I saw that you read and "liked" my comments over on Public. I had a great laugh knowing that you had actually read my stuff.
- Now I don't have to explain being a "Welsh American" to you.
Reading your book I can see where you are coming from. Interesting.
BTW, I subscribed to your Substack so that I could post comments. Your interview with Shellenberger has me want to post a ton of stuff, especially comments about the Paranormal.
I find it curious that more than a few people have commented on my observations/experiences with the paranormal and my belief in our spiritual existence. I have always been very careful to avoid this topic publicly because it’s neither widely discussed nor accepted. But this feedback has prompted me to reconsider my assessment. Perhaps more people are now ready to talk about what happens when we shed this mortal coil. If so, this would allow tremendous progress for humanity. It is literally impossible to believe in the existence of our spiritual selves and spend a moment engaged in discussions of identity politics or any other matters that divide us.
We are all one, all connected, and all on the same wheel of karma that just keeps turning...
The Paranormal is another "Edge" topic that I follow for my Story Folders. I find it is "safer" to write about the Paranormal as Fiction rather than Fact.
- "Safer" because when you look at this stuff, it looks back, where when you write it as "Fiction" they often leave you alone.
Here are some fun links you might play with over time.
Both conferences are online, and will blow your mind. Just "search" YouTube for "Archives of the Impossible conference" for more videos.
As with any "Edge" stuff, there are vast podcasts and books that you discover. Kripal is a good place to start.
Give me a yell if you would like me to post more links and titles.
BTW, I subscribed to the Public Substack last year. I am in the process of writing a novel series trying to understand the past few years. I find that the articles and comments on Public are useful for my Story Folders.
Along the way I made a "Pascal's Wager" that helps to explain much of what is happening today.
- The Old Gods and Entities are still at play in the world.
That insight is at the heart of the novels that I am writing.
Watch the Oliver Stone documentary about the 2014 coup in Ukraine.
Watch the crowds struggling against each other. What you are seeing are ancient forces pushing against each other. This is very old, and clearly Paranormal forces are at play. The "Evil Geniuses" have tapped into those forces. People doing "Color Revolutions" like this consider themselves to be Shamans casting magical spells.
- Look at any Ad agency or Political campaign, and they are casting magical spells as well.
Society has become so secular that they have no understanding of what is happening, and no tools to defend themselves. If this were a century ago, that would not be the case.
I will need to read the book at least once a week for a while, then on a regular basis. I laughed(HA!), at many parts, ranted and argued about many others.
- There is so much to harvest from the book.
This is another "Touchstone" book to add to my collection.
Thanks...
Be sure to read "Evil Geniuses" by Kurt Andersen, and "America's Cultural Revolution" by Christopher Rufo. They are two sides of the same coin. Your book is from the "Edge" of that coin.
Welcome to the "Edge".
BTW, Notice, when you hold the coin, and describe the "Edge", you can only see a small part of that "Edge". The more you describe what you see, the more you turn the coin, the more you realize that the "Edge" is actually larger than either face of that coin, and far more interesting.
- That is a feature, not a flaw.
Most people get trapped in binary thinking, seeing only one side or the other, and never examine the "Edge" of the coin.
Thanks so much, ally! Really appreciate that feedback. Love the “Edge” metaphor and think it’s totally apropos. We are most definitely not living in a binary world. If we were, the challenges we face would almost be easier to confront.
Andersen is from the "Left" and only describes the actions of the "Hard Right", never seeing the evil done by the "Hard Left". Rufo follows the "Long march through the Institutions" by the "Hard Left" and does not look at the actions of the "Hard Right".
I think of "Evil Geniuses" as a Master's Thesis. I harvested the various books and "White Papers" that he mentioned. Most were easily available from the Web, and I filled folders with what I found.
The "Evil Geniuses" have spent the past sixty years destabilizing society. They are now a mix of Left and Right because many more billionaires have joined in the play. Plus, the children of the "Hard Right" have now taken over the machines that their father's created, and are often on the "Left".
BTW, Bret Weinstein talks of "Goliath". I have been unable to get past his gatekeepers for him to read "Evil Geniuses", but "Goliath" is a useful metaphor. The "Evil Geniuses" started the Think Tanks, NGOs, Paid Trolls, etc..., and they are the machines that run automatically.
- The conscious mind of "Goliath" is rarely engaged now.
That was an amazing, forward-looking conversation. As a 1960, female boomer in the deep south, I have whiplash from watching the economic and political changes regarding race and sex. I do not believe anyone can "feed" racial animus unless the listeners are already racist. There's nothing anyone can say that will get me to judge by skin pigment level (or sex). Monica mentions a past life regression, and this is the only way to make sense of life, otherwise it would seem to me to be chaos. We must have different experiences to advance and grow. The soul only experiencing one life makes zero sense to me.
Great conversation! Monica and Michael- you’re awesome! I’m a millennial but on the cusp of being a Gen X ! I love the Gen Xers! I had my husband listen with me and he’s not as heterodox... but he also enjoyed it.
I saw that you read and "liked" my comments over on Public. I had a great laugh knowing that you had actually read my stuff.
- Now I don't have to explain being a "Welsh American" to you.
Reading your book I can see where you are coming from. Interesting.
BTW, I subscribed to your Substack so that I could post comments. Your interview with Shellenberger has me want to post a ton of stuff, especially comments about the Paranormal.
But I digress.
I find it curious that more than a few people have commented on my observations/experiences with the paranormal and my belief in our spiritual existence. I have always been very careful to avoid this topic publicly because it’s neither widely discussed nor accepted. But this feedback has prompted me to reconsider my assessment. Perhaps more people are now ready to talk about what happens when we shed this mortal coil. If so, this would allow tremendous progress for humanity. It is literally impossible to believe in the existence of our spiritual selves and spend a moment engaged in discussions of identity politics or any other matters that divide us.
We are all one, all connected, and all on the same wheel of karma that just keeps turning...
The Paranormal is another "Edge" topic that I follow for my Story Folders. I find it is "safer" to write about the Paranormal as Fiction rather than Fact.
- "Safer" because when you look at this stuff, it looks back, where when you write it as "Fiction" they often leave you alone.
Here are some fun links you might play with over time.
Jeff Kripal at TEDxHouston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7WDqZuyvQ
He has a bunch of books, and has sponsored two conferences at his University, one in 2022, and the other in 2023:
Archives of the Impossible conference, March 3-6, 2022 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2rCtKGPwdo
Archives of the Impossible conference | Welcome and Opening Remarks: Jeffrey J. Kripal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoFB6FU_wko
Both conferences are online, and will blow your mind. Just "search" YouTube for "Archives of the Impossible conference" for more videos.
As with any "Edge" stuff, there are vast podcasts and books that you discover. Kripal is a good place to start.
Give me a yell if you would like me to post more links and titles.
BTW, I subscribed to the Public Substack last year. I am in the process of writing a novel series trying to understand the past few years. I find that the articles and comments on Public are useful for my Story Folders.
Along the way I made a "Pascal's Wager" that helps to explain much of what is happening today.
- The Old Gods and Entities are still at play in the world.
That insight is at the heart of the novels that I am writing.
Watch the Oliver Stone documentary about the 2014 coup in Ukraine.
Ukraine on Fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcmNGvaDUs
Watch the crowds struggling against each other. What you are seeing are ancient forces pushing against each other. This is very old, and clearly Paranormal forces are at play. The "Evil Geniuses" have tapped into those forces. People doing "Color Revolutions" like this consider themselves to be Shamans casting magical spells.
GHOSTS IN THE MACHINE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA4e0NqyYMw
- Look at any Ad agency or Political campaign, and they are casting magical spells as well.
Society has become so secular that they have no understanding of what is happening, and no tools to defend themselves. If this were a century ago, that would not be the case.
But I digress.
I finished reading The Illusion of Division.
Well done.
I will need to read the book at least once a week for a while, then on a regular basis. I laughed(HA!), at many parts, ranted and argued about many others.
- There is so much to harvest from the book.
This is another "Touchstone" book to add to my collection.
Thanks...
Be sure to read "Evil Geniuses" by Kurt Andersen, and "America's Cultural Revolution" by Christopher Rufo. They are two sides of the same coin. Your book is from the "Edge" of that coin.
Welcome to the "Edge".
BTW, Notice, when you hold the coin, and describe the "Edge", you can only see a small part of that "Edge". The more you describe what you see, the more you turn the coin, the more you realize that the "Edge" is actually larger than either face of that coin, and far more interesting.
- That is a feature, not a flaw.
Most people get trapped in binary thinking, seeing only one side or the other, and never examine the "Edge" of the coin.
But I digress.
Thanks so much, ally! Really appreciate that feedback. Love the “Edge” metaphor and think it’s totally apropos. We are most definitely not living in a binary world. If we were, the challenges we face would almost be easier to confront.
Two sides of the same coin.
Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852NXWR5/
America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBGLZZSV/
Andersen is from the "Left" and only describes the actions of the "Hard Right", never seeing the evil done by the "Hard Left". Rufo follows the "Long march through the Institutions" by the "Hard Left" and does not look at the actions of the "Hard Right".
I think of "Evil Geniuses" as a Master's Thesis. I harvested the various books and "White Papers" that he mentioned. Most were easily available from the Web, and I filled folders with what I found.
The "Evil Geniuses" have spent the past sixty years destabilizing society. They are now a mix of Left and Right because many more billionaires have joined in the play. Plus, the children of the "Hard Right" have now taken over the machines that their father's created, and are often on the "Left".
BTW, Bret Weinstein talks of "Goliath". I have been unable to get past his gatekeepers for him to read "Evil Geniuses", but "Goliath" is a useful metaphor. The "Evil Geniuses" started the Think Tanks, NGOs, Paid Trolls, etc..., and they are the machines that run automatically.
- The conscious mind of "Goliath" is rarely engaged now.
That is what we are facing.
But I digress.
That was an amazing, forward-looking conversation. As a 1960, female boomer in the deep south, I have whiplash from watching the economic and political changes regarding race and sex. I do not believe anyone can "feed" racial animus unless the listeners are already racist. There's nothing anyone can say that will get me to judge by skin pigment level (or sex). Monica mentions a past life regression, and this is the only way to make sense of life, otherwise it would seem to me to be chaos. We must have different experiences to advance and grow. The soul only experiencing one life makes zero sense to me.
Awesome conversation between two impressive and delightful Americans. Definitely worth a listen.
Thanks, Chris!
Great conversation! Monica and Michael- you’re awesome! I’m a millennial but on the cusp of being a Gen X ! I love the Gen Xers! I had my husband listen with me and he’s not as heterodox... but he also enjoyed it.
Thank you for listening — and for the Gen X love!!
As a fellow Gen Xer, and a gay woman, I appreciate everything you said. All so true. Thank you for this excellent conversation.
Right on, thanks! 🙏
Yay Monica!
Thanks, Doina!