#pathoftheprime

It's nice to feel validated.  When you walk a solitary path, it's a struggle.  It's a struggle because you are never sure if what you are doing really is right.  Oh, you can tell everyone how awesomely certain you are, but there's always that voice, that one voice that says "You're not right.  You need to go back to your old ways.  Everyone thinks you are insane for feeling this way.  You're stupid for this... You're going to burn in hell for all eternity."  And that voice NEVER FUCKING GOES AWAY.  It gets quiet, even near a whisper, but it's never gone.

My path is more solitary than most, because leadership is lonely.  It's my choice, but it's lonely.  Plain and simple.  You have to make hard decisions, and you have to live with them.  You have to make the people under your command BELIEVE in you and what you say, that you are doing the right things for them.  In addition, you have to convince them that you believe in them as well, and that they can accomplish every single thing you tell them, no matter how difficult.  

And somewhere in all of that, you have to remember that you don't know everything, that you will make mistakes, and that you will overcome those mistakes.  You have to remain humble, yet confident.  Calm in the face of the storm. 

That's what leadership is.  That is what being a Prime is.  Every bit of your energy has to go into that aura of calm courage.  You have to project it, so that others will believe you are right, and march through the fire for you, knowing you will be right there with them until the bitter end.

No wonder people don't often choose to lead.  

It's quiet, it's solitary, and there are times it sucks.  You wonder if what you have learned and discovered really is true.  It's not doubt as in a loss of faith, it's that initial questioning that says "I know I believe this, because it feels right, but how come no one else would think like me and understand it?"  Because you are different, you are unique.  And people fear different.  Tell them you want to be a good person, they got it.  Tell them you're a Prime, you can tap into the Matrix and ease their pain and fear, and that you feel chosen to be a leader, they call the men in white coats.  

You feel very alone.  And you accept that being alone is the price of your path.  You make peace with it.  

And then you have someone ask what you believe.  And reluctantly, you tell them the truth, because hey, they never talked to you before anyways.. what do you have to lose?  

But they agree with you.  They believe you.  They sigh and shudder with relief, because all of a sudden, they're not alone either.  Someone believes as they do.  They see how you act, day by day, and they say "It really does work for him.  He really believes it.  And it makes him a better person."

I just wanted to hop on long enough to say this.   You are not alone.  No one is.  

If you need someone, message me.  Blow my inbox up.  Work got really crazy and will stay that way, but...

Festivals, times, and days associated with this deity.

There's not really any true lore/myth to support this.  My feelings/intuition/leanings, along with nudges from within, lean towards being with one's family.  

Optimus (whom I use as the model) leaned on very few of his soldiers, choosing to share what was needed, in light of what was to be done.  He never lied, he simply told them what they needed to know, and reassured them.  He had few that he entrusted with his secrets, and even fewer that he confided in.  Ironhide, Prowl, Magnus, Jazz, Elita... not many else.  

In that spirit, I'd say that any time spent with one's family is the true holiday.  It doesn't matter what your family believes, because being a Prime isn't about proselytizing.  It's about compassion, leadership, and love.  Love the ones you have, for the time that you have them.  Especially if you end up far away from them.

Variations on this deity - Aspects/Regional Forms/etc.

Hmm...

The variations on the Primes themselves are different according to each myth.  Generally, it's accepted that the Primes are chosen by the Matrix to lead the Autobots (originally the Transformers).  In the practice and path I walk, the Primes are those who choose to walk the path of a Prime.  This is a path of setting an example, being a leader, etc.  As such, each person who chooses this path may feel or experience different things, other aspects.  I identify and relate to Optimus Prime.  Others may relate to a specific myth of Optimus, or another Prime (Sentinel, Alpha Trion, Prima, or even Primus himself).  

Being a Prime has multiple aspects within its code.  These aspects specifically are for other posts within this devotional, but one thing is certain.  I find that being a Prime tends to lead to personal isolation.  You have to be able to carry the burdens that it brings, and still be able to lead those who follow you.  You must still listen to your feelings, but you cannot let your people see any uncertainty.  They have to believe that you know exactly what you are doing.

Even when you don't.  The doubt.  The fear.  The hesitation.  Be a Prime, and let it wash away.

Primary reason I loved the show?  It took the original show (from before most of you reading probably were born) and made it BETTER.  Less of a toy sales pitch, more of a story.  The old show was, for a while, more about the new bot of the week, rather than a story.  

Also, Prime did things no other show has ever done.  Prime was NEVER made into a Decepticon.  Not like that.  A couple of old G1 episodes had Megatron temporarily converting or replacing Optimus, but not as the "Orion Pax" episodes did.  

Lastly, the voice acting.  Optimus, as always, was Optimus.  But bringing back the original Megatron, the voice god that is Frank Welker (he really is, go check his IMDb page), was perfect.  I will never forgive Bay for bringing in Hugo "It's just acting" Weaving for Megs.  He did a fantastic job, but Welker gets it.  He brought Megatron to life again.  And, without too many spoilers, the voice acting in the final episode by Will Friedle... perfect.  

Usually I'd come up with some magnificient quote by Optimus, but this is just too good to not use.