Family Ties and the Philosophy of Love - March 15

Journal Entry: March 15, 2026 

Location: Ar's Station / En'Kara Fairgrounds 

Title: Family Ties and the Philosophy of Love

The day began with the usual administrative hum at Ar's Station, but my focus was divided between the city and the ongoing En'Kara Fair. I spent time at the fairgrounds acquiring a wealth of new materials for the Academy library, including Gorean cookbooks (Northern, Pani, and general), poetry collections, and medical texts on plants and herbs. I also met with my son Asher to discuss the housing shortage for the new group of scribes; we are looking at moving my personal home and office to a new "corner" of the city he has developed to free up space.

Later, I attended two profound lectures at the fair by Lady Elphie and Lady Myriam. Lady Elphie delivered a deep dive into the Gorean experience of love, covering the perspectives of both Free Men and Free Women. It was fascinating to hear her deconstruction of "Mastery" and "Submission" as the ultimate catalysts for emotional honesty. Lady Myriam followed with a light-hearted but meticulously researched presentation on the Gorean Zodiac, linking our natures to the fauna and flora of our world.

The evening brought a warm family reunion at the fair when I ran into Shania and both her daughters, River and the pregnant Halia. We shared news and laughs, and it was a joy to see them together, though I had to play the role of the protective mother when Halia began a rather suspicious conversation with a builder from Cos. Family remains the center of my world here.

Class Summary: Love on Gor - The Free Man & Free Woman (Lady Elphie)

• The Free Man: Love is defined by the Home Stone, Brotherhood, and Mastery. A Gorean man’s heart is a fortress; his first loyalty is to his city and his caste. Romance is often viewed with suspicion as a potential breach in his emotional armor.

• The Free Woman: Her love is a matter of "governance"—a structured web of loyalties to her Home Stone and family. We discussed the "Green Cup" courtship ritual and the legal weight of the Free Companionship contract, which must be renewed annually.

• The Master's Burden: Mastery is a weight of absolute responsibility. A man who becomes emotionally dependent on a slave is seen as "unfree," creating a constant internal conflict between his authority and his heart.

Class Summary: The Gorean Zodiac (Lady Myriam)

• Biological Determinism: Gorean astrology is based on tangible natural order. The animal sign represents the "Will," while the flora sign represents the "Rooted Essence" of the soul.

• The Signs: We explored various signs, such as the Bosk & Sa-Tarna (1st month, resilience/foundation), the Larl & Kanda (5th month, lethal beauty), and the White Tarn & Sardar Moss (Intercalary days, ancient patience).

• Compatibility: Gorean compatibility is about functional harmony—whether two natures hunt together or inevitably clash as predator and prey.

To Do:

• Finalize the move to the new home and office space Asher suggested.

• Add the ten new books and multiple poetry scrolls to the Academy library.

• Review the Sardar Fair schedule for Day 3 and 4 events.

• Check the mailbox for the transcript of Lady Myriam's Zodiac lecture.