Members
If you just want to learn about who is apart of the system, skip down to the bottom.
Plurality
Plurality is the existence of multiple self-aware entities inside one physical brain. You could think of a plural collective as a group of lifelong roommates, but with a body instead of an apartment.
Continuing from the quote, this "plural collective" is referred to as a plural system or just simply a system. Some systems have high continuity of memory while others have more partitioned memory. Each member (or entity) within a system is referred to as a headmate / alter / member (we personally use headmate).
The headmate who is currently controlling the body is called the fronter and is fronting (and is at the front). Switching whomever is in front is referred to as switching and it may take a few seconds/minutes or longer, depending on the system. Some systems may have control over this process while others do not. In some cases it may be unclear or unknown who exactly is in front.
Plurality is tied closely to disassociation, the experience involving losing some level of awareness of the outside world.
With all of this stated, Sylvia Ivory is a plural collective, composed of seven different headmates.
Helpful Terminology
Helpfully taken from morethanone.info
System (or collective): The plural group that resides within a single brain.
Fronting: When an individual controls the collective's shared physical body, sometimes called the "front".
Singlet: Someone who is not plural. One being in one brain.
Switching: When collective members exchange control over the front.
Etiquette
This section will address how to be respectful when addressing or interacting with us.
Name
If you know who is at front, then use their name. Otherwise, you should use the name "Sylvia" or "Ivory," or ask who is at front.
Pronouns
We generally like to use plural pronouns when talking (although we may use singular when it's clearer). When addressing the collective as a whole, use "y'all" or some other way to indicate so as "you" would only address the individual fronter.
As for third person pronouns, when referring to an individual member, use that members preferred pronouns. When referring to the collective (Sylvia Ivory), use she/her or they/them.
Other
Don't ask to speak to a specific headmate (unless there is a good reason). It's kinda annoying. Also don't ask to speak to "the real one" considering that we are all real. Asking for the original also doesn't work, consider the timeline on the members page.
Finally, we're open to answering any question that is asked in good faith.
Members
Welcome to the member description pages! There are in total seven of us who make up the Vineyard.
The views expressed on these pages are the members alone and may not necessarily reflect the views of Sylvia Ivory / the Vineyard as a whole