Wide-Eyed Leaver, Always Going

Free and Open Source Spirituality - Version Alpha

The purpose of this project is to provide a set of frameworks not tied to any one culture or religion to serve as a basis for creating ones own personal spiritual practice. I've been working with some of this solo for a while and this is just my first pass. I hope to have it in a more detailed form eventually but I wanted to go ahead and get the basics out there.

Core

The core of this path is to find inspiration in what we encounter in our daily lives that inspires and energizes us for the difficult work of becoming better people. The purpose of using this structure is as assistance for deeper kinds of work.

It is equally valid to "believe" that the mythos used and magic done in this style is part of the human mystery (psychological and material processes we don't understand) as it is to take these on as actual spirits and truths about the universe.

Ritual and practice can be as casual or as ornate as the practitioner or practitioners find helpful - all should serve the journey of becoming a better person in accordance with the values.

Mythos

The First Twins

The beginning of existence is a beautiful mystery. What we do know is that Tempia (time) and Spatia (space) wove, weave, and will weave the fabric that underpins all of creation. Through it were are connected to everything that was, is, and will be.

Cosmic Coterie

The seven visible planets serve as a reminder of our highest virtues. Each can be taken as objects of meditation or worked with directly as spirits to deepen our skill with each virtue.

Creation as Text

Given how its interwoven with the first and the last, all of the world serves as sacred text. Natural and human made, all can serve as inspiration to embody the highest virtues.

Highest Virtues

When deciding how one should behave or handle a given situation, one should do their best to embody these virtues to the best of their skill and ability.

Moon - Compassion

Mercury - Wisdom

Venus - Diversity

Sun - Interdependence

Mars - Courage

Jupiter - Generosity

Saturn - Equanimity

Key Practices

The Key Practices are used to help cultivate the Highest Virtues. They are not obligations so much as tools. They satisfy our human need to "do".

Libercoro - collecting sources of wisdom that help one conduct their life more ethically into a book and rereading it regularly; can be observations made in nature, philosophy, lessons learned from literature. Optional: Liberhymno - a collection of songs and lyrics that arise the level of spiritual for you; can be existing or written yourself

Donum - donating time and money to the communities one is a part of; planting, growing, and investing in ways you might not live to see the true benefit of are especially good

Purgordo - tidying personal and public spaces for the benefit of all, putting things back in order; tidying public restrooms, putting shopping carts back, picking up trash/litter, etc

Purvolo - "pure wish"; wishing others and ourselves well; can be conducted like a form of prayer to the First Twins or no one in particular, can also be held as a firm intent

Ipsicreo - resisting monoliths by making your own, by yourself or with community; avoiding corporate products/services where possible, creating your own versions of things you need, resisting consumerism in favor of enjoying the diversity of individuals and communities

Holidays

Holidays can be celebrated around the listed date. Whatever works for the practitioner with 3 days before and 3 days after being the ideal so that celebrations keep on in community with other practitioners. Those in the southern hemisphere could flip all of these or just the "nature days" - depending on their/community preference.

Solumnia - Feb 1

Solumnia is a holiday that focuses on the individual. It's celebrated by taking time to oneself or doing things quietly and contemplatively in a group setting. Working on one's Libercoro would be an ideal activity.

Abstinia

Abstinia is the time between Solumnia and Veralia. It's taken as a time for fasting as a means for personal reflection and growth. This is done by "giving something up" for this time. Can also involve setting aside money saved by not performing an activity so it can be used as Donum at the end.

Veralia - Mar 22

Veralia is one of the "nature days". If your area has spring then it serves as a celebration of that. If it does not, then it serves as a day to get outside, work with natural ingredients, and tend to local land and/or it's spirits.

Dynamia - May 1

Dynamia is a holiday focused on the present moment. It's celebrated by participating in Ipsicreo, making and viewing art, decorating with flowers and things collected from the natural world, and exploring and enjoying the body.

Aestalia - Jun 22

Aestalia is one of the "nature days". If your area has summer then it serves as a celebration of that. If it does not, then it serves as a day to get outside, work with natural ingredients, and tend to local land and/or it's spirits.

Unalia - Aug 1

Unalia is a holiday focused on connection and care for community. It's celebrated by serving and connecting with your communities. Feasting, gratitude, and performing Donum are ideal.

Autumnia - Sep 22

Autumnia is one of the "nature days". If your area has autumn then it serves as a celebration of that. If it does not, then it serves as a day to get outside, work with natural ingredients, and tend to local land and/or it's spirits.

Liminalia - Nov 1

Liminalia is a holiday focused on the past and future. It's celebrated by honoring ones ancestors and contemplating the inevitable nature of death as a means to gain Equanimity. Feeding ancestors, visiting graveyards, and Purvolo or meditation are all ideal.

Brumalia - Dec 22

Brumalia is one of the "nature days". If your area has winter then it serves as a celebration of that. If it does not, then it serves as a day to get outside, work with natural ingredients, and tend to local land and/or it's spirits.

Processional Days

Processional days serve as reminders of the virtues leading up to the New Year. Can be devotional and ritualized if one wishes. Candles can be lit similar to an advent wreath. If the particular planet is visible in the night sky, viewing it and contemplating it would be ideal. Overall this is a preparatory period to reflect on the year gone by and set good intentions for the one ahead.

Dec 23 - Moon

Dec 24 - Mercury

Dec 25 - Venus

Dec 26 - Sun

Dec 27 - Mars

Dec 28 - Jupiter

Dec 29 - Saturn

Dec 30 - Spatia

Dec 31 - Tempia

New Years - Jan 1

The New Year is celebrated by feasting and starting something new. Planting something to be grown indoors, starting a new planner or journal, adding to one's Libercoro, or doing Purgordo are all ideal.

Sublimia

Sublimia are days that recognize inspiring beings and accomplishments. They vary from practitioner to practitioner and community to community. They can recognize beings already important in other faiths/practices - "the Sublimia of St. Mary" - or they can recognize beings/accomplishments that aren't usually elevated - "the Sublimia of the Polio Vaccine".

Sublimia are celebrated by lighting a candle on a circular plate or dish, recounting the story, having a small feast or treat, and giving Donum to a related cause if possible.

Symbols

Circle

The most basic symbol in Circulia is the circle. It represents the expanding universe, the weaving of Tempia and Spatia, the shape of the planet guides, etc. It invites a mindfulness of our interconnectedness and serves as a representation of all things. Thus it can serve as s symbol to be worn and contemplated and a basis to perform magic/develop spellwork; circular altars, charm bags, paper charms, embroidery hoops, etc.

Weaving

Baskets and textiles where the weave is visible can serve as reminders and representation of the First Twins and our connections with all that is. Weaving, crochet, knitting, sewing, embroidery, etc are all meditative and magically potent acts with this in mind.

Encircled Cross

The encircled cross - sometimes referred to as the sun cross - can be found across multiple cultures all over the world. In Circulia, it can serve as a representation of the First Twins where by the horizontal line stands for Tempia and the vertical line stands for Spatia and the circle is all they underpin and make possible.

Seven Pointed Star

The seven pointed star has long been used as a representation for the planets and can also serve here as well. Along with that, the traditional planetary glyphs can be used both as objects of contemplation and in magic/petitions. Representations where it's interwoven without beginning or end would be especially good.

Esperanto

It can be helpful to have another language to do magical workings in. Given Esperanto's constructed nature, emphasis on connection, and lack of ties to a particular culture, it's one to consider using for chanting and spellwork in Circulia.

If that final Three Kings slot hasn't been taken -

Rquell, he/him (personal blog @r-queue)

King seeking counsel In Court

Preferred Element: Earth

I have a great deal of difficulty keeping hold of my commitments, and the things that I want to do often fall by the wayside along with the things that I need to do; how can I change this?

I know the most acute expression of this problem is just the season getting the better of me, but it afflicts me in various forms year round. I can quite happily get things done if they can be abandoned and picked back up over and over; I struggle with consistency and urgency. My plans escape me. Time passes by without my notice. My physical and spiritual relationships suffer. I am not grounded in the world or in my community. That troubles me especially, as you might imagine from my choice of element.

(Divider made by me over at @jasper-graphics)

Three Kings Divination Explanation

Gods, if this isn't a mood and a half. Let's see if your court has some advice for you! Disclaimer: I do not know you personally, and I do not know what you have already tried. Therefore, this reading may recommend things you've already tried.

As a reminder, the D&D Tarot is the querent. In this reading, the Skyrim Tarot is the Queen, while the Neopets Tarot is the Fool (our Page).

You are the King of Strength, head of the Court of Earth. Your advice to yourself is the Eight of Strength (Earth) and the Ten of Wisdom (Water). The important part is that things get done, regardless of how you get to that point. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to take a different approach instead of running into the brick wall over and over again, you absolute Wile E. Coyote. Look at your environment around you when it comes to what you need to do. Are you actually working in spaces condusive to getting your shit done? How can you make yourself feel like less of a sad zoo animal?

In my practice, Earth and Water are perfectly neutral towards each other. They are neither best friends (like Earth and Fire) nor enemies (like Earth and Air). Earth is willing to take Water's advice, even though it's not giving up decision-making control.

Your Queen is the Queen of Lockpicks, Vex of the Thieves Guild. Her advice to you is the King of Arms (Air) upright and the Five of Spells (Fire) upright. You are actively fighting against yourself in this matter, along with fighting against everything around you. You need help from people or spirits close to you, ones who will help you figure out the best ways to keep your mind, body, and passion all on the same page.

In my practice, Earth and Air are enemies who absolutely hate each other, but Fire is Earth's best friend and can help bridge that gap since it's neutral towards Air. This allows Earth to benefit from Air's wisdom, even if they both hate it.

Finally, your Fool is the Page of Pentacles, Zaira the Air Faerie (who is also the assistant of Kari the Negg Faerie). Her advice to you is the Two of Pentacles (Earth) upright and the Page of Swords (Air) upright. Zaira has figured out that you've got quite a few things on your plate, and logically speaking, she thinks you should pare down until it's manageable, if such a thing is feasible. There's nothing wrong with putting certain things in hibernation or out of the house entirely. You've got too much to manage according to Zaira.

In my practice, well, we've already covered how Earth and Air feel about each other, but the presence of an Air Faerie in the Pentacles suit means that this elemental divide is not felt as strongly in Neopia as it is elsewhere. (Interestingly, the opposite is also true - there's an Earth Faerie in the Swords suit too!)

Please reblog this with feedback or send feedback to the ask box, as this is part of a test of the Three Kings Divination!

These readings wipe me the hell out, so any insight, munching and crunching, and rambling thoughts you have about the reading will be very helpful with me analyzing how well this spread is doing! Anything you feel is pertinent, interesting, or personal - including your own interpretations of the cards or elements, if you wish - are welcome! Feel free to reblog this to whatever blog is most appropriate!

As familiarity goes, I am passingly familiar with the mechanics of D&D but not with the lore; I have been playing Skyrim recently but haven't followed the main quest very far; and I am actually from Neopia, in a fictive sense, though the situation is a little complicated. Suffice it to say mid-aughts Neopia was formative to my person, but I am not familiar with site goings-on after the fall of Faerieland and associated plot (and only a little of what happened for a while before). It's like a place I lived a long time ago, and one I remember fondly but not always well.

I was curious whether you'd wind up pulling anyone personally significant to me for the Queen and Fool. You pulled someone I was not around for on Neopets (Zaira) and someone it appears I am just at the edge of meeting in Skyrim (Vex). Poking through the other Neopets cards -- Sinsi I recognize! And Ylana, somewhat more distantly. I wasn't able to find the Skyrim pip cards, so I don't know if I know them. It's interesting to me that you find earth and air to be enemies, and that the Neopets deck bucks that (and that you drew an air faerie for my Fool). When asking the question in the first place I was unsure if I should list my element as Earth or Air -- I went with Earth for reasons that aren't really relevant to this reading and I think it is a more accurate association for me, but I could almost as easily go with Air. It's fire and water that I have difficulty with. I appreciated seeing an air faerie in earth and seeing earth and air outweighing fire and water in general, although god knows I probably ought to give a little more attention to the latter two. Maybe that reflects the idea of an In Court reading as "trusted companions."

Bottom-to-top... Zaira's advice is not bad, but it's hard for me to apply right now. Much of the excess on my plate at the moment is medical or financial -- things that will chase me down if I leave them too long. I could eliminate the recreational, but when I have a lot to do I forget to relax if I don't make a specific goal of it, and failing to relax grinds things to a halt anyway. (There's that "earth and air sans fire and water" -- current problems aside I can deal with material needs just fine, but I have to enforce acknowledgement of my emotional needs or I just reroute to yardwork and mulling in my own head!)

If you showed me a two of coins and page of swords for this topic with no further context I would probably take it as something about prioritizing the opportunities available to me, rationally accounting for my material circumstances, and managing multiple projects intermittently or simultaneously rather than trying to queue them. Perhaps also -- perhaps especially -- seeking outside knowledge or new approaches to balancing several commitments. A "generic" reading of the pip and face cards may not be supported by the specific deck, though. In particular I am unsure how Ylana and her...friend might interact with the archetypal page of swords. I never paid a lot of attention to the space station and those associated, I'm more of a Meridell sort.

This said, none of what I read there is really out of alignment with paring down. There isn't a lot I am already committed to that I can truly put into hibernation, let alone out of the house, but I can be more selective about what I pick up for recreation. I can take a careful look at what the bare minimum really is for some of what I need to do. I should, as the Queen here also seems to suggest, seek second opinions or even delegate to those who I know would help me.

Vex brings up more than one thing that I have already been thinking about a lot, if not necessarily productively. First, that I am fighting myself and everything around me: I have definitely been struggling to find an angle of approach that allows me to work with my own inertia and that of my circumstances. It feels like every effort slips either into ramming directly against the metaphorical bull or into going wherever it wants to take me; I definitely don't want to go with it, but I also can't seem to redirect it, so I have been spending a lot of time locking horns with my own reflection.

Second, the need to accept help from those close to me, people or spirits. On a spiritual level I have been struggling for years with...how to ask for aid, what kind of aid I can expect, what is appropriate for me to ask. What my relationship is or can be with any of the beings that I acknowledge, especially as someone who is largely headblind. The struggle with understanding (and with keeping my commitments in the long term) has led me to expect very little and ask for less.

On a physical, interpersonal level...I have essentially the same problem, as different as it may feel. I can talk to the people I know very plainly and directly, obviously, but that is apparently not the only hurdle given that I still don't ask for support. I also habitually reject open-ended offerings of help. In a sense this is one of the ways that I have been fighting myself: I know that I need to talk to people, I know that I need interpersonal support, but reaching out for it or even indulging in it when it is offered is like dragging my own weight.

I'm not sure how I would read the King of Swords and Five of Staves in a vacuum and I am not going to take a stab at it because Vex is unequivocally correct here. I am fighting against myself, I do need help. I do need to stop trying to solve these problems on my own through force of will.

The King of Strength...I want to object to "you absolute Wile E. Coyote," but I have only just stopped talking about "ramming directly against the metaphorical bull" and "locking horns with my own reflection." True to being the representation of me in this reading, this section is most relevant to things that I already understand or have been trying to address. I do remove myself to places where I can get more work done, when the work can be done in those places. I have been trying to clean up my home environment to make myself feel like less of a sad zoo animal -- though the work is slow going, one of those things that falls by the wayside.

I think I would have read about the same thing you did here: the important thing is that you get the work done. I might have read a little more into doing material work and the fulfillment that comes thereby, but I obviously have a bit of a bias toward the material. I see "eight of coins, ten of cups" and I think "finish sewing that shirt and then you'll feel joy." And I'm right. But all that gets me is a lot of shirts. I need some shirts; I also need dentist's appointments and a social circle.

Chasing the moon's glow.

Made myself a jacket.

I'm calling it bardcore.

dusk in Appalachia