This handbook is dedicated to the memory of Lyra Nem (1996-2026). Without the community it was a pivotal part of, lipu linluwi pona would not exist. May it walk in dreams.

Preface

lipu linluwi pona is a handbook that we’ve written for new plural folk who’ve begun to discover their own plurality, or are struggling with their plurality and need help with understanding themselves.

linluwi (󿵬, or sometimes 󿮥) is an uncommon toki pona word relating to connection. In particular, it relates to the concepts of connectedness and weaving; here, lipu linluwi pona 󱲄󿵬󱲔 means “a guide to a good connection”. In its original form, linluwi 󿵬 primarily referred to the Internet, and it’s also apt here; it’s only with the advancement of the internet where awareness of plurality have started to grow, from the Dreamwidth forums to the central resource of plurality run by Zyfron and LB Lee at healthymultiplicity.com.

Constant Companions is a reference to the Jamie Paige album of the same name. Much of the 󱤟 Pleiadesfolk’s syscovery (system discovery) were done to the themes of Constant Companions, which, like many plural transfeminine folk out there, seems rather… cliché; we think, sincerely, that Jamie Paige has been responsible for many around us finally understanding their selves and becoming selves aware.

toki pona will feature a lot in The Constant Companions Handbook, in particular the headnoun kulupu (󱤟), which means group. You can read more about headnouns here. Don’t worry, you don’t need to understand toki pona to read this guide; translations will be provided!

The Constant Companions Handbook builds on a series of research and work done by previous plural folk — from Zyfron, LB Lee, the Vicki(s), and others.

On top of that, the handbook will add a lot of our own personal experience and experiences helping others discover their own plurality and be selves-aware.

This handbook will also include essays about plurality and living as a plural system in the world.

The Constant Companions Handbook is primarily written by the 󱤟 Pleiadesfolk (󱤑 Lyra, 󱤎 Caitlyn, 󱤑 Kimberly, 󱤎 Ryn, 󱥤 Riley, 󱥗 Merope et al.), with contributions from 󱤟󱤘󱤳󱥫 Kemeten (Jeanne, Anise, Muffin, Kimmy, Reis et al.) and others.

Copyediting was done by 󱤎 Catherine Cowie, with the 󱤟 Cheerleaders providing coding support.

We hope that, through this handbook, you can build a good connection between selves, and a good relationship with your constant companions.

Happy reading!