skeists

Skeists are adherents of skeism, a fictional philosophical and artistic movement focused on the idea that reality consists of skeins—interwoven threads of possibility that become actual through conscious attention, intention, and collaborative practice. In this article, skeism is treated as a constructed concept within speculative fiction and creative communities.

The term skeist derives from skein, a length of thread, used metaphorically for interconnected potential states. Core metaphors include weaving, threading, and untangling, with an emphasis on how small choices ripple through a network of possibilities.

The concept emerged in online speculative-fiction circles in the early 2020s, spreading through zines, forums, tabletop role-playing games, and collaborative storytelling projects. It lacks formal doctrine and tends to evolve through informal exchanges and joint creative efforts.

Skeists study the structure of possibilities and how actions select among them. Practice often includes journaling, small-group exercises, collaborative storytelling, and ritualized “weaving sessions.” Members may use artistic media such as drawing, knitting, or sculpture as symbolic acts, reinforcing themes of connection, contingency, and transformation. The movement emphasizes curiosity, experimentation, and ethical collaboration.

Skeists are loosely organized into local collectives, often called looms or circles, with rotating facilitators. There is no central authority or universal creed; interpretations and rituals vary by community, allowing for diverse expressions of skeism in different contexts.

Reception of skeism is mixed in broader culture. In speculative-fiction and art circles, it is read as a metaphorical framework for exploring possibility and choice rather than a scientific theory. Critics highlight its vagueness and potential for over-interpretation, while proponents value its inclusive, creativity-driven approach to meaning.