You may have heard of Cicada 3301—a mysterious internet puzzle known for its cryptic messages, hidden codes, and philosophical depth. At the heart of that mystery is a strange and poetic book called the Liber Primus, Latin for The First Book.
The Liber Primus doesn’t read like a normal book. It uses ancient symbols, unusual spelling, and riddles that challenge how we see ourselves and the world. It talks about struggle, self-transformation, and the illusion of modern life.
So why are we talking about it on Runarbo?
Because this strange book critiques many of the same things we face today:
- A world built on overconsumption
- The belief that we must always own more to be secure
- The confusion between who we are and what we buy
At Runarbo, we believe the answers to these problems begin with clarity—about the products we use, the systems we follow, and the choices we make. The Liber Primus asks deep questions. We’re here to help you explore them in everyday life.
The Great Journey Toward the End of All Things
The Liber Primus begins with the words:
“WELCOME PILGRIM TO THE GREAT JOVRNEY TOWARD THE END OF ALL THNGS.”
It sounds dramatic, but it’s not about the end of the world. It’s about the end of illusions—especially the illusion that consuming more will make us whole.
At Runarbo, we see this “great journey” as an invitation to look inward.
In a world that tells us to always buy more, choosing to consume less can feel like swimming against the current. But it’s not deprivation—it’s a kind of refinement, like polishing a stone or pruning a tree.
The Liber Primus compares this inner transformation to an instar—a stage in a cicada’s life. The instar lives underground, slowly growing, before finally tunneling to the surface and shedding its old form. Only then does it emerge into the light.
We believe that’s what sustainable living is about:
Letting go of what we don’t need, shedding layers of excess, and emerging into a more meaningful, intentional way of life.
The Lie of Not Having Enough
In the Liber Primus, there’s a section called “CONSVMPTIAN” that challenges the way we think about stuff. It says we consume too much because we believe two big lies:
- We don’t have enough.
- We won’t be strong enough later to get what we need.
Sound familiar?
These ideas are everywhere—in ads, on social media, in how products are sold. We’re told: Buy it now, before it’s gone. Upgrade or fall behind. You need this to keep up. But in most cases, it’s just not true.
This is how planned obsolescence works. Products are made to break or feel outdated quickly, so we keep buying. Scarcity marketing creates panic: limited-time offers, one-day sales, countdown timers. It all feeds the false idea that if we don’t consume now, we’ll regret it.
The truth is, most things aren’t worth consuming. We don’t need more—we need better thinking about what actually serves us and the planet. At Runarbo, we help cut through this noise. Because when you can see the lie, you can stop feeding it.
Preservation and Clinging to Stuff
In the Liber Primus, “PRESERVATIAN” is described as another deception. It says we hold on to things because we’re afraid:
“If I lose this, I might not be strong enough to get it back.”
This fear shows up in all kinds of ways—hoarding, overfilling our closets, keeping broken gadgets “just in case.” But instead of making us feel secure, all that stuff can weigh us down. It clutters our homes, our minds, and the planet.
At Runarbo, we believe in durability, but not in attachment.
Durability means having something that lasts—not something you cling to out of fear, but something that frees you from needing to buy more later.
Letting go doesn’t mean losing value. It means trusting that what you truly need will stay with you—and that you’re strong enough to choose again, wisely and with purpose.
Who Are You Without What You Consume?
One of the most powerful parts of the Liber Primus is a riddle—a koan—that asks again and again:
“Who are you who wishes to study here?”
At first, the student answers with his name.
Then his job.
Then his species.
But none of those are who he truly is.
It’s a question worth asking today—especially in a world where we’re told to define ourselves by what we buy, what we wear, and what we do for work. Our identity is often tied to the brands we follow, the tech we use, or the lifestyle we try to show online.
But sustainability asks us to go deeper.
You are not just a consumer.
You are a caretaker.
A creator.
A conscious being capable of shaping the world.
At Runarbo, we believe the path to real change starts with that question:
Who are you, really—when you stop defining yourself by what you consume?
Amass Great Wealth… and Be Ready to Destroy It
The Liber Primus offers a bold piece of advice:
“Amass great wealth. Never become attached to what you own. Be prepared to destroy all that you own.”
It sounds extreme—but it’s really about freedom.
In a world where we’re taught to collect, upgrade, and protect our stuff at all costs, this message challenges us to let go of attachment. It’s not saying you shouldn’t have anything. It’s saying that owning something is not the same as being owned by it.
Real sustainability isn’t just about picking the “greenest” product—it’s about questioning whether you need the product at all. It’s about building a life where value isn’t tied to things, but to clarity, usefulness, and purpose.
Minimalism isn’t emptiness. It’s space.
It’s a life where you can own something—and still walk away from it if needed.
That’s real power. And real sustainability.
Program Your Mind. Program Reality.
The Liber Primus reminds us that consumption isn’t only about stuff.
We also consume ideas, beliefs, media, and expectations—sometimes without even noticing.
Every day, we take in messages about what we should want, who we should be, and what success looks like. Over time, these messages shape our reality. They become the voice in our heads that says, “I need more,” or “I’m not enough without this.”
The book says:
“The I is the voice of the circumference.”
That voice you hear inside isn’t always you. It’s often the product of your surroundings—culture, advertising, fear. But once you recognize it, you can start to change it.
Sustainability starts in the mind.
By thinking intentionally—by questioning what we believe and why—we can reprogram that voice. We can shift from “I consume, therefore I am” to something deeper:
“I care, I choose, I create.”
That’s the kind of reality worth building.
The Instar
The Liber Primus ends with a powerful image:
“Lice the instar tunneling to the surface…”
An instar is a young cicada, living underground in the dark for years before it finally climbs upward, sheds its old skin, and transforms into something new.
This is more than just a bug—it’s a metaphor for change.
To live sustainably isn’t just about buying eco-friendly products. It’s about going inward, asking hard questions, and letting go of habits and beliefs that no longer serve us.
It’s about shedding layers of fear, waste, and noise—and then emerging lighter, clearer, and stronger.
At Runarbo, we’re not here to make consumption look better.
We’re here to ask what’s really worth consuming at all.
Because in the end, it’s not about better buying.
It’s about better being.
Conclusion
The Liber Primus may be wrapped in mystery, but its message is clear:
To find truth, we must question what we consume—not just in our hands, but in our minds.
At Runarbo, we believe the journey toward sustainability isn’t just about choosing better products. It’s about becoming better people—people who pause, reflect, and let go of what no longer serves us.
When we stop defining ourselves by what we own, we make space for something deeper: clarity, responsibility, and transformation.
Consume less. Choose wisely. Live fully.
Because consuming is not meaning.
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