The Romanist Society Is Changing

and What Comes Next

Hey everyone,

I wanted to take a minute to explain some of the changes happening with the Romanist Society and where things are headed. I’ve been reflecting on where we’ve been over the last few years, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and more importantly, what people are actually looking for when they find us.

I’m rolling out a new direction that I think will be healthier, more sustainable, and a better reflection of the kind of people we’ve been attracting. If you’ve been wondering what’s going on with the Discord, the Substack, or some of the other content, this is the reason why.

Why the Shift?

Let me start with this: most of the people who connect with us aren’t necessarily looking for a new religion.

They already have a basic idea of what they believe. What they’re coming to us for is guidance on Platonism; how to live it, how to understand it, how to practice it. The explicitly Orphic and religious elements of the Romanist Society have been valuable to some, but they’re not the starting point for most people. That’s something I’ve come to recognize clearly.

At the same time, more and more of us are seeking a genuine community in the real world. I’ve seen many friends join an Orthodox or Catholic church, not because they are convinced of the theology, but just to have a community. I believe this sort of thing will continue until we can present real, in-person communities that are easily accessible.

We can’t afford to wait around anymore. If we really believe this tradition is valuable, then we need to start building communities now. Offline. In the real world.

Introducing: Platonic Path

So here’s what’s new.

We’re launching something called Platonic Path. This is going to be the new face of our outreach and local organizing. It’s a Platonically focused path open to anyone drawn to this worldview. Whether you're a Romanist, a Norse heathen, a Hellenist, or none of the above, this is a space to explore the Platonic tradition together.

It’s about philosophy, contemplation, myth, virtue, and sacred practice. It’s the walk-before-you-run version of what we’ve been doing. The goal is to get people familiar with the basics of Platonism first, and from there, some will naturally be drawn into deeper practice and potentially into the more esoteric aspects of Romanism. And that path will still be there.

But this way, we don’t make the gate too narrow. We cast a net wide enough to include serious seekers, without compromising the core.

Romanist Society: Going Esoteric

The Romanist Society isn’t going anywhere. But it’s going to become more esoteric, more focused on the inner work, initiations, the mysteries, and the Orphic heart of the tradition.

That doesn’t mean secrecy for the sake of secrecy but some things are best discovered, not marketed. If someone’s truly called to the deeper path with us, they’ll seek it out. And we’ll be there.

Community Structure

Here’s how this is going to play out practically:

• Substack will be renamed to just my name. It’ll have sections for Platonic Path, Romanist Society, and anything else we develop over time.

• Discord will be rebranded as Platonic Path. There’ll still be a Romanist section (formerly the “catechumen” channel) for those walking that road.

• Telegram groups will become the local organizing tool. Missoula’s already set up. If you want to start one in your town, reach out. I’ll help.

• Podia (where the Romanist catechism lived) is being retired. I’ll rework that content into a book and/or Substack series.

• Website will stay up but become more symbolic and mysterious. More esoteric in tone. Less of a front-facing brand, more of a beacon to those who are already looking.

• YouTube will still have The Romanist Society as well as my personal channel, which will be my primary. I’ll repost most content on Substack.

What These Communities Will Look Like

This isn’t just a study group. Think of it like a Platonic church community. Yes, we’ll read Plato, but more importantly, we’ll practice through meditation, prayer, contemplation, and simple ritual using the principles already laid out in Ascesis. We’ll focus on real transformation, not just intellectual stimulation.

The core mission of Platonic Path is this:

A community dedicated to the ascent of the soul through philosophy, contemplation, and sacred practice rooted in the Platonic tradition.

And our convictions will be simple:

• Reality has structure. It’s not chaos. It’s ordered by intelligible principles, leading back to the One.

• The soul is real and carries the divine spark.

• Ascent is possible through purification, contemplation, and virtue.

We’ll emphasize pluralism, but rooted in tradition. Greco-Roman metaphysics will serve as our shared language, but local groups may have their own expressions, such as Norse, Hellenic, Roman, and heterodox Christian traditions. That’s fine. The point is that the center holds.

We’ll avoid identity politics and ideological extremes, left or right. This is not a culture war project. It’s a project of inner transformation.

Want to Start a Local Group?

If you’re interested in starting a Platonic Path group in your area, get in touch. I’ve already created flyers, established a basic structure, and I’m refining what works and what doesn’t here in Missoula. I’ll help you get yours off the ground.

Think of it as a slow, steady grassroots network of living Platonic communities.

Thanks for reading. None of this is disappearing. The heart of what we’re doing remains the same. This represents a more focused approach.

Let’s build something real.

Eric