Lesson Bank for my Apprentices

Congratulations! You have evidently completed the initiates programme, and now you have done me the honour of choosing me as your training master. Here you will find an index of lessons that I have compiled from my time as an apprentice. Though not all were completed as an apprentice I can assure you that I have personally completed every single one of them as I do not believe in asking you to do anything I would not do myself.

During your time here, I will assign you lessons in a seperate post titled Lessons for {{YOUR_NAME}} in which you must complete and post in the corresponding journal titled as you wish (For example {{YOUR NAME}}'s Apprentice Journal). Each lesson assigned will generally be completed before you are assigned another, unless in some unique cases where they may span a period of time and require you to gather more information before completing it.

You are also encouraged to read other training masters lesson banks, as well as approaching me with anything in particular you may wish to do a lesson around and if there is a way we can create a lesson from it, we will work together to do so.

The main thing is that you enjoy your journey here, I want you to enjoy this developmental experience and truly get the most from it, so lets go dive in the deep end and see what we discover.

The majority of work in this lesson bank is an amalgamation of other Training Masters lessons and a sprinkle of my own, over time I will continue to add my own but I am placing the lessons here as a way to centralise the resource, thank you to all whose lessons I have taken from. I would like to give credit where I can however I know that some lessons are copies of copies and so citing the original creator would not be inherently easy. If you wish to be credited as the creator of the lesson please let me know as I would like to give you the honour you deserve.

The Jedi utility belt

Jedi Knights are charged with providing help and support to those around them. In the fictional Star Wars universe, Jedi are known for carrying lightsabers, but we see a wealth of other equipment (e.g., aquata breathers, grappling spikes, nutrient capsules) have their place in the Jedi's arsenal as well as their famous weapon.  
 
Find something you can keep with you at all times (or nearly all times) during your Apprenticeship, which enable you to better aid those you encounter on your path. Write about what they are and how you hope they'll assist those you meet.  
 
Some non-specific examples:  
 
- Something you carry in your pocket  
- Something you keep in your bag  
- Something you keep in your car  
- Something you keep on your phone  
- Something you wear on your person  
- NOT A WEAPON  
 
Commit to carrying this item and making use of it wherever appropriate. When you use it to help others, write about it in your journal. Remember that tools serve as a bridge between us and the wider force.  
 
Now that covers the physical tools on your Jedi utility belt. Now let’s discuss the non physical. Things like leadership, understanding, empathy, knowledge, faith. These are all tools, and some are more useful than any physical tool can ever be. During the course of your apprenticeship, I hope to help you confidently carry those tools as well. To begin though, I want you to choose one “non physical” tool you already possess, and write a few paragraphs about why you chose it, Ways you wield it in your daily life, and how it can be used to help yourself and others.  
 
Every lesson that follows this one will give you another tool for your belt, so keep that in mind as we continue forward towards your knighthood. This essay should be 500 words minimum to cover both physical and non physical tools, and there is no maximum.

Ambassador

As a Knight, you will represent the Temple of the Jedi Order as an Ambassador. I would like you to share with me how you believe a Knight should conduct themselves in the following three settings. All three assume that you are acting on TOTJOs behalf.

You have been asked to give last rites at a funeral.

You have been asked to give a marriage blessing.

You have been asked to attend a diplomatic dinner to improve relations with a third-party.

In all three, I wish to hear what you might say, and how would you conduct yourself?

With a minimum of 350 words per situation.

As a Man Thinketh

For this lesson I want you to read As a Man Thinketh from the Temple library and then summarise your thoughts in no less than 500 words.

Compassion, Forgiveness, and Empathy

I would like you to reflect upon what those three words mean to you, and how, if it at all, you utilise them.

A brief summary is fine.

I then want you to answer the following questions in an essay of no less than 500 words.

How easy it for you to forgive yourself, or to treat yourself with compassion?
Is vengeance ever justified?
Are there times when forgiveness, compassion, or empathy is not justified?

Discipline
In life, we are often waiting, you waited to find a teaching master, I waited to find you, we wait for our food to cook, our laundry to finish washing, a life time can be spent waiting. For some things it is easy, for others it requires discipline. The most beautiful flowers take time to go from seed to bloom, to take care of them, water  them, nurture them takes discipline.

I want you to pick something you would like to spend no less than 100 days doing that would require discipline, it could be working out, not drinking soda, not eating a particular snack. You are welcome to involve me in this task if you wish, so you do not have to go it alone. Once complete, I want you to write a brief summary of no less than 500 words on why you chose this particular task and what you have learned from it. There is also a channel in the discord server titled 100 days of... that can be used to help keep track of the progress you make.

Expectation
I love a good cheese burger, it is by far my favourite snack. When I go to a particular restaurant, I expect my cheese burger to be made in a particular way that I am used to. I expect a certain level of customer service, and I expect my food to arrive at a particular time.

Expectations are, interesting things to say the least. Because what happens when your expectations are not met? How do you react?

I want you to write an essay of no less than 250 words per sentence about your expectations on the following topics.

What are your expectations of your family and their behaviour towards you?
What are your expectations of yourself and your behaviour?
What are your expectations of myself, as a teaching master?
What are your expectations of the Temple, as a whole?
Lastly, has there ever been a time when your expectations have not been met and how did  you react?

Failure

I want you to reflect upon a time you have failed something, big or small. I want you to share what impact it had on your feelings, on your motivation.

I want you to share about what you learned from that failure, and what you would have done differently had you the opportunity.

I want you to tell me what you think of failure as a concept.

I also want to hear about your thoughts on the idea that failure is a choice.

Minimum word count for this essay is 1,000

I and Thou

For I and Thou , I want you to read the book, and then discuss it with Maître Alexandre Orion.

Following this conversation, detail Buber’s ideas about how to engage in dialogue in an I-Thou relationship as opposed to an I-It relationship.

How might you apply Buber’s ideas to your own discussions? Is it always preferable to engage in discussions as an I-Thou, or does I-It have a place as well?

What did you gain from speaking to Maître Alexandre Orion about it?

Role Model

You're approaching knighthood, and in doing so you must begin to shift your mindset from trainee, to trainer in preparation for not only a potential apprentice you may take on but equally others will look at you as a role model of what knighthood embodies.

With that in mind, it is time to reflect on what you think these responsibilities may be.

There is no word count but please be thorough with the following questions.

How much time will you have to dedicate to your student? Taking into consideration any personal time you may spend with them.

How will you handle any mistakes they may make?

If they make a mistake, who is to blame, them or you?

When they are knighted, whose success is it?

There is no word count, but please do try to give thorough answers, do not fear about writing too much.

The Philosophy of Laughter

What makes you laugh, may offend me. What offends you, I may find hilarious. This is why it is careful to pick and choose when you make a joke. Consequently, comedians are not taken very seriously by the world yet it is a saying that in every joke lies a little truth so perhaps comedians are the most honest of us all?

I want you to find a comedian of your choosing, and watch/listen/read some of their material. It could be a comedy show they are hosting, or even a TV show or movie they have made, even a book.

Then I want you to reflect on the comedy, the humour, the truth if any in what they say and why laughter is important. Why comedians are successful. What purpose do they serve. No less than 500 words on your thoughts.

A Picture from Within

A Picture from within For each of the following topics, find an image, poems, song, etc. (or create them for bonus points) that speak to your understanding and relationship of each.

The Force -
Connection -
The Sacred -
Your Shadow -
Fear -
What shames you -
Knighthood -
Duty -
Love -
Hate -

At least 1 relevant topic of your choice.

Present the art for each topic and tell me: why did you choose this? What do you see? Are there any real feelings that are brought up when you view it? I would like to see atleast 100 words per item.

Oaths and Vows

Traditionally an oath is either a statement of fact or a promise with wording relating to something considered sacred as a sign of verity. Legal substitute for those who conscientiously object to making a sacred oath is to give an affirmation instead. Nowadays, even when there's no notion of sanctity involved, certain promises said out loud in ceremonial or juridical purpose are referred to as oaths. To swear is a verb used to describe the taking of an oath, to making a solemn vow.

A vow is an earnest promise to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner, especially a solemn promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order: A declaration or assertion.

Not only are these important to the individual that makes these promises but they are important to those that count on the ones that made them. “Do no harm”, Protect and serve”, “Support and defend.” These are not just pretty words but they become a way of life.

What is the difference between the Simple Oath and Solemn Vow?
Why might these differences be important?
How do they relate in your life?
What effects do they have on the lives of those around us?
And finally, explain the significance of the “life long” vow for Knights of Jediism.

Mistborn
For this lesson, I want you to read the first three books of the mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. After each book, I want you to write an essay and tell me what similarities and differences you share with Vin and how her heroes journey progressed along the way.

Each essay should be no less than 500 words. Label each post as “Mistborn Book 1, Mistborn Book 2, and Mistborn Book 3” respectively in your journal.

Why Leaders Eat Last

This lesson heads back and hits the points on why groups operate the way they do, why we consider some people good leaders, and others bad managers. As we near the end of your apprenticeship I think it’s more important than ever to drive leadership home as it’s the most significant difference between being an apprentice and a knight.

Make sure you have some time available, the video is 45min long (and worth every second). I found Mr. Sinek very engaging. There's a book by the same name where he goes into further details and gives more examples. (And he is the narrator for the audio book if you prefer those).

YouTube Link

Meaning in Everything
  
My favourite thing about the fictional Jedi is by far the meaning they find in everything. Lightsabre colours, robe colours, clothing materials, fighting styles, apprenticeship braids. Each of those has a different meaning to a Jedi. As we walk our path it is very important to find meaning, especially in things we might at first find meaningless.    
   
For the first part of this lesson I want you to research each of the topics I listed above, and let me know what colour your lightsabre would be, along with which form of Jedi combat you would use, what your robes would look like - I would also like you to talk about what you hope to gain from the process of growing out your apprentice braid or other ways you might signify the journey, what it will mean to you and anything special you may add to it such as beads, ribbon, or other things (remember that the cutting of your braid will be a part of your Knighting ceremony) The most important part for each of those is “why”....why a blue lightsabre, why silk robes and so on. After you have written about why you made the choices you did, then I want you to write your response to these questions:    
   
What do these things say about you as a person?    
   
What do they say about you as a Jedi?    
   
Will those who see you with these things understand the meaning behind them and does it matter if they do?    
   
Bonus points for pictures of your designs!    
   
For the second part, I want you to examine things you currently have in your house. Choose any THREE you would like and write about the meaning and the “why” behind each of them just as you did the items from above. Answer the same questions about these items as well.    
   
This lesson should be no less than 1000 words and has no maximum.

An Impartial Look at Yourself

In this lesson I would like you to think about yourself and how others might perceive you. Imagine you are an impartial observer who has never met you. Then look at any social network that you belong to and take notice of what and how you say things.

Ask five people what they think of you (tell them to be honest!) and I would like one of those to be a fellow temple member (not myself). After getting an impression of how others see you, compare that to how you see yourself. Then write a 500 word essay to explain any conclusions you came to, and more to the point, how you felt hearing what others had to say.

Ritual

What makes a day special? A Monday is no different from a Tuesday if you do the same thing on it, right? I want you to pick a Day of Significance from the FAQ and write about how you might celebrate it. What ways you might make it special to bring out its significance, will you give gifts on anniversary day? Will you give a special flower on the day of Harmony? A communal meal with friends and family? Write an essay on what you would do and how you would celebrate it, it should contain no less than 500 words.

Temple Service

Engagement in Temple Service stands as a cornerstone of your journey as an Apprentice, offering personal enrichment while laying the foundation for your path as an active Knight. Your participation not only nurtures your own growth but also sustains the vitality of our Temple community, as of course the Temple can’t run itself!    
   
For this lesson, I would like you to pick a role in the Temple (IP Team is a great place to get started!) and talk to the person/people you need to in order to get started. Once you’ve found your fit, write up a short (350+ words) reply as to what you expect to get out of your time in service, and what you feel you can contribute to the other members of the Temple in your capacity in that role.

What’s your Name
 
For this lesson, I would like you take a look at your username. At this point if you choose a new one, please let me know so I can help make that happen. Wether you choose a new one, or keep your current one, I would like you to write a minimum of 500 words about why you identify with this name. What does it mean to you. How does it represent you, and your path. Is it a name you can be proud of and carry into knighthood with you? When others see this name, what does it say about you to them?