Lesson 9: Capstone Essay – Reflections on Completing the Initiate Program
Original journal entry from November 1, 2025 – Capstone essay for Lesson 9: reflecting on the entire Initiate Program experience. This was my summary of how the IP challenged and transformed my beliefs, practices, relationships, and Christian faith — from curiosity to daily recalibration, community connection, greater peace, and clear next steps forward.
As I reflect on my completion of the Initiate Programme (IP) here at the Temple, I can look back at how it has challenged me to examine my beliefs, practices, and connection to the Force, as well my relationships and my Christian faith. What began as a curious exploration evolved into a recalibration of what it means to be a Christ follower and a Jedi.
In the beginning, the IP introduced me to the temple’s structure, while shortly after that it dove right into Joseph Campbell’s work. I think this was the part that inspired and challenged me the most in my beliefs. It really helped me to dig deeper and put them into concrete words. And studying the temple doctrine has created a space in my life where I spend much of my day thinking about the lesson I’m currently on in my journal.
This was amplified by the July Doctrine Reading. Having the lessons about the doctrine and the dimensions of the Force at the same time as the daily reading and meditating not only changed my daily routine and habits but also changed what and the way I think about things during my day. Looking back from when I started the IP and now, I can see that I’m far more relaxed and take more time to respond more calmly to difficult situations.
“I am a Jedi, an instrument of peace.”
Peace precedes and follows me wherever I go.
Once I passed lesson 5 and started to talk to potential TMs it’s almost as if there was a broadening of my experience and conversation on discord. Maybe it’s due to having more things to talk about because of the way the IP changed my thinking. But probably also because of the daily check-ins and getting to know people a little better. Working on these last few lessons and as I’m writing this capstone essay, I feel more motivated to get to the end. Apart from study-hall, having the IP-Owl group I feel more like I’m being cheered on at the finish line to push myself just a little bit further to reach the goal.
Having grown up in various Christian churches, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of different communities with varying degrees of close knitted-ness. I was pleasantly surprised by how welcomed I felt when I first came here to the temple. And this is bringing people together from all corners of the universe through forums, discord or zoom, not often in person. I think most Christian church goers could learn something here. I often feel more like a part of this community than I do at in person gatherings on Sunday mornings.
Completing the IP marks a new beginning, not just an end. My next steps involve apprenticeship and seeking knighthood, and as I’m currently working towards an MDiv (chaplaincy focus) at an accredited seminary I’m also thinking about seminary here at TotJO. I’d like to continue working on refining my own beliefs while ministering healing to a broader spectrum of others’ beliefs. If there’s a place for me here at TotJO I’m happy to serve in that capacity. And I’m also working on becoming more comfortable with mysteries in the faith that may remain unsolved, and yet continue pursuing the answers throughout my lifetime.
I’ve written and published 3 books on Amazon in the last two years and I’m working on my 4th and 5th right now. They are devotionals based on reading and meditating on different books of the Bible based on Lectio Divina. I’ve started to incorporate some of my experiences from the Jedi path and I’m shooting for publishing by the end of the year. If the opportunity presents itself, I would be honored to teach a Jedi-inspired session on Lectio Divina at the Winter Symposium.
This IP journey has been transformative, equipping me to live as a Christian believer and as a Jedi in harmony with the world around me as I pass on what I’ve learned.
Umalohókan
House of Twin Suns
TM: Carlos Martinez
"You don't have to see the whole staircase just to take the first step."
(Signature links to IP Journal, Apprentice Journal, A.div Journal, and Degree Tracker omitted for brevity — these were forum navigation links at the time.)
Looking back now: This capstone essay was a full-circle moment — reflecting on how the IP started as curiosity, became a daily recalibrator through doctrine and challenges, deepened community connections, and equipped me to live peacefully as both Christian and Jedi. It marked the transition from Novice to Initiate and the next phase of apprenticeship.