RULES As with each religion or organization we Novumists subscribe to a certain set of rules. The rules within this section are to help guide one in their daily life and morally. PSYCHEDELICS AND DRUGS Although we are not advocating breaking laws in any way, the use of psychedelics is permissible, given the person who partakes is age-appropriate for your country and/or state. The person also needs to be mentally and physically capable of handling the conditions that occur during a psychedelic trip; just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Magic mushrooms have a long history with humans as a means to find salvation and become closer to God but also as a means to personal healing from traumatic events. Partaking in substances like magic mushrooms in a responsible way to heal one’s mind and body is permissible so long as the use doesn’t interfere with your ability to participate in society. Psilocybin is illegal in many places and carries real psychological risks; this is not a recommendation to break the law or to use it without proper guidance. The use of alcohol or marijuana should be done in a responsible and meaningful way and always of course legally. Consumption just for the sake of consumption or escape is not responsible and adhering to The Way. LANGUAGE This section is separate but derives from the Path of Speech. The language we use influences the world around us. The dictionary in both of our minds must match for us to make sense of the world. If someone’s dictionary does not match another then there is chaos. The same is true about words that carry emotion. Negative words when said tend to display our emotional state or are used for emphasis of that state when telling a story for instance. Positive words are the same way. The mind creates a figment of reality as you read and listen. You may not be aware of this happening because it is subconscious. The story being told to you and played out in your mind creates positive or negative emotions within you! Bob, the guy at work, who always gossips and tells horrible news stories he found on the internet is creating toxicity in your mind like a virus. How you deal with Bob is ultimately up to you, but you should be aware. CONSUMERISM When we replace meaning and purpose with things we lose sight of what is real. The things we have are the replacement of tried-and-true relationships that once existed. To physically be in the presence of another person is not the same as seeing a person on video, on a screen, or talking to them on a phone. There is partial to full emotional segregation of what it means to be human as technology increases. The age of the personal computer created the age of the personal phone. Today we live in a strange dissociation from a world that was present before the turn of the century. The result of filling our lives with things instead of principles and people is that we remove ourselves from reality that all of this, everything, can go away in an instant. Our lives are ending with each passing moment and we have been tamed as men and women, as creatures to press buttons so that others can feed themselves, fill their bank accounts, and their mouths with fruits you can see but will never be able to touch. The gap between the haves and have nots existed but history shows once the gap between the two grows too large so does the noose. Enter Simple Living which is discussed later. SELF-IMPROVEMENT No one but yourself can save you from your suffering, though others can walk with you, and you should let them. Most of the time your suffering is internal and created by worry or manufactured fear. This is the reason for the 6 Paths of Discipline. Discipline is not the same as self-improvement. Self-improvement is subconsciously wanting to change but unable or unwilling to do so, and is a patch on a gaping wound of the psyche. It is low effort. Self-improvement is driven by fear, discipline is driven by hope and knowledge. Knowledge for someone who has not hit rock bottom is perhaps unattainable unless you have been there. This is because of the subjectiveness of each person’s bottom station in life. It can be as different as everyone’s rise to the top. Even homelessness can be subjective. Self-improvement cannot be found in a book but with discipline, you can escape your current station in life. Novum Carta is not a self-help or a way to self-actualize through self-improvement. You have to meet people, do things, communicate in person, with friends, family, your dog or cat, and or your Guild. Improving yourself will not find what you seek: meaning. But purpose can be found through teaching others how to escape your station. In the Coming age, there is no self-improvement. You will either war, destroy, or create. We are here to create. PREPAREDNESS Novumists understand that the civilizations we see today will most likely not be there in the future; the current state is not a normal part of human existence. Humans, the cosmos, and geology have a long history of making things very tough for survival. Your individual reasons for “why” you prepare mean little so long as you “do.” We prepare for an eventuality that may come in our lifetimes by storing six months of food and supplies per person in a family. Minimum. If disaster or cataclysm occurs the government nor are the gods aren’t coming to save you. In such a scenario, that is how things were destined to be, and it is most likely probable that you are on your own. Think about the story of Noah. There is no need to doomsday prepare, even for cataclysm, because in such events chaos is abound and even best laid plans are often impossible. Be nimble and follow the Middle Way as a guide. Don’t forget to train skills, your mind, and your body. Things are things, but if you don’t know how to use those things, then it matters little that you have them. FREEDOM Freedom for all things in life. We as people harbor unique perspectives about life, country, science, and everything in between. The freedom definition we adhere to is that of the ability to exercise our will and being without undue or unjust constraints subjected by individuals, groups, or unaccountable hierarchies. This definition of freedom is without morality to control others’ bodies, appetites, addictions, good and bad choices, and other ways to bend others to group conformance. For a Novumist, freedom is a two-way street: We give others the freedom to do as they choose, think, and act and we expect it in return. We reserve the right to abstain from others’ attempts to control our bodies and minds in conformance to our existence as free men or women. Anything less is an act that removes our free will and infringes on our natural rights. If circular reasoning of natural rights between two people due to a request, law, or edict, freedom from the cause should outweigh any other reasoning. For example, a vaccine mandate is circular in that person "A " needs to force person "B " into compliance so they can live. However, person "B " may be maimed by the vaccine or the virus, or both. Both "A " and "B " cite life and liberty per Locke as justifiable reasons. Forcing person "B " takes away their free will over their own life and liberty to choose a path that suits them. Person "A " is complicit in forcing person "B " to possibly sacrifice their life for them and others of the group. So, freedom from the mandate should be upheld as the correct path. What does this mean to other topics of discourse? Weapons? Abortion? Identity rights? Never leave your protection and wellbeing to other people because you can then never guarantee your existence and other rights. Self-autonomy is the only real choice we have in life and so, if that ability is restricted then then freedom from that restriction is required. However, as seen before in the Alchemy section, pure freedom can be viewed as chaos, and with chaos, society breaks down. That is where we must apply the Middle Way methodology and find a common ground of balance between two extremes. SUSTAINABILITY Unsustainability is an immoral act. The weight of this is as unique as each person’s situation and station in life. Is it possible for each person to own a farm, create their own goods, never use a car, and separate them entirely from the system? No, it’s not. Therefore, we must use the Middle Way in determining our level of sustainability and always try to find new solutions for independence. What you take from the world and what you give needs to be in balance. Taking without giving breeds dependency. Complexity and dependency need to be in balance. Dependency breeds complexity. Dependency is a force multiplier in complexity. When you and the systems you are connected to are unsustainable at some point there is an end. There is a movement by some environmentalists to go to a zero-waste model. However, we do not advocate doing so unless you desire. What we do advocate is the middle ground between what you have now and absolute nothingness. This middle ground will look differently between individuals and families. WHAT TO WEAR As a general rule, one does not have to follow the following dress guidelines with one exception: wherever a sermon or formal meeting is taking place between two or more Novumists, then one has to dress in specific religious attire. You are free to dress how you want. The following is that formal attire: WOMEN Women in attendance are to wear a collared white button-down shirt, with a solid black overall dress, and a veil associated with their rank. The specifics such as brands, dress length, sleeve length, and more will be left up to each individual Guild at this time. The ranks and the associated veil color are as follows: | RANK | VEIL COLOR | |---|---| | Messenger | Royal Blue | | Seer | White | | Guardian | Brown | | Grand Master | Red | | Master | Purple | | Journeyman | Green | | Initiate | Gray | MEN Men in attendance are to wear a collared white button-down shirt, with black pants, a black ascot/black shirt, and a solid-colored pocket square associated with their rank. The specifics such as brands, length, sleeve length, and more will be left up to each individual Guild at this time. The ranks and the associated pocket square color are as follows: | RANK | POCKET SQUARE COLOR | |---|---| | Messenger | Royal Blue | | Seer | White | | Guardian | Brown | | Grand Master | Red | | Master | Purple | | Journeyman | Green | | Initiate | Gray | CELEBRATIONS When the Guild is convened for special celebrations and holidays, Messengers, Seers, and Grand Masters will wear a solid colored stole, associated with their rank instead of their veil or pocket square. ![FEMALE EXAMPLE](images/girl_outfit.jpg){width=50%} ![MALE EXAMPLE](images/guy_outfit.jpg){width=50%}