'm blown away that anyone would think culture is more important than the truth about the animal. o.O Especially as someone who's written dozens and dozens of analyses... If analyses were more about culture, you're taking away the real substance of that form, leaving it with fairy tales. Your dæmon might as well be a cartoon character. We've found that it's often the facts about the animal that fit so well, and it's the culture's opinion of the animal that fits less so. After seeing so many say 'Um, I'm not like that, but people think I am,' I started phrasing folklore facts that way. =/ And it makes sense that this would be the case.. The facts about the animal are FACTS about you - culture's way of viewing the animal fits the way the majority views you, but it's not necessarily accurate. I figure the cases where folklore would fit best is when the archetype is based off actual traits the animal displays.. like a 'yote being cunning, for example. ^~ But seriously. Others and I have stopped writing such traits as objective because they usually don't work. Research on the animal's real habits is what makes up the heart of any good analysis, whereas another based entirely off legend is going to be off the mark.

Bob's [cat] dæmon wouldn't change if he moved to Egypt. =/ Outside influences don't change your personality or your soul, which for him is that of a feline. In Egypt people would respect him based on THEIR view of cats, in America people would assume he has a superiority complex. :) That's it.

edit: Also, if this is true, I guess Leu must be OMGZ EVIL [having a snake dæmon], Raven brings death [having a raven dæmon], and all our forum wolves are actually mysterious, blood-thirsty loners, instead of sociable, nurturing, and shy like real wolves. Mmyep.

And how many people in Personal Interpretations said, "This is how people view the animal, but it doesn't fit the real me"?



22. I'd figure most of us can agree that a dæmon is more than just the symbolism part. The sun has symbolism, as do trees, rivers, rocks, and all else. I think a sea sponge and tapeworm are missing some other vital aspects of what makes a dæmon:

-Instinctive symbolism: A person might look at an eagle and think 'Majestic, strong, brave,' and a fox and think 'Swift, cunning, bright,' but what about a sea sponge? >> It wouldn't mean much as a settled form because others wouldn't glean a representation of you from it. In our eyes it's more like a plant than an 'animal.'
-Lacking animation: Most dæmon forms can reflect how we feel through their own actions. Rookie can cower, growl, pant happily, etc. If dæmons were corporeal, this would show that I'm a conscious, thinking, feeling person. But a sea sponge can't do anything but... be a sponge. To us this would reflect someone in a vegetative state. They'd be alive, but we'd have little proof of it.
-Can't identify with it: Maybe this is me being presumptuous, but I figure most people couldn't identify with a mosquito or tapeworm like they could with a dolphin. Most invertebrates are too foreign to us for them to be representations of who we are. I can look at a coyote's face and see something of myself in that expression. The coyote has its own consciousness and intellect. We have common ground there. Compared to a firefly, I'd have a lot less to work with.
-No personality: A bird has its own kind of personality, as does a domestic dog or a sheep or even a sea turtle. But the sea sponge doesn't. We might be able to analyze the form, but without a personality, it's like saying we don't have one either. That's another problem I have with most insect forms.. By some scientists' definition of the word, a single ant isn't even alive. It's merely a piece of the whole (the colony). They run like a computer program. That's no way to symbolize yourself. =/

Kinda sketchy, but those are my thoughts on the matter.



23. But you cannot always tell..

*If they're solitary or sociable (big factor here)
*If they're diurnal, crepuscular, or nocturnal
*If they're vocal or quiet (also important)
*If they're playful or aggressive
*How they hunt (also important)
*Where they live (spending time up in trees matters)
*All their little quirks (which in most cases fits like a charm)
*How they respond to others of their species (like the Tasmanian devil being a schizo)
*How they raise their young
*If they're migratory
*How territorial it is

...And the list goes on. If we chose an animal form based on mere inferences, we'd have a rude awakening when we claimed settledom and actually did our research. And yet often we find the animal fits us even better than we first thought. (I find new ways the coyote fits me all the time.) How would you explain that other than pure luck in every case? The settled form is more than the analysis matching up.. Something makes the right form 'click.' Everyone here should agree to that much. But the point is, saying you can infer enough from looking at an animal to know it's your settled form... that just doesn't work. There are too many possibilities (too many predators, too many sociable animals) for our mind to sort them all out. The truth is in some cases we don't know anything about the animal starting out, but the form reveals itself to us despite our lack of understanding. A part of our consciousness somehow knows before we do. (If anyone's confused, the point I'm repeatedly trying to make is that the settled form is not dependent on OUR knowledge of the animal, even if I cannot explain how that is.)



24. Interesting thought. If asked whether Pock has changed me - actually changed my personality and behaviour - I would be doubtful. 'Cause he probably hasn't. But have I benefitted from knowing him ...? That one I can answer with a resounding 'yes'. I'm agreeing with Jory that everybody knows their dæmon on some level. Everyone has that 'little voice' in the back of their mind. And a lot of people are aware when that voice is displeased by their actions, or when it's trying to give them a nudge in the right direction. But there is a difference between us and them. It's almost hurtful to hear (read, whatever) "You can't benefit from talking to your dæmon because everyone talks to their dæmon". I just don't feel it's true, not at all. Because people don't talk to their dæmons. Yeah, I know I just said most people are aware of theirs. But I doubt they talk to them. That's the difference. We don't just stick a name and a form on that little voice and call ourselves dæmians. =\ We have a relationship with our dæmons, and that makes all the difference in the world.

There are times when making a rough decision would have left me lost and miserable, except that I had Pock to talk to. I've spent hours working things out with him, puzzling over problems and issues, and it does help - because I feel he knows me better than I know myself. He knows better than anyone how I really feel about something, and sometimes there just isn't anyone else I can turn to except my own soul. Obviously I can't say the same for everyone, but before he showed up, I never had those internal conversations. Everyone's got a conscience, but to actually converse with it? Even without that, yes, the conscience is helpful. But if you asked somebody, they'd probably find the idea of having an actual discussion with theirs to be laughable ... when the discussion is the most important part of decision-making, for me. When I ask Pocket, "Should I do this ...?" it's not a yes or a no or just a vague idea. It's more, "Well, you could, but here are the reasons you probably shouldn't ..." Which is my point, kind of. The dæmon burrowed in layers of subconsciousness is unlikely to respond that way, right? And you could probably work it out yourself, but I find that my dæmon's far better at staying objective than I am. When I want a neutral opinion, he's the one I turn to. And in the pre-Pock days, I found it a lot harder to see other people's points of view. He's taught me differently. (Well - is still teaching.)

And it's not just those all-important aspects of the relationship. We talk about the mundane more than anything. We love to tease each other ... (the little things like that are part of what I love most about our relationship). Jeez ... when I think about life without him, I imagine how lonely it must be. x.o And be realistic: nobody's brain is gonna do its damndest to put a smile on its person's face if they're down, the way a dæmon will.

The visualization is a big thing to me, too. I've always been nervous standing up in front of people. When I was younger Pock endeavoured to ease my anxiety somewhat by turning into a griffin and spreading his wings as wide as he could - trying to block out all the kids behind him. It honestly did make me feel better, pretending I was speaking to him and no one else. Now he's more likely to coach me, quietly, while I do a presentation, giving me little reminders like to look up once in awhile, but mostly all he has to do is stand next to me, usually leaning against my leg. His presence alone is reassuring. Like I said previously, he hasn't changed me. I'm just as anxious, maybe more so than ever, standing up there and addressing classmates. But he gives me enough confidence to get through it okay. And another visualization point - maybe some people are good at comforting themselves, but Pocket having a form matters more to me than words when I'm in tears. We're both kind of bad at comfort ... so all he has to do is get close, to snuggle up and just be there. I think that soothes me more than anything.

And to quit with the sentimentality for a moment: I'm not even sure how many kids my age are aware of that 'little voice', which is something I realized just this school year. We're reading Macbeth, and when discussing the theme of conscience, half of my class said they knew it was like the voice of reason, but then added laughingly that "I obviously never listen to mine". In psychology we looked at Freud's id, ego, and superego theory, and the majority of my class said they liked the sound of the id far more than the superego. Desires matter more to them. Obviously, the dæmon will always want what's best for its human, but theirs are far more easily ignored than ours. Think about it.

...So I've talked about a lot of upsides. XD Downsides, not so much. I think the only one I can think of is worrying over his settled form, but that's not so bad. And it'll definitely be worth it once we figure it out for good.


I agree with Cat. Speaking to your dæmon (having actual conversations) can make all the difference. When you think your voice of reason is just... you, it's easy to block that out. But when you have a face you know and love to associate with it, ignoring that same voice isn't so easy. Personally, I try to listen because I don't want to let Rookie down. And I know if I do I'm gonna hear all about it. XD It's the difference of one "You shouldn't do that," and your dæmon giving you a death glare, ordering you to stop, and continuing to object until you're guilted into obliging. =P Even little things like brushing my teeth.. Rookie can be persistent as heck. I don't think your average person hears their dæmon saying, "Brush your teeth. Brush your teeth. Don't you dare go to bed yet!"

The benefits of visualization have been covered already, but it's clear that seeing your dæmon can help you feel more comforted, more confident, and simply brighten up an otherwise drab day. Someone who doesn't know their dæmon doesn't have that. If they're afraid of speaking in front of a class, they're on their own. If they're depressed, they feel more alone than you or I would. The thought of not having Rookie to offer nuzzles and kind words when I'm breaking down is.... unimaginable. He may not have changed who I am, but he's changed how I live. And I love experiencing every day with him beside me. (Not to sound sappy - it's just how I feel.)

Link to entire thread



25. Thanks for that, Jory. ^^ I guess one thing I was forgetting is that sometimes the personality of an animal trumps how we feel about the animal on its own. Example: A leech personality being much more likable than just... a leech. I still feel, however, that such unusual forms would be unlikely to happen - and not because someone wouldn't desire it as their settled form. I firmly believe that the settled form is something every dæmian has to own up to eventually, and if someone really was a jellyfish, they'd know it and accept it with time, probably even liking it. (I mean, Mak's a white shark and Milly is afraid of sharks, isn't she? Doesn't make her dæmon less a shark.)

But I've always figured the reason dæmons largely take fellow mammal forms, or avians, or reptiles is because they have that nice balance of being enough like us to be compatible (the dog is friendly, the bird is energetic, the gecko is calm), and far enough removed that we can see them objectively (basically, we're describing ourselves with an image, not another humanoid). I figure that's another reason chimps and orangutans are rarely seen as dæmon forms. They're no less analyzable.. but I wonder if them being too close to home usually makes something "farther down the line" more suiting. Something like a coyote form might be more flexible and open to interpretation to fit all of ones quirks than a fellow reasoning primate with complex emotions. If that makes sense. ><

And I feel like insects are the other extreme. How they experience the world is so far removed from what we experience. They are so different in most every way. For most people it would be easier to associate with their pet cat than the beetle on their lawn. And since we're associating our very core with this animal, there has to be something that "clicks" when we consider the animal. If, for the individual, it's too foreign to be considered, it probably isn't the right form. I recall (but can't find) where Jory was describing the "insect vibe" she gets from her butterfly-souled aunt. She's not utterly unique, she's not more special than anyone else... but I would expect her to be very noticeably different from the norm. She has an insect mentality, I guess you could say, when so many of us are mammalian through and through.

So what I'm getting at is... Someone with a sponge dæmon, or a tapeworm dæmon, or a jellyfish would have to be really "out there," and especially in an age where everyone's trying to be like everyone else, I doubt I'll ever meet such a person. A person with a sponge dæmon, I imagine, would experience the world and behave in a way so unlike what we're accustomed to. I can't even imagine it; I'd have to interact with them myself to get an idea. So it's not that they're simple. Ladybugs are simple, but I believe they're a perfectly valid settled form. And Jory cleared up the social interaction thing for me, too. But maybe it's that they'd have to be so atypical and distinct that it just isn't a likely form. Possible and valid - just unlikely.



26. "Dear Shane,

Hello. My name is Kris, and I happened upon your essay on dæmons through a forum I run. I know a friend of mine named Cat emailed you in response to it. I was able to read the correspondence between you two and wanted to add a few thoughts and findings of my own. Cat did a fantastic job of pointing out how we are supposed to listen to our own conscience, not ignore it, but I wanted to touch on Biblical verses on Satan and demons, and how this doesn't correspond with what we see in our dæmons. (My own is called Rannock, and I have known him for eight years.)

First off, it troubles me that you seem so against people following "their will," even if this will is in accord with what God Himself would wish. If my dæmon (who often acts as my conscience) tells me to not hurt someone's feelings, is it wrong to follow his advice because I didn't first bring the problem to God? Should I not follow my parents' advice because they could be leading me down a wicked path, even though their opinions seem perfectly sound and have always been so in the past? God gave us intellect - He gave us reason. It is a marvelous gift that none but ourselves can boast. I believe it an insult to God to throw this by the waste-side and instead turn to Him for every trivial decision in my life. If my dæmon had ever told me to do awful things, I would be worried. But he has always done his best to lead me down the righteous path, and becomes upset if ever I feel like condemning the Bible or my religion (and I have). As Cat said, this would be the perfect opportunity for Satan to turn a soul away from Christ. Instead my Rannock is always steadfast in his faith and in doing so helps me see the light and turn back to God. While it's true that Satan is called the Master of Lies, and that deception is a complex thing... Rannock has never done anything to suggest he's anything but the Christian he claims to be, so what reason do I have to suspect otherwise? In the past eight years he has never tempted me to do evil. Maybe he's just preparing for a large pitfall decades down the road, but if I said that about your dearest friend, you'd probably find the idea illogical, too. In truth we cannot be sure ANYONE isn't just a minion of Satan, but isn't that where faith and reason come into play? And besides, if we can't use our own reason to determine God's will, we're quite lost, aren't we?

If you take the orthodox view of demonic demons, you probably believe that demons flee in the name of Jesus. Yet my dæmon prays with me (and in doing so speaks Jesus' name), sings hymns loudly in my heart, praises God's name whilst singing to Christian songs on the radio, and has often reminded me that God loves me. I believe a demon, even Satan himself, would rather die than do such things. It is not within their nature. James 2:19 states, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." My dæmon does not shudder in terror at God's name, be it God or Jesus or Yaweh. He loves God with all his (our) heart. At the very utterance of the name "Jesus" all the power of the Devil is supposed to be destroyed. Yet both of us speak Jesus' name, and Rannock is still here by my side! Indeed, it appears demons can only inflict problems on believers if God allows it (Job 2:7-9). So as a believer I may not be safe from my own personal temptations, but I do not believe a demon could constantly be afflicting me and plotting my ruin.

Then there's also the fact that I see Rannock as an aspect of my psyche or my subconscious, not some external force. So naturally he knows all my thoughts, all my unspoken fears and doubts, all my prayers, all my memories... We are basically one and the same. I can keep no secrets from him unless I'm somehow keeping them from myself. All the fellow Christians I've come across feel that Satan cannot hear our thoughts. Satan can observe our actions and hear what we say aloud, and he's also deft at predicting human behavior because he's witnessed it for eons. The Bible seems to support this, as it explains that Satan is a limited creature (Job 1:12). He is not God’s equal (1 John 4:4). He is not omniscient, omnipotent or infinite in any way. Satan is said to have great power in the world (John 12:31, 1 John 5:19) and in the flesh (Gal.5:19-21). Yet my dæmon is not even corporeal; he is something internal. Nor does he tempt me when it comes to the flesh. Note that I lived with my fiance for over a year before we married, and our marriage was not consummated until the night of. Rannock didn't tempt me otherwise when he could have. (Also note that Jeremiah 17:10 says: "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Nowhere does it imply that the Devil also has this ability.) Satan tempts people to be unforgiving (2 Cor. 2:10), yet why has my dæmon always been insistent that I forgive even when I'm in the throes of anger? Satan would tempt us to discouragement (1 Pet. 5:6-10), when knowing Rannock has noticeably boosted my self-esteem. With him, I know I am always loved. Satan promotes anger, bitterness and division (Eph.4:26,27; 2 Cor.2:5-11), while Rannock always tries to calm me down, to help me forgive others and make peace. Demons are active in hindering the spiritual progress of believers every way they can, and they are deliberate and organized in these attempts (Eph.6:10-12). But Rannock didn't "appear" to me after I accepted Jesus in some attempt to steal my heart. He's a part of me, and I knew him even before and during my conversion to Christianity. He was always there, supportive. Because of all this I feel justified in saying Rannock is not a demon, but more an attendant spirit like the daimon of Socrates.

You make an interesting point, however, in asking 'if our dæmon is indeed our conscience, maybe we should give credit where it's due.' I see dæmons as proof of us being God's creation instead of just another animal, but not everyone feels that way. As Cat explained, we believe everyone has what we consider a dæmon, be they atheists, Wiccans, Muslims, Christians, or whatever. For some dæmons are viewed as nothing but a helpful mental construct - a personification of that other end of your internal dialogue. By their nature, then, a dæmon is only as righteous or wicked as their human, because they are their human. My dæmon believes in God because I'm Christian, while an atheist often has an atheist dæmon. It makes sense. I don't believe their dæmon's voice is directly influenced by God, and I don't feel mine is either. He's clearly not Satan, but he's not some personal Jesus either. As loving as my dæmon is, he is not perfect. He may curse on occasion, or get angry, or say hurtful things. He believes in absolute morals by divine command, but like me he has flaws, and I love him despite these imperfections. But to call such a being God would (in my opinion) be sacrilegious. I'd basically be calling myself God. We are both influenced by the Holy Spirit because we are believers, but that means a part of God is always within us, not that we are His equals. And doesn't The New Testament say that ONLY believers have the Holy Spirit within them? Ergo, dæmons cannot be God, since atheists also know theirs.

We are well aware that dæmons are individualized, mortal, relative, fallible, and finite. It's not their job to be perfect; in fact, it's impossible unless someone out there were perfect. We don't attribute their characteristics to God because we can clearly see the difference. Rannock would praise GOD for his being able to help me and comfort me, so you needn't worry that credit isn't being given where it's due.

Lastly, I want to discuss Scripture's take on consciences. Can our conscience lead us astray? Yes - sometimes - but the Bible is also clear on good consciences, or the type that are “void of offense toward God” (Acts 24:16). Seeing as my dæmon always encourages me towards actions that are in accord with God's will, I feel confident in saying my conscience is such a one. Paul says that every man has a conscience, and rightly so, because how could we determine right from wrong without that which we call a conscience? Our conscience can be desensitized if we fail to listen to it, even to the extent that we become morally blind, stumbling around in moral darkness as John puts it (1 John 2:11).

In 1 Corinthians 4:4, Paul said, “For I know nothing by myself.” This phrase means “my conscience does not accuse me.” Paul completed the sentence by saying: “yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” Paul, in short, taught that a pure conscience is valuable, but that Christ is the final standard by which a person is judged. And this is what all Christians who know their dæmon believe. Our dæmons give valuable insight, but they are in no way equal to the Lord, and we do not put our dæmons above Him. Paul would have said that a person's conscience must be obeyed. Paul, however, would not have said that a person has no other guide. Him and I agree on this. Given that, why should I neglect my personal conscience if I'm not putting it before God?

I apologize for the massive length of this letter, but I didn't want to leave anything out. I hope you will consider what I wrote and reply when able. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Kris"



27. Questions like this upset me because it makes the person sound more concerned with figuring out their dæmon's form than what it means to /know/ your dæmon. Whatever your dæmon's final form, what makes them so special isn't that: it's the constant support they give - the fact that they're always there for you. Form is secondary. Now, that's not to say you don't care about your dæmon. I'm sure you do. But you can't expect the right form to fall into your lap the instant you meet. It takes some people years, and for some, years have passed and they still don't know! Do you have the patience to wait and see what happens, or is the thrill of knowing Pyrr just about settling? (Sorry, but I've just met too many people who are way more excited about figuring themselves out than even knowing their dæmon for any period of time.) There are millions of animals in the world. You can't realistically expect that at a glance of the animals you're familiar with, that'll be it and tada! We're only human, and sometimes the more we crank our brain over a dilemma, the more the obvious answer eludes us. Plus, you may not even be settled in personality yet (for some it doesn't happen until 17-years old+, or in their early 20's). In that case, you can't make it "easier" if there isn't even a definite form for you yet. You should consider that possibility.

There's no one route for figuring out a settled form. Some people ask friends, or research animals their dæmon takes the form of, etc, but the best advice I can give you is to be patient and just enjoy your dæmon's changing while it lasts. Take the time to enjoy his personality, your conversations, his experimenting with new animal forms.. Being unsettled only lasts for so long, and it's best to cherish it while you can, 'cause it could last years, or it could only last a few days. In many cases stressing over one's final form does nothing, because the dæmon eventually settles on the right form without conscious effort. It just kind of sticks, and the person comes to see how right it is. But DON'T think it's a question of time. A dæmon can (and has) been in one form for months, even a year, and still ended up settling as something else. This is likely a result of our own biases, and just overlooking the right animal till we can't avoid it any longer. Settling is a feeling, a state of mind, a conviction - not an hour on the clock.

So I guess the simple answer is: No. There's nothing you can do it make it "easier" to discover Pyrr's right form. But that doesn't matter. Envision him as typical, HDM forms if it's what comes naturally for now. Because the settled form will also come naturally. Eventually you'll get bored with these forms and move on to something else - maybe something more suited to your personality, or maybe for the sake of trying them out. If you need help getting started, open up a book on animals, or search Animal Diversity Web for names and pictures.