"End of the World", according to New York Mag

[daniel]

I will continue to post media dribs and drabs about 2012, and my reactions... hope to add more substantive posts soon!


In the current issue of New York Magazine, Kurt Andersen writes a column on the new apocalypse fervor, and leads with me. The piece begins: “The week of September 11 (two weeks ago, not five years), I noticed a poster up at Frankies, my sweet neighborhood trattoria in Brooklyn: It advertised a talk on 9/11 by Daniel Pinchbeck—the former downtown literary impresario who has become a Gen-X Carlos Castaneda and New Age impresario. My breakfast pal nodded at the poster and said, “The guy is selling his apocalypse thing hard.”

http://nymag.com/news/imperialcity/21697/index.html

Unfortunately, Andersen did not bother to read any of my book for himself, relying on the distortions of the Rolling Stone piece. Of course, I already knew this to be the way the media works. And yet, it is still a shame. Apparently, I am now caught in the media “spin cycle,” where one distortion feeds the next, until the message becomes unrecognizable. Later in the piece, Andersen follows Rolling Stone in suggesting that I feel only a “psychedelic elite” will survive “2012” – in actual fact, I do not think or argue anything of the kind. I am sincerely anti-elitist in my views and my way of thinking. I do suggest that the psychedelic or shamanic insight is one that our culture has suppressed, and it may offer a different perspective for understanding and confronting the crisis that now faces us as a species.

On the other hand, of course, I am delighted that the book continues to get media attention and stir up controversy.

I emailed Andersen with the hope of engaging him in a dialogue, perhaps on his radio show. It will be interesting to see if he responds.

[nyk]

If you were to bring out that gorgeous B/W pic of you and Lily (with
thumb in mouth) that could perhaps recondition the spin recyclers,
a wee bit. Besides I love that pic myself.

;)

[sidecross]

McKenna too felt that he was being frozen in a fixed interpretation. He said, and I paraphrase, that once you become known, like all ‘known’ spokespersons, you become a fixed myth.

It is we, who remain unknown and anonymous, that now must carry on the work that needs to be still done.

This is my no means to belittle daniel’s work and future work. It is rather the sad fact notoriety has a price, and that price is steep. Reread daniel’s post, and see if you agree?

[Isaiah Mpski]

Of course.Why didn't I see it sooner.The resurrected Tim Leary aka Lasarus.

Sorry folks but I have to take my frustrations out somewhere and it might as well be with you guys.

[nyk]

sidecross....I get it now! A "sidecross" is like a roundabout punch to the
side of the head, isn't it?! :D

[sidecross]

sidecross....I get it now! A "sidecross" is like a roundabout punch to the
side of the head, isn't it?! :D


In fact ‘sidecross’ is named for my grandfather who when he came to America could not write and paced an “X” for his name.

If you look at an “X” from the side and acknowledge perspective it will look like a cross viewed from the side.
:cool:

[K.J]

I will continue to post media dribs and drabs about 2012, and my reactions... hope to add more substantive posts soon!


In the current issue of New York Magazine, Kurt Andersen writes a column on the new apocalypse fervor, and leads with me. The piece begins: “The week of September 11 (two weeks ago, not five years), I noticed a poster up at Frankies, my sweet neighborhood trattoria in Brooklyn: It advertised a talk on 9/11 by Daniel Pinchbeck—the former downtown literary impresario who has become a Gen-X Carlos Castaneda and New Age impresario. My breakfast pal nodded at the poster and said, “The guy is selling his apocalypse thing hard.”

http://nymag.com/news/imperialcity/21697/index.html

Unfortunately, Andersen did not bother to read any of my book for himself, relying on the distortions of the Rolling Stone piece. Of course, I already knew this to be the way the media works. And yet, it is still a shame. Apparently, I am now caught in the media “spin cycle,” where one distortion feeds the next, until the message becomes unrecognizable. Later in the piece, Andersen follows Rolling Stone in suggesting that I feel only a “psychedelic elite” will survive “2012” – in actual fact, I do not think or argue anything of the kind. I am sincerely anti-elitist in my views and my way of thinking. I do suggest that the psychedelic or shamanic insight is one that our culture has suppressed, and it may offer a different perspective for understanding and confronting the crisis that now faces us as a species.

On the other hand, of course, I am delighted that the book continues to get media attention and stir up controversy.

I emailed Andersen with the hope of engaging him in a dialogue, perhaps on his radio show. It will be interesting to see if he responds.

Man, what a hack piece that was. It's obvious that Anderson didn't read a lick of your book. It seems to me that he's projecting his cynical denial onto you and crediting you with all sorts of ideas that you don't espouse. Oh well, as you said, any publicity is good publicity in this case.

Keep us updated on his response to your email.

K.J

[nyk]

From what I have encountered in my probings, I get the impression
that there is a strong denial factor coursing thru mainstream
consciousness. And when someone comes along and pokes a stick
into that status quo, it reacts....sometimes like a hornet's nest;
sometimes it rolls into a ball.

We who are broke-headed are learning from all of this. And becoming
adept at dealing with the situation, even utilizing it to our evolving
advantage.

[And at least RS printed a good portion of Daniel's rejoinder]

[willoweyes]

I loved your post, Sidecross.

What is this site, besides a global group therapy session, trying to wake up humanity before its neurotic denial of consequences and responsibility leads to disaster?

And we're all necessary. Synchronicity.

[Dna]

Unfortunately, Andersen did not bother to read any of my book for himself, relying on the distortions of the Rolling Stone piece. Of course, I already knew this to be the way the media works. And yet, it is still a shame. Apparently, I am now caught in the media “spin cycle,” where one distortion feeds the next, until the message becomes unrecognizable.

Well Daniel, to be honest, this is the impression that I had of you after I first joined this forum. And I think that you did have a very 'apocalyptic' mindset for a while. You admitted that in 2012, where you said something about those closest to you being tired of this kind of talk from you, (can't find my copy right now, else would quote). The transmission you recieved upset your equilibrium for a period too.

Many journalists and other people would have formed impressions of you as you went through these difficult times. And that is just the way of it. But you've grown from it now, so continue to fight back.

I too look forward to Kurt Andersen's response to your email.

Dna.

[daniel]

hi Dna,

I can still manifest an apocyptic mindset, when warranted. Trolling around the alternative news sources this morning, I am having a very uneasy feeling. The new bill approved by Congress allows the President to incarcerate and torture virtually anyone he wants, without judicial review or restraint. At the same time, the article in the new Rolling Stone by RFK Jr makes it clear that the electronic voting machines are hacked. And not to forget that Halliburton was contracted to build mysterious detention centers around the US.

The Hopi elder I spoke with told me this was the time of "purification," and that "machines" to exterminate large masses of people were already being built in the South (more than a year before Katrina, and the still inexplicable chaos surrounding that event, he specified Louisiana). If the Mayan Calendar timetable put forth by Calleman has any validity, the year 2008 could see a literal return to Nazi-style practices in this country - the machinery has been put into place for this. The resistance has, so far, been paltry -- and could be increasingly cowed into silence by the destruction of the protective legislative machinery which was once an inherent aspect of the US government. The only alternative would be a collective upsurge of the human will - a leaderless movement that can somehow self-organize outside of traditional structures. The huge protests against the Iraq War that sprouted out of nowhere might provide a kind of model - but how could these events lead to a more consistent and coherent counter-force?

I feel that we are in the crossing tractor beams of a geopolitical "Strange Attractor". I consider that there is the possibility for the US to experience something similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall, when the legitimacy of the system suddenly collapses, like air escaping out of a punctured balloon. I wouldn't be surprised if there were powerful elements within the Military and intelligence services who would support a regime change.

The other side of the coin could be a repressive machinery as powerful as any the world has ever seen - perhaps far more powerful, as one could imagine the US gov mandating the taking of pharmacological substances and even electronic chip implants to keep the sheeple obedient.

I have strategically chosen to maintain a positive message - and, truly, on the other side, feel increasingly positive and lighter - but could certainly see that the situation warrants an opposite reaction.

At the same time, if the ecological crisis is not addressed immediately and directly - certainly within the next few years - there will be no future for the human species in this go-around. To address this situation is going to require a massive reorganization of human society and a powerful upsurge of the human will.

Those who have been sardonic observers and bystanders are going to have step into a leadership role, and inform the others about what is happening now and what could be just ahead.

[nyk]

I read about the caving in by Congress yesterday. I felt a small but
certain twinge in my gut. In that microsecond I had the sense that
a choice was made within the national archetype to pursue the
path leading to machine consciousness, that the die was cast. I
did't know why I had that particular reaction over one simple
article. I think it may be the timing, as if decisions made right
now have more urgency and broader consequence.

[Dna]

Hi Daniel,

I don't know what else to say. I just think that it is easy to feel powerless. Now I know this is not where you are coming from, but an apocalyptic mindset *can* be the the result of lazy thinking and weak-mindedness.

I prefer not to dwell up on the 'end', as I once did. The reason is that I am so very busy. I am living a full life, bringing up children, developing in my work life, learning new skills. I have quite a normal life, actually. I would go so far as to say that in some respects I have an enviable life. You know, things are OK for me. I don't have to hope for some better future. I don't need to.

A possible reason for my feeling this way is that I don't feel powerless. I accept responsiblility for every moment of my life, as I would a gift. Even when I fuck up I forgive myself and continue onwards.

Life is one big second chance. An aspect of life is this kind of forgiveness - which is actually a different way of looking at time.

You see, if we think of linear time - we are fucked. It necessarily ends. There's also no going back to redo something. Regret and fear naturally arise.

In my experience, time is deeply qualitative, and related to consciousness.

For example. There have been times when I have prayed/asked/commanded for something to be or happen in my life. Recently, my work circumstances completely changed for the better the very next day, in a way that I could not have predicted. This was a result of a very clear intent. If you were to look at this from a linear time perspective, I would see two or three independent events converging to make something happen. Yet, I know that my consciousness had a role in this. This is very empowering.

I am not up on the Mayan Calendar, but I read some of Arugelles' 'The Mayan Factor' and something about this idea of time knocks me over with it's beauty. If the truth is beautiful, then there is a great truth here - somewhere.

So this is the end... of time. And I don't think it is any more violent than this. Perhaps and I mean only prehaps, those who do not gain this perspective will continue to find life increasingly difficult and unfulfilling, as our faustian pact with technology gets ever stronger.

I listened to 2 Palenque Norte podcasts. One was your talk. The other was by a guy called Erik Davis. I don't know much about this Erik Davis, but he seems like a pretty smart guy. He talks of our 'pact' with electricity.

What interested me most about his talk was this shamanic perspective. He spoke of electricity as an elemental spirit, that brings us benefit, but which changes us in the process. You spoke of a 'media cycle' at the top of this thread. Davis says that media is a 'feedback loop' and it intensifies our experience of ourselves, like a mirror. This process, he says, is accelrating, with the increasing ubiquity of electronic media we are literally 'swimming in culture', he says.

To me this is part of a cleansing process. We are confronted with our 'shit' in these ever-intensifying media feedback loops.

I think that to survive this pact, we have to change the structure of our consciousness, which includes our perspective on time.

[Isaiah Mpski]

What do you think a couple of hundred electric shocks treatments do for you?
Bilateral,against one's will,without anesthesia.
Do you think if taken with the "proper" prespective it could make a God out of you?We would hope so.
Or would it make you love life as you claim you do-more everyday.
I appreciate your innocentness.

[Dna]

Yes, maybe I am innocent but you have to remain supple to be open to possibility.

Dna.

[nyk]

Yes, maybe I am innocent but you have to remain supple to be open to possibility.

Dna.

And because of your fluidity, then the electricity can move thru
you without interference and without devastation.

Love,
Nyk