Origin

I have personally sought meaning and have tried various approaches to spirituality throughout my life. Some aspects of certain religions and philosophies have resonated but none have matched themselves in my mind, body and heart.

The birth of my daughter motivated me to better articulate my worldview. This was in the hope that it might inform her understanding of the world when she was older. However, she may arrive at something completely different as is her right.

Many belief systems are oriented towards some future reward, denigrating this current existence or take a rigid and negative attitude towards natural human needs and behaviors. Although they obviously work for many people, they often advocate beliefs and behaviors that appear to contradict reality. They may set up difficult internal dissonances and act as tools of negative social control, and may also be to the detriment of the individual.

I seek something that celebrates this present life and encourages engagement with all its joys and trials. Pragmatic in execution but also idealistic in its aims. Harmonized with the way people actually live, die and grow, with the goal to cultivate and empower. 

It should be primarily oriented towards the individual but also acknowledge the benefits, constraints and duties that come with being a member of human society. Opted into as opposed to being forced. Seeking true fellowship, community and the support to create meaningful action from a postive spiritual foundation.

For although one may find solace in various communities and a structure to life in philosophy or science, there is a feeling that we are part of something greater than ourselves. In fact, we objectively are part of the universe. Even a simulacra would still be a part of it.

It may be neither a benevolent force nor a malevolent one. More likely it is simply a thing of nature. A beauty both banal and transcendent in its Manifestation and continuing transformation.

The transformation itself a sort of dance, a song and craft of art. Both process and the result. An ongoing act of creation. Various things seemingly aspects or facets of that nature. To me, therein lies the mystery and the meaning.

I have decided to term this the Manifestus as it encompasses both what it is and its process.

How we live it is the Way of the Manifestus. Always seeking meaning, functionality, fellowship, love and joy. Patterns transformed and transforming.

It is a work in progress and probably always will be. I am personally imperfect. I do not have all the answers and am constantly evolving my practice. At a minimum, it is a personal journey. At best, I hope others will shape and evolve it with me; in the same way that the Manifestus itself is not a single effort. Drops of rain, each forming an ocean of experience and creation.