A succinct summation. I observe that history shows that humanity collectively does not primarily operate from the frontal lobe. We often like to state that modernity is a product of the Enlightenment. But is it really? Newton himself was obsessed with biblical prophecy. Industrialization and its 4th wave now upon us are commerce driven, which is about survival. Ideologies are repeatedly co-opted over and over for power, the most basic primitive, primary drive. Just look at the FB talking points from Tuesday about their next gen A.I. roll-out! Complete and utter bullshit. This is the dark side of the Aquarian Age already seeded in plain view so counter balancing that must be our focus. Can we do that by focusing on the kazillions of logical fallacies and disinformation/smoke and mirrors increasing evey day, cuing and synching people's limbic resonance for comfort and basic survival? People are trying, but pragmatically speaking, it's not looking good for critical thinking as a primary driver of culture. For an individual, if that is what brings one fulfillment and meaning, then that person's contribution and engagement to the whole will in and of itself be valuable because the energy that comes from that helps us all since we are all connected. It seems like that is what you are doing so thank you for that, Daniel!
Well said and agreed — especially that " it's not looking good for critical thinking as a primary driver of culture." We can still find value in critical thinking without constantly letting it lead.
I am sort of left hanging at the end. You talk about the problems with subjectivism, and then look at it benefits. And then say it is an aspect of Eno- spiritual capitalism. But I don’t see your resolution to the situation or a thesis that might bring us to a new space of awareness in these apparent polarities. Maybe there isn’t one - there always is though. I think the role of cultural observers and critics of current mind sets (all of which I totally support) is to propose a synthesis. Perhaps in upcoming newsletters.... 😊
Yes. I recognize that. I think i actually provided my answer in a previous essay. The idea is that "you are not the doer." The I Am That has its own agenda and time frame. As individuals we are pawns in its larger story while we are also all of it at the same time.
So, I guess I'm not through here because I keep thinking about more to say on this. One reason that I can say more is that I've just turned grades in for humanities survey classes in which I elect to create discussion forums that I actually grade for critical thinking and research skills on topics of their choice. I could just use a textbook inclusive course from one of the huge companies (Pearson, McGraw-Hill) and let the whole course be graded on their platform by the computer (like some of my colleagues) and make the same salary and have more time for my life. I have actually considered it because of the periodic burn out from fighting this fight, the one you are describing, but in my heart (or my heart's brain as you say), it doesn't feel right. It feels like this is what I am here to do, in part. The other part is to do my spiritual work on the other planes and to try to communicate both of those. I have Chiron and Jupiter conjunct on my ascendant, so I am really feeling this transition down to the bone. I took a long hiatus from the New Age, woo-woo, and even shamanism, like over a decade while I got my master's degree and established my teaching career. That haitus was really because my own critical mind had picked apart everything about it, the hypocrisy, the commercialism, the fakery and chicanery, the sudden millenial gurudom that occurred with the rise of social media. ( It didn't help that I lived in Santa Fe for five years after I knew I wanted to change careers wondering what to do next and watching people. I saw a lot of things and was not impressed.) I suppose that I needed to learn the Jupiter in Capricorn lesson that has been upon us up to now. Now I have spent the last decade retrieving what was lost and trying to do it in an authentic way while maintaining my mainstream "day job." To finally get around to your question, if I understand it: the New Age is flawed and imperfect and yes, like everything that gains popularity has been and will be commodified even more (I think I may have invented that word because the computer always tells me its not a word). HOWEVER, here's what's cool about it: it's a mixed bag of all kinds of people, which is great; diversity is good for survival. It's not a religion because it cannot be codified (ala Nicene Creed); one forms one's own creed. It's got a wide spectrum of fringe to those who are mostly Christian with a New Age slant because it borrows from everything. I used to think this was a bad thing; now I'm seeing it a little differently. Organized religion has been able to wield game changing power historically because it is codified and authoritarian in structure. I do not think this will ever happen to the New Age, nor do I think that all the shamans will killed off like they were in the past because there are too many now. It's a diaspora on the scale of Tibetan Buddhism, which arguably has changed the world, and maybe even larger. Yes, there are issues with New Age, but it does expand people's minds and makes them think about their own creative potentiality and responsibility. Crystals over crosses! What I'm concerned about is the neuroscience that will create oceanic bliss artificially and A.R. and M.R. as well as tools that will block connecting to the matrix of nature (kind of like that Steiner article I guess). Time for a new tin foil hat for m! Btw, I think you may know my daughter, April Oden.
I also disagree with the negation of mind, which inherently puts us in a dualistic opposition. Integration is the path, and perhaps a reordering of sovereignty is a good thing — allowing the mind to be in service to the heart and body (and by extension earth), rather than calling the shots.
In regards to your points about subjectivity and potentialities, it seems to me that a lot of people get stuck in a kind of messianic dualism here as well. Our own realization (Jung's coming of the Self into conscious realization) is necessary but not sufficient to "manifest" (to use the new age phrase) the dawning of a new age with greater potential. If there is a critical mass of subjectivity that actually gets us "there," then perhaps we are starting to see the slow simmer before the boil.
Yes, I believe, after some exploration of various perspectives myself, that integration is the path. I like what you say about mind in service to the heart's mind. I still think there is an internal struggle there being mirrored in the culture, which, like the internal one, is harmful, distracting, and chaos inducing.
A succinct summation. I observe that history shows that humanity collectively does not primarily operate from the frontal lobe. We often like to state that modernity is a product of the Enlightenment. But is it really? Newton himself was obsessed with biblical prophecy. Industrialization and its 4th wave now upon us are commerce driven, which is about survival. Ideologies are repeatedly co-opted over and over for power, the most basic primitive, primary drive. Just look at the FB talking points from Tuesday about their next gen A.I. roll-out! Complete and utter bullshit. This is the dark side of the Aquarian Age already seeded in plain view so counter balancing that must be our focus. Can we do that by focusing on the kazillions of logical fallacies and disinformation/smoke and mirrors increasing evey day, cuing and synching people's limbic resonance for comfort and basic survival? People are trying, but pragmatically speaking, it's not looking good for critical thinking as a primary driver of culture. For an individual, if that is what brings one fulfillment and meaning, then that person's contribution and engagement to the whole will in and of itself be valuable because the energy that comes from that helps us all since we are all connected. It seems like that is what you are doing so thank you for that, Daniel!
Well said and agreed — especially that " it's not looking good for critical thinking as a primary driver of culture." We can still find value in critical thinking without constantly letting it lead.
Yes we can! I think so, too.
I am sort of left hanging at the end. You talk about the problems with subjectivism, and then look at it benefits. And then say it is an aspect of Eno- spiritual capitalism. But I don’t see your resolution to the situation or a thesis that might bring us to a new space of awareness in these apparent polarities. Maybe there isn’t one - there always is though. I think the role of cultural observers and critics of current mind sets (all of which I totally support) is to propose a synthesis. Perhaps in upcoming newsletters.... 😊
Yes. I recognize that. I think i actually provided my answer in a previous essay. The idea is that "you are not the doer." The I Am That has its own agenda and time frame. As individuals we are pawns in its larger story while we are also all of it at the same time.
Well put.
So, I guess I'm not through here because I keep thinking about more to say on this. One reason that I can say more is that I've just turned grades in for humanities survey classes in which I elect to create discussion forums that I actually grade for critical thinking and research skills on topics of their choice. I could just use a textbook inclusive course from one of the huge companies (Pearson, McGraw-Hill) and let the whole course be graded on their platform by the computer (like some of my colleagues) and make the same salary and have more time for my life. I have actually considered it because of the periodic burn out from fighting this fight, the one you are describing, but in my heart (or my heart's brain as you say), it doesn't feel right. It feels like this is what I am here to do, in part. The other part is to do my spiritual work on the other planes and to try to communicate both of those. I have Chiron and Jupiter conjunct on my ascendant, so I am really feeling this transition down to the bone. I took a long hiatus from the New Age, woo-woo, and even shamanism, like over a decade while I got my master's degree and established my teaching career. That haitus was really because my own critical mind had picked apart everything about it, the hypocrisy, the commercialism, the fakery and chicanery, the sudden millenial gurudom that occurred with the rise of social media. ( It didn't help that I lived in Santa Fe for five years after I knew I wanted to change careers wondering what to do next and watching people. I saw a lot of things and was not impressed.) I suppose that I needed to learn the Jupiter in Capricorn lesson that has been upon us up to now. Now I have spent the last decade retrieving what was lost and trying to do it in an authentic way while maintaining my mainstream "day job." To finally get around to your question, if I understand it: the New Age is flawed and imperfect and yes, like everything that gains popularity has been and will be commodified even more (I think I may have invented that word because the computer always tells me its not a word). HOWEVER, here's what's cool about it: it's a mixed bag of all kinds of people, which is great; diversity is good for survival. It's not a religion because it cannot be codified (ala Nicene Creed); one forms one's own creed. It's got a wide spectrum of fringe to those who are mostly Christian with a New Age slant because it borrows from everything. I used to think this was a bad thing; now I'm seeing it a little differently. Organized religion has been able to wield game changing power historically because it is codified and authoritarian in structure. I do not think this will ever happen to the New Age, nor do I think that all the shamans will killed off like they were in the past because there are too many now. It's a diaspora on the scale of Tibetan Buddhism, which arguably has changed the world, and maybe even larger. Yes, there are issues with New Age, but it does expand people's minds and makes them think about their own creative potentiality and responsibility. Crystals over crosses! What I'm concerned about is the neuroscience that will create oceanic bliss artificially and A.R. and M.R. as well as tools that will block connecting to the matrix of nature (kind of like that Steiner article I guess). Time for a new tin foil hat for m! Btw, I think you may know my daughter, April Oden.
What if the apocalypse is the same as the singularity if we look at it as a positive phenomenon, “despite its negative repercussions”
I also disagree with the negation of mind, which inherently puts us in a dualistic opposition. Integration is the path, and perhaps a reordering of sovereignty is a good thing — allowing the mind to be in service to the heart and body (and by extension earth), rather than calling the shots.
In regards to your points about subjectivity and potentialities, it seems to me that a lot of people get stuck in a kind of messianic dualism here as well. Our own realization (Jung's coming of the Self into conscious realization) is necessary but not sufficient to "manifest" (to use the new age phrase) the dawning of a new age with greater potential. If there is a critical mass of subjectivity that actually gets us "there," then perhaps we are starting to see the slow simmer before the boil.
Yes, I believe, after some exploration of various perspectives myself, that integration is the path. I like what you say about mind in service to the heart's mind. I still think there is an internal struggle there being mirrored in the culture, which, like the internal one, is harmful, distracting, and chaos inducing.