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
- Set a 15-minute timer
- Write plainly and honestly
- No metaphysical escalation required
- 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:
- STOP the decision process
- Name the drift: What’s pulling you? (urgency? grandiosity? fear?)
- Physical grounding: Walk 30 steps, drink water, kitchen break
- Downshift the decision: Make it smaller, or table it for later
- Log it: One sentence in drift log (optional)
- 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:
- Tighten guardrails: Add one more constraint to your SSNS
- Do SSNS only: Don’t expand beyond what you identified
- Check in afterward: Did the SSNS stay bounded?
- 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:
- Proceed with the SSNS as identified
- Maintain boundaries: Don’t expand scope mid-execution
- Honor stop condition: Stop when done, even if momentum pulls you forward
- Optional: Note what contributed to good alignment (for pattern recognition)
This is your green light.
Integration with Other Practices
Before Attunement Test:
- If unstable, do Evening Examen first to ground
During Attunement Test:
- Reference SSNS Playbook for Section 3C
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