Chrestification

Chrestification means 'becoming more like Chrestus the divine Good Servant'. If Chrestus is the ideal Good person, then we must become more like Chrestus. Of course we will never be perfect, but if we can become sufficiently like Chrestus for the situations we face then we can genuinely be a force for good in them.

Loosely we can define the character of Chrestus as one:
1. Who desires to do good, to bring good order, to see their fellow men flourish.
2. Who has a sensitivity to others and their inner thoughts and feelings, who can put themselves in other persons shoes.
3. Who has a sensitivity to what is well-ordered and beautiful.
4. Who has an understanding of the way the world works and how to achieve a particular result.
5. Who has the necessary strengths and capabilities to overcome obstacles and do what is needed in any situation they face.

We divide the practice of Chrestification into two main paths:
1. Psychosophism - the 'sophistication of the mind and soul' - which covers the first 4 points above.
2. Magtism - the strengthening of a person's abilities to make a practical impact on the world.

Chresis

Chresis means 'doing good' , 'being useful' or 'service'.

Chresis is the behaviour most valued in Zartianism.

Chresis is the work of meeting needs and helping human flourishing. It is the basic task of Zartians. People who seek to be vehicles of Chresis in a deliberate manner and have capability for the task are called Chrestors.

Chrestor

A Chrestor is 'a useful person' , a 'do-gooder' , 'a servant', 'a saviour'.

All Zartians should strive to become Chrestors, as this is the most direct route to being a good influence on the world.

Chrestification

Chrestor Ordinarius

Regular Chrestors need at least three things to be successful - Eunoia, Eudaena and Eusebia.

Eunoia is 'rightmindedness' - the ability to see things as they are and in a way that is productive of right action.

Eudaena is 'good moral vision' which is right valuation of the world so they know what value to attach to what actions and outcomes.

Eusebia is Right Devotion - the application of their energies in the best way.

Chrestor Ductor

Chrestores Ductores are Chrestors who are able to act independently and/or be leaders of teams of Chrestors. While Chrestores Ordinarii need guidance from others, Chrestores Ductores have the necessary abilities within themselves to ascertain the best action to take in any situation.

Currently we formulate the requirements for a Chrestor Ductor as threefold: Spentazelus, Gnosis and Magtas.

Spentazelus is 'Zeal to increase the Good Life' . It is the passion to help people and make the world a better place.

Gnosis is 'deep knowledge'. It is an understanding of the way the world works on a fundamental 'nuts and bolts' level. It is the ability to see things as they are 'in the cold light of day' unclouded by emotions and assumptions. It is knowledge of what is good and evil. It is knowledge of one's own soul and of the workings of the cosmos.

Magtas is 'mightiness'. It is the capability to do things. It comes from one's abilities, one's strengths, one's skills, one's resources and one's alliances with others.

Notes

1) While the term Chrestor Ductor is applied firstly to individuals, there is also a sense in which a team of people can act together as a Chrestor Ductor - if they are independently able to assess a situation and take good action in a sovereign manner without reliance on others. In this case it is not necessary for all members of a team to be Chrestor Ductor as individuals, as long as they are being guided by people who are.

2) The word 'Chrestor' translates the Avestan term 'Saoshyant' (itself often translated as 'saviour'). It also maybe has a similar meaning to the Christian word 'saint'. Zartians emphasize that all Zartians should strive to become saviours of the world, and not rely solely on some particularly special saviour to do the work at some point in the future. Nevertheless it is true some individuals can have an outsized influence on history.

amended Mar 4025 EHE

Kalliergia

Kalliergy is cultivation - especially the self-cultivation of the mind and soul.

Gnosticism

Gnosticism is a practice of seeking to achieve Gnosis or 'deep knowledge'.

While there can be some overlap between Psychosophism and Gnosticism, Zartian Gnostics are focussed on gaining a deep mental understanding of the workings of existence.
We distinguish 5 kinds of Gnosis:
1. Psychognosis is knowledge of the soul.
2. Cosmognosis is knowledge of the world.
3. Agathognosis is knowledge of the good.
4. Kakognosis is knowledge of evil and the bad.
5. Ideognosis is pure intellectual and mathematical knowledge.

Zartian Gnostics may gain initial inspiration from other gnostics - such as the ancient gnostics of the early christian era, or more modern gnostic teachers.

A Gnostic is a truth-seeker, going on an expedition into the world, looking at it with fresh eyes as if the world was seen for the first time, and filled with insatiable curiosity to understand why things are as they are. They must put aside their preconceived ideas, their beliefs that they already know what is what, and do some hard thinking to reason how things might really be based on the actual evidence before them.

Psychosophism

Psychosophism is a deliberate practice engaged in in order to 'sophisticate the soul and mind'.

Zartian Psychosophists normally engage with one of the established traditions of psychosophism such as Stoicism, Buddhism, Neoplatonism or Sufism.

Magtism

Magtas is Mightiness. To be a good influence in the world you need more than just good intentions. You need the necessary strengths and capabilities to overcome obstacles and really make a difference.

Psychomagtism is a process of strengthening the mind and soul, of becoming psychologically stronger and more courageous.

Sociomagtism is a process of strengthening of societies of people, of building teams of people able to work together and take effective action with a greater power than an individual can achieve alone.

Ad bonum tendimus et via artista est!

Updated July 4024