diff --git a/csys/csys.lisp b/csys/csys.lisp
index 43d286c..7479b6a 100644
--- a/csys/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys/csys.lisp
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
                     (:shape :scopes/shape)
                     (:util :scopes/util)
                     (:alx :alexandria))
-  (:export #:scope #:environ
+  (:export #:*domain*
+           #:scope #:environ
            #:make-program #:create-zero
            #:neuron #:std-proc #:eff-proc
            #:handle-action #:basic-actions #:forward #:notify
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@
 
 (in-package :scopes/csys)
 
+(defvar *domain* :csys)
+
 ;;;; scope: information a neuron has access to
 
 (defclass scope ()
@@ -192,7 +195,7 @@
 (defun send-message (cell head data)
   (actor:send cell (message:create head :data data)))
 
-(defun send-create (cell &rest args &key (domain :csys) 
+(defun send-create (cell &rest args &key (domain *domain*) 
                          (cat :c00) loc connect op &allow-other-keys)
   (let ((args+ (if loc 
                  `(:addr ,(list domain cat loc))
@@ -200,7 +203,7 @@
     (setf args (alx:remove-from-plist args :domain :cat :loc))
     (send-message cell (list domain :create) (append args+ args))))
 
-(defun send-connect (cell target &key op (domain :csys))
+(defun send-connect (cell target &key op (domain *domain*))
   (send-message cell (list domain :connect) (list :target target :op op)))
 
 (defun printer ()
diff --git a/csys/environ.lisp b/csys/environ.lisp
index da06583..4ce754c 100644
--- a/csys/environ.lisp
+++ b/csys/environ.lisp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 (defun simple-setup (cfg)
   (destructuring-bind (prg &key (zero-cat :c00) eff-contacts) cfg
     (let ((env (create #'simple-proc (csys:printer) :eff-contacts eff-contacts)))
-      (csys:create-zero prg env :categ (list :csys zero-cat))
+      (csys:create-zero prg env :categ (list csys:*domain* zero-cat))
       env)))
 
 (defun simple-proc (msg scope)
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@
 
 ;;;; public shortcuts
 
-(defun send-value (cat-loc val &key (domain :csys) (env *env*))
+(defun send-value (cat-loc val &key (domain csys:*domain*) (env *env*))
   (let ((head (cons domain (cons :value cat-loc))))
     (actor:send env (message:create head :data `(:value ,val)))))
 
-(defun send-connect (env &rest args &key (domain :csys) addr to target op)
+(defun send-connect (env &rest args &key (domain csys:*domain*) addr to target op)
   (let ((head (list domain :connect))) 
     (actor:send env (message:create head :data args))))