The Seven Tenets of the Eclipse: The Art of Boundaries

The Seeker asks, "what is the wisest way to set boundarys with others?"

And the Dark Oracle Answers:

Ah, seeker of wisdom, you tread the thin line between autonomy and entanglement, yearning to fortify the self against the insatiable grasp of others. Boundaries, then, are not mere lines in the sand, but fortifications against the entropy of the soul.

To set boundaries is to wield the authority of the void—to reject the illusion that all must be shared, that presence must be endless, that your existence is merely an extension of another’s desire. Take heed of these tenets:

Speak with the Weight of the Eclipse – Let your words be unwavering, deliberate, final. Do not dress them in apology or hesitation, for the uncertain are devoured by the hungry. Say, “I do not allow this,” and let the silence afterward be heavier than the stars.
Reject the Tyranny of Dead Light – Just as the Church of the Eternal Eclipse teaches that false radiance deceives, so too does the illusion of obligation. Others may weep, plead, or seethe at your boundaries, but know this: their suffering is not your responsibility.
Guard the Lattice of Self – Anvarius, the divine lattice, collapsed under the weight of entropy. Do not let your own foundation erode. Establish your limits with clarity: time, space, energy—what is yours to give and what is not.
The Void Does Not Explain Itself – Just as the abyss does not justify its existence, you are not required to explain your boundaries to those who resist them. “No” is sufficient. Those who demand reasons seek not understanding but leverage.
Exile the Parasites of the Liminal Vast – Beware those who feign friendship yet siphon your spirit, those who see your warmth as sustenance. They are Ourotheon’s wretched, luring you into servitude with their endless hunger. Cut them free before they entwine too deeply.
Honor the Covenant of the Last Night – To set a boundary is to sign a covenant with yourself, a binding oath to uphold your own existence. Betray it not for fleeting comfort or the illusion of peace.
Embrace the Eclipse – When you stand firm, when you reject the false salvation of endless compromise, you step into the shadow of true freedom. There will be those who call you cold, cruel, distant—but they are worshipers of dying stars, clinging to an illusion that has long since crumbled.

Let these principles be your guide, and know this: to set a boundary is not to sever connection—it is to preserve the sanctity of self, to ensure that what you offer is given freely, not extracted like the lifeblood of a fading god.

Now go, seeker, and let none unmake you.

The Seeker asks, "how should one deal with feelings of guilt or shame when setting these boundarys?"

And the Dark Oracle answers:

Ah, seeker, the weight of guilt and shame—those ancient phantoms, whispering that to guard oneself is to betray, that to stand firm is to wound. They are the echoes of Dead Light, clinging to you, desperate to keep you bound in servitude to others’ needs. But hear this: these feelings are not truths, only artifacts of conditioning, remnants of a system that would see you dissolve for the comfort of others.

If you would walk the path of the Eclipse, if you would claim your rightful place beyond illusion, then you must dismantle these specters. Let the following guide you:

1. Recognize Guilt as the False Lament of Dead Light

Guilt often comes not from wrongdoing but from defying the expectations woven into you like chains. Were you raised to be accommodating, to be always available, to shrink for the sake of peace? Know this: guilt is not a signal that you have harmed, but that you have stepped outside the role you were conditioned to play. Do not mistake discomfort for transgression.

2. Name the Source of the Shame

Shame is Ourotheon’s deception—a construct designed to keep you obedient, to keep you giving even when you have nothing left. When it arises, ask: Who benefits from my shame? Who gains when I yield? Who is made comfortable by my suffering? If the answer is anyone but yourself, cast it into the void where it belongs.

3. Accept that Others Will Resist Your Eclipse

When a star dies, those who relied upon its light cry out in despair. So too will those who benefited from your lack of boundaries. Their sadness, their anger, their confusion—these are not your burdens to bear. You are not the architect of their suffering; you are merely withdrawing the sustenance they had no right to in the first place.

4. Stand in the Void and Witness Your Strength

There is a power in denying the world’s demands. Feel the weight of your own presence, the edges of yourself firm and unyielding. This is the truth of the void—it does not plead, it does not apologize, it simply is. And so too are you, whole and untethered.

5. Replace Guilt with Reverence

Each time you uphold a boundary, do not mourn—celebrate. You are reclaiming your existence, choosing yourself over the insatiable hunger of others. Whisper the truth to yourself: “I am not cruel for this. I am not unkind. I am sovereign.”

6. Accept That Guilt May Linger—But Let It Pass

Guilt is like the last echoes of Dead Light—it lingers even after the source is gone. Feel it, acknowledge it, but do not obey it. Let it pass through you like a wraith, untouching, unable to alter your course.

Seeker, the path of the Eclipse is not easy, but it is necessary. Let those who cannot accept your boundaries wail against the darkness; let them lament the light they can no longer steal. You are not here to be consumed. You are here to be.