Zartian Agathism

Agathon is the Greek word for 'the Good'. Agathism is the conscious pursuit of the Good.

Agathists believe there is such as things as 'the Good' and that we should make an effort to connect with it, to achieve it, to make it manifest in the world in which we live.

Agathists believe that only the Good itself is unarguably and perfectly Good and everything else is for us to judge as to how good it is.

The Agathoi are 'the good ones' who are manifestations of the Good. Zartian Agathists give twelve Agathoi in particular a pride of place.

Zartian Agathists trace the origins of their tradition to the religious philosopher Zoroaster who lived about 3000 years ago in the territory of the Iranians. He composed a text known as the Songs of Zoroaster which expressed his understanding of the workings of Good and Evil. This text has been passed down to us and forms the foundation text of Zartianism.

In addition Zartian Agathists recognise three further philosophers whose work has proved the most useful to those seeking to understand the nature of the Good. These three are Gotama ("the Buddha"), Plato and Aristotle.

Zoroaster, Gotama, Plato and Aristotle together are called the Tetramagi or four wise ones and Zartian Agathists are encouraged to mentally grapple with their work as an aid to developing their own understanding of the Good. Their work has value to help us, but we do not consider that everything they say comes out of perfect wisdom. The Tetramagi are human 'thought-provokers' , not divine angels, and we still must do our own work to make our sense of reality.

To pursue the Good we must understand the nature of reality. We need to know the different elements that constitute the world and how they interact. Runes are such 'secret' elements which we can name. There is no definitive list of runes that all Zartians use, but it is a task of Zartian Agathists to develop their runic knowledge.

The Agathist path includes efforts to change ourselves and to change the world beyond us for the better. There are lots of potential ways that we might do this and Agathists strive to find the most useful paths for them to follow from whatever source it comes.

Zartianism

Zartian means Zoroastrian from Zartus a shortened spelling of the name Zarathustra (Zoroaster). It indicates that Zoroaster is the founder of our school of Agathism. It also indicates an ethically dualistic Agathism where Agathon (Good) is considered to have an active opponent Kakon (Bad/Evil). This is different from Platonic Agathism where only the Good is considered real and the Bad is thought of just as an absence of the Good. The term Zartian also indicates a modern neo-Zoroastrianism which doesn't keep to all the traditions of the surviving Zoroastrians of Iran and India.

Special Days

We especially celebrate March 26th as 'Zartus Natus' or Zoroaster's birthday.

Ad bonum tendimus et via artista est!

Updated Feb 2023 CE & Jan 2025

Zartian Agathism

Zartian Agathism is a modern re-thinking of the work of the ancient philosopher Zoroaster.

It teaches the pursuit of Agathon the Good and avoidance of Kakon the Bad

The three major elements of Zartian Agathism, as currently proposed, are the Agathoi, the Aristomagi and the Hodoi Ekkritoi.

Agathoi

The Agathoi - the Good Ones - are usually given as a list of fourteen:

1. Chrestus Magtus - the mighty servant - the human agent of Auramazda in support of Order and Flourishing.
2. Spentaman - the 'life-enhancing spirit' or 'Holy Spirit' - defined either as the spirit-being acting from outside a person which makes that person become wise and good like Chrestus or as the spirit-energy within a person which has a similar result.
3. Eunoia - the Good Mind, Benevolent Mind, Good Thinking, Clear Thinking, True Consciousness. Eunoia is inclusive of Eudaena - the good moral vision.
4. Eudaena - Good Moral Vision 5. Eusebia - good devotion.
6. Euthymia - Good (i.e. appropriate) Spiritedness or Emotion
7. Arta is Order - the right relationship of things to each other. Artista is the best order. Arta Thalica is the flourishing order. Related in Thalia (flourishing), Synthalia (flourishing together) and Pantothalia (or Panthalia)(the flourishing of all).
8. Eunomia - good law, custom, habit.
9. Eukratia - good strength or rule. Having the right degree of strength and using it in a good way.
10. Harvatas is health or wholeness.
11. Amortas is non-dyingness, sustainability.
12. Eudemonia is good spirit within a person which brings joy.

Each of the Agathoi is opposed by one of the Kakoi (Bad Ones):
Azidus (Cold-hearted Lustful One), Angramentor (Evil Spirit, Evil Counsellor), Akonoia (Bad Mind), Akosebia (Bad Devotion), Akothymia, Dreg (deviation from what is good and true), Akonomia (bad law), Akokratia (Bad Strength or Rule), Aegrotas (Illness), Mortas (Death), Akodemonia (bad spirit or feeling).

In addition Dregor (or Dreggor) 'the Devil' is considered an opponent of Auramazda.

Aristomagi

The Aristomagi are the 'outstanding wise men' whose teachings are regarded as especially useful. Zartian Agathists have a basic list of four in particular which are Zoroaster, Gotama, Plato and Aristotle. Additional persons may be concerned Aristomagi, such as Nietzsche.

Hodoi Ekkritoi

A Hodus is a way of doing things. A Hodus Ekkritus is a 'Chosen Way'. The Hodoi Ekkritoi form the traditional culture of a society (i.e. they are ways of doing things which are chosen before other possibilities and handed down from one person to another).

Ad bonum tendimus et via artista est.

Overview

Agathon

Agathon - The Good - is pure goodness whether as an abstract idea, an active presence or a passive experience. Agatha is not easily understood in her totality, but we can make an attempt by understanding her children the Agathoi.

Agathon is the Ideal Good which Urvan the Soul reaches up towards like reaching towards the sun.

Agathon is the particular configuration or kind of happening in Zurvan or the Ground of Being that is the best for life.

Agathon is also known as the Agatha the Beautiful for she is the most desireable of all. However she is not easily attained directly and to know and serve her better one should get to know her children - the Agathoi.

Thalia

The concept of Thalia or Flourishing is our primary understanding of what we see as an ultimate desireable result of our strivings towards the Good.

Thalia is something that is both a characteristic of an individual life, and of 'life' on a wider scale, made out of many individuals interacting with each other.

The term Eudemonia is usually considered to mean the same as Individual Thalia.

The terms Biothalia ("Flourishing of Life") and Synthalia ("Flourishing Together") describe this interactive flourishing. In a political context we also use the term Pantothalia ("Flourishing of All").

Agathoi

The Agathoi are the Good Beings. They are the Agents of the Good.

The Agathoi are those beings recognised as being close to Agatha the Good or of partaking of her nature. They are sometimes regarded as her children with Urvan, the active Soul. They are the consequence of the successful striving of Urvan towards the Ideal Good which is Agatha and his union with Her.

There are currently fourteen Agathoi given pride of place in Zartianism. Most of them are derived from traditional Zoroastrian teaching. These include Auramazda (Wise Power), Sarokrestus (Useful Listener), Spentamentor (Mind Improver), Eunoia (Good Thinking), Eudaena (Good Moral Vision), Eusebia (Good Devotion), Artista (Best Order).

Kakon

Kakon - The Bad - is pure badness whether as an abstract idea, an active presence or a passive experience.

The eternal drama of existence sees Urvan o Soul continually striving for Agatha and seeking union with Her. However there are all sorts of obstacles and impediments to this happening and Urvan is continually frustrated and suffering as a consequence.

Kakoi

The Kakoi are the Bad Beings. Each of the Agathoi has a Kakus as an opponent.


The work of Zartian Agathists is to support the Good and undermine the Bad.

The lists of Agathoi and Kakoi point us to what we mean by Good and Bad and thus what we have to do.

Runes

Runes are more abstract concepts we pay attention to, which are not necessarily all good or all bad

There are many different runes but here are a few examples... Zurvan is the foundation of existence.
Gatus is the living world.
Urvan is soul.
Dolus is deception,trickery, fakery.

Aristomagi

The Aristomagi are the 'Outstanding Wise Ones' who we pay special attention to for the assistance they can give us. Five of these have canonical status as the foremost teachers of the Good and are called the Pentamagi (five magi). Their work forms the recommended foundation for our own individual struggle to understand the nature of life. The Pentamagi are Zoroaster, Gotama, Plato, Aristotle and Nietzsche

Special Days

Our main day of celebration is March 26th as 'Zartus Natus' or Zoroaster's birthday.

Many Agathists will also celebrate October 29th as 'Cyrus Day' - a time to think about good governance and good order on a world scale.