It started with curiosity. There is no better first step. Before you take any leaps into the unknown, let’s discuss what you can expect.
What are The Grey Robes?
The Grey Robes is a fraternal order—a doctrinal siblinghood—whose mission is to move the world's people toward a consent-based social order.
Some have described us as the “Freemasons of Decentralization.”
That Mission connects to eleven other vectors, which are:
Mystery. Life, the universe, and our inner worlds are sources of wonder.
Mission. We’re dedicated to bringing about a global consent-based order.
Morality. We commit ourselves to the virtues and the eschewal of vices.
Means. We employ means such as subversive communication and innovation.
Meaning. We will make meaning even where there is none to be found.
—Mutuality. We expect you to stand strong, but we will lift you when you fall.
Mastery. We will improve until we die.
Metamorphosis. We embrace continual change and growth.
Memory. We honor our roots while planting seeds for the future.
Malevolence. We stand vigilant against those who would control us.
Mortality. We number our days to make them count.
Mythos. We craft new stories for an empire of the mind.
The first five listed above compose The Grey Robes Inaugural Course.
Underthrow / The Grey Robes: What’s the difference?
Underthrow is a substack publication founded by Max Borders. It can be thought of as exoteric or knowledge crafted for the public. The Grey Robes is esoteric, a fraternal order rooted in doctrine and practices that bind us in solidarity.
What are my options?
If you want to become a paid Underthrow subscriber ($60/year), you will automatically receive The Grey Robes Inaugural Course. The course includes five 1-hour, 15-minute sessions—a good way to see if The Grey Robes suits you.
If you want to become a Grey Robes member ($120/year), you’ll gain access to all Grey Robes online meetings and groups and 50% off future in-person events. The Grey Robes will begin meeting online in June 2024.
If you want to start a Grey Robes chapter after spending time as a member, you might want to become a warden or master. Grey Robes’ chapters need both the warden (leader) and master (priest) roles. Start as one, recruit the other. If you’re considering starting a chapter, contact me directly to explore.
Founding Grey Robes
Max Borders
Max Borders is the author of The Social Singularity (2018) and The Decentralist (2021). His latest book is called Underthrow (2023). Currently, he is working on two major projects: a cosmopolitan constitution designed to catalyze the age of open-source law and launch a global fraternal society.
Alexander Bard
Alexander Bard is a philosopher and futurologist based in Stockholm, Sweden. He has authored six books—The Netocrats, The Global Empire, The Body Machines, Syntheism, Digital Libido, and Process and Event—all with his co-author Jan Söderqvist. Bard has also enjoyed a highly successful 25-year career in the international music industry. He is also known as the toughest judge on the TV shows Swedish Idol and Sweden's Got Talent.
Andrew Sweeny
Andrew Sweeny is a writer, editor, podcaster, published poet, musician, and teacher. As well as serving as a mentor, Sweeny is an editor at Parallax magazine and a teacher at Sciences Po University in Paris, France. Sweeny has spent twenty-five years practicing different forms of Buddhist meditation, including Zen and Vajrayana. Before developing his own syncretic form, he studied family constellations, Gestalt therapy, breathwork, and other practices.
Raven Connolly
Raven Connolly has been described as a “digital socialite” and a “philosopher queen.” She travels Europe and America, exploring and networking with the various underground subcultures of the avant-garde, hippy, and tech scenes. She sometimes hosts Peter Limberg’s Stoa and works as a facilitator with the Nordic Women’s Gathering. She is a former student of Bret Weinstein.
Owen Cox
Owen Cox is a writer and artist based in London. He is co-director of Dark Renaissance Productions and a media and network consultant for digital startup founders.
Paul Forest
Paul Forest is a visionary who has dedicated his life to unraveling the mechanics of reality. At the core of Paul’s philosophy is the belief that human nature mirrors the systems we create. His path led him to become a pioneer in optimizing information flows within the Google Search ecosystem. Later, this evolved into creating AI-enabled telepathic networks, which aim to enhance human coordination on an unprecedented scale.