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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011: So, LairLurkers, is Seattle cold Enough for you Yet? Just this past Sunday, the weather got decent Enough for a bunch of us to take our guitars down to Pike Place Market and play some music Outside for the first time in many weeks. Most of the past couple of months, though, the weather has been colder than Average, and rather wet and nasty Besides. Sometimes I think that, if my apartment was not on the third floor of my building, I would be having mold spores Galore growing on my walls and messing up my breathing and such. But I digress.
Why do people tell us that it's "Dangerous" to talk to people in the Spiritual dimension? Why is it so Dangerous to talk to these folks now, when there was no danger Involved in speaking to them when they were still in their bodies, on this side of the Veil? An assortment of religious leaders and authors (who shall remain Nameless) repeatedly warn against "contact with the dead", because doing So may well unleash "Powerful occult forces." Like what, exactly? If I should successfully make contact with my Dad, or one or more of my grandparents on the Other Side, this is going to result in...what? The spirits of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe taking over the White House? The real, honest-to-God Santa Claus appearing on CNN? World Peace breaking out? And how do Said religious figures know this for a self-Evident fact, anyway?
Mind you, I do know for a fact that some sort of Spiritual Reality exists; this, for me, is not a matter of faith or belief, but of Firsthand evidence, in addition to my work as a shamanic and Reiki practitioner. And I really wish that somebody would come up with a Safe and Verifiable technique for two-way communication with people in the Next Reality. Just imagine if students could listen to a lecture on the Civil War, or the Battle of Waterloo, by someone who actually took part in it, just as one example. Imagine if now-dead languages from Prehistoric times could be Reconstructed through interviews with speakers of these tongues who lived in the Neolithic era or earlier. Gosh knows how much knowledge and technology, Lost for centuries, could be Recovered through two-way communication with authors and technicians whose literature was Destroyed in the burnings of great European, Asian and New World libraries by religious or other Dictatorial fanatics Bent on controlling all knowledge, and people's access to it. Maybe this is why preachers think it's "Dangerous" to attempt contact with Spiritual or Astral realms.
For now, we seem to lack much in the way of Authentic communication of this sort, aside from Channeled knowledge and some people's psychic sensitivity that may show them lost Historic memories in the presence of artifacts or Constructed landmarks from Lost cultures. The authenticity of such methods is a bit Dubious, of course, which is why I wish we had technology for Accurate, verifiable cross-Dimensional communication. We've got EMF detectors, tape recorders, digital audio recorders, digital cameras and camcorders; and, of course, some rather off-the-wall ITC constructions such as the PX Device, Ovilus/Puck and the Ghost Adventures Crew's so-Called "Spirit Box", which sounds rather like a Juiced-Up short-wave to me (it is Built using AM/FM radio components, after all). The big questions are, of course, how and why do they work (assuming they actually do); and how the heck would a person/entity in the Next Reality figure out how to use one to communicate with the living in this dimension? My late Dad was a physicist/engineer with many years of experience with EMFs; but not every Discarnate person out there has a physics/engineering/electronics background.
This all reminds me of a Recurring dream I've had, in which I'm dead (that is, Living on the Other Side), and making Numerous attempts to contact the living. In the dream, I find this activity rather Frustrating, as few of the "living" are Willing or Able to listen to me, or to communicate Back. Are people from centuries Ago trying to communicate with or influence people in the Present Reality? I'd love to talk with some of them. Way back in my early teens, I had one of those cheap Parker Brothers Ouija Boards for a couple of years (apparently my folks never heard any of those horror stories about Ouijas pulling in Nasty entities from the lower Astral). Couldn't get a peep out of it. Guess I didn't have the "right connections." I eventually sold it at a neighborhood yard sale. Anyway...research in Transdimensional communication mechanics continues on this side (and, who knows, possibly on the Other Side as well!); and it would be really quite Cool if a Definitive communications channel (no medium Required) could Indeed be Established in my lifetime!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011: Dear LairLurkers, how often have you heard it said (mainly in Christian circles) that there is somehow a difference or dichotomy between "the church" and "the culture", as if they were completely Distinct spheres of activity with absolutely no overlap between them? All evidence from sociology and anthropology to the contrary, conservative Christians (and a number of Mainstream ones) would have one believe that their belief system requires them to influence "the culture" (what many of them term mainstream Secular society these days; calling it "the World", as they once did, seemed to cast aspersions on Nature as well as the bulk of humanity); but that they, in turn, must resist "the culture's" Insidious influence. All of society outside their circles, they would Further convince us, is mostly Dark, Blighted and "Lost", with nothing Positive to contribute to "the church's" public or private sphere.
Those of us who have made it our job, hobby or mission to study human society as a whole, however (I DO have a degree in Anthropology, after all!), know that this line of thinking is mostly Untrue. There is no sharp dichotomy between the Sacred and the Profane (or "Secular", if "Profane" is too Loaded a term for you) in human culture Overall; and both Religious and Secular spheres continually influence each other throughout history. Sacred and Secular are, in reality, simply two sides of the same coin; Competing and Complementary strands of the same sociocultural fabric. Their relationship, though often Strained, is and always has been Symbiotic. American society, culture and Overall zeitgeist could hardly exist without both, in balance or Otherwise.
When I was growing up in the late 1960's and 70's, American Christianity as I absorbed it shared Progressive society's concern for righting injustices; empathizing with suffering individuals and communities, resisting war and militarism, standing up for the oppressed and marginalized; and holding one's ground against outside pressures to conform, or to surrender one's individuality and sense of truth and right. Concern for the environment and our fellow creatures was part and parcel of the (truly Biblical) ethic of care and stewardship of Divine Creation. Jesus was portrayed as being of the same character as Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, Emma Goldman, Cesar Chavez, and leading lights of the Peace and Environmental movements of the time.
Then, at some point in the late 1970's, this Christian worldview changed dramatically. The political right wing fought an Effective battle to take over U.S. Christianity, as "the church" began to embrace Uncritical patriotism, so-called "family values", conservative attitudes toward sexuality, unrestrained capitalism (reflected in the "Prosperity Gospel" that gained Countless followers in the Reagan-era 1980's), and a highly Authoritarian ethos toward practically every aspect of personal and social life. Need I say that this Dramatic pendulum swing from left to right paralleled exactly the Changing trends of society and government in the United States--as well as Numerous other societies around the world--during the same period of history? And, of course, the figure of Christ was transformed from a hippie peacenik flower-child, preaching love and justice and defending the poor and oppressed, into a Patriarchal, Family-Values neocon, embracing free enterprise and anti-communism, and denouncing the "sexual revolution", feminism, and Liberation Theology. Christian writing at the time emphasized the Imminent end of the world via nuclear conflagration as a Glorious prospect, while proclaiming that faith in God could make you rich, help you lose weight, and even spice up your sex life (strictly within marriage, of course). The dark side of this quasi-Theocratic worldview vilified and resisted efforts to stop or prevent domestic violence, child abuse and sexual violence (as threats to the "traditional [read: patriarchal/authoritarian/1950's-era] family"); and included the publication of some truly Shocking literature on the "correct way" to spank one's child that would not arouse the suspicion of "the authorities."
What are the parallels between "church" and "culture" today, aside from the near-Complete co-optation of U.S. Christianity by Reactionary conservatism? One only has to take a Casual gander at the writings of people like Rick Warren to figure this out. Corporate culture is trying to dominate mainstream society, purchase and co-opt Representative government, suppress dissent, undermine labor and environmental protections in law; and convince ordinary working folks that they exist solely to serve the Corporation and its Shareholding Overlords. There are political and cultural tugs-of-war between social justice and the status quo; and between the proliferation of knowledge and information, and attempts to suppress and stifle this proliferation. And guess what? Conservative religion is playing Along with this worldview quite handily. God has become "the Ultimate CEO", while also standing against the social changes being Precipitated and Facilitated by the Internet, cellphone technology and other social media. Just take a look at Warren's runaway bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life to view the God-as-Corporate-Magnate ideology in microcosm. It mirrors perfectly the Current corporate worldview that people are mere "Human Resources", pieces of machinery that can be kept on a shelf indefinitely when not Needed; and that, since we exist only to serve the Corporation or Big Boss, our Individual dreams, goals, passions and aspirations are of absolutely no account. The first time I attempted to read Warren's "40-day spiritual journey", it infuriated me to the point of wanting to put both fists through a wall. Yet another Pious screed telling me that my musical dreams and other Personal goals and desires were completely Worthless, and that God was Opposed to anything that I wanted to accomplish in life. This, on top of Andy Schlafly's attempt to rework the Bible into a text that gives an imprimatur to Contemporary conservative principles and free-market economic theory. I kid you not.
Presently, we pattern-seeking Social Science types, trying hard not to despair, are looking to the future with anticipation and wondering what forms Collective religion and Divine imagery will take in the Upcoming generation. Every action triggers an Equal but Opposite reaction; and the Church of the Almighty Tycoon is not without its share of opposition and dissent. As the Resurgent secularist community around the world is showing us, increasing numbers of people are Determined to think openly for themselves while they still can. Moreover, not all people of faith want to be Heaven's little worker bees, with no life, dreams or desires to call their own. Many flavors of spirituality exist for the tasting, not all of which are necessarily Theistic. Progressives are beginning to stand up for their own values and ethics more openly and proudly, challenging the right-wing propaganda that left-leaning folks "have no values." One of my favorite novels, Starhawk's The Fifth Sacred Thing, has kicked off its Future film production, to which I am campaigning to contribute as a musician/score composer! Even the peace-loving, tree-hugging Christ figure shows possible signs of Resurrection. May we of the Progressive persuasion continue to rise up, troubling the Comfortable worldviews of theocrats and neocons at every turn...
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TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011: Folks, why does this keep happening to me? I make a Deep connection, or re-connection, with a Public figure; find Said connection utterly Delightful and life-Enhancing; and then, am faced with losing the physical presence of the individual with whom I've become so inordinately Besotted. First there was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; then Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem; then Barry Morse and his Space: 1999 persona, Victor Bergman; and now I've fallen in love with "New Atheist" author and journalist Christopher Hitchens over the Past year, right as he's been fighting for his life against esophageal cancer! Lately, I've been going through a phase of being almost continually Worried, prematurely Saddened, and generally Angst-Ridden over his fate--especially since the publication of his Wonderful essay, "Unspoken Truths", pondering with an almost Musical eloquence the Recent loss of his once-Sonorous speaking voice. I may not agree with him 100 percent on every issue--we would disagree, among other things, on support for the Iraq War, and the notion that "religion (necessarily) poisons everything"--but his writing and speaking have made me laugh riotously and Often; have touched and moved me deeply; and have given me Tremendous support in my own spiritual/religious struggles. At the very least, I know that I'm not alone in thinking that religious fundamentalism, and particularly conservative Christian "exclusive truth" ideology, is utter bollocks, and should have been scrapped eons Ago. I only wish that I'd discovered "Hitch", as he's often known, a long time before he took ill around the middle of last year.
Lately, I've been sending Hitchens lots of good thoughts, love and Reiki energy, almost on a Daily basis, rather than praying for him per se (he's ambivalent, though more or less Resigned, on the notion of people praying for him). At the same time, I've been quite busily watching Youtube videos of his speeches and debates, reading his Past essays and articles at the websites of DailyHitchens.com and Slate Magazine; and sending him get-well messages at his largest Facebook page, and via a special contact page at Vanity Fair's website. His may not be a Flawless character; but I find him immensely Stimulating to the intellect and the Sensual paths of the mind, not to mention wickedly funny and Moving by turns. I certainly don't want him to check out and leave us terribly Soon. I would very much love to meet him in person before that happens. I hope his genome-Based cancer treatment is proving Successful and Effective. I already know that there is much More to him than religion-bashing for fun and profit, though it's always fun to watch an intelligent, Erudite person with a Wicked wit and a silky British baritone kick around televangelists, Taliban and Tea Party politicians (and make it look incredibly Easy). He even does a good standup routine, when he's had a few whiskeys after dinner.
Anyway, I have prayed for Hitch a few times--but not for him to "get religion." I'm not out to change his mind. I think his mind is pretty much Fine the way it is. I don't want him to have a "deathbed conversion" out of fear, anxiety, guilt, or on any other False basis. His constant urging of religious folk to think for themselves, and think critically about beliefs they have been taught, is Enough of a contribution to religious life in our world. In fact, in a note I sent him via Vanity Fair, I urged him to "take care of yourself, be good to yourself, and stay true to yourself!" Maybe it's my Universalist tendency coming through; but I want him to remain a good secularist till the end. I wish this for him, even though I now know for a fact (as he doesn't) that his spirit-energy and consciousness WILL, in fact, continue living after his physical death. His true self will NOT simply cease to exist. I don't know how I would go about proving this to an unbeliever; but after Several experiences of firsthand evidence of the Next Reality, its existence is, for me, no Longer a matter of mere belief. Also, I have a sense (though I don't know this for a fact) that the Spiritual reality operates independently of human belief systems. So, Hitch, I hope you beat cancer to a pulp (with your greatest "Hitchslap" to date!), because I have so enjoyed getting to know you through your written and spoken words and ideas; and I really want to meet you in person someday Soon, not merely through electronic messages on magazines' websites. I am a spiritual person in love with you and your Enlightenment-nurtured mind. But there definitely IS a greater reality beyond this one Wondrous dimension; so do not fear dying, because I know--on the basis of firsthand evidence, not of faith--that who we truly are does NOT die with the breakdown of our physical components, and the shutdown of our neural pathways. In one dimension or another, I want to meet you, talk with you, and share a drink or three, with lots of highly Stimulating conversation and companionship. Peace, Love and Courage to you and yours; and thank you for sharing yourself with me and our Fellow primates, Christopher!!
*Note: The title of this post is a quote from Dylan Thomas' oft-Quoted poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night (1951)."
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011: Happy New Year, LairCronies! Damn, now two of my laptop keys are Sticking--2 and W! Guess no reporting on Darth Dubya for Awhile, eh? Yes, he ought to be Dropped down in the middle of Tahrir Square and Apprehended along with the other pro-Mubarak thugs in Cairo; meanwhile, we really need to figure out what's making my keys stick, or I may have trouble putting in hyper-LairLinks beginning with "www..."!
I won't be able to finish this article Tonight, as the coffeeshop will be Closing within half an hour; but we wanted to provide a bit of a recap on our Online involvement with the popular uprising in Egypt, which some are calling "the January 25 Revolution" (the major protests basically got Started on that date in Cairo). Social networking can do, and has done, some Amazing things--supplemented AMBER Alerts, helped to find missing persons, aided in selling products, and publicized political and cultural events--and now, it's catalyzing, fuelling and facilitating a Popular revolution in Egypt, plus enabling internet users Worldwide to play Supportive roles in this Astonishing political phenomenon around the clock!
UPDATE (MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011) Okay, we got Involved in Other stuff; and are just getting around to expanding this article. Now, where were we? Well, we'd like to supply a few LairLinks and news about various Middle Eastern and North African countries where folks are abandoning their fear of Corrupt authorities, and are taking action to cashier their Corrupt Authoritarian arses:
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
Anyway, folks, that's all the Armchair Revolutionizing we now have time for. We'll be back soon Enough (I hope) with more stuff along these lines. And, of course, there's the new Dante/Virgil fanfic we need to immerse ourselves in (and I do NOT mean those "Devil May Cry" dudes with the same names!)...
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The Lord Is My CEO, I Shall Not Offline...
Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light...
Karen the LairMistress, Armchair Revolutionary...
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