TMESIS Study Compendium

The Tmesis Study Compendium is a collected study document derived from the Tmesis wiki. It brings together the movement’s broad overview, the Ten Principles and their geometry, ritual practice, fasting guidance, quick-reference material, and narrative scaffolding for Liber Tmesis.

This markdown collection is the editable source for the published compendium on tmesian.org. It may diverge from the fossil wiki and earlier PDF edition where needed for clarity, structure, accessibility, and presentation.

1.1 What Tmesis is

Tmesis presents itself as a deliberately designed religion or “manual for how to live a good life.” The founding argument is that most religions fail at their real job, so this one is built from scratch: it should offer rituals for comfort and for marking life’s milestones, stories for inspiration, and poetry that both explains existence and honors its mystery.

Two design constraints are emphasized — the teachings should be general enough that anyone can see themselves in them, yet specific enough to resist being weaponized for control. Kindness and consent are stated as explicit, non-negotiable requirements. God is optional: a personified deity for those who want one, an impersonal pervasive force for those who don’t, both valid. There is explicitly no concept of heresy, and violence in its stories is only ever shown as failure, never glorified.

While some of these ideas are ancient, this religion is very young. These documents are still being written as new discoveries are made.

The word "tmesis" is borrowed from English, it is a rarely-used grammatical term. It is the term for a word that has been changed by the insertion of another word into it. The metaphorical consequences of this choice are left as an exercise for the disciple.

1.2 AIIT (the central mantra)

AIIT = Attention, Intention, In Tension — the faith’s koan and refrain. Human consciousness runs on two opposed modes: the attentive self (present, experiencing, yin) and the imagining self (goal-driven, remembering/predicting, the engine of will, yang). You cannot fully occupy both at once, yet the practice asks you to hold both in balance — that productive tension is the source of power and grace.

1.3 The Ten Principles (core doctrine)

Called the foundational pillars (“XP”/“TXP,” also “Bolts”):

1. Sacred Space
2. Leave It Better
3. Be Present
4. Understand and Consent
5. Follow the Rules
6. Learn from Failure
7. Write It Down
8. Kind, Generous, and Ready to Help
9. Sweat the Details
10. Persist

They are arranged around a compass circle with 1 and 10 inside it forming an infinity symbol, and each has a dual internal/external reading and an opposing/supporting “twin” across the circle.

The temple for a Tmesian is a workshop, colloquially called a "Ten Bolts Workshop" (XBW). The first (and so far only) XBW is located in rural Vermont.

1.4 Values (still unsettled)

Beyond the ten principles, there are other personal and organizational values that will guide our work. These are not yet settled, and my vary by individual. Some that have been identified are: “Give a shit” (care), “N+1 > N” (incremental improvement), “One team” (unity), and — separately — Curiosity. Admittedly, these feel redundant alongside the XP and may not be needed.

1.5 Metaphysics & cosmology

The Metaphysics page is explicitly “the map, not the territory” — a non-canonical idea pool drawing on Taoism, Western esotericism, and pure invention. Building blocks include the four cardinal directions as “Sovereigns,” Taoist apparatus, Dualistic dialectics, the Triad/Law of Three, and the Enneagram.

The Creation page is a poetic, science-aware cosmology: existence begins from lonely nothingness, born violently; stars are the universe’s simple first “children” who create by living and dying, seeding more complex successors. A central thesis is that creation is the point of the universe, and that technology is one expression of that creative drive.

1.6 Liber Tmesis (planned core scripture)

Liber Tmesis is envisioned as the book holding the stories, songs, holidays, rituals, and rites of marriage, birth, and death. Its centerpiece is an allegory of two eternally warring kings — a Gardener and a Sensei — who eventually arrive at a transformed understanding through the teachings of an Elder.

1.7 Practices & rituals

Known rites include Breath of the Four Sovereigns, Assumption of Custodianship, New Moon Fast, Blessing of Workspace, and Fasting. The Ten Fold Blessing is the central liturgical poem, and Breath of the Four Sovereigns is the most developed ritual practice.

1.8 Smaller / peripheral pages

Triad is currently a placeholder. Holidays, Vita Brevis / Ars Longa, and Crackpot Diplomacy all help flesh out the broader worldview and practical culture surrounding the Ten Principles.

1.9 Suggested study order

Manifesto & AIIT → Ten Principles + geometry → Metaphysics & Creation → practical layer (Ten Fold Blessing, Breath of the Four Sovereigns, Fasting, Holidays) → Liber Tmesis.

2.1 Orientation

The Ten Principles (“XP”/“TXP,” also “Bolts”) are the doctrinal spine. Much of the language comes from a workshop or makerspace setting — tools, shop rules, safety, cleaning up, and work logs — a philosophy of craft dressed in religious and occult structure.

2.2 The geometry (compass + circle)

Two axis principles sit inside the circle, forming an infinity symbol (10 = 0):

• 1 – Sacred Space: center, inward/downward, dark, Celestial Yin
• 10 – Persist: center, outward/upward, light, Celestial Yang

Their tension — enclosed sacred space vs. outward drive — “births the ten thousand things.” The other eight ring the circle:

2.3 Opposing / supporting twin pairs

• 1 ↔ 10 — enclosed/inward vs. outward/unbounded; yin vs. yang; inhale vs. exhale
• 2 ↔ 6 — caution/tidiness for others vs. bold experiment that risks mess
• 3 ↔ 7 — enjoy the moment vs. record the moment
• 4 ↔ 8 — teamwork as communication vs. teamwork as action
• 5 ↔ 9 — a pairing that is not yet fully clear

2.4 The principles (meaning + internal/external reading)

2.4.1 Sacred Space

Treat your space and life as sacred; a place to practice your ideal self.

2.4.2 Leave It Better

You own nothing, only borrow; clean up more than your mess and improve what you touch.

2.4.3 Be Present

Not punctuality — arriving awake, healthy, sober, ready, whole.

2.4.4 Understand & Consent

Never assume; get explicit understanding and consent.

2.4.5 Follow the Rules

Few rules, strictly kept; “don’t make us make a rule.”

2.4.6 Learn from Failure

Own mistakes with humility and humor; announce and learn from them.

2.4.7 Write It Down

Keep records — lists, logs, dreams, mistakes.

2.4.8 Kind, Generous & Ready to Help

Help when asked; hold back when someone needs to learn or fail alone.

2.4.9 Sweat the Details

Be thorough, but distinguish details from distractions.

2.4.10 Persist

Persistence matters more than talent, but must be balanced with knowing when to stop.

3.1 Practitioner’s Outline

Safety first. This is intense breathwork: rapid breathing combined with long breath-holds. The source warns it may be unsafe for people with heart or breathing conditions. Start slowly and stop if you feel pain.

3.2 What it is

A daily breathing and meditation ritual of roughly 30–60 minutes. You stay physically still and direct your focus toward the four cardinal directions and their Sovereigns, pairing each with its principle.

3.3 Setup

Use a quiet space. Sit or lie down comfortably. Determine north. Seated practice faces south; lying practice places feet south and head north.

3.4 The two lengths

• Simple (~30 min): Rounds 2–5 only
• Complete (40–60 min): all six rounds

3.5 The shape of a single round

1. 40 fast deep breaths (10 each toward N, E, S, W)
2. Extra hard breaths toward the focus direction
3. Big inhale + clench the whole body
4. Full exhale → relaxed empty-lung hold
5. Meet the sovereign and contemplate the principle
6. Hold through the first urges to breathe
7. Big inhale, immediately exhale again, hold again
8. Visualize the Ten Fold Blessing
9. Big inhale + four “sip” breaths from each direction
10. Shift focus to the next sovereign

3.6 The rounds & correspondences

3.7 Afterward

Rest or meditate as needed afterward; this is expected and considered a consequence of the ritual.

3.8 The four variants

• Simple — Rounds 2–5
• Complete — all six
• Avanto — immersed in cold water; advanced and dangerous
• Sauna — uses sauna transitions; advanced and dangerous

4.1 The Ten Principles at a glance

4.2 The compass geometry

• [1 Sacred Space] inside circle, center, in/down, Celestial Yin
• [10 Persist] inside circle, center, out/up, Celestial Yang
• Twins: 1↔10 · 2↔6 · 3↔7 · 4↔8 · 5↔9

4.3 Breath of the Four Sovereigns — round checklist

Stay still; move only your focus. Simple = Rounds 2–5. Complete = Rounds 1–6.

Safety note: don’t fast if it isn’t safe for you. Listen to your body and skip entirely if you have a medical reason.

5.1 The core idea

Fasting is treated as positive and restorative — especially recommended whenever you feel overwhelmed. It is a ladder of intensities; observe the highest level you can safely manage.

5.2 Levels of intensity (least to most strict)

1. Iftar — break-fast at sunset, traditionally with dates and water
2. Naktabhoji — one simple vegan meal
3. Phalahari — fruit only
4. Ksheerbhoji — milk and milk products only
5. Jalahar — water only (default Tmesian fast)
6. Nirjala — complete fast, not even water

5.3 The New Moon Fast

The fast begins after the final waning crescent meal and lasts until the first waxing crescent reappears, usually around 3–4 days.

5.4 Optional / invited observances

• Ekadashi — fast on the 11th day of the lunar month
• Ramadan — an Iftar-style fast each day of the holy month, paired with charity and gratitude

5.5 Connection to the wider system

Fasting is woven into the calendar, including the seasonal holidays of Gift, Harvest, Fertility, and Sports.

5.6 Quick-reference ladder

• Lighter → Iftar → Naktabhoji → Phalahari → Ksheerbhoji → Jalahar → Nirjala ← Stricter

Note: this is the planned core scripture and is explicitly a work in progress.

6.1 Purpose of the Book

Liber Tmesis is envisioned as the book of the faith — the container for its stories, songs, holidays, rituals, and the rites of marriage, birth, and death.

6.2 The two kingdoms

• The Gardener — a socialist utopia that shapes the world to fit the people
• The Sensei — a ruthless meritocracy that shapes the people to withstand the world

6.3 Story arc

1. Catastrophe
2. The summons
3. Pilgrimage
4. Arrival & consent
5. Apprenticeship
6. The false conversion
7. The true understanding
8. The parlay & sacrifice
9. Alliance & reform
10. Abdication
11. The loop

6.4 Themes to study

• Shape the world vs. shape the people
• The futility of dogmatism
• Consent as threshold
• Living governance
• The eternal return

6.5 Open questions

Questions remain about structure, missing material, and how the story should relate to creation/apocalypse material.

Important: the Triad wiki page is currently only a placeholder. Everything here is a scaffold for future writing rather than settled doctrine.

7.1 What we currently know

“Triad” (abbreviated T3) is referred to as one of the Tmesian paths. It connects to the recurring “three” motif in the faith: AIIT’s three words, the Law of Three, and other triadic structures in the metaphysics.

7.2 Suggested sections to fill in

1. Definition
2. The three (core structure)
3. Relationship to the Ten Principles
4. Metaphysical grounding
5. Practices & rituals of the path
6. Progression / initiation
7. Study texts & references
8. Open questions

7.3 Prompts to help draft it

What are the three? Are they modes of mind, roles in community, stages of work, or something else? Is Triad a lens for reading the whole system, or a distinct practice with its own rituals?