Part I: Orientation & Grounding

  1. What am I feeling right now?
  2. What am I looking for right now?
  3. Pressure or air?

First, determine if there is Pressure or Air. 
Pressure is inner tension that needs to be resolved. Air is a yearning and capacity for possibility. 

When there is Pressure:
Description for an Aquarius:
A tar-like sensation, usually emanating from the inner cavities (sinus, chest, pelvis), a metallic tingling along the upper palate. Most often dark brown, dark purple, dark teal. Pressure indicates buildup - subsequent Activation Center detection required.
Description for everyone else:
When you feel like there is tension in your throat that pushes upwards to the back of your sinuses, and cascades down your sternum. Rumination may occur.
Option to connect internally.

When there is Air:
Description for an Aquarius: A shimmering chiffon-like texture, usually yellow, chartreuse, and translucent. Movement upwards and outwards, magnet poles point north. Air indicates potentiation of perpetual movement.
Description for everyone else: A spirit moves you - you have the spark and curiosity to open yourself up. Mild dehydration occurs - drink water for clarity.
Option to connect externally.

Before you offload your search, commit to asking 3 friends.

Tough Pills To SwallowTM:
Sample pack:
1. You do not need hyperoptomize your routine.
2. Sitting in small discomfortswill make you stronger.
3. Withoutyou cannot have
4. Your brain needs to connect to your muscles first.
5. Flip the switch.
6. “Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention” - J.C.

Request your custom Tough Pills To Swallow TM prescription 

Pay Attention.



This diagram is a prototype. When using the A.S.K. it is advised to create your own.

Activation Centers
The feeling you have identified in the previous section may have a locus. Set a timer of 10 seconds to detect which Activation Center is present. There may be multiple.

Generation Modules
Upon notification from your specific Activation Center there is a corresponding Generation Module. A Generation Module is a method that catalyzes the Pressure. Completing the Generation Modules will give you information. Receive it with levity and curiosity.
VideoJournal:
Turn on your front facing camera and word vomit for 3 minutes.
VibeSketching:
See Prompts section
Prayer:
For 1 minute, place yourself kneeling in front of a mirror. Gaze into your mirror-eyes. In the remaining 10 seconds, make a promise to yourself. Ask yourself for clarity. Thank your mirror-self.
BrainDump:
Take a scrap piece of paper and write down every single thought, task, idea in your mind.
Journal:
Set a timer for 15 minutes and write a stream of consciousness, no filtering.

Notice: Silence notifications by navigating to your doom scrolling app of choice.


Part II : Frame & constraint


Constraints are the catalysts of creation. Frames allow us to set parameters attuned to scales familiar to the human body.

Frames

Examples:
  • I will only choose this one particular topic in one area.
  • I will go to the Library photo archive and only choose one folder to check out.
  • I will research plants native to my specific region
  • I will ask people who live within 1 mile of me
  • I will only learn from people I can meet in person

Constraints

  • I will limit myself to one website.
  • I will limit myself to 15 minutes.
  • I will limit myself to one 30-minute library visit
  • I will only use Wikipedia, no other websites
  • I will research using physical books only

Part III: Capturing & Orienting Devices

Capturing Devices are both analog and digital tools that capture ideas, thoughts, words, scribbles, and notes. Capturing Devices are not Orientation Devices.
  • Voice recorder
  • Voice memo
  • Field notebook
  • Sketch pad
  • Index cards
  • Phone notes app (with specific constraints)
  • Sticky notes
  • Audio journal
  • Photo documentation

Part IV: Orientation Devices

Create your own archive.

Orientation Devices are for the archiving, processing, and storing of information you wish to look back on. These are systems you create for yourself - it has to work how you naturally think. This prototype is one example for creating the technological constraints to manage information, however, yours might look different. While many devices have multiple capabilities, you can use one tool for one thing to reduce your digital overwhelm.
  • Notion
  • Obsidian
  • Journal
  • Google Docs
  • Apple Notes
  • Printed materials
  • Spreadsheets
  • Polycam
  • New Art City
  • Personal wiki/zettelkasten
  • Photos
  • Annotation practices
  • Commonplace books

Part V: Extending Your Circle

Now you have identified your Activation Centers and Generation Modules, you can expand into your network.

Repair Network - take note of the people in your life that might know how to fix things. Sewing, tech repair, editing, relationships.

Resource Spreadsheet - see resources for a template.

Recipes - ask your mom

Part VI: Hosting Events

Events can be in your house, at the park, a cafe, online. It can center around an activity that is mutually beneficial - for example, co-working, idea sharing, or feedback. You are allowed to gently ignore each other, and it can be low-effort.

Part VII: Counter-Infrastructure: building alternatives

For the designers and developers, try imagining an alternative by creating a platform that avoids optimization and surveillance. Make an app for your friend, create a platform for your lover, and design an interface for your dog.




Prompts:

Collected Topography
[1 hour] [3 out of 5 effort] [1 out of 5 discomfort] [Tools required: paper and markers
Invite 7 friends to the park. Ask them to bring a small object that is currently meaningful to them. Arrive at the park with a big piece of paper and markers. Draw the cardinal directions on the big piece of paper. Request that your friends lay out their objects like land masses. Give them 10 seconds to draw the objects aura around their object. Give them 10 seconds to draw bridges from their object to another. Give them 10 seconds to write a word on the bridge. Take turns describing your object, why you chose the bridge, and the word. Option to use Polycam to 3D scan the resulting map. You now have a Collected Topography.
VibeSketching
[3 minutes] [0 out of 5 effort] [4 out of 5 discomfort] [Tools required: paper and writing implement]
IMPORTANT: Do not go past the time limit
Retrieve a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Set a timer for 10 seconds. Scribble on the piece of paper for the duration and when the timer is up, shout the first word that comes to your mind. Repeat 3 times. This is done better in a group.
Radio Divination
[1 minute] [2 out of 5 effort] [1 out of 5 discomfort] [Tools required: a radio with knob dials]
Find someone with a radio that has a dial - not buttons. Tune the dial across the frequency spectrum and listen to the static in between the radio. Bridge conversations and sounds between each station to inform your day.
Silent Party
[1 hour] [0 out of 5 effort] [0 out of 5 discomfort] [Tools required: none]
Invite 2 friends to your house. Gently ignore each other.

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this project is continuously updated. 

last edit 2026-04-13