Suzumi (owl): The owl has keen sight and hearing to catch it's prey at night. Suzumi is observant and will try to see things/situations from as many angles as possible before forming firm judgment. The owl's wings are designed for quiet flight, and likewise, Suzumi tries to go with the flow, and not disturb her surroundings.

Natsumi (swan)“The Ugly Duckling is a widely known children story...[that] highlights the deceptive nature of first appearances and also reminds us that true beauty grows from within.” Natsumi will find the beauty in everyone and she believes in second chances. The swan is a symbol of grace, femininity and romance, which Natsumi holds close to hear heart.

Ryu (sparrow): Flighty and spontaneous, Ryu enjoys mingling with others and light non-serious conversation. Like the sparrow, Ryu's mind soars, to seemingly random places. Ryu is good natured, energetic and talkative, and has a way with her words. The sparrow represents creative problem solving, strength in numbers and community. Like the sparrow, Ryu is fastidious in her life, and once she sets a goal she is determined to keep working until she has successfully completed it.

Mika (wolf): Mika is dog-like: loving and loyal. He works well with others and enjoys the company of a certain pack, but also takes time on his own, to consider, and be introspective. He can be vicious if triggered badly, but is usually thoughtful before taking action. Mika is very emotional, and so wolves howling is resonant for him.

Akhiro (bear):Bears can be strong and imposing, and fierce when protecting their own. Akhiro may be our most aggressive protector, but when he's not triggered, he's calm and cool as a cucumber. Bears are in touch with the needs of their body, which is how they know when to hibernate and when to wake up in the spring. Akhiro is one of, if not the most in tune with our body and it's needs, and he makes sure we get enough sleep.

Kyo (fox): The fox is noted for being clever and sneaky, in the wild, it's ability to predict the future aided it's survival, as well as it's ability to disappear into the surroundings. Kyo is sly and crafty, he loves making jokes, and often says things with the intention of a double-meaning. He also has a vibrant aura, vibrant as the fox's fur.

Isuroku (rabbit): Isuroku is a rabbit “bunny”. Rabbits are timid and shy, and constantly fearful of their surroundings. They remain alert at all times, even when eating. Isuroku focuses on tiny details and is timid and shy, as well as fearful, protective. Rabbits are quiet, and Isuroku is nearly mute.

Izumi (cat): Izumi begged us to let her be a “kitty”. She is our 7-year-old. We could hardly refused she insisted so vehemently. And it does suit her. Cat's are curious, playful, some affectionate, some more aloof. They accept attention by their own rules, and Izumi is very clear about what she wants and what she doesn't want or like. Which is a good thing, honestly, for this system. The usual fronters (Suzumi, Natsumi, Ryu) have trouble discerning what we want, and if something makes us uncomfortable, we question it endlessly.

Mari (lion): Mari's spirit animal is the lion. We consider Mari the final defensive force, hence why she split into Boaz and Ezra instead of handling the abuse herself. "From the lion we can learn how to be fearless if we allow ourselves to relax long enough to learn from it. " Lions live in generally harmonious prides, and work together for the best of the pride. Mari works together with other alters to keep the system protected, safe. The lion is called the "king of cats" for the male's regal mane and both sexes' mighty roar. This slight arrogance suits Mari. Lions are patient, waiting for the right time to pounce. As is Mari, patient, watchful.

Margot (doe): Margot is gentle and calm, and aware and in-tune with her surrounding environment. She focuses on balance and caring about all others. She doesn't hold grudges or let negative fe...

[ Continued ]

Suzumi - sparrow
Natsumi - summer beauty
Ryu - brightness, refreshing
Izumi - fountain
Mari - obstinancy, rebellion
Mika - beautiful scent, trees, new moon
Akihiro - large glory
Isuroku - 56
Kyo - apricot
Margot - pearl
Ezra - helper
Boaz - strong pillar

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/zombie_kitten_1992/theusual.png

(Suzumi) This morning Margot was present, and even took over, and it was a wonderful experience, and I felt so happy to get to know her better. We woke, she drove us to the grocery store to purchase comfort food for Mika, which is kind of a shock because she usually complains about how messy the food is and how unhealthy. However, it appears they have come to a compromise on the kind of food to purchase and when we can eat it so that we don't overeat as often. I was amazed. I always forget how much can happen on the inside of which I am so ill informed. Margot is 14, but she's a great driver. Her main characteristic is calm, something which the majority of us alters lack. She doesn't worry about speed and hovers just below the speed limit. She is unworried, calm, determined, aware of her surroundings. When we returned home and I realized she was out, I began to talk to her and she instructed me about "being in harmony with your environment" by "accepting things as they are".

Oh! That's right. So, erm, we worked as a cashier at a grocery store as our first job and at the time our home life was unstable and borderline abusive. So we are triggered by grocery stores, and often go on alert when shopping in them, and feel intimidated by all the employees. We were checking out with a remarkable lack of this usual intimidation and anxiety and as we watched the cashier scan and bag our items, I heard a voice inside our head say, "I miss that." Which came as an ENORMOUS shock to me! Because so many of my others DESPISE the work we did and anything related to it is highly triggering. This was when I became aware of Margot's presence. She told me she appreciated the organizational aspect of the task. Of turning mess into order. She said the key to any difficult task is to act with care and observe your own actions. She showed us some memories of her performing the cashier job peacefully, even jovially. So THAT'S how we got a 10/10 service rating! I hear Mika say. When I realize Margot is out, I usually get pretty anxious, because I'm afraid that she is delicate and any little thing could break her air of peace. So we don't cohost if we can help it. I can't. She can. ><

But I'm really glad she gave me some of her time this morning and taught me more about herself. I'm also glad we have her in our system.

Kyo here.
(Mari) Poor Suzumi. She tries so hard to maintain an intelligent, thoughtful and considerate persona on the board, only to have you ruin it on here.
(Kyo) Look man, people get it. DID. Different personalities. ANYWAYS THIS IS MY ENTRY WOMAN.
:calms: I was browsing the forums when I came across a quote that struck me as particularly hilarious. I will tell you it was in the Narcissistic Personality Forums, because it is pertinent to discussion, but the poster shall remain nameless! And if you Poster, happen to read this, I apologize for the blatant misuse of your quote and I know I may not be interpreting it as you originally intended. There. Disclaimer done. Now.
[quote]I believe this can all by avoided by never having close friends.[/quote]
The problem, of course, to be solved by avoiding close friendships, is having everyone whine to you about their problems. And the reason this quote struck me is because, God, it sounds so much like Akihiro. Of course, Akihiro is not a narcissist, he is how he is for the sake of protecting certain members of our system. And he hates people, because he takes in the bad feelings that occur when people are cruel to those whom he protects. So this is something he would say and God I am so amused. I don't know how to explain why this is funny. I explained why it resonated, and maybe I should point out that as well as protection Akihiro provides comedic relief with his cynical and sarcastic commentary, but alas, I am at a loss for words to explain why this quote has me in hives.