Etherism: A Work In Progress

[Recursive Paradox]

Also can be found at http://etherism.wordpress.com/

Etherism: A Work in Progress

This is a sort of bare bones, basic summary of the path I've been slowly building from the ground up ever since I discovered I had irreconcilable differences with both the philosophy and the supernatural claims of Christianity. It is both a set of religious beliefs and a magic usage pathway. My results haven't been awesome but they've been good enough that I feel safe in having some level of faith in what I've worked out so far.

Etherism is an arbitrary name, chosen because I arbitrarily named the sum total of everything as the Ether. I mostly did that because I don't think the word is in usage for much else and it seemed to fit well. A lot of my naming conventions are arbitrary. As such they're subject to change as soon as better names are discovered for the concepts. Except Dual Reflectivism, which I think is about as perfect a name for its concept as I can get.


Contents

The Metaphysics of Etherism:

• The Ether
  
• Dual Reflectivism
  
• Positive vs. Negative Energy
  
• The Spectrum
  
• "Breaking The Mirror"
  
• The Infinite Ether
  
• The Aspects
  
• Channeling
  
• Are Etherists Atheistic?

The Philosophy of Etherism:

• The Three Pillars
  
• Path of Decay and Entropy of The Self
  
• The Suited Path
  
• LHP or RHP?

Updates:

• August 6th 2008: Opened Thread, added categories and descriptions
  
• December 7th 2008: Re-opened Thread under new account. Made some minor edits in grammar and spelling.
  
• December 16th 2008: Started progress for philosophical descriptions in Etherism.
  
• December 21st, 2008: Created two categories, switched a few posts around and added more content to the three principles post
  
• January 2nd, 2009: Changed Principles to Pillars. Finished First Pillar section.

 

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
The Ether

Etherism treats the multiverse as a folded mirror of energy, matter and whatnot (whatnot being things that don't appear to be either energy or matter) called the Ether. It's basically the sum total of all energy, matter, and whatnot, spiritual or otherwise.

There's The Physical side of the Ether and The Spiritual of the Ether.

On the physical side of the fold, is physical energy, matter, atoms, dark matter, antimatter and so on and so forth. These things are subject to "laws" that are human observations of forces that shape the Physical Side.

On the other side are their conceptual reflections made of Spiritual Ether. These reflections are not actually a "reflection" as in they are just as real as their physical counterpart, but they do reflect the physical side, as the physical side reflects them. For purposes of communication the Spiritual sided objects are referred to as "Spiritual Reflections" because most humans recognize the Physical more readily, and oftentimes have trouble believing in the Spiritual.

The spiritual side appears to be made of a sort of base interconnective tissue that does not behave like matter (unless in certain situations) nor is it merely the ability to do work (energy) although it certainly can be used to do work (this may be conversion though). This tissue "lumps" into shapes where atoms, matter and energy are operating in systems on our side and will, if related to a concept, will often flow through things that the concept is attached to.

This is almost like a gravity of the object pulling the Ether into a form, except that we can't be sure if it isn't the Ether's form pulling the object together here.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
The concept of Dual Reflectivism

Each physical object has a Spiritual Reflection, similar to the concept of a soul but different too, because everything from humans to single hydrogen nuclei have a Spiritual Reflection.

Even our ideas, emotions and thoughts have spiritual reflections.

Dual Reflectivism describes the relationship between the Spiritual Reflection and the Physical Reflection, because they are reflections of each other. Something happens to one, and the same happens to the other.*

Larger forces have a spiritual reflection that is referred to as an Aspect because it is more central to the Ether's function than ones with a smaller effect or less of a universal nature.

Stars, gravity, etc would have Aspects. Individual humans would not, unless they were to ascend enough to gain that level of effect. Although there is an overall Aspect of Humanity, each human has an Essence attached instead. This is commonly confused for the soul but the behaviors do not exactly mirror the concept of a soul, so the analogy can't be made effectively.

*Note: This is just a fancy way of saying we have no idea which is the reflection and which is the original or if they are both reflections. Generally the entire system is treated as real, but the Spiritual Side is referred to as the Spiritual Reflection, because we are more familar with the Physical.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
Positive vs. Negative Energy and Resonance

The Ether is dynamic. It always changes. Things move from lower complexity and greater stability to higher complexity and lower stability and vice versa.

Negative energy flow is accumulated from any change that reduces the complexity (and brings an object to greater stability) and Positive energy flow is accumulated from any change that builds on complexity. There's been some consideration to just rename Negative energy to entropic energy, as Entropy as a force in physics describes perfect the movement to lower complexity and greater stability.

These energies are quite simply waves of "resonance" in the interconnective tissue of the Spiritual Ether. Like kinetic energy in air particles creates sound waves. They appear to be related to entropic effects and creative effects of the Material Ether.

Every spiritual reflection has what is called Resonance. The resonance of a given spiritual reflection is the net positive and negative energy accumulated by that reflection. The effects of resonance are gone into deeper in The Spectrum and The Infinite Ether sections.

This technically functions as a spectrum (not a base binary of two different kinds of energy) and Positive/Negative is simply a simplified way of describing what is a complex multidimensional resonance of the interconnective tissue of the Spiritual Ether. These terms may be subject to change as more UPG is gained and confirmed.

So a rock falls down a hill and crushes a squirrel, that is reflective of negative resonance for both. A species develops cognitive function greater then before (dolphin learns something new) that is a positive resonance event. Most occurrences are a reflection of a blend of positive and negative resonance (a mid spectrum zone), since almost nothing is absolutely destructive or creative in this universe (beyond the Aspects for those particular concepts).

The end results of an action are all that matter in terms of determining net pos or neg energy. (The consequences)

That doesn't mean, "The ends justifies the means" it means that if you do something harmful to make something good happen, if that beneficial thing you made happen is greater in positive energy resonance then the harmful things you did you have a net gain in positive energy, because the negative is surpassed by it.

But your intent seems to matter little to the energies themselves, unless the intent itself creates an entropic effect within you (certain forms of vengeful rage are actually damaging to the body).

Even more complications arise in the fact that truly, the end result is the most important part. An action done 300 years ago could still be accumulating Negative or Positive energy flow because of the ripple effect of its consequences in the future.

Actions we did at the beginning of our life are still affecting us even now.

It also means that the question, "Is this a bad or good thing to do?" is essentially moot for the purposes of Neg vs. Pos Resonance and flow of that resonance. Not even acknowledging perspectives, an action's effects a century from now could change entirely its effects on your spiritual resonance. The idea is, shoot for the best possible outcome for yourself, one that balances the negative and positive energy balance you need in your resonance to exist.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
The Spectrum: An Etherist's View of Balance

There is no evil in Etherism merely the negative (Entropy) and positive (Complexity), which are both necessary for the system to work.

The Spectrum refers to the measurement from the highest level of negative energy coupled with the lowest level of positive energy and vice versa with the zero point (in which negative energy and positive energy are exactly balanced) in the center

Your place in the Spectrum determines what balance is best for you. (humans are closely aligned with the positive, we being alive and capable of controlling our environment, require less negative energy to survive and more positive energy as we learn and grow more complex.)

This is not to say you should never pull negative energy flow and adjust your resonance towards entropy. On the contrary, humans require negative energy to survive as eating and digesting food pulls negative resonance. But it does necessitate figuring out not just where humanity as a species lies in the spectrum to understand where your balance should be, but also understanding where you as a person lie in the spectrum.

Some people thrive on more of a negative energy environment than others. Some people need a strongly positive energy environment to function. Others can do well in a mixed zone where the net amount has very little difference from the balance that the human species needs to be at overall.

I have received complaints about binary thinking and I assure you, this is untrue. The spectrum of Complexity and Entropy is not the only thing that exists. Resonance is multidimensional and there's more forms of energy flow through that interconnective material than just pos/neg that behaves similarly. It's just one part of the system that I found relevant enough to discuss and explore and one that I have a bit of experience with.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
"Breaking the Mirror"

In the universe, change tends to be slow, happening gradually. From evolution of species to the slow burning out of the stars, even with the adjustment of a culture over several centuries, change moves slowly on both sides.

An extreme change that occurs too quickly (rock rapidily converted to lava, a living thing that dies, water freezing instantly, too sudden of a change in Resonance) will cut loose a Reflection from its counterpart instead of slowly changing it.

These occur more and more as systems grow more complex and change happens quicker. It is referred to as "Breaking the Mirror" because for a few moments the two sides of the Ether don't fully reflect each other.

At least until another reflection tacks on.

This itself is a good lesson in why balance is so important. Negative energy may break down the systems we need to survive, but too much complexity from positive energy causes rapid change and can break the mirror more and more often, which isn't always good for us.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
The Infinite Ether: Ascension, "Afterlife" and Realignment

Since both the multiverse and the Spiritual side are infinite they both contain all forms of everything. But the multiverse is partitioned differently. Hence why only certain things are seen here and the laws are different here. The Spiritual Side is more fluid in some ways and stiffer in others because its partitions are more conceptual whereas the Physical Side's partitions are more physical.

When a Spiritual Reflection is cut loose (since the Physical is less fluid we always treat the Spiritual Reflection as being the one cut loose, even if its changes are what "Broke the Mirror") it moves through the Ether colliding with other freed reflections and exchanging information as a result of these collisions. This can add to the complexity of the Reflection leading to what's referred to as an Etheral Ascension. An Ascension can occur while still reflecting its counterpart, however it is a lot less likely to occur in that state because the information sharing is on a far smaller scale and often limited by the physical senses on this side.

Depending on how much negative or positive energy this reflection has accumulated and the Resonance that it achieves from those energies, it may not be able to exchange information with certain other reflections. Only reflections of similar resonance can collide effectively enough to exchange large portions of information. Such a situation could be described a lot like a dreamlike afterlife in which your experiences there closely mirror your conduct here. But with a twist, as its based on negative or positive energy exposure, not morality or ethics.

Once an object of suitable complexity arises, The Reflection will only tie to it if it is of similar resonance or located in a location with similar resonance. This does not mean similar form. If you are a human you won't necessarily be a human in the next connection of your spiritual reflection. This is generally referred to as Realignment but the word Reincarnation can work too, if the spiritual reflection is hooking onto something that is alive and made of protein (Carne -> "flesh").

There are some strong differences between this system and the systems that use Karma or divine justice. One is not being punished or morally judged. Nor is there a defined path that one is pushed into different existences for following or failing to follow. And the positive and negative energy accumulated is different for similar situations when circumstances change (and they do change.) Nothing is concrete, and everything is in flux. So the Etherist's Resonance vs. Alignment is actually extremely fluid and difficult to predict.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
The Aspects: Deities or Not?

The reflections of primary forces in our world are called conceptual Aspects and are virtually irremovable. Not Gods persay, but certainly a force of order.

There has been many questions about whether the Aspects could be considered Deities.

The Aspects are a murky concept that skirts the line between sentient beings with immense power (over a single aspect) and non self conscious Spiritual Reflections of a force or element of the universe. So Aspects could very well be considered deities under the viewpoint of many Pagan religions. However Etherism does not consider them as such for philosophical and moralistic reasons. At the least, they are treated as tools and sources of power and at the most, treated as sentient or semi sentient partners in gaining greater strength, growth and wisdom.

Often an Etherist will enter a bartering relationship with a sentient Aspect, doing tasks or energy work for the Aspect in exchange for a share of its power. Such a thing can be done with beings less evolved than Aspects but is rarely necessary since the exchanges with Aspects are usually more profitable.

The key difference is that Aspects are not worshiped, but instead emulated and understood, and through those actions their energies are channeled into you. By understanding the Aspects most closely tied to your personality, you understand yourself. This leads to a stronger tie to the Ether overall, and is a key step in any Ascension. By emulating the Aspects that you carry as your own, you tie your Spiritual Reflection closer to them and this allows their energy to flow into you more easily. This grants you a certain amount of strength in that Aspect beyond what you would have by yourself.

This is useful for more then just gaining greater physical power (by aligning with the Strength Aspect) or being closer to the Ether when the Moon is out (by aligning with the Lunar Aspect). It can be used for Channeling (which will be explained later) purposes, increasing your capacity to affect the Ether with your will when it involves your Aspect, or is in the presence of your Aspect, your Aspect's Symbols, etc etc

The idea in the end, of course, is to not require the benefits of the Aspects after a time, but to be powerful in and of yourself. And even, provided you can Ascend enough to do so, to become an Aspect or beyond yourself.

Star/Radiance Aspect Symbol and Explaination

This is the symbol for star/radiance. I breathe into my hand before I trace it (representation of my energy intermixing with the energy of all things)

I then trace the center spire with the two hooks into the air first and then start partway up in the spire, go down and start the central curve. Once the curve is complete, I trace the connector edge starting from the right side and edge it into the curve only slightly.

The central spire represents the vastness of space. It goes in all directions, hence the two arrow like hooks. The central circle represents both the star (I've used an almost pure circle for our sun Sol) and the accentuation of the central spire through the edge attachment. A circle rotates (in my mind) and would carry the central spire with the arrows by the attachment with the edge. If you imagine them rotating, you'll notice how that edge would cover the entire surface of the circle with spikes, much like a star. But beyond those spikes would be arrows going in every direction imaginable in the dimensions that the symbol exists in. So those arrows represent "All" and the central circle and edge represent "Star".

Hence "All Star." Which is why it is the symbol for the Star/Radiance Aspect.

Water Aspect Symbol

 

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
Channeling the Ether

It is possible to exert your will on the Ether by closely tying your two reflections together. Anything that draws you closer to the Spiritual Ether (or the Spiritual Ether closer to you, both occur at the same time) will enable you to Channel its energies.

The word closeness is not used in spatial terms as the Ether is everything. It would be impossible to get spatially closer to the Ether because you are already there. Instead the word closeness is used to imply a sort of conceptual closeness. A stronger feel and understanding of the Ether as a whole. A widening of belief to incorporate the Ether and allowing yourself to open your mind to the possibilities that channeling can create.

When one channels the energies literally move through you and intermingle with your own. This causes your own energy to grow. It is possible for a human being to channel their own energy but it is far more difficult to achieve anything that way unless that person is highly evolved spiritually and just happens to be in a human body now. The idea is to eventually only need your own energies to affect things and not need channeling.

Achieving this closeness allows concepts of your mind to bend the lines a bit and actually be expressed as a solid object of existence. However this is almost impossible to do without pushing past Etheral Inertia, which is the continuous force of reality following its nature. These difficulties are often surmounted by aligning with and emulating certain Aspects that suit you and that you feel a strong connection to. Since Aspects are more central to the Ether, they're often enforcing Etheral Inertia, and it is therefore easier to surmount by using their power.

Channeling can also pull in much larger amounts of Positive and Negative energy then many normal actions. Rapid changes caused by channeling can also "Break the Mirror" which can have unforeseen consequences for you and others. Remember, doing destructive things through channeling will build up negative energy on your Spiritual Reflection, with the creative acts doing the same for positive energy. If your Resonance is strongly tilted towards the negative, it will be much more difficult to fight Etheral Inertia when the Channeling you are doing is creative, and it will be more difficult for a positively Resonating Etherist to Channel in a destructive manner.

Just like doing things in the physical world requires physical work, doing things in the Spiritual world, requires an expenditure of Spiritual energy too. Most Reflections don't have the strength to achieve this. Another obstacle is in the form of convictions and beliefs. If you don't fully believe that you can channel, what is described as Faith Inertia will stop you immediately. Faith Inertia* is the opposing force to attempting to channel in any way that you do not believe is possible. It's basically your own mind rebelling against attempts to channel. Once the idea that you are unable to do it is gone, the inertia reduces.

If you believe that you can achieve such acts, fully, Faith Inertia may still limit what you can do in the Ether based on the nature of your Faith. For example a person that believes that only prayer can cause supernatural occurrences will only channel while in prayer. Faith Inertia is probably the strongest limiting factor on what we actually can do within the Ether.

*Note: Faith inertia can easily apply to all sorts of other things too, but as it pertains to Channeling, the term Faith Inertia is the one I generally use.

I will not be adding a section in here describing the exact means to drawing the energy into you or using it. I have decided to keep that within the mysteries of the path for the safety and well being of others and to prevent misuse of these skills. There are no initiation rules as of yet but a requirement that I will not allow to be bypassed is to understand and apply the philosophy of Etherism (specifically the comprehension and sacredness of the Self and the capacity for self control gained from that) before channeling.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Metaphysics of Etherism
Are Etherists Athiestic?

There is no specific God/Goddess/Diety in Etherism (even taking into account the similarities between other religion's deities and the Aspects), however that isn't what makes Etherism strictly atheistic.

What makes Etherism strictly atheistic is the definition of deity. Deities are either beings who are deserving of worship, praise and adoration inherently by virtue of their power and position as deities OR beings that possess a certain ineffable trait referred to as divinity (as per a sort of species of higher being, deities all possess divinity).

Since worship, praise and adoration (especially considered inherent) is against The Three Pillars of Etherism and is considered a major component of The Entropy of The Self, an Etherist refuses to recognize any more evolved being as a deity. So an Etherist can believe that beings like YHVH or Odin exist but the Etherist will never recognize those beings as deities in any way.

For the second definition, one goes to the Divinity Aspect as the spiritual reflection of divinity itself, that ineffable characteristic of deities. This definition allows an Etherist to recognize a being like YHVH or Odin as a deity from the simple fact that those beings possess the trait that the Divinity Aspect represents. In such a context, an Etherist would be considered nontheistic (possessing no gods/goddesses but not explicitly lacking in belief of their existence). The Etherist still refuses to do anything additional for a deity just because they possess divinity. They would be offered no more respect than another very powerful evolved being and no more loyalty than would be created by a personal connection (if such existed) or alliance (if one was invoked or created).

In the former context of deity, to an Etherist, if the word deity is used at all then it is a title given to the evolved beings that theists worship and has no meaning beyond those two in practical use. In the latter context of deity, to an Etherist, the a deity is merely another "species" of evolved being (like Aspects, Essences and many of the other things that exist in and beyond our world). They are still not to be worshiped or treated as any more sacred than any other being would be, taking into account context and connection.

In the former context, Etherists find it prudent to avoid connection, partnership or entanglement with any being arrogant enough to demand worship. In the latter context, an Etherist may forge bonds, create barter relationships or even create close personal connections with deities, provided the deity would want a connection of such a nature (and many appear to not want such in the face of their dedicated followers)  

[Recursive Paradox]

Philosophy of Etherism
The Three Pillars

An Etherist is guided by three principle goals, called The Three Pillars, one of which is held above all others. These three goals extend themselves into the entirety of the morality and philosophy that guides Etherism. These three pillars are Growth, Wisdom and Power.

The First Pillar

The Highest Pillar
Growth

The universe moves towards complexity and evolution, inherently, despite the flow of entropy and sometimes ironically because of it.

From the simple molecular interactions between various substances, small systems in their own right, came the precursors to life. From these precursor small molecular systems like self propagating organic monomers to self organizing membrane carrying protocells, life started small and continued to evolve. Life developed intelligence and through that technology. Technology elevates us to even greater levels of evolution as we surpass even biology in our existence. It's not inconceivable that others are further along than us. It's not inconceivable that others are behind.

The forward movement, the great complexity gained is exponential. The theory of the technological singularity is such an example. Life took billions of years. Intelligence took millennia. The development of technology took centuries. The explosion of science into recursive knowledge gain took decades. The technological ascension of the whole of the human race may take even less time than you can imagine.

Things move towards growth. That is my central goal. To become greater but still retain the Self. To surpass all things but not through incorporation into an amorphous blob of Selves devoured. I do not seek to become greater just to own things or have other swear fealty to me. Those things are irrelevant. I seek to become greater because that is my purpose. That is what I must do. It is what I want. What I need as a being. To avoid stagnation and entropy, to not fall to their cold decaying touch. Always forward I move.

Growth is the greatest Pillar. The central tenet upon which all the rest of Etherist philosophy itself grows forth from. Growth brought all us to this point and I shall follow the path of growth until I reach eternity itself and beyond.

I do not seek to become your gods. I seek to surpass them. I do not want your worship. I seek to move beyond even that. I do not even seek to become the gods of your gods. My path is one of growth and greatness. It does not need to be acknowledged with anything more than the respect for my potential. The beings who move behind me are simply my peers. Not my servants. The beings who move ahead of me are simply my peers as well. Not my rulers.

Your gods' wish for fealty will not hold me back. Your children's wish for charity will not hold me back. Your envy, if you have it, will not hold me back. Nothing will. I will surmount all obstacles, god or human, evolved or unevolved, in my quest. There is no end to knowledge, to power, to the universe, to growth. I will inexorably move forever through each ascension and beyond in my never ending goal.

I am infinite

I am endless.

I am ever increasing.

I am Growth.

The Second Pillar

The Middle Pillar
Wisdom

As things grow and evolve and systems become more complex, self awareness is reached. With self awareness comes a capacity to comprehend, acknowledge and record. Through this knowledge is obtained and used. Knowledge, in and of itself, is merely data. It is the metadata of knowledge, the metadata called wisdom, that is the necessary pillar upon which an Etherist must step before power becomes useful and growth becomes obtainable.

The comprehension of comprehension itself and the knowledge of how knowledge can be used, obtained and manipulated for one's ends is this metadata. There are some who claim that knowledge is power, and in their way they would be right. But that power can not be unlocked or directed without wisdom. One can not comprehend one's Self without the wisdom to come to that comprehension and to use that comprehension in a way that leads to growth instead of decay.

With wisdom, I will not be crushed beneath the weight of my own power or destroy myself in a fit of idiocy. With wisdom I safeguard and empower my growth and my Self, rising above obstacles and parasitic influences who seek to lead me to entropy of the self for their own needs.

With wisdom, I can not only offer knowledge and power to others but also determine who should receive it in the first place, if any.

The universe is complex and vast. The Essences are complicated, wily and dangerous. The Aspects even moreso, some vast beyond all we know, beyond powerful, beyond alien. Wisdom is my guide. My light in the dark tunnels of existance and my comprehension of what that light shines off of. I will seek out wisdom in all its forms for it grants me the capacity to use the tools at my disposal. Through wisdom I am granted the capacity to use my power to grow. Through wisdom I possess the means to find the path of ascension.

I am guiding.

I am comprehension.

I am power's key.

I am Wisdom.

The Third Pillar

The Least Pillar
Power

(in progress)

 

[Recursive Paradox]

Philosophy of Etherism
The Path of Decay and Entropy of The Self

(in progress)  

[Recursive Paradox]

Philosphy of Etherism
The Concept of The Suited Path

Etherism firmly supports the concept of The Suited Path. Any road (with the exception of the Path of Decay) can lead to growth and therefore no matter what one's faith is they will be brought closer to the guiding goal of Etherism. (Provided such a faith is the proper path for them. A choice only they are truly in a position to make.) Because of this an Etherist would consider active conversion a bad move and would not attempt to convert others. This could interfere with the person's Suited Path and stifle their spiritual growth.

Even if one believes someone is on The Path of Decay, one should not interfere beyond making that concern known. We can not see the future and that poor path that another travels may someday lead to good path for their growth.

Because diverting someone from their path prevents them from gaining greater complexity it is a strongly negative energy act. Although that is not the only reason why it is frowned upon. The driving force behind all Etherism is the three principles of growth, wisdom and power. These three things are sacred to Etherism, in that order. So to interfere with another being's growth, even if you believe yourself to be helping them, is a violation of the highest of ideals that Etherism holds sacred.

There is no issue with telling others of Etherism, as the sharing of knowledge is in no way bad to Etherism. Of course no Etherist in their right mind would specifically seek to stop another from gaining knowledge, but that doesn't mean an Etherist will freely offer any knowledge they have. Oftentimes knowledge must be earned, or it will be abused and one certainly won't grow as much from knowledge that is simply given instead of earned.

This is part of why Etherists abhor worship of any being.  

[Recursive Paradox]

Philosophy of Etherism
Is Etherism a Left Hand Path or a Right Hand Path?

According to the Wikipedia Article Etherism more strongly fits the characteristics of a Left Hand Path.

RHPs tend to imply obedience to higher powers, belief in moral absolutism, and express their goal as the absorption of the individual into a greater whole, among other aspects.

All of which go against the grain of Etherist belief.

Whereas LHPs tend to imply that people can attain deity like status with insight and spiritual power, that actions and good and bad depend on perspective (more specifically that altruism is actually selfishness disguised), that supernatural concepts that respond to our actions are more fluid, and a responsibility towards one's happiness and one's self (among other aspects).

Enough of the LHPs aspects fit Etherism for it to be accurately described as a Left Hand Path.  

[Recursive Paradox]

I'm storing posts and links here that still have more detail until I can distill the Etherism specific things from it and put them in their appropriate sections:

*some things have been removed to avoid revealing material within the mysteries of Etherism.

Light Touch Rule (not Etherism specific)

Blades shielding Essence