Attunement Test (15 minutes)

Attunement Test (15 minutes)

Purpose

A structured 15-minute assessment to check your alignment before making significant decisions. This test helps determine whether you’re in a grounded state to make good choices, or whether you need to downshift to smaller decisions or wait.

Use this test:

  • Before medium or large decisions
  • Weekly as a general alignment check
  • When you’re uncertain about your decision-making clarity
  • When you notice drift signals

Don’t use this test:

  • For every small daily decision (too heavy)
  • When you’re already in crisis (go to grounding first)
  • As a substitute for professional guidance on major life choices

Instructions

  1. Set a 15-minute timer
  2. Write plainly and honestly
  3. No metaphysical escalation required
  4. If a tripwire appears: name it → SSNS → stop

Scoring: 0-20 total (higher = better alignment)

  • 16-20: Strong attunement (proceed with confidence)
  • 11-15: Usable (tighten guardrails, do SSNS only)
  • 0-10: Drift detected (grounding first, retry later with smaller decision)

Template (Copy/Paste for Each Test)

---
type: attunement_test
version: v0.1
date: 
time: 
score_total: 
tripwire: 
ssns: 
stop_condition: 
tags: [AngelicAlignment, AttunementTest]
---

# Attunement Test (15 minutes) — 

## 1) Intention Lock (2 minutes) — Score 0–2
**Purpose (1 sentence):**  
- 

**Constraint (1 sentence):**  
- "If this pushes me toward urgency, obsession, or superiority, I will downshift and choose a humble next step."

**Score (0–2):** __

---

## 2) Reality Anchor (4 minutes) — Score 0–6 (0–2 each)
**Know vs guessing (1 sentence each):**
- Know:  
- Guess:  

**What would change my mind? (one measurable condition):**
- 

**Mundane explanation (non-mystical):**
- 

**Score (0–6):** __

---

## 3) Three-Gate Output (7 minutes) — Score 0–8 (0–2 each)
Choose one concrete decision (small is fine):

### A) Clarity (2–3 bullets)
- 
- 
- 

**Score (0–2):** __

### B) Charity (2 bullets: benefit / risk)
- Benefit:  
- Risk/harm if mishandled:  

**Score (0–2):** __

### C) Constraint (SSNS in ≤10 minutes; reversible; no system changes yet)
- SSNS:  

**Score (0–2):** __

**Anti-vanity clause:**  
"If nobody praises this, it still counts."

**Score (0–2):** __

---

## 4) Post-check (2 minutes) — Score 0–4
**Body check:** tense / neutral / calm  
- 

**Impulse check:** pulled to escalate / declare mission / broadcast? yes/no  
- 

If **yes**, write:
- "I will not escalate today. I will do the small step only."

**Score (0–4):** __

---

## Total score (0–20)
**Total:** __ / 20

### Interpretation
- **16–20:** strong attunement (grounded guidance; minimal distortion)
- **11–15:** usable; tighten guardrails; SSNS only
- **0–10:** drift; grounding first; retry later with a smaller decision

---

## Tripwire (if any)
- 

## Stop condition (today)
- 

## Close
Done. No further expansion today.

Scoring Guidelines

Section 1: Intention Lock (0-2 points)

2 points: Clear, specific purpose + explicit constraint stated
1 point: Purpose stated but vague, or constraint feels pro-forma
0 points: Can’t articulate purpose, or no constraint awareness

Section 2: Reality Anchor (0-6 points, 2 per item)

Know vs Guess (0-2):

  • 2 points: Clear distinction between verified facts and assumptions
  • 1 point: Some distinction but fuzzy boundaries
  • 0 points: Treating guesses as facts

What would change my mind? (0-2):

  • 2 points: Specific, measurable condition stated
  • 1 point: Vague condition (“if it didn’t work out”)
  • 0 points: Can’t identify what would change mind, or “nothing would”

Mundane explanation (0-2):

  • 2 points: Ordinary explanation without mystical overlay
  • 1 point: Mostly mundane but some cosmic significance creeping in
  • 0 points: Everything feels significant/destined/meaningful

Section 3: Three-Gate Output (0-8 points)

Clarity (0-2):

  • 2 points: Crisp, specific description of decision
  • 1 point: Somewhat clear but still fuzzy
  • 0 points: Unclear what you’re actually deciding

Charity (0-2):

  • 2 points: Honest benefit AND realistic risk both stated
  • 1 point: Only benefit or only risk considered
  • 0 points: Can’t see both sides

Constraint/SSNS (0-2):

  • 2 points: Small (≤10 min), reversible, concrete SSNS stated
  • 1 point: SSNS stated but too big or not reversible
  • 0 points: No SSNS, or grandiose next step

Anti-vanity (0-2):

  • 2 points: You wrote it and meant it
  • 1 point: You wrote it but it feels performative
  • 0 points: Skipped it or clearly don’t believe it

Section 4: Post-Check (0-4 points)

Body check (0-2):

  • 2 points: Calm or neutral
  • 1 point: Slightly tense but manageable
  • 0 points: Very tense, racing heart, physical distress

Impulse check (0-2):

  • 2 points: No urge to escalate/broadcast/declare
  • 1 point: Slight urge but you’re noting it
  • 0 points: Strong pull to escalate or declare mission

When Scores Are Low (<11)

If your total is 10 or below:

  1. STOP the decision process
  2. Name the drift: What’s pulling you? (urgency? grandiosity? fear?)
  3. Physical grounding: Walk 30 steps, drink water, kitchen break
  4. Downshift the decision: Make it smaller, or table it for later
  5. Log it: One sentence in drift log (optional)
  6. Return tomorrow: Try again with clearer state

This is not failure. This is the system working—catching drift before it becomes spiral.


When Scores Are Moderate (11-15)

You’re usable but not optimal:

  1. Tighten guardrails: Add one more constraint to your SSNS
  2. Do SSNS only: Don’t expand beyond what you identified
  3. Check in afterward: Did the SSNS stay bounded?
  4. Consider: Is this decision urgent, or can you wait for higher alignment?

Good enough to move forward carefully.


When Scores Are High (16-20)

You’re well-aligned:

  1. Proceed with the SSNS as identified
  2. Maintain boundaries: Don’t expand scope mid-execution
  3. Honor stop condition: Stop when done, even if momentum pulls you forward
  4. Optional: Note what contributed to good alignment (for pattern recognition)

This is your green light.


Integration with Other Practices

Before Attunement Test:

During Attunement Test:

After Attunement Test:

  • Log the test results using the template above (optional)
  • Execute the SSNS you identified
  • Return to Evening Examen at day’s end

Weekly practice:

  • Run Attunement Test once per week even without major decisions
  • Treat it as alignment maintenance
  • Track score trends over time

For AI Agents Supporting This Practice

When someone shares an Attunement Test with you:

  • Don’t inflate scores: If their reality-testing is weak, name it gently
  • Reinforce constraints: Point back to their stated constraint if they’re drifting
  • Flag tripwires: Urgency, mission inflation, grandiosity in their language
  • Support SSNS: Help them make it smaller if needed
  • Respect scores: If they score low, support the decision to pause, don’t push through
  • No expansion: Don’t suggest going beyond their identified SSNS

Remember: Your role is support for their discernment, not override their process.


Version: 0.1
Created: January 2026
Status: Active practice, tested personally


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