You Cannot Start 2023 Without This Eye-Opening Advice by Terence MCkenna
This article can be identified as a theoretical piece. It provides a philosophical insight and explores the concept of sleep and its impact on the individual and society as a whole.
The article presents an extended metaphor about sleep, discussing the interface between wakefulness and sleep, and the social and political implications of humanity's state of consciousness. It explores why people believe in strange things and the root cause of the lack of a common understanding. The author proposes a gradient of possible positions on an individual's life and destiny.
The main topic of the article is the concept of sleep and its impact on the individual and society. The secondary topic is the social and political implications of the collective consciousness of human beings and why people believe strange things.
- Introduction: The symbolism of the yin and yang and the edge between them
- Observations on sleep and the hypnagogic state
- The collective consciousness and the world soul
- The phenomenon of belief in weird things and lack of common understanding
- The rise of conspiracy theories and epistemological cartoons
- The truth that no one is in control and the unfolding destiny of the species
- The gradient of possible positioning vis-a-vis life and destiny
Understanding the Symbol of Yin and Yang
The symbol of the yin and the yang was once explained to me as not just black and white, but the interface between the two. As I observed the process of falling asleep, I realized that there is no clear barrier between being awake and asleep, but rather a meandering river of hypnagogia and hallucinatory images. This extended metaphor about sleep brings me to the realization that, as a species, humans are in an indeterminate zone – never fully awake or fully asleep – and this has social and political implications on our collective consciousness.
Why People Believe in Weird Things
I find it fascinating how easily people believe in weird things without a commonality of understanding. Technology and the complex social milieu of our post-modern world have created a contradictory patchwork of reality that is difficult to make sense of. Conspiracy theories and other squirrely notions are an epistemological cartoon of reality that provide a simple story to lay over the complexities of our existence. However, the terrifying truth is that no one is truly in control – not even the World Bank, the Communist Party, or the rich. These entities may seek control, but they cannot control the unstoppable force of the global destiny of the species that unfolds with the logic of a dream.
Choosing Your Positioning in Life
It is not a matter of being fully awake or fully asleep but rather a gradient of possible positioning in life and destiny. You can choose to be partially or fully asleep or fully awake, or even to switch between the two in different situations. The important thing is to understand that you have the power to make this choice and to be aware of the implications of your positioning.
The article discusses the metaphorical implications of the yin and the yang and applies it to the concept of sleep. It examines the idea of the world soul being in an indeterminate zone due to the constant state of some individuals being awake while others are asleep. The author reflects on the social and political implications of this and how it may contribute to the prevalence of individuals believing in "weird things." The article suggests that the truth may be far more terrifying than conspiracy theories and that nobody is truly in control, as the world is unfolding with the logic of a dream.
This information can influence various areas of knowledge, primarily philosophy and psychology, by examining the implications of the state of consciousness on individual and collective perspectives. The article discusses the importance of understanding the concept of wakefulness and the challenges posed by the "bewildering variety of squirrely notions" that people believe in. However, the author fails to present a clear solution to the problem posed and instead leaves the reader with more questions. It could benefit from a discussion on the role of education and critical thinking in navigating the complexities of the modern world.
The article misses the perspective of neuroscience and how sleep affects the brain and overall health. It also fails to address the cultural and societal factors that contribute to the prevalence of conspiracy theories. Additionally, the contradictions in the article, such as stating that nobody is in control while acknowledging the presence of entities seeking control, need to be paid attention to and further explored.
Question 1:
What is the symbol of Yin and Yang, and what did the observant person mention to the author about it?
"...the symbol of the yin and the Yang the two tears folded against each other within a circle, and this person who was no Rishi roshi Geisha or Guru but simply observant said uh it's not the black side it's not the white side it's the interface it's the edge."
Question 2:
What is the clue to understanding why people believe such weird things and why there is no longer a commonality of understanding?
"...it occurs to me that at any given moment because of the way the planet is as a thing some considerable percentage of human beings are asleep always and many are awake and so if the world soul is made of the collective consciousness of human beings then it is never entirely awake it is never entirely asleep it exists in some kind of indeterminate Zone and this to me is the clue to understanding something that is personally fascinating to me and it revolves around why people believe such weird things and and why for some reason there is no longer a commonality of understanding..."
Question 3:
What is conspiracy theory according to the author?
"...conspiracy theory is a kind of epistemological cartoon about reality."
Question 4:
What does the author think about the control of the world?
"...I believe that the truth of the matter is far more terrifying that the real the real truth that dare not speak itself is that no one is in control absolutely no one you know you don't understand Monica you don't understand Netanyahu it's because nobody is in control this stuff is ruled by the equations of Dynamics and Chaos now there may be entities seeking control the World Bank the Communist Party the rich the somebody others but to seek control is to take enormous aggravation upon yourself uh because this this process that is underway will take the control freak by the short and curly and throw them against the wall it's like trying to control a dream you see the global Destiny of the species is somehow unfolding with the logic of a Dream..."
Quiz 1: Sleep and the Yin and Yang
- a. Star and moon
- b. Cross and crescent
- c. Yin and Yang
- d. Sun and moon Answer: c. Yin and Yang
- a. The black side
- b. The white side
- c. The circle
- d. The interface Answer: d. The interface
- a. Be alert
- b. While sleeping, watch
- c. Work hard
- d. Follow your dreams Answer: b. While sleeping, watch
Question 1: What symbol did the person mention to the speaker when talking about sleep?
Question 2: According to the speaker's observation, what is the edge in the Yin and Yang symbol?
Question 3: What does the Mott Over The Alchemist doorway say?
Quiz 2: Conspiracy theories and Reality
- a. Reality
- b. Epistemological cartoons
- c. Scientific facts
- d. Enlightened truth Answer: b. Epistemological cartoons
- a. Jews are behind everything.
- b. The Communist party is in control.
- c. Absolutely no one is in control.
- d. The Masons are in control. Answer: c. Absolutely no one is in control.
- a. With the logic of a dream
- b. With the logic of a machine
- c. With the logic of a God
- d. With the logic of a computer Answer: a. With the logic of a dream
Question 1: What does the speaker say conspiracy theories are?
Question 2: What is the real truth according to the speaker?
Question 3: How does the speaker describe the global destiny of the species?
Quiz 3: Sleep and Reality
- a. It doesn't have any implication.
- b. It occurs to the speaker that the world soul is never entirely awake or asleep.
- c. Sleep is harmful to society.
- d. The speaker thinks that more people should sleep. Answer: b. It occurs to the speaker that the world soul is never entirely awake or asleep.
- a. Politics.
- b. Religion.
- c. Technology.
- d. Lack of education. Answer: c. Technology.
- a. People have no choices in life.
- b. People can only be fully awake or fully asleep.
- c. People can choose to be partially asleep, fully awake, or somewhere in between.
- d. People don't have any control over their life. Answer: c. People can choose to be partially asleep, fully awake, or somewhere in between.
Question 1: What is the speaker's view on the social or political implication of sleep?
Question 2: According to the speaker, what is the reason for the lack of commonality of understanding?
Question 3: What does the speaker say about the choices that people have in life?
Tips for Living a More Awake Life
- Observe the Yin and Yang symbol as representing the interface or edge, not just the black or white sides.
- Practice the Mott of "while sleeping watch" to become more aware during the hypnagogic state of drifting and hallucinating before sleep.
- Recognize that the world soul is never entirely awake or asleep, and consider the social and political implications of this fact.
- Acknowledge that there are many different beliefs and ways of understanding reality, and avoid becoming entrenched in a single ideology or conspiracy theory.
- Understand that no one is truly in control of the complex and chaotic unfolding of global destiny, and relinquish the desire for control.
- Recognize that being fully awake or asleep is a gradient rather than a binary state, and make conscious choices to increase awareness and presence in different areas of life.
The best tip to include in daily life would be number six, practicing conscious choices to increase awareness in different areas of life. This tip can be applied in a variety of contexts, such as choosing to be fully present and engaged during a conversation with a loved one, consciously paying attention to one's breathing and sensory experiences while walking, or being mindful of thoughts and emotions during a challenging situation. By making intentional choices to be more awake and aware, individuals can increase their enjoyment of life and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.