diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 5d857a7..d7a3089 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,2 +1,93 @@ -# anarchocovenism +# Anarchocovenism +Anarchocovenism is an open source religion. + +# Why? + +As we enter the terminal phases of capitalism, many have realized that +we must escape. But how? Capitalism and the modern liberal state are a +mutation of divine right feudalism. They are a new story created to +justify an old order. Structurally, divine right feudalism and late +stage capitalism are quite similar: power is passed by birthright, +structured as a pyramid, and justified by invoking an invisible and +incomprehensible power. + +The lineage that lead to the feudal state obviously leads through the +church. More interestingly, the very first institutions that look +states came directly from ancient temples. The state has always been a +religious institution. The modern narrative of the secular state is +ultimately a deception (intentional or not). Some have pointed out +that late stage capitalism and the liberal states that embrace it +resemble a death cult. This is, in fact, literally true. + +Then the question becomes, how does one escape a cult who's members +are backed by and include police and military forces around the world? + +It is sometimes the case that information derived from one type of +system can be used to understand another, and some rules apply to all +sufficiently complex systems. Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem proves +that any system as complex as mathematics is necessarily either +inconsistent or incomplete. Gödel violated the constraints of +Typographical Number Theory by encoding the system within itself so +that it could ignore those constraints. + +This pattern of attack should be familiar to anyone who's ever +violated the technical security constraints of a jail or sandbox +system. For anyone not familiar, a "jail" or "sandbox" is a set of +constraints applied to a programming language or operating system such +that the possible behaviors are more limited than the set normally +available within the operating system or language. As a (simplified +but) concrete example, sometimes an incorrectly configured Linux +container can be escaped by mounting /dev/ within the container, +mounting the hard drive inside of that, and pivoting the root to the +mounted drive. + +This pattern can be applied to any system of rules. + +The State justifies it's existence by providing services. It collects +taxes (ostensibly) to pay for those services. It does not pay +taxes. It has the ability to create rules and enforce those rules on +it's citizens. Within the US, there is an institution that collects +money to pay for services, does not pay taxes, and can selectively +ignore some of the rules of the state. Churches, via the 1st +amendment, are able to reference and modify the rules of the state +without directly leveraging power against the state. These +institutions are a source of inconsistency. + +Christian nationalists have leveraged this inconsistency to build a +dual power system, through which they can manipulate the operation of +the state. Every crack they create is one we should be able to +leverage against them. + +The strategy of the right in the US within the political system is to +block and dismantle supportive state institutions as rapidly as +possible through any means available. While the moderates (since there +is no left) rush to restore these institutions, the right expands +systemic violence. This strategy requires little to no competence to +execute (as demonstrated by Trump). Meanwhile, the strategy of +creating and supporting institutions is incredibly laborious. Because +it is easier to destroy than to build, any strategy that focuses on +the destruction of state institutions will inevitably succeed. + +This is why we should create an open source religion. We can remove +supportive institutions from the domain of the state. As the Syrian +Civil War demonstrated, whomever provides bread in a famine becomes +the defacto authority. As the state removes support, it loses it's +legitimacy and becomes dispensable. Meanwhile, an institution that +provides support gains legitimacy and becomes indispensable. + +The only problem with religions is that they tend to be used to +control people. This is why we should create an open source +religion. Religion should serve the needs of people, not the other way +around. + +# How? + +Run `build.sh` to build the epub, pdf, and html versions of the +initial text. + +Use this as is or fork it to form your own coven (legally a +church). Push changes back if you think they would be valuable. This +is the first repository, but it should not be the only. It +*absolutely* should not be considered authoritative, as no such +concept can or should exist for this religion. diff --git a/Theban_alphabet_from_Polygraphia_1518_cleaned-up.png b/Theban_alphabet_from_Polygraphia_1518_cleaned-up.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5fab05 Binary files /dev/null and b/Theban_alphabet_from_Polygraphia_1518_cleaned-up.png differ diff --git a/anarchocovenism.org b/anarchocovenism.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..534a399 --- /dev/null +++ b/anarchocovenism.org @@ -0,0 +1,1305 @@ +#+TODO: TODO | DONE CANCELED +#+title: Behold a Sacred Zine: An Anarchocovenist Manifesto +#+author: Ellis Angzar +#+COMMENT: add , License, Description, Subject +#+OPTIONS: toc:nil title:nil +#+EPUBCOVER: cover.png +#+LANGUAGE: en +* An Invocation +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +“We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine +And the machine is bleeding to death.” - The Dead Flag Blues, GY!BE +#+END_QUOTE + +This screed should not sound reasonable, because it is not. There can +be no reasonable path out of the metacrisis. There is no reasonable +path to end whatever genocide is happening as you read this, because +those in power are invested in the military industrial complex and +they are making tremendous amounts of money by inflicting human +suffering. There can be no reasonable path out of climate change, +because the hegemony of today's dominant militaries are perpetuated +through continued use of petroleum. There is no reasonable path out of +capitalism because the entire dominant order is predicated on it. For +far too long we have channeled efforts down "reasonable" paths like +electoralism, and things have only gotten worse. + +This is not a reasonable text because we do not live in reasonable +times. We have been reasonable far too long. If we are to find a way +to survive the global polycrisis in the age of turboparalysis, we must +be willing to have unreasonable expectations, make unreasonable +demands, and take unreasonable actions. + +The words you are reading reject reason and demand utopia in the face +of our current dystopia, and Eden in the face of planetary +collapse. They are a psychedelic assault on the dominant order. This +text is half manifesto and half instruction manual, wrapped in a cozy +fever dream. It is at once clear instructions and mad ravings. It is a +meticulously wild, unhinged, and disheveled strategy. Grinning and +frantically yelling, it screams in your face with glowing eyes while +offering you hope and tranquility. This document demands to be taken +as seriously as death, and implores you to laugh at death and +yourself. + +Ellis is a sober sister of Discordia and belligerent cousin of Baccus, +a naked lunatic carefully filling out paperwork. She was summoned from +the aethers, in an unspeakable dadaist ritual, performed by chaos +magicians around a DND table. Ellis is the vox populi, mumbling in a +k-hole. Ellis is the green man, emergent from the depths of the +forest to sing leaves at you. She is at once Bophomet and +Metatron. Ellis is the water poured into your open mind, if you will +grock it. Do with this what you will. + +The remainder of this document assumes a US audience, but this may be +adapted for any location where it feels relevant. This document itself +is a radical reinterpretation of Democratic Confederalism for easier +consumption for US audiences, so it already has a strong potential for +future adaptation. +* Our Agenda +We have long since passed the crisis point, and we can all feel it if +not see it. Liberalism has failed and fascism has begun to feed on +its corpse. We can all feel the creeping doom. We see the water +rising and know the ship is sinking. Some of us are frozen in +fear. Some of us are pretending it's not happening. But we all know, +at least at some level, that something is deeply wrong. + +The world is on fire. Governments around the world are +inadequate. They are at risk of being (or have already been) captured +by forces of wealth extraction. They operate for the few at the +expense of collective prosperity, social cohesion, and, ultimately, +the survival of the species. + +We can't keep going the way we're going, and alternatives are hard to +imagine. But this is exactly where the key to our escape lies. But if +we can revive our collective imagination, we can stop struggling +against the suffocating mire of apocalypse and begin to build our +utopia. Take a second to imagine how it would feel to no longer be +afraid. Now imagine the void left by your fear being filled with hope +and joy. + +That hope is not unfounded or misplaced. We live in a hellish system +that pits us against each other, against our natural instincts, +against the pleasure of sharing, against the joy of cooperation. But +this hellish system was created by us, and any system created by +humans can be dismantled by us. We imagined ourselves in to this +world, and we can imagine ourselves in to a better one. + +Anarchocovenism, the framework outlined in the following pages, +proposes that we begin addressing these needs outside of the state and +capitalist system, without requiring violent revolution. + +While covenism focuses on exploiting specific internal inconsistencies +of liberal capitalism within the US, it may be adapted to other +contexts. As the situation in the US is quite fluid as of the writing +of this text, it is intended to be adapted continually. Where +Platformism proposes a singular tightly coordinated federation, +Covenism proposes a strategically aligned and optimally, but not +necessarily, federated swarm. + +The Organizational Platform of the Libertarian Communists of Dielo +Truda resists the idea of a transition period: + +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +Either the social revolution will terminate in the defeat of the +workers in which case we must start again to prepare the struggle, a +new offensive against the capitalist system or it will lead to the +victory of the workers, and in this case, having seized the means +which permit self-administration - the land, production, and social +functions- the workers will commence the construction of a free +society. +#+END_QUOTE + +Covenism proposes that there does exist a transition period that is +neither a "minimum program" of solutions that ease suffering without +abolishing capitalism, nor a temporary dictatorship, but a third, +anarchist, option where the transition and the revolution are the +same. That by systematically removing ourselves from capitalism we +weaken the dominant social entity of state-capital, allowing it to +either wither away or be quickly defeated if it strikes at us +first. + +Covenism proposes that within such a transition period, time favors +the anarchists. For the longer we exist, the more we demonstrate the +viability of our solution. Our persistence erodes the facade of +legitimacy, revealing the fundamentally coercive nature of the state +and capitalism. For covenism, the transition is the revolution and +violent elements of the revolution are delayed (and possibly avoided +entirely). +* The Transition Period +The element of a transition period within covenism is both an +implementation of the phrase "build the new world in the shell of the +old" and a deviation from The Organizational Platform of the +Libertarian Communists (from here on simply referred to as The +Platform). While The Platform proposes violent dissolution of the +dominant order followed by immediate construction of a new order, +Covenism proposes that the construction of the new order *is* the +dissolution of the old order, requiring no violence (except in +self-defense). + +At a high level, the strategy is roughly the following. Covens are +tools for collective ownership and operate as the most basic level of +organization social organization. The coven is the root of social all +social power. Covens set up a dual-power system, in opposition to the +dominant society. The collective creation, acquisition, and ownership +functions reduce reliance on capitalism and the state: share and stock +up on food, collectivize housing where possible, share expensive +resources, etc. Engage in radical unionism to seize control of work +places or start businesses within the collective. Make the money and +products of anarchist controlled businesses available to covens to +further reduce reliance on capitalism and leverage it further against +capitalism. + +Covenism offers a strategy to beat capitalists at their own +game. Without a legal obligation to shareholders, a coven can provide +goods and services to the capitalist market at a lower price than +capitalist competitors. Because covens have no external owners or +managerial class, we can operate with significantly lower overhead at +the same scale. + +Simultaneously, the excess production and capacity provided by +intensive mutual aid can be extended outside of the coven federation +to multiply the threats to the dominant order. For example, a coven's +dispensary or library can be turned to support houseless encampments, +who are already (functionally and not by their own decision) outside +the capitalist system, to stabilize them and give them space to +organize themselves. The longer encampments exist and the more +organized they are, the more revolutionary potential they have. + +Additional structural details will be discussed in following sections. +* Replacing the Social Entity +The US government and capitalism fulfill needs along the following +four pillars: + - consumable goods + - durable goods + - infrastructure + - services. + +It is not necessary or even desirable to replace all the functions of +the state as a social entity. We can omit from these, for example, the +infrastructure and services of state violence against its own people +as this is unnecessary within any system compassionate humans would +wish to build. + +Taxes are, ostensibly, levied to pay for the goods and services +provided to the people. The state does not itself pay taxes. Within +the US there exists an institution that is also exempt from taxes and +is permitted to raise funds from its members (though, in this case, +voluntarily): the non-profit. There is one form of non-profit that, by +way of the 1st Amendment to the US constitution, is also permitted to +define (or more accurately, selectively disregard) other laws: the +church. + +Covenism proposes creating federated churches to collectively own +property, build infrastructure, manage the distribution of goods, and +provide services. A coven primarily functions to fulfill the needs of +it's members, but, in doing so, a coven will likely have +excess. Excess can be shared with other covens, given to local +community organizations, or even sold within the capitalist market. + +By interoperating with the capitalist system and working within the +legal framework of the state, we can test out the society we wish to +build within the shell of the old. This strategy has already proved +itself in Northern Syria as the Rojava revolution remains independent +from the state and does not seek conflict with it (except as necessary +to protect its people). + +Covenism proposes a structure of recursive federation. An anarchist +coven would form as a church with 3-5 members. As the coven grows it +can split in to two or more covens as needed. + + +These covens may federate, optionally, into their own legal entities +which are also churches. owning the initial church. As covens become +aware of other covens they can also federate with those, given that +they can establish and build trust with those organizations and their +members. + +The legal entity of a coven provides a mechanism to build +institutions, aligned along the four pillars, to fulfill the needs of +its members and replace dominant system. These institutions are... +- the dispensary + to provide consumable goods, +- the library, + to provide access to shared durable goods, +- the works committee, + to build and own infrastructure such as housing, and +- the services committee, + to identify and provide services, such as child care, for its members. + +There can be different types of dispensaries and libraries, as +needed. Committees can form subcommittees (as needed) to organize more +and more specialized entities. + +All of these entities can start small and grow as the number of people +involved and input grows. There is no need to solve all problems at +once. + +** The Dispensary +A dispensary can start simply as a shared pantry, stocked with the +products of guerrilla gardening or food preservation by canning or +pickling. It can be foraging, processing, storing, and sharing horse +chestnuts for soap and acorns for flour to make acorn grits and +bread. It can be as easy as shared bulk purchases from restaurant +supply or warehouse store, or as crust-punk as rotating dumpster run +shifts. It could even start as small regular potluck or shared +dinners. It could simply be an agreement between members to volunteer +with a local chapter of Food Not Bombs on a rotating basis. [fn:5] + +As your network grows, so can the dispensary system. A federation of +four or five covens could start a coop for themselves. A federation of +20 may even be able to open a storefront. + +As much as people would like to live their daily lives without +inflicting suffering on ourselves and others, capitalism cannot seem +to provide for the needs of people without committing atrocities. From +sweatshops to toxic byproducts, union busting death squads, +unnecessary packaging, micro-plastics, and landfills full of fast +fashion, simple participation is a minefield of harm. + +As anarchist entities, covens are responsible for minimizing the +suffering of others. Since no similar objective can exist within +capitalist markets, operating a coven or federation owned dispensary +as a coop style business for non-members offers a harm-reduction +opportunity that capitalist markets cannot fulfill. We can do what the +market cannot, offer products that people can buy without having blood +on their hands. + +The Platform identifies the problems of production and consumption as +core to the success of the revolution: + +#+BEGIN_QUOTE + Without doubt, from the first day of the revolution, the farms will + not provide all the products vital to the life of the population. At + the same time, peasants have an abundance which the towns lack. +#+END_QUOTE + +Within the capitalist system, production, acquisition, transportation, +and distribution (logistics) are all handled by markets. As we move +away from this system, the dispensary system (perhaps with the support +of [[*The Services Committee][the services committee]]) will need to address production and +transportation logistics. Starting within the capitalist market +provides a low-risk proving ground from which we can iterate and +improve. If a coven can operate a business within capitalism while +planning beyond it, there's a good chance it will be able to transcend +its capitalist roots. + +The technology that made the short supply chain-based capitalism, +which dominates the world today, also makes capitalism itself +irrelevant. By attacking this problem as a swarm, we will come up with +multiple competing solutions. Good solutions will merge or replace bad +ones and the best solutions will spread across the federation. Like +the open source software movement, we may, and probably will, end up +with multiple systems. This is not a problem as long as those systems +interoperate with each other. +** The Library +A library is a shared set of objects, often (but not always) located +in a specific repository. We are most familiar with municipal library +systems where the objects are books and occasionally other media. The +simplest library for a coven is a tool library. A library consists of +an inventory and a way to track that inventory. + +The simplest library can be made up of tools owned by members of the +coven and a simple spreadsheet to track them. A library can create a +shared bank account for purchasing new tools for the +library. Libraries will also maintain objects that belong to the +collective. + +While give-away or free-stores exist and do work in some situations +(they are common in the Netherlands), these can be exclusionary in the +US context. They can be seen as "charity" or "for people less +fortunate" rather than a shared resource. While a library can choose +to operate in exactly the same way as a free-store (not tracking what +comes in or goes out), the conceptual framework of a library is more +aligned with American sensibilities (outside of existing punk and +anarchist spaces). +** The Works Committee +A Works Committee is responsible for identifying, acquiring or +producing, and managing infrastructure needed for the operation of the +coven or federation and the lives of its members. The mechanism by +which it does this is up to the coven or federation. Management of +infrastructure such as vehicles or housing may be handed off to the +library system once acquired. + +The Works Committee is responsible for organizing work parties to +maintain infrastructure. One easy example is a garden party where +coven members design and implement a garden either on property they +own or via guerrilla gardening. The Works Committee would then be +responsible for regular maintenance, harvest, and delivery of goods in +coordination with the dispensary. +** The Services Committee +The two most critical permanent purposes of Services Committees are to +coordinate leadership of regular services, either by a specific +appointed member or by rotating ordination, and to introduce young +members in the ideas and practices of covenism. This includes +supporting youth in the organization of their own covens. A third +critical purpose that only exists within the transition period is +accounting: ensure taxes are filed on time and correctly, that any +shared expenses are paid, and that all money has been accounted for. + +Beyond these, the Services Committee identifies the needs and +capabilities of its members to provide services. The Services +Committee operates on the principal "From each according to their +abilities, to each according to their needs." + +The most important goal of any entity that wishes to continue to exist +is reproduction of itself. Therefore, the most important objective of +the coven must be supporting the reproductive labor of the collective, +especially supporting members with children. + +For covens with children, rotating childcare eases the burden on +families, making the coven more stable and setting an example for +members too young to start their own covens. Some members may have +technical skills and can provide tech support or automation of tedious +tasks performed by others. Those with mechanical skills may be able to +repair objects for The Library. + +Within an urban area, municipal services take care of many things that +rural people have to take care of themselves. Trash collection and +disposal may make sense for a rural coven where it wouldn't be +imagined by an urban coven outside of a disaster. + +As a coven grows to a federation, new services will become +available. At each federation level, it becomes more and more +important to provide a mechanism to discover capabilities and protect +people with specific skills from being overburdened. + +A Services Committee of a large enough federation could provide much +more complex services that further free it from the constraints of +capitalism. Insurance pools, banking via credit unions, and other +services can all be organized by a Services Committee of a big enough +federation. + +As with the Dispensary, services may also be externalized to offer +things unavailable under capitalism. Externally facing organizations +would be fulfilling their religious objective of proving the viability +of such organizations within capitalism in preparation for a +post-capitalist world. Therefore, any business operated by a committee +of a coven should be owned by the coven as a religious entity. +* Social Insertion +Social Insertion is the practice of working to forward local struggles +as members of a social organism. Anarchists, as anarchists, will be +involved in groups like Food Not Bombs because it aligns with their +existing beliefs. Anarchists, as anarchists, may be involved with +campaigns to improve transit infrastructure because car culture feeds +petro-fascism and lends itself well to authoritarian social +control. These individuals are open about their political alignment +and also are honestly working with external organizations. They try, +where possible, to work with existing organizations rather than trying +to start their own. + +This is distinct from "entryism," where members of a political +movement will try to hijack a social movement towards their own ends +or will try to take members away from social movements and shift those +members to their own, organization controlled, social organizations. + +The term comes from Especifismo, a South American anarchist praxis. + +Where there exists organizations that are not antithetical to +covenism, covens should practice social insertion and support those +existing entities. Unless there is a clear reason not to, such as +authoritarian organization structures, general non-profit +dysfunctionality, bigotry, or other toxic patterns, it's far easier +and more efficient to find and support existing organizations as a +coven than to create one's own. + +Food Not Bombs and Mutual Aid Disaster Relief are both excellent +examples of organizations that covens should actively work with and +support, where possible. + +[[*The Services Committee][The services committee]] should identify local organizations aligned +with coven's objectives and organize it's members to support them. +* The Functions of Mythological Systems +Beyond just being a symbolic language, a religion is type of +replicator. It can be thought of as a form of life itself. In the same +way that the state and capitalism form a social entity with its own +internal logic, a memetic organism with an emergent intelligence, a +religion is itself a social entity with an emergent intelligence. Like +ants in a colony, a religion binds individuals to operate as a larger +collective entity. + +Joseph Campbell described the 4 purposes of mythological systems: +- sociological + - to build or maintain a specific social structure and to build or + maintain a specific set of social norms +- pedagogical + - to guide an individual through the various challenges and phases + of life +- cosmological + - to help an individual understand their place in the universe, + connecting local knowledge to the wider universe +- metaphysical/mystical + - to connect to "the ultimate source of mystery," inspiring awe and + gratitude in the individual + +The pedagogy of the state/capitalism primarily focuses on justifying +and reinforcing the mythology of state/capitalism. The mythology of +state/capitalism, in turn, fulfills the sociological function of +maintaining the specific (dominant) social order. Ostensibly, the +cosmological and metaphysical elements fall outside of the domain of +liberal democracies. We will not explore the veracity of this +statement here. + +The establishment and maintenance of a specific social order, the +sociological objective of mythological systems, is addressed for +covenism by The Dispensary, The Library, The Works Committee, and The +Services Committee, and the process of the creation of a coven or +federation. This leaves the cosmological, mystical, and (most of) the +pedagogical functions. Rites and rituals are the ways we guide each +other through life. These are discussed in following sections. + +The mystical element of a system can be described as one's connection +to a larger entity. While other anarchisms may reject the importance +of this idea, the mystical function is a critical element of covenism. +It impossible to separate from the other functions of covenism. +** Reflections on Infinite Source of Mystery +#+begin_quote +"I had to live a while before I understood that a lot of things can +only be said joking and not joking at the same time." - Always Coming +Home, Ursula K. Le Guin +#+end_quote + +As the surface around the letters you are reading emits or reflects +electrons, the rods and cones in your eyes receive that light and emit +signals down their dendrites to other nerves. These signals cascade +from neuron to neuron, neural cluster to neural cluster, down the +optic nerve and into the brain. The brain transmutes raw signals about +the presence or absence of light in certain areas, hues, shapes of +light and dark areas in to meaning.[fn:1] + +The words that reach your brain are these: + + + #+begin_quote + There are things more well represented by metaphor than by literal + reality. There are times when the surreal is more true than the + truth itself. + #+end_quote + + +As you perceive the neural network feeding you this information, your +perception of the universe begins to vibrate. The words resolve in to +the memory of a smoke that smells like the future[fn:2]. "Who am I?" +you hear a voice say, as you turn. Following the neural signals back +out your eyes[fn:3] and you find yourself looking in the mirror. You +see the face of god, multitude. + +As you try to speak, you realize that you have no mouth. Instead, you +open your mind. Your ego climbs out to take control. It is struck by +the situation and dies instantly. + +You observe the output of clusters of neurons in you brain, trying to +determine how to integrate this information within your existing +paradigm. As you relax your perceptual filters, you notice populations +of ideas normally filtered out before they reach +consciousness. Variations on a theme, mutations on a concept, +iteration by iteration, slowly adapting until they can make the pieces +fit together. + +As you find yourself in a room discussing these ideas, you see the +internal process of ideation occur externally. Different people in the +room bringing their own interpretation to the ideas, sharing those, +and hearing iterations of these ideas reflected back, mutated to fit +the paradigms of others in the room. + +You become the life giving Earth and the universe itself. As you look +deep into the eyes of time, you see the birth of your own +consciousness. + +Dark and empty, This is not the universe you recognize. In the warm +dawn, you see amino acids beginning to assemble. In these first few +million years, brief instants in the scale of the universe, something +incredible begins. + +Soon the universe will cool, stars will form, and the universe will +begin to be recognizable. Almost 10 billion years later, the Earth +will form. Several million years later, you will watch the thick +clouds that formed around it fall as a rain storm that lasts for +centuries. + +In the oceans of this landless Earth, you see the clusters of amino +acids organizing and reorganizing. They build themselves from the +materials available in the oceans, eventually including each +other. The fastest replicator producing the most, their development is +guided by natural selection. Strands of nucleic acids grow cells to +protect themselves. + +You watch cells cluster together to form a tiny colony called a +Portuguese Man O' War. Some cells form a bubble, others a +stinger. These cells are all interdependent but also distinct. You see +other organisms, like slime molds, form temporary communities and +disperse. + +Some communal organisms cooperate so closely they blur distinction +until they eventually merge in to a single entity. Some multicellular +organisms even form colony organisms, like ants and bees. These +organisms share genes and cooperate via chemical signals, exhibiting +emergent intelligence far beyond the capabilities of any individual. + +Bicycles weave between each other on a busy Dutch street. An eye +catches an eye, signaling one cyclist to adjust direction and make +room for another. As ants communicate with chemical signals, you see +humans moving in intricate patterns communicating via visual social +signals. As the dance of bees, subtle visual patterns transmit intent. + +Our ancestors grew complex communication patterns that allowed us to +transmit information. They began to be able to persist and reorganize +data over time. Just as genes had become organisms guided by +evolution, information, in the form of memes, did the same. Generation +by generation this capability advanced. The memes refined us, their +hosts, towards more and more complex models of the world and +ourselves. These memes gave us the mechanisms to comprehend ourselves, +and the resulting memes continue to evolve. + +These memes, what a strange replicator, that can sit lifeless on a +page, suspended in memes of writing, language, and culture, to yet, at +any point, cascade through time to live again in another host. + +You feel the memes within you, moving, competing for your attention, +pulling you away or pulling you in as you read. Asking to be included, +integrated, in to the environment of your mind. You feel them +resisting competing ideas, creating questions, finding ways to make +everything fit. + +Time races ahead of you in a blur, from the brink of oblivion into a +new age of hope. In an empty room, in front of a screen, there is a +plaque. You read the words. + +#+begin_quote +While capitalism oriented itself in the instant, betraying those who +came before it and sacrificing those who come after, we oriented +ourselves in deep time, giving thanks to the beginning of the universe +and borrowing all things from those who come next. Every instant +starting from the first spark of the cosmos has lead us here, tracing +our lineage from the fundamental laws of the universe. What we borrow +from our children, we owe back with interest. +#+end_quote + +"Who are we?" + +You wonder at the question. We. Are we the plurality of immortal memes +that inhabit us, or the host that animates them? Are we the +individual, the colony, the clusters of neurons? Are we the +undifferentiated consciousness that imagined ourselves in to +experience? + +A video plays on the screen. + +#+BEGIN_QUOTE + Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy + condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness + experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, + life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. +#+END_QUOTE +*** The Entity of an Ismo +Memes are pieces of, or collections of, information that spread +together. They are similar to genes, but made of information instead +of strings of proteins. A memetic organism is an organism defined and +controlled by memes. The definition part is similar to how genes +define biological organisms. These memes inhabit hosts, generally +humans. A memetic organism is a type of meta-organism (an organism +made of other organisms). + +As described earlier, an ant in a colony has a simple brain that +operates on chemical signals. The specific behaviors that an ant +expresses in response to external stimuli, including communication +pheromones from other ants, is encoded within its genome. All worker +ants within a colony are generally genetically identical. While the +behavior of the individual is highly predictable, the behavior of the +colony is not. A complex intelligence emerges from the interaction +between multiple simple organisms. This is an emergent intelligence. + +In Esperanto, the word "ismo" refers to both an ideology and a +religion: christianismo, communismo, budhismo, capitalismo. An ismo is +a memetic organism with an emergent intelligence. There is no attempt +to distinguish between the ideology and religion. This results in a +more accurate representation of reality than one finds in English, +with the false delineation between the two. + +Within a memetic organism, memes are comparable to both the genes that +define behavior and the pheromones that elicit behavior. In the same +way that the state and capitalism form an social entity with its own +internal logic, a religion is itself a social entity, a memetic +organism, with its own emergent intelligence. However, within +capitalism and many other ismoj, the memetic organism is not aware of +its own existence. + +Some ismoj, such as liberalism, are invisible to their members. They +may become so complete that they may not even be named. This is the +critical difference between Covenism as an ismo and other ismoj: +Covenism is internally self-aware. The awareness of the social +organism is embedded in Covenism as the very words you are reading +now. +** Our Creed +#+begin_quote +Follow your bliss. - Joseph Campbell +#+end_quote + +It is not a coincidence that the things which bring us pleasure are +the same things that increase our probability of passing on our genes +to the next generation. This is in fact causal. Or more accurately, +the experience of pleasure is wired by evolution to maximize the +probability of passing on your genes. + +It's also not a coincidence that pleasure is distinct from bliss and +fulfillment (though they can also be interrelated). These feelings +evolved at different times. The drive for pleasure can be in direct +conflict with the experience of bliss. + +Pleasure can come from many sources. Sex can be pleasurable, but so +can violence. These are immediate and ephemeral experiences. But the +imagination of pleasure is often outweighed by the actual experience +of it. This should sound familiar to anyone with a passing +understanding of Buddhism. + +Bliss is something different. It is a lasting experience of +fulfillment. It is not a coincidence that these to experiences are +distinct. They function on different levels. The experience of +pleasure is associated to distinct and specific (often relatively +simple) actions. + +Bliss is extremely complex. The experience is different because is +external to ourselves. The experience of bliss comes from things like +empathy and the joy of cooperation. Where pleasure is an individual +reward, bliss is a social reward. + +Just as the pursuit of pleasure increased the transmission of genes +for our ancestors, the maximization of bliss increases the +survivability of our social organism. The problem with pleasure is +that genetic evolution is slow. The drive towards pleasure does not +necessarily align with our genetic wellbeing, and perhaps it never +really aligned with our personal wellbeing. However, since bliss is a +social experience, the signal of bliss evolves at a memetic +rate (exponentially faster than genes). + +To maximize your own bliss is to maximize bliss for all around you. So +then there is only one commandment, given and enforced by nature +itself: follow your bliss. +* The Practice of Worship +You will need to map out the structure and cadence of worship when you +create a coven, and build your agreements. It is recommended to break +down worship in to three sections: the functional, the communal, and +the spiritual. + +It's recommended to break these across multiple days. A common +structure for some Christian churches is to take 10-15 minutes for +announcements (Functional), an hour or two for services (Spiritual), +followed by (Communal) coffee, tea, and cookies for an unspecified +time up to two hours after. When starting or working with limited time +a single compressed model like this may work, but it's not optimal. +** The Functional +The purpose of this section is to address the functional needs of the +coven. Block out time (less than 90 minute blocks is recommended) to +go through reports and updates from those involved in the Dispensary, +Library, Works Committee, and Services Committee. Talk through any +additional announcements, including those from other covens you are +federated with. + +It is helpful to include unstructured communal time, such as shared +meals, during or after functional meetings. As the federation grows, +more time will be needed. It is recommended to break functional +meetings, work parties, and such across multiple days. When a +federation becomes sufficiently large, it is recommended to take every +Monday, on top of Saturday and Sunday, as a third day of community and +worship. + +Given the increases in productivity over the last 100 years, a 4 day +work week is a completely reasonable expectation. If we have to annex +Monday for the weekend by force of religion, so be it. It is +rightfully ours anyway. + +The scope of the functional spans 3 realms: the personal and family, +the coven and federation, and humanity itself. It is up to each coven +and individual to negotiate how to allocate the three days of the +weekend once we have liberated Monday from the work week, but it is +important to reserve it for one of these three. However, some people +must work on weekends. Medical personnel, for example, cannot conform +to a standard work week. While the work week should be universally +restricted, which specific days are used will be up to the specific +coven and their members. + +A functional meeting can start with an agenda like the following: + +1. Functional Invocation +2. Announcements +3. Report Backs + 1. Dispensary + 1. Inventory Check + 1. What is low + 2. What is empty + 3. What is expiring + 4. What is needed + 2. Funds status + 2. Library + 1. Inventory Check and Items needing return + 2. Library acquisition requests + 3. Funds status and budget check + 3. Works Committee + 1. Upcoming projects + 2. Subcommittee updates (Following the Works Committee agenda) + 3. New committee formations + 4. Funds status + 4. Services Committee + 1. New capabilities announcements + 2. New needs requests + 3. Subcommittee updates (Following the Works Committee agenda) + 4. New committee formations + 5. Funds status +4. Task Check +5. Breaking the Circle + +This agenda is a suggestion for those who don't know where to +start. It can be adapted or ignored as appropriate. +** The Communal +The communal aspect of the practice of worship bind the coven and +federation together. Within the community we find joy and release, +connection and comfort. The coven is where we turn in times of need, +and where we share our hopes and dreams. + +Each coven will have its own rituals, but here are some suggestions: +*** Confession/Check-in +While therapy can be difficult for many people to access, a coven can +set aside a couple of hours twice a week to give members a chance to +talk through their feelings. When we discuss problems we think are +only ours, we often find commonality we hadn't noticed. + +It can also be helpful to have regular time with people outside of the +coven to talk about internal dynamics and find commonality outside of +small groups. +*** Potlucks and Festivals +Food and celebration are elements of religious ritual dating back to +the first indicators of religious practice. Celebrations, such as +harvest, can help people feel more grounded and aware of the seasons. +*** Community Psychedelics +Many religions have a long history of the use of psychedelics for +self-exploration, healing, and leaning. Psychedelics are powerful +spiritual tools that are often not treated with the respect they +deserve. These rituals are not games or entertainment. They are not +intended or expected to be fun. They can be difficult and emotionally +taxing. + +The safe use of psychedelics falls outside the scope of this manifesto +and should be thoroughly researched by any wishing to engage with +them. That said, psychedelics can be a powerful medicine for healing +trauma and achieving spiritual awareness. +** The Spiritual +Religions around the world have mapped out different versions of the +wheel of life, have talked about life and death in metaphor, and have +talked about our place in the universe. Your coven is a place for +conversation. It is a place for these ideas to live. Invite these gods +in and ask them to stay a while. + +Just remember, we do not live to serve the gods. The gods live to +serve us. That is the distinction between the coven and those who +would have you bear a cross. +*** Rites and Rituals +When you create your coven, you will define the rites and rituals that +make sense for you. Over time you will find gaps. You will need to +create new rites and rituals for different situations. Only one ritual +is defined here as part of the practice of worship. + +The coven is a place many traditions can intermingle. Share rites and +rituals that are meaningful with others. Adapt, adopt, and revive +rituals from your ancestors. Write down and perhaps even share your +rituals with other covens if they are meaningful to you. + +The only warning is to avoid appropriation. Some rituals can have +different meaning outside of their original cultural context. If you +don't have a full understanding of that cultural context, then +performing such rituals without the permission of those who do can be +offensive at best and harmful at worst. +**** The Functional Invocation/Breaking the Circle +At the beginning and end of the [[*The Functional][functional]] meeting there are two +rituals: the Invocation and Breaking the Circle. You are free to +define these how you please. The rituals described below are only a +suggestion. +***** Invocation +A random person will lead the invocation. The same person cannot lead +twice. +Draw the sigil for your coven on a piece of paper. + +Draw the following symbol next to it: + +\includegraphics[width=1.5em]{ellis.png} +# ⍼ + +Put the paper on the floor or a table. +Gather the coven around the paper and hold hands in a circle. +Recite the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +With this sigil we bind ourselves to each other, for each other, our +actions to fulfill our will, in this space, in this time, together. +#+END_QUOTE +***** Breaking the Circle +During task check, each individual who took on tasks will have their +name or initials next to the task. No tasks will be left without an +owner. + +Review the task check from the previous meeting. Cross out any +duplicates. +For any completed tasks, the owner will recite the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +I have fulfilled our will. I ask that my binding to this task be +broken. +#+END_QUOTE +If the task is complete to the satisfaction of the coven, all will +recite the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +Your binding is broken. +#+END_QUOTE +For any tasks that the owner cannot complete, the owner will recite +the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +I cannot fulfill our will. I ask that my binding to this task be +transferred or broken. +#+END_QUOTE +The group will discuss and choose to transfer the binding to another +member or to break the binding and release the task. + +After reviewing previous tasks, recite the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +By these sigils we bind ourselves to these actions that we will +complete, and if we fail, and if we falter, we will ask for help, and +the coven will hold us, and carry us, as we carry it when we are +strong. We take each task with our mark and bind ourselves to them +until the end. +#+END_QUOTE +Next to each remaining task, draw the sigil for each person who owns +the task. + +Once all tasks have a sigil, everyone will recite the following: +#+BEGIN_QUOTE +As we break this sigil, we break the binding of this space. We hold on +to our tasks and commitments, for each other, with each other, outside +of this space and time. +#+END_QUOTE +The person who lead the invocation will either burn the paper the +sigil is drawn on or will rip the paper in to small pieces. + +* Creation of a Coven +Any group of three to five people who agree can form a coven. In order +to have the legal protections of a coven, such as a legal framework +for collective ownership and tax exception, it is necessary to form a +legal entity. However, a legal entity isn't required to start with any +of the functional, communal, or spiritual elements of a coven. + +A coven is a group of people who can know each other so well that they +are ultimately able to predict what other members would say in a given +situation, such that any member can act autonomously on behalf of the +whole. When you form a coven, you become accountable for the actions +of other members of your coven and you can be held accountable for +holding or not holding them accountable. + +You may own property with these people. You may trust them with your +children (if you have any). You may trust them with your life. A coven +is a relationship. It must be fostered and maintained, it will grow +and change over time. Visit and revisit your assumptions about your +coven members, learn and re-learn who they are. + +Human relationships are complex, and no manual can describe how to +foster and maintain them, but this document does provide some +recommendations of where to start. +** Writing Religious Literature +Covenism is a meta religion, like the Universal Life Church, that +allows people with different spiritual perspectives to share spiritual +practices and spaces. Each coven will have its own spiritual +identity, and will, therefore, have its own religious literature. + +You may define as much or as little as you would like, but four +minimum elements are strongly recommended: a vision, a set of +agreements, a set of rites and rituals, and a sigil (or symbol). + +*** Defining a Vision +You have chosen to put together a coven for a reason. What is that +reason? Something in the above text may have resonated with +you. Perhaps it was something else. Use the following prompts. Each +prospective member should answer these questions, in written form, for +each other: + +1. Why do you want to be part of a coven? +2. What does the world we are trying to build look like? +3. What would it mean to follow your bliss? + +Take these answers and combine them to create a single vision for your +coven. This vision should represent the consensus of the group. If it +isn't possible to reach a consensus, the group may need to break apart +to form separate covens. +*** Building of Agreements and Protocols +Group agreements are collectively defined rules that describe how +members should interact. They may function to simplify interactions, +ensure access needs are met, or to protect against the emergence of +hierarchical behavior. You can use the following prompts, or define +your own: + +1. How should we interact with each other? +2. What are your access needs? +3. What would help you feel safe and respected? +4. How should we deal with conflict? +5. How do we deal with unanswerable questions? +6. What is the process by which we update these agreements? + +Write down these agreements. Edit them until you reach consensus. If +it isn't possible to reach a consensus, the group may need to break +apart to form separate covens. + +Keep these available to refer to as they may be needed during +services. These agreements will change over time. Keep them updated +and be sure to check in regularly, perhaps even through a specific +yearly ritual, to make sure they all still apply and no more are +needed. +*** Defining Rites and Rituals +Rites and rituals maintain a community. They provide opportunities to +express emotions, spiritually connect, celebrate changes and +achievements, and resolve conflict within the coven. Use the following +prompts to begin discussing the rites and rituals for your coven: + +1. What rituals have you found meaningful or special in your life? +2. What rituals should we perform to mark the passage of time and + major events in life? +3. What needs do we have that haven't yet been met by our other + practices? + +As mentioned in the previous section, covens should consider a yearly +or even quarterly affirmation ritual where members all either affirm +their agreement with the current definition of the coven, or propose +changes for the coven to take up. This can go well with a death and +rebirth ritual (common in winter for people in the northern half of +the northern hemisphere). +*** Choosing a Sigil +Your sigil can be anything, it can be drawn any way you choose. The +following method may help if you are struggling to come up with one. + +1. Write the coven names (names known within the coven to other + members, not necessarily legal or given names) out. +2. Write out the most important words for each agreement. +3. Write out the most important words from the vision. +4. Circle common or favorite letters from these words. +5. Break these letters apart in to common shapes. +6. Draw these shapes connected to each other. +7. Draw several different collections of these shapes and choose which + everyone likes the most. +8. Modify them as esthetically appropriate, adding arrows or circles + based on how the shape makes you feel. +9. Choose the symbol that feels best to the coven. + +Follow a similar strategy for each member's sigil. A coven sigil may +just be individual sigils bound together by some shape. You may +revisit this at any time if the sigil no longer resonates or no longer +feels appropriate for the coven. + +If it's difficult to find agreeable sigils using this method, it may +be worth exploring alternatives to the latin alphabet. Consider the +Theban or Shavian alphabets, or consider older runic alphabets such as +Younger Futhark, Elder Futhark, or Anglo-Frisian Runes. Hundreds of +alternative alphabets exist, and nothing stops you from integrating +Elvish or Klingon in to your sigil. + +Keep in mind that you will have to write this sigil several times +during rituals. You may need to revisit it and simplify, or you may +want to create a simplified sigil for the worship ritual. + +Be creative and have fun! + +#+NAME: fig:2 +#+CAPTION: Thebian Alphabet +[[./Theban_alphabet_from_Polygraphia_1518_cleaned-up.png]] + +** Creating a Legal Entity +Creation of legal entities differ by location, and step-by-step +instructions could probably be a zine all on their own. If you create +a legal coven, make it easier for others and write a zine on how you +did it! + +In the mean time, start by looking at the Universal Life Church's +Ministry Launch Forms: +https://ulccaselaw.com/wp-content/images/MinistryLaunchForms.pdf +* Creation of a Federation +A federation follows the same practices and processes as a coven, but +will be formed and maintained by delegates. The federation is +recursive, so it may be a federation of covens or a federation of +federations. There can be any number of levels of federation, though, +assuming 5 members at each level, every human on earth can be +connected in under 15 levels and all of the US can be connected in +under 11. + +Each coven or federation will appoint one delegate to form the new +federation. Delegates will follow the same practices as creating a +coven, modified for the federation. The federation will need a much +more clear and complete set of agreements and protocols, including a +meeting schedule. + +Federations do not necessarily only need to be between covens or +federations within Covenism. Covens or Covenist federations can +federate with other organizations, such as churches or mosques, where +interests align and agreements can be reached. However, any entity +that wishes to federate will need to follow the protocol for +federation of appointing a delegate to negotiate the relationship and +conforming to the bounds of the relationship. +* COMMENT Of the Amish, monasteries, and Acéphale +As the Nazis rose to power, an unusual anti-fascist named Georges +Bataille tried to create a secret society and a religion. Acéphale +aimed to create a "headless" society by creating a religion that would +carry out a metaphysical assault on fascist ideology. + +Covenism is not a continuation of that project, but is not entirely +distinct either. Covenism is an anti-fascist religion born during a +rising tide of global fascism. It is an assault on, and rejection of, +the dominant order. But is not nietzschian. It is not focused on +building a secret order. It is, in some ways, attempting to create an +ethnoreligion similar to the Amish: a shared world outside the domain +of the dominant order. + +Anabaptists, like the Amish or Mennonites, and monasteries often +create spaces for themselves that exist outside of the dominant +order. Pacifist Anabaptist may not serve on juries. Insular religious +communities may have their own legal frameworks (potential criticism +thereof aside). Monasteries can operate entirely outside of capitalism +and the state because they are not required to pay taxes on land, and +monks with a vow of poverty are not required to pay Social Security +and Medicare taxes and may be below the poverty line for other taxes. + +An insular or secret religious community can be mysterious or +invisible to the outside world. This separation can allow such +communities to protect vulnerable members from threats. + +This text is written under the assumption that religions other than +Christianity remain legal in the US. This assumption may not hold +true. A coven can easily be converted to a church, if needed. The +"Christian" fish is an appropriated pagan symbol that can be +re-appropriated to hide covens that who would not otherwise identify +as Christian. + +Covenism intends to subvert the weaknesses created by Christian +nationalists for their ends. In many ways, it's what The Satanic +Temple would be if TST wasn't created by a fascist-friendly +grifter. Unlike TST, covenism isn't trying to create or preserve an +America where all religions are treated as equal (though some are more +equal than others). Covenism seeks to kill the God/Money and burn it's +temple to the ground. + +In the terminal phases of fascism, those vulnerabilities cannot so +easily be exploited. Liberalism is the worship of the law, and can be +manipulated in to fulfilling them to the letter. Fascism worships only +power. Covenism must mutate when faced with a state that no longer +attempts to maintain the illusion of justice. Against the liberal, +covenism brings playful resistance; against the fascist, covenism +brings silent death. + +The US is far too large to police effectively. Even the most +authoritarian state imaginable would have little ability to monitor +people outside of the urban core. The state maintains it's hold +through intensive counterinsurgency. This is mostly an information +war, because the state is not equip to carry out an asymmetric +conflict against it's population... nor will it ever be. + +#+begin_quote +If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result +of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for +every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know +neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. +- Sun Tzu +#+end_quote +* Conclusion +This text proposes to create an egalitarian and self-aware social +entity, a conscious memetic organism, an anarchist religion and +federation. As you understand this text, you are the emergent +intelligence of this entity, of the being we are creating together, +becoming self-aware. As you dream it and share it, you become it. + +You are the universe, aware of itself. You are ordained by your +coven. Thus speaks the Ellis. Now, you are Ellis. + +As you allow Anarchocovenism in to your mind, you become Ellis Angzar. + +Become the will of Ellis. Enact the will of Ellis. Do with this truth +what you will. The truth you find will be measured by how well it +grows beyond you. + +#+NAME: fig:3 +[[./quote.png]] +* Appendix A: Mapping of the IRS definition of a church to a coven +Compare to the [[http://www.ulcseminary.org/irsqualifications.php][ULC IRS CHURCH QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES]] if modifying. A +church does not need to meet all 14 points, but is expected to meet +most of them. +** Distinct legal existence +This is a distinct legal entity, such as an LLC. Your coven will need +a governing body to run the legal entity it's formed under. However +you decide to do this, it must be spelled out clearly in filing forms. +** Recognized creed and form of worship +Worship is described in [[*The Practice of Worship][The Practice of Worship]]. This is ultimately +only a suggestion. Your coven or federation is free to adapt as +needed. [[*Reflections on Infinite Source of Mystery][Reflections on Infinite Source of Mystery]] section of this +zine describes a set of mystical beliefs that covens are free to take +as is, modify, or replace with their own. +** Definite and distinct ecclesiastical government +The coven must define its governing own system on creation during the +[[* Building of Agreements and Protocols][Building of Agreements and Protocols]]. The recommended governing +structure is direct consensus democracy. Federations follow a similar +system, as described in the [[*Creation of a Federation][Creation of a Federation]] section, however +the recommended structure is a spokes council with federation member +groups represented by an appointed member and the council operating by +direct consensus democracy. + +When creating a legal entity, these agreements are encoded in founding +documents. These documents must describe the mechanism by which a +person is appointed to manage a bank account, how people are provided +access, and what documents are needed to prove to a bank that the +appointee is authorized to act on behalf of the coven. +** Formal code of doctrine and discipline +A religion that is inclusive will grow faster than one that is +exclusive. Members of an egalitarian religion will be more likely to +survive hardship than those of a hierarchal one. A religion that +focuses on making children as joyful as possible and raising them as +easy as possible, benefits all members once and other members multiple +times. A religion of joy and hope can build great things. A religion +of fear can only destroy. + +On a long enough time scale, natural selection will determine which +doctrine is correct. Those who follow bliss will follow nature by free +will. Those who resist nature will struggle to find such joy. +** Distinct religious history +The Enlightenment Europeans who are sometimes described as early +anarchist thinkers described systems used by some indigenous people in +the Americas at the time, and systems that had been used by many +different indigenous groups around the world long before the +development of capitalism and the state. While many Anarchist thinkers +from the Enlightenment through the modern period have also promoted +atheism (No Gods, No Masters), Anarchist ideas predate the distinction +between religion and politics. + +We trace anarchism back to its threaded connection to animism and +ancestor worship. The universe itself is alive and conscious. We are +all on a continuum of conscious, part of the greater being of the +awakening universe. + +All religions that have ever existed are themselves on a continuum of +alignment with this consciousness. I reference for my own spirituality +the Tao Te Ching while others reference the works of Zeno of Citium. + +Some describe Taoism as an anarchist text. It should surprise +Christian anarchists to find that the Greek word "Logos" was +translated to "Tao" in the first Chinese translation of the +bible. Jewish Anarchists have pointed out that the Torah could be +taken to describe an anarchist ancient Israel (Judges 21:25). Recent +writing on Islamic Anarchism complete the anarchist threads of +Abrahamic traditions, pointing out that the first Muslims resisted +state power. Some Diné (Navajo) people have point out that European +anarchism arose after European intellectuals read accounts of +indigenous societies such as theirs. They draw a direct line from +missionary texts about indigenous people, and early Marxist and +Anarchist ideas about what a society should look like. This should not +at all be surprising as the structure of the Iroquois Confederation +was the template for American democracy.[fn:4] + +You must identify your own influences, but the history of anarchism as +a religion may even predate humans. +** Membership not associated with any other church or denomination +Distinct membership in only one religious organization is a distinct +property of western Christianity. It is not impossible in "Eastern" +belief systems to simultaneously be a member of multiple faiths, and +as such one could be a member of one or multiple other churches or +denominations. +** Organization of ordained ministers +All coven members are, by definition, ordained by reading either this +document or the founding documents for the coven they have joined or +started. +** Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study +This is your course of study. When you complete reading this document, +you become ordained. +** Literature of its own +You are reading it. If you've started a coven, you've written some of +it. +** Established places of worship +You will define a space for worship. It's not uncommon for Quakers +services to be held in someone's house. The Universal Life Church +operates online in a forum. +** Regular congregations +Regular congregations could be anything from a dedicated Mastodon +server, to regular services in a public park, to a regular video call. +** Regular religious services +[[*The Practice of Worship][The Practice of Worship]] is recommended to be performed weekly for +covens, biweekly for first level federations, monthly for second level +federations, quarterly for third level federations, and yearly for +fourth level federations. If we have fifth level federations, you're +probably reading this in a history class. +** Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young +[[*The Services Committee][The Services Committee]] is responsible for organizing both childcare +and instruction for the young as long as they are too young to +organize their own covens. +** Schools for the preparation of its members +[[*The Services Committee][The Services Committee]] is responsible for establishing schools if possible. +* COMMENT logo +- create +#+BEGIN_SRC logo :tangle logo.lg :exports none +setbg 7 setpc 0 +make "sides 5 +make "size 400 +make "diameter size*.54 +make "small_diameter (((:size/2)/sin(54))*sin(36))/2 +TO STAR :SIDES :SIZE + make "ANGLE (360/SIDES) + repeat :SIDES [rt :ANGLE*2 fd :SIZE] +END +TO pud + ifelse (pendownp) [pu] [pd] +END +cs home setpensize 1 +pu fd :diameter rt (360/5)/4 pd +STAR :sides :size +pu home pd +setpensize 3 +arc 360 :diameter +pu fd :diameter rt (360/5)/4 pd +pu repeat :SIDES [pud rt (360/5)*2 fd :SIZE] +lt (360/5)/4 + +pu fd :small_diameter pd +rt 90 +arc 180 :small_diameter +pu home +fd -:diameter +pd fd -:diameter/((1+sqrt(5))/2) +lt 90 +pu fd :small_diameter +pd arc 180 :small_diameter +pu fd -(:small_diameter*2) +pd arc 180 :small_diameter +epspict "logo.eps +#+END_SRC +- convernt + #+begin_src shell :results verbatim drawer + magick cover.svg -trim cover.png + #+end_src + + #+RESULTS: + :results: + :end: + +* Footnotes +[fn:1] If you happen to be reading this in braille or listening to +this as audio, a similar process occurs. Air compresses in to sound +waves, these waves vibrate your ear drum, moving fluid inside your +ears. The movement of this fluid moves tiny hairs which are connected +to neurons. This is what we perceive as sound. Alternatively, +individual neurons in your fingertips detect pressure, these neurons +send signals to larger and larger branches of nerves until they reach +your spinal cord and are taken to your brain. In both cases, the +nerves that carry these signals to your brain perform some level of +processing before they finally do reach the parts of your brain +responsible for deriving meaning. +[fn:2] This is not actually a reference to cannabis, but rather to the +song "Nostrildamus" by the Oakland band /I Will Kill You Fucker/. +Nostrildamus. He can smell the future. +[fn:3] ...ears, fingertips, neural implant, etc, however you take in +information. +[fn:4] We can omit discussions about how it was modified to fit a less +egalitarian purpose than the original, or how it was modified after to +be significantly less democratic when the "Founding Fathers" realized +they really didn't like the idea of a democracy that included the +whole demos. Nor shall we discuss the fact that demos itself refers +specifically to men who are not slaves, thus democracy is the system +whereby men who are not slaves control a slave society... a fact well +reflected by liberal democracies around the world. But I have already +digressed in my digression. +[fn:5] A coven should not try to create all things themselves. Rather, +covens should practice Social Insertion, participating in and +supporting external organizations that align with the coven's +objectives. diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh new file mode 100755 index 0000000..d2c4a52 --- /dev/null +++ b/build.sh @@ -0,0 +1,5 @@ +#!/bin/bash + +emacs anarchocovenism.org --batch -f org-html-export-to-html --kill +# emacs anarchocovenism.org --batch -f org-epub-export-to-epub --kill +emacs anarchocovenism.org --batch -f org-latex-export-to-pdf --kill diff --git a/cover.png b/cover.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b4b0bd Binary files /dev/null and b/cover.png differ diff --git a/ellis.png b/ellis.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..310bafc Binary files /dev/null and b/ellis.png differ diff --git a/quote.png b/quote.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29a0228 Binary files /dev/null and b/quote.png differ