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.
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.
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, we are connected to everything that was, is, and will be.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
So yeah, here's the bare bones. I hope this is helpful to someone and selfishly I hope some other people pick it up. I've had a lot of fun celebrating these and I'd love to flesh it out more with others. Take the best and leave the rest. Happy practicing!
