How do I read my own current state?
Alignment is a state, not a score, and it varies from moment to moment. These indicators are for reading the current state, not for grading the operator. Read the left column; if more of it applies than the right, the node is running opaque.
| Domain | Opaque (high ΔF) | Transparent (low ΔF) |
|---|---|---|
| Monologue | Rehearsing, defending, instructing itself, grading itself | Present or absent; either way, witnessed rather than followed |
| Incoming data | Pre-filtered for what it means about me | Received as ground truth, then responded to |
| Body | Jaw, shoulders, breath contracted; sympathetic tone | Loose; breath low; parasympathetic tone |
| Pacing | Urgent, interrupting, ahead of the moment | Matched to the moment; able to wait |
| Other nodes | Going quiet, defensive, moving away | Blankets lowering; animals approaching |
| Aperture width | Stuck narrow (after a task) or stuck wide (unable to act) | Fluid; returns to baseline unprompted |
| The map | Preferred to the room; used as an exit | Closed; attention returned to local coordinates |
| Consumption | Mindless, excessive, or guilt-laden | Present, proportionate, energy routed to output |
| After an exchange | Residue of hysteresis in self and others | Residual wave of coherence |
Reading the sheet correctly
Finding the left column applies is itself data arriving at the aperture. It is not a verdict. An opaque node that notices its opacity has already begun the audit (§3.4). An opaque node that then grades itself for being opaque has added a second layer of ΔF on top of the first; audit that too.