Rituals and practices are based on both classical Stoic exercises, as well as those coming from CBT, REBT, ACT, and mindfulness (see Apology). The below list is preliminary and experimental, and will be refined in the future.

🎭 PRAYERS (3 - Anchor Psychological Axes)

Prayer to Fortuna

O Fortuna, spinning mother of chaos, Grant me the calm to embrace what I must, The fire to revolt when I can, And the wit to know the tragic difference.

Invocation of Thanatos

O Thanatos, silent usher, Remind me I am dying, And thus must live.

Mantra of the Rebel

I defy meaninglessness, By becoming meaning.

🕯️ SHRINES (4 - “The Four Altars”)

Shrine of Thanatos

  • Symbol: Hourglass or skull
  • Use: Whisper “Memento Mori” at dawn
  • Purpose: Value alignment, fear inoculation

Shrine of Sisyphus

  • Symbol: Pebble or boulder
  • Use: Move a stone daily. Let go.
  • Purpose: ACT-style acceptance, behavioral momentum

Shrine of the Sage

  • Symbol: Scrolls, coins, or bust of Marcus
  • Use: Declare one virtue aloud each morning
  • Purpose: Stoic self-construction and reinforcement

Shrine of Lethe

  • Symbol: Flowing water or foggy mirror
  • Use: Write one rigid belief, then burn or dissolve it
  • Purpose: Ritual distancing, ACT-style defusion

📜 RITUALS

Morning Rite of Constraint and Action (2–3 min)

  1. Whisper a fear aloud. Imagine it vividly.
  2. Breathe: Inhale 3, hold 4, exhale 5.
  3. Recite:

“As Ananke binds me, I accept. As Reason frees me, I act.”

Evening Socratic Triad (5–10 min journaling)

  • Stoic Sage: “What virtue did I neglect?”
  • Camusian Rebel: “What meaning did I make?”
  • The Dog: “Where did I lie to myself?” Optional: End by extinguishing a candle or using Shrine of Lethe.

Ritual of Sacred Vitality (Daily)

  • Perform a bodily act (cold exposure, walk, pushups)
  • Whisper:

“This is how I praise the fact of life.”

Ritual of Imaginal Reclamation (Trauma Processing)

  • Recall a shaming memory
  • Imagine a third-party protector (e.g. Mercury) intervening
  • Rescript the outcome
  • Burn symbol of old belief in Shrine of Lethe

Ritual of Self-Compassion Liturgy Prayer:

I speak now not to scold, but to soothe. I suffer, as do all mortals. May I greet this pain as I would a friend: gently, patiently, with truth.

Ritual of Connection (Weekly)

  • Share a suffering and the meaning it produced
  • Toast: “To the absurd journey we share.” Optional: Feast of Fools (masked dinner with story-sharing)

🎉 SACRED HOLIDAYS - The Triumvirate of Holy Madness

Festival of Sisyphus (Summer Solstice)

  • Move stones. Affirm resilience. Eat grapes.
  • Symbolizes: Camusian absurdity, persistence, joy in labor.

Dies Contra Fortunam (January 17)

  • Mock Fate. Share misfortunes with laughter.
  • REBT-style exposure and reframing.
  • Toast: “To our glorious misfortunes - may they teach better than Fate.”

Saturnalia (December 17–23)

  • Invert roles. Consume absurd meals. Praise wine.
  • Catharsis, joyous disorder, irreverence.
  • Toast: “To Fate, the fool! We drink in defiance!”