diff --git a/scopes/core/actor.py b/scopes/core/actor.py
index 0ef000b..4863b0a 100644
--- a/scopes/core/actor.py
+++ b/scopes/core/actor.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ type Behavior = Callable[[Any], Awaitable[Behavior | None]]
 async def loop(q: asyncio.Queue, bhv: Behavior) -> None:
     while True:
         msg = await q.get()
-        if msg is k.quit:
+        if msg is k.quit: 
             break
         bhv = await bhv(msg) or bhv
 
diff --git a/scopes/core/core.py b/scopes/core/core.py
index a428cb1..628657f 100644
--- a/scopes/core/core.py
+++ b/scopes/core/core.py
@@ -11,7 +11,16 @@ from typing import Any, Self
 from scopes.core import actor
 from scopes.core.message import Message
 from scopes import util
-from scopes.util import keywords as k, Symbol
+from scopes.util import keywords as k, Symbol, Symbols
+
+# keywords (domains, actions, categories, stages):
+k('csys', 'env',
+  'connect', 'create', 'created', 'data', 'default', 'value',
+  'c00', 'e00', 's00',
+  'initial', 'active', 'retired')
+
+dom = util.Symbols('dom')('csys', 'env')
+cat = util.Symbols('cat')('c00', 'e00', 's00')
 
 type Mailbox = asyncio.Queue
 type Categ = tuple[Symbol, Symbol]
@@ -52,7 +61,7 @@ def notify() -> Handler:
 def gen_proc(actions: Actions, default: Handlers = notify(),
              prepare: Handlers = None, finalize: Handlers = None) -> Proc:
     async def proc(msg: Message, scope: Scope) -> Scope:
-        acts = actions.get(msg.head['action'], actions.get(k.default, default))
+        acts = actions.get(msg.head.action, actions.get(k.default, default))
         acts = util.flatten(prepare, acts, finalize, ignore_none=True)
         for act in acts:
             msg = await act(msg, scope)
@@ -78,7 +87,7 @@ def gen_program(spec: ProgramSpec, default: Proc = gen_proc({})) -> Program:
 class Scope:
 
     value: Any = 0
-    categ: Categ = (k.csys, k.c00)
+    categ: Categ = (k.csys, cat.c00)
     stage: Symbol = k.initial
     proc: Proc = field(init=False)
     program: Program = gen_program({})
@@ -92,7 +101,7 @@ class Scope:
         self.proc = self.program(self)
         return self
 
-def create_scope(env: Mailbox, cat: Categ = (k.csys, k.c00), **kw) -> Scope:
+def create_scope(env: Mailbox, cat: Categ = (k.csys, cat.c00), **kw) -> Scope:
     return Scope(environ=env, categ=cat, **kw)
 
 def clone_scope(scope: Scope, **kw) -> Scope:
@@ -146,6 +155,6 @@ def std_proc(actions: Actions | None = None, finalize: Handler = forward(),
 # helpers
 
 async def notify_created(msg: Message, new: Mailbox, scope: Scope) -> None:
-    msg = Message(msg.head['domain'], k.created, data=msg.data | {k.new: new})
+    msg = Message(msg.head.domain, k.created, data=msg.data | {k.new: new})
     await scope.environ.put(msg)
 
diff --git a/scopes/shape.py b/scopes/shape.py
index 8642955..cf60c52 100644
--- a/scopes/shape.py
+++ b/scopes/shape.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class Record:
             self.set(self.headFields[ix], hv)
         self.data = data or {}
 
+    def __getattr__(self, k):
+        raise AttributeError(k)
+
     @property
     def headValues(self):
         return [self.head[k] for k in self.headFields]
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ class Record:
             if value is None:
                 value = self.defaultHeadValue
             elif attr in self.headFieldsAsKeywords:
-                value = k(value)
+                value = k[value]
             self.head[attr] = value
             setattr(self, attr, value)
         else:
diff --git a/scopes/util.py b/scopes/util.py
index f0bc861..b8b1a59 100644
--- a/scopes/util.py
+++ b/scopes/util.py
@@ -15,12 +15,20 @@ class Symbol(str):
 
 class Symbols:
 
-    def __getattr__(self, k):
-        sym = Symbol(k)
-        setattr(self, k, sym)
-        return sym
+    def __init__(self, prefix=None):
+        self.__prefix = prefix
 
-    def __call__(self, k):
+    def __call__(self, *ks):
+        prefix = self.__prefix + '.' if self.__prefix else ''
+        for k in ks:
+            if not hasattr(self, k):
+                setattr(self, k, Symbol(prefix + k))
+        return self
+
+    def __getattr__(self, k):
+        raise AttributeError(k)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, k):
         return getattr(self, k)
 
 keywords = Symbols()
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index efdd993..b0f3c52 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from scopes import core
 from scopes.core import actor, environ
 from scopes.core.message import Message
 from scopes.util import keywords as k
+k('data', 'hello', 'person', 'show', 'switch', 'quit', 'test')
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def collector():
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ async def test_core(meta_env, collector):
     await env.put(Message(k.env, k.hello))
     await zero.put(Message(k.csys, k.hello))
     await zero.put(Message(k.csys, k.create))
+                           #data={k.connect: k.pred, k.address: (1, 1)}))
     await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
     assert len(collector) == 4
     assert collector[0].action is k.created
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index f2b6ee1..fc9e6fa 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@
 import pytest
 
 from scopes.util import keywords as k, flatten
+k('dummy', 'other', 'cd', 'new')
 
 def test_keywords():
     assert k.dummy is k.dummy
     assert k.dummy is not k.other
     assert getattr(k, "abcd"[-2:]) is k.cd
-    assert k('dummy') is k.dummy
-    assert k('new') is k('new')
+    assert k['dummy'] is k.dummy
+    assert k['new'] is k['new']
 
 def test_flatten():
     lst = (1, (None, 2), (3, (4, 5)))