Beatitudes of The Adytum

1. We shall always be honest in our speech.

2. We shall only use the language for the communication of ideas to each other.  The literal meaning of its components will naturally become obscured by the honest frustrations that erupt in the emotional undertones of our phonetic utterances.

3. While we will try to play by the rules of society, that is of spoken language, a medium we can never fully communicate with, when we become genuinely too frustrated by our failed attempt to understand and be understood, we will resort, quite exhausted, with music, so that the segue between speech, voice, and secondary voice (or instrument) is quite necessary and indistinguishable as separate entities.

4. We will maintain the etiquette of polite conversation in music, until our opinions and emotions are so at odds with each other it becomes necessary to momentarily project without listening. Our tantrums will be short as our group dynamic and sense of community is our ultimate ally and power.

5. We shall all align our methods of speaking with our individual characters. We have always been Four Sisters. Novieiska. Truvieiska. Civieiska. Matoschi.

6. We shall speak of things in terms of an elemental nature. The universe, our universe, is made of these fundamental elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water.

The properties of these elements are  scientifically observable and immutable. They are found in varying degrees in all things. Their natures are found in varying degrees in all things. Therefore each person is constituted by four natures in varying degrees, and by virtue of their juxtaposition against other persons, communities are constituted by these four natures. The 4 elemental natures are as follows:

Earth:

Tangible, solid, sturdy, material, practical, grounded, unshakable, unmoving, steady, pragmatic. Earth holds its own shape and provides a reliable surface and sense of security to those it gives itself to walk upon. The sensual. The corporeal. The body.

Air:

Invisible, quick, born of the sky and higher things. Filling to the lungs. Perceptible to sight only by what it displaces. Heard in the ears and felt on the skin only after it has vanished. Witty. Contemplative, idealistic, mercurial, and communicative, it demands a dialog. A conversation. A friend. The mind.

Water:

Undulating, ebbing, flowing, gushing, freezing solid, now hot, then gradually cold, now raging, then placid, then unmovable as ice. Transformative. Emotive. Conforming to the shape of its container. Bound by gravity to move ceaselessly and restlessly until it finds it's level. Then deep, nuturing, satiating, healing. Restorative to those it gives of itself to drink. The heart.

Fire:

Rapid! Dancing! Glowing! Charming! Moving without regard for gravity or other such laws. Free and unbound! Constantly in action. Now here, now there! Free from deliberation! Brightest and warmest near those who respect its unpredictability! Blazing forward in some direction, though direction is chosen only by the necessity to blaze! Energy! Action! The spirit!

But in distress:

Earth is the earth that crumbles beneath our feet, that blocks our path, that blinds us from the sun.

Air is the air that uproots us and knocks us off our feet, that refuses to wait for us to catch up, and that in its haste, prods and stirs up a violent reaction from the other elements.

Water is the water which drowns us to death.

Fire is the fire that burns and swiftly consumes every last thing before it even knows what it has done.

Therefore, only in balance of measure does the universe remain constituted.

7. We are constituted by elemental natures and as such constitute with with our Gang of Four, our universe.

Novieiska is the Earth.

Truvieiska the Fire.

Civieiska is the Water

Matoschi the Air.

8. At the very onset of the story, in the act of childbirth, Civieiska finds her sudden demise. Before we have the chance even to experience the dynamism of the 4 elemental natures in unity and balance, we find our universe bereft of her heart! Oh woe to us! To lose access to that fluid depth! Vengeance against he who rent us apart!

But where to place the blame? And how to even process the grief without our heart! We grieve that which can only give substance and movement to the grief! Oh Woe!

9. The death of the heart was brought by this tiny harbinger of the future. But where is the balance and sense in such a future?! We are too grieved to yet imagine!

10. And so the rain pours. A chilly repetitious reminder of that which is lost.

Does this child have a chance?