Rare Earths

The rare earths, in the context of FaerieMUD, refer to a part of the Pattern, which is a periodic fractal algorithm based on the Periodic Table of Elements. It is used to model complex interactive quantities or scales for periodic and developmental objects?.

The rare earths cannot be fully understood without first examining the elements of Group VIIIB (under Iron, Cobalt and Nickel) where the first hints of internal distinctions which do not result in external (chemical or valence) differences.

The Genesis of Goals and Souls occurs within the Imperial Balance: Changes become possible in the internals of the Pattern which do not have immediately obvious impacts on the external view of the Developmental Object being modeled by the Pattern. The first set of changes begin with the 26th element (Iron) as it changes to the 27th (Cobalt) and then to the 28th (Nickel?) and eventually reach fruition in the rare earths.

These three elements represent a minor crisis in the development of self which is known colloquially as the "tantrum." This minor crisis forces a minor quest which must include the chance to create a Customization.

The Lanthanide Series is associated with this genesis even though it occurs much further down the periodic table, once the institutional balance develops beyond evangelical predation. The anima then goes through a series of developments which are externally translucent and produce the first series of rare earths (the Lanthanide series).

The long wait produced by this gap creates a long period where that internal development remains static with commensal laudation. If the animated object? chose to create a Customization when it had the opportunity in its minor quest, it now has the opportunity to create more on the genius path.

The Genesis of Principles develops under Iron, Cobalt and Nickel with the elements of Ruthenium, Rhodium and Palladium. This is a second series of internal distinctions which begin in the Interpersonal Balance, based on the resolution of the minor crisis known as "cliques." The minor quest which resolves this crisis must provide an opportunity for the animated object to choose to create an Improvisation.

This produces a long period where that internal development remains static with commensal laudation. Of course, the externally manifest self (the persona) is growing and developing throughout this period.

The Actinide Series arises once the interindividual balance develops beyond evangelical predation, and a new contradiction forces the interindividual self to fully develop its constituent principles. If the animated object? chose to create an Improvisation when it had the opportunity in its minor quest, it now has the opportunity to create more on the genius path.

Another Kind of Series then arises within the middle of the rare earths of the Institutional Balance, where the minor crisis known as "creation ex nihilo" forces the individual to rethink its whole world-view, introducing the idea of the gods?. Without gods, the institutional self cannot develop further.

It is interesting to ask whether the gods so emergent fulfill the requirements of the first long wait.

Down two periods from Iron, Cobalt and Nickel we find Osmium, Iridium and Platinum within the Institutional Balance, introducing the Genesis of Human Rights.

Another example of the second kind of series arises under Promethium, Samarium and Europium with Neptunium, Plutonium and Americium which begins in the middle of the fourth series of internal distinctions within the rare earths of the Interindividual Balance, introducing the minor crisis known as a crisis of faith.

The Final Crisis occurs when your ideas become so threatening that society decides to kill you. When they do so, however, those ideas have the ability to emerge as memes capability of an existence independent of their originator.

It is interesting to ask whether the memes so emergent fulfill the requirements of the second long wait.

See also The Pattern, Scripts and Genius.

— Scotus - 08 Jul 2000 based on a seed sown by jj and Steve
— GedTheGreysHain - 04 May 2003 [Added preamble, fixed some links]