The door is shut
for the first year.

Why the door is shut

The first year is closed, and the reason is said plainly rather than implied: this house has not yet run one full cycle of its own calendar and cannot honestly tell anyone what they are joining.

It is not a filter, nor a trial of thy patience. It is a cost the house payeth, that it may not sell thee a plan in place of a life.

When it opens, and how one cometh in

Closed for the first year, to 2027-09-06. After that: petition, investigation, and ballot. Never because a head liked them.

1. Petition. Thou writest and askest to come in.
2. Investigation. “Vetting is done openly, on stated criteria.” Thou shalt know what is asked, and why.
3. Ballot. The house decideth together, and never as the favour of one head.

A sincere first request is never declined as a test of sincerity.

Degrees may mark what a person has been taught. They may never mark what a person is owed.

What thou keepest

Independent friendships, information, livelihood and confidential advice are protected. No leader may require exclusive dependence on the community.

No future majority may remove a person's right to leave safely.

Ask to be told

Leave thy name and an address, and we shall write to thee once, on the sixth of September, 2027, to say the door is open. Then thy name and address are struck from our list. Nothing else shall be sent to thee: no letters, no news, no asking.