Leaving the monastery

Melkor,  the Dark Lord, from Tolkien's Simarillion by Formenost I have been on a journey which has been both reflective and transformative. The monastic environment I have enjoyed for the past four years has allowed me the necessary space and time to dedicate myself to a deeper understanding of human motivations. Ultimately, it was a voyage of both self-discovery and achieving gnosis. By releasing self-blame I allowed myself to rise above a situation that once caused so much anger. This progression—from confusion, anger, and self-criticism to clarity, acceptance, and self-worth—was incredibly empowering. Reaching a place of peace and strength through such introspective work is a testament to both the supportive power of monastic life and to my own resilience. I knew how I ended up in the monastery, by choice. I did not like that others believed that they had been able to abuse their perceived authority over me and force me into something against my will. The first thirteen months o

  One of the greatest influences in my understanding of evil was M. Scott Peck. Scott Peck’s exploration of evil in People of the Lie and The Road Less Traveled delves deeply into the psychology behind destructive human behavior. He characterizes evil as a "malignant self-righteousness," where individuals actively refuse to acknowledge imperfection and project their guilt onto scapegoats—often their own children or innocent others. These "People of the Lie" maintain a façade of normality and respectability, using consistent self-deception and manipulation. Peck describes this form of evil as a complex of malignant narcissism, where empathy is replaced by the instrumentalization of others for personal gain, and guilt is deflected onto others to preserve an image of moral superiority. Peck identifies specific traits among individuals he considers "evil": compulsive self-deception, selective abuse of specific targets while maintaining a semblance of kindnes

The monastery at Meteora in Trikala region, Greece Why monasticism? The Edict of Milan in 313 AD ended the persecution of Christians, but also elevated Christianity to a status of protection and favor within the Roman Empire. This shift allowed Christians to worship freely, emerging from the secrecy and danger they had faced for centuries. However, as Christian leaders gained influence, there arose concerns over the growing secularism and corruption within the church, leading devout believers to seek a purer expression of faith outside mainstream church structures. This led to the rise of the monastic movement, where Christians sought to embody their faith through rigorous asceticism. Initially inspired by the Eastern tradition, the movement found a stronghold in the West as well, with men and women adopting lives of strict devotion. Monastics rejected worldly comforts to focus on prayer, charity, teaching, and evangelism, often leading lives of extreme simplicity or isolation—whether