Epistrophis (Επιστροφης)

-From the Meletic Scrolls.

In the philosophy of Meleticism, Epistrophis (Επιστροφης) is the concept of returning to (To Ένa) known as the One. It represents the final stage of our existence, the return of our ousia, which is our true essence to the origin from which it emerged. This return is not simply an abstraction but a natural process that occurs upon death, a transition that is both inevitable and fundamental to the structure of existence. The ousia, which is the core of our being, is not lost; rather, it reunites with the source from which it came, completing the cycle of existence.

This process also extends to the physical realm. Our bodies, composed of atoms and matter, return to nature, merging with the environment in which we once thrived. The soul, too, undergoes a transformation, integrating into the greater flow of existence. In this way, the ousia does not perish entirely, but transcends the limitations of individual identity, integrating into the vast continuum of the natural order. This integration is not to be feared; it is truly the natural order of all things.

In Meleticism, there is no eternal state of physical being after death. Nor is there an afterlife in the conventional sense, which is a supposed realm beyond this one, situated in divine immortality, where an individual consciousness persists indefinitely. Such ideas, often rooted in religious traditions are absent in the structure of Meleticism. Instead, what exists is the cycle of life and death, an immutable order to which all beings belong. This cycle, governed by the principles of Logos (universal order), ensures that existence flows in a structured and coherent manner. Without this cycle, chaos would ensue forever, disrupting the delicate balance of the cosmos.

It is important to distinguish Epistrophis from reincarnation. The return to To Ena does not signify the rebirth of an individual soul or the continuation of consciousness in another form. Neither the ousia, nor the soul, nor the body is capable of assuming a new embodiment after death. Unlike the beliefs found in certain religious or mystical traditions, Meleticism rejects the idea that an individual’s essence could be reborn into another being, whether human, animal or otherwise.

Each of us is granted a single ousia, a single soul and a single body within the span of our mortal existence. There is no transmigration of the soul, no divine force that reallocates consciousness into a new vessel. We do not partake in an endless cycle of rebirths, nor do we ascend to a higher plane of existence predicated on faith rather than reason. Instead, the integration of our being into the natural world is the culmination of our journey. It is neither a punishment nor a reward, but a return to the fundamental state of unity with To Ena.

Once we are no longer living as mortal beings, what remains is the real essence of our existence in its purest form that is inseparable from nature and the cosmos. The physical body, subject to the laws of entropy decays and returns to dust. This process is not an end in the absolute sense, for what was once part of us is redistributed into the world. Our physical components are reabsorbed into the nature, contributing to the ongoing transformation of matter. In a way, life continues, not through reincarnation, but through the persistence of nature itself.

The ousia, unlike the physical body is not merely a collection of atoms. It is the innermost essence of being, the underlying nature that connects all things to To Ena. When we speak of Epistrophis, we refer to the culmination of this essence’s journey, its reintegration with the source from which it originated. This process is not separate from life; rather, it is an intrinsic part of it. Just as birth is a natural emergence into being, Epistrophis is the natural transition back to To Ena.

From the moment we are born, we carry within us an innate connection to To Ena. This connection is realised through the state of the Henosis, which is the unification of body, mind and soul in alignment with To Ena. It is through this state of unity that we realise our place within the larger structure of existence. To live in accordance with the Henosis is to embrace the natural order, acknowledging the interconnection of all things and the inevitability of return.

It is a common human desire to conceive of existence in terms of permanence. Many people find comfort in the notion of eternal life, a state in which individuality persists indefinitely. The idea that consciousness could extend beyond mortality, untouched by the constraints of time is appealing precisely because it defies the finality of death. In Meleticism, this is acknowledged as an illusion.

We are not eternal beings, nor are we meant to be. What is eternal is the cycle itself, which is the unbroken rhythm of birth, life, death and return. Each individual has a role in this cycle, but no single entity is exempt from its order. To accept this is to accept our mortality, not as a tragedy, instead as a fundamental truth. Our existence is finite, yet it is not meaningless. Rather, its meaning is found in the understanding that we are part of something greater than ourselves.

To Ena does not create, nor does it provide a new form of existence after death. It is not a deity that bestows life upon the deserving or punishes the unworthy. It is not a god that prepares an eternal paradise or condemns souls to suffering. To Ena simply is in its existence. It is the source, the origin and the final destination to which all things return.

To embrace the concept of Epistrophis is not only to acknowledge our mortality, but to realise the significance of our connection with To Ena in both life and death. This recognition does not diminish our existence but enhances it. It encourages us to live with awareness, to cultivate harmony with nature and to appreciate the fleeting, yet profound nature of life itself.

Epistrophis is not simply a passive realisation, but more an active movement of the soul and intellect towards To Ena. It signifies a reorientation of one's consciousness away from distractions, illusions or fragmented thinking and towards a more unified, enlightened state of being.

What one experiences is a philosophical sense of inner clarity and tranquility. A feeling of being unified with nature and the cosmos. A detachment from unnecessary distractions, allowing for a focus on what is truly meaningful in life. A deeper acceptance of reality as an unfolding manifestation of To Ena.

It is much like the ocean tides that return to the shore each morning, or the sun that rises anew after the darkness of night. These natural rhythms reflect the deeper truths of existence, which is the ceaseless movement of becoming and returning, of being and non-being. To understand this is to understand that we are never truly separate from To Ena. Even in death, we remain part of the grand continuum, inseparable from the cosmos that gave rise to us.

Returning to To Ena is not a loss, but a completion. It is the final movement of the soul in accordance with the natural order of existence. It is the ascent to To Ena, the return to the original state of being. In this, we find not despair, but lasting peace. For in understanding our place within the cycle, we free ourselves from the illusion of permanence and embrace the beauty of existence as it truly is in its absolute nature.

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