Global Revolution Underway

Saturday's global rally in over 600 towns and cities worldwide was a momentous event. A month ago, the Occupy Wall Street movement managed to pierce the veil of the matrix. The puncture has now become an unsealable rip in the fabric of Empire. Gas is escaping rapidly from the balloon.
We are seeing the inception of a global insurrection that will not end until the dominant system is overthrown and replaced through a planetary metamorphosis. The mainstream media continues to play down the Occupy phenomenon, critiquing its lack of specific demands. Specific demands are pointless, because the entire political, social, and economic system in which we exist has rotted out from the inside. Demands would suggest that there is a way to reform the present system, but no reformist initiative is possible.
As someone who wrote about the prophecies of indigenous cultures such as the Maya and the Hopi, I believe the time we are in is one of constantly accelerating transformation. The process we are undergoing as a collective organism leads to an evolutionary leap of consciousness on a species level. This mutation happens within the next few years -- it is already happening now.
As part of this process, we will develop an integral worldview, a holistic perspective that realizes the value of indigenous and traditional knowledge systems without rejecting the scientific and technical developments of modern times. The Occupy movement has erupted as a planetary outcry against economic and social injustice. The consciousness movement has to discover its voice as a part of this movement. The revolution will be spiritual in essence -- or it is doomed to repeat the horrific mistakes of the past, and fail.
As of yet, we lack the language to express the new world that supersedes the old one, even though we feel it in our hearts. The new paradigm that is opening before us demands that we take care of the human family as a whole, redistributing wealth and resources equitably. At the same time, we must cease our destructive assault on the planetary ecology, and engage in a deep practice of environmental restoration. Since the current economic system makes this impossible, we must develop, design, and distribute a new system for exchanging value. The technical genius of humanity needs to be redirected from creating state-of-the-art video games and stock trading programs to strengthening natural resilience, building self-sufficient local communities that grow their own food, and launching social technologies that support collaborative decision-making and nonviolent communication.
The path before us requires voluntary renunciation and voluntary simplicity to reduce our burden on the earth. Therefore, the old paradigm that sees accumulation of wealth and immediate material satisfaction as the goal needs to be rejected collectively. We are going to step into a new realization of our purpose -- of the meaning of human life, in itself. We are going to remember, and relearn, what every ancient civilization and traditional culture tells us: that our lives have a spiritual meaning, above all. Existence in this world is an initiatory process to prepare us for the transition to other conditions of being, other worlds or bardo realms beyond this one.
The duality of spirit and matter also needs to be overcome. Indigenous people do not recognize this dualism -- they do not imagine spirit to be above or outside of this realm, but within it. Instead of a sky religion, their spiritual practices are rooted in sensuous connectivity with the earth. In a sense, indigenous cultures are much more truly materialist than our society, as they see the essential value of the natural world as an expression of the Creator, and do not try to impose abstract systems on to it.
Our civilization has been ruled by a mindset that sees life as a means rather than an end. In the past, guilt and postponement were inscribed in a religious creed that put off redemption to some distant future. Recently, science replaced religion with a fundamentalist vision of technological progress, leading to a time when humans merge with silicon or create artificial intelligences that succeed us. This is also a delusion that keeps us alienated from the living present.
We don't know what it will be like to live in a society where life is realized as the ends in itself -- where we seek to benefit the collective by nurturing and supporting each individual. We can only anticipate that it will be wonderful to find out.
The consciousness movement has the sacred task of integrating our understanding of spirit and Psyche into the rapidly unfolding movement for planetary justice and social regeneration. This global movement is part of an initiatory process for humanity as a whole that will bring about a transformation of both the individual and collective ego-structure. The goal is not the destruction of the ego but the attainment of an ego-free state -- liberation from the tyrannical demands of the ego, which can never be satiated. Similarly, we don't want to see the smashing of current institutions, but their alchemical transmutation, so they support our human community and safeguard the resources of the natural world. Humanity, as a whole, is rapidly losing our appetite for violence and destruction. We are increasingly sick of the negative patterns of the past, and ready to overcome the inertia.
As part of this process, it would be great to refine messages that express the integrative state of consciousness in social and political terms, and use the viral power of social media to disseminate them. Among the literature being distributed at rallies and occupation zones, a set of documents could explain the value of non-ordinary states of consciousness, initiatory experience, and shamanic practices. It would also be great if holistic healers, yoga instructors, practitioners of a vast array of alternative spiritual technologies, visit the Occupy encampments and offer their services, free of charge, along with other forms of advice and instruction. I am sure this is already happening to some degree - it is increasingly a quality of this time that events proceed faster than my ability to articulate or respond to them. While that is humbling for a writer, it is beautifully satisfying for anyone who has awaited and anticipated, so impatiently and for so long, the metamorphosis that is now underway.
Tweet- 10-17-11
- Daniel Pinchbeck's blog
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the Occupy Movement
Spiritual revolution
I think the best thing about Occupy Wall Street is that it may cause the "global elites" to force their hand and accelerate plans of global catastrophe, population reduction, and a docile, microchipped humanity. But when this happens, I feel that people will be ready now. They will know how to respond. I feel more optimistic about our situation than I have in a very long time.
The next big revolution will be based in a spiritual understanding that goes way deeper than the materialistic values of money. We need to stop all the negativity against religion and realize that it's up to us to control our spiritual destiny and create new religions based on freedom and following our own experiential wisdom. Such a religion could bring people together on a deeper level than just having a consensus and shared list of demands.
If we don't want to be controlled by money and are seeking alternatives, it's important to realize the answer to what's missing in our lives is a lot more complicated than merely issues of money. The spiritual life of modern society has become zombiefied beyond recognition and needs to be completely reimagined. A deeper look into group spirituality and the human condition could be the best opportunity for creating a revolution of human values beyond materialism and moving into a compassionate, equitable form of society.
The Whole World is Watching!! The Whole World is Watching!!
Beautiful- Agreed!
This made me think of an excerpt from Bill Plotkin's Soulcraft:
"There are three phases to the butterfly's life cycle: the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa or chrysalis (in the cocoon), and the imago (a mature adult, a butterfly). The transformational chrysalis phase is one of the greatest mysteries of biology. No one knows exactly how the caterpillar changes it's form in such a dramatic way. But this much is known: inside the caterpillar's body are clusters of cells called, of all things, imaginal buds. Imaginal refers to the imago, the adult phase, but it also means "to imagine", and psychologists use the word imago to mean an idealized image of a loved one, including the self. The imaginal buds contain the idealized image, the blueprint, for growing a butterfly. While the caterpillar goes about its earth-crawling business, these cells, deep inside, are imagining flight.
The caterpillar's immune system believes these imaginal cells are foreign and tries to destroy them, not unlike the way the uninitiated human egos and their egocentric cultures often try to destroy the soul, nature, and the feminine. It's as if the caterpillar doesn't realize it's own destiny is to become a butterfly. Likewise, the uninitiated ego doesn't realize its destiny is to become an agent for the soul. (It's no coincidence that the Greek word for butterfly means "soul.") Once in the cocoon, the buds link up, the caterpillar's immune system breaks down, and it's body literally disintegrates. The buds then build a butterfly from the fluid contents of the cocoon."This is beautiful, thankyou.
Congress President and UPA
Naive
magic words
It may be that things will get incredibly vicious and violent. It may be that things will take a different turn. We do have to be careful about how we use language as the language we use acts as a magic spell that reinforces certain possibilities and denies other ones.
I disagree, for instance, about "simultaneous and equal" destruction and creation. I think the creation is greater than the destruction - otherwise life would never keep evolving to higher levels of complexity and self-knowledge. We have to be careful about how we reify our beliefs and then impose them on a world that is ever-changing.
I also recommend you return to Jean Gebser's extraordinary analysis in "The Ever-Present Origin": When a new structure of consciousness emerges, it is extremely difficult for the previous structure to even recognize it as threat or to oppose it. If we are indeed, as I believe that we are, in the phase of rapid transmutation between the "mental rational" and "inegral" structures of consciousness, then the oppressive forces that are trapped in the older mode of perception and conceptualization will have a very difficult time understanding what the threat is or where it is coming from. It is a bit like being trapped in quicksand or a glue trap where every move you make ends up reinforcing the trap. I think what is happening now is that the system of Empire has increasingly less room to maneuver, constrained by its own inertia. The communications infrastructure that is leading to the rapid growth of poltical consciousness and social awareness is also the economic lifeblood of the post-industrial economy: To destroy that now would be for the society to give itself a mortal wound.
I think that the momentum is pointing toward peaceful supersession of the current system in a relatively short span of time. I am sure that all sorts of horrific counter movements could be attempted, and perhaps are being weighed now, in private meetings. But once social awareness goes past a certain tipping point - which it may already have reached - all of these moves will simply accelerate the growth of the counter-power as the multitude realizes its innate intelligence and begins to learn how to move its "body" as is now beginning to happen.
ALong with the lack of demands, the Occupy movement is assembling itself into a new social organism, extending its reach rapidly. It is fascinating what is happening - and I don't think it can be interrupted or aborted.
I recommend Gebser and Negri and Hardt's Multitude, also Arendt's On Revolution, and Pierre Claustre's Society Without a State as helpful texts for understanding the process now underway.
"Will the transformation."-Rilke
Submitting Control
Hi Daniel, great article. There is a panicky phase when we are about to abandon the "mental rational" and ego's innate distrust of non-self kicks in. It's one of the most threatening experiences you could have.
That is why most people supporting Occupy, want only reformation. Fairness and jobs, some transparency. Fear blocks their grasping that we are at the verge of a jump into another level of reality altogether.
And just as Gebser's model where previous mental constructs can't figure out the new formations we have as great example that the Status quo's critiques are about the lack of clear demands. Well that's! really the pivotal point where Occupy meshes with the new logical level. There wont be any more a State and the peoples making demands. We are about to Occupy our place as co-creators of a new world based under Cosmic premises.
(my mother tongue is spanish, sorry for my english)
magic words and responsible creation
I was compelled to finish a new blog yesterday in response to this thread and a dream that my husband had.
Occupying Our Destiny - The Butterly Becoming
A Call to Awaken to Our Responsibility and Potential as Creators of the Future
http://www.birchnest.com/2011/10/17/occupying-our-destiny-the-butterfly-...
I choose Love. I choose Peace. And I hope that others will choose what they truly want to see as well.
With Love and Hearts United We Will Succeed!
Naive or Nascent?
Money!
Great insight on what is valuable and what is not. The wealth they are currently pushing on us is actually not wealth. Fancy food is unhealthful. All the biggest brands create products of inferior quality. Who wants the latest sports car if traffic jams are the standard?
All the good stuff doesn't cost much. I'm amazed at experiencing an increase in wealth in my own life and a decrease in quality of life.
"Look at all you derive out of being alive. He're is the best part, you have a head start... if you are among the very young at heart." What song is that?
It's certainly a relief
It's certainly a relief. We all knew something had to give.
Of primary importance is not who we are, or how we connect, or what particular ideas we have or vocalize, but THAT we are interconnected and capable of self-organization.
We're seeing this now in the emergence of the Occupy movement. The movement loses power when attempts are made to define it based on a particular grievance, and when it looks outside itself to the existing power structure to redress that grievance. Hence the frequent and derisive calls by the existing structure for the movement to state its demands, which would then allow those to be placated, addressed, derided or otherwise dismissed.
On the other hand, Occupy gains power when it seeks to supplant the existing structure, by simply having the audacity to EXIST. The General Assembly mechanism is the most powerful aspect of the movement in that respect. One can envision these local decision making bodies, which actually care about the needs of each individual in the locality, springing up everywhere, perhaps each including a few hundred individuals. And without any traditional "leadership," they create miniature cities complete with medical, logistic, legal, music and spiritual centers, food tents, libraries, media. Far beyond the noise of the protest marches and the disgraceful unconsitutional police brutality, the GA and the encampments are really revolutionary.
If you do nothing else, whether you agree or disagree with Occupy, attend GA or watch a livestream or read the minutes. Then at least you will understand Occupy.
I spent the weekend on Twitter, and being an obstinate non-user of social media, was struck by the breakneck pace and hit-and-run quality of the missives. As I allowed myself to venture into this intensely mind-full realm I realized that individual egos have little impact no matter how vitriolic they may present. One corrosive statement by one soul in one moment is quickly submerged in the deluge of communication, like a drop of hot water in the ocean. The collective temperature of the many drops is what matters more than anyone's fame or important idea or snarky comment.
I was able to penetrate the thick interpersonal boundaries and connect individually with exactly one person on Twitter this weekend. It was a GOP disciple who was disgusted by the "dirty" "hippies" who felt so "entitled". This person seemed the epitome of how the transcendant meaning behind Occupy is missed. Yet there was the familiar shared desperation and deep hurt underlying the vitriolic barrage of right wing talking points. So I "followed" this person and playfully lifted the conversation above the petty snit of left-right differences toward a recognition that we all created society's ills together over long periods of time, and that together we must transcend them. I hope this person takes my suggestion to attend GA soon.
GA
Agree in the main, however....
Let's Not Forget About the Tea Party's Role
...
Oww Man , Babylon is finaly
We are the 99%
Great Vid...
Sorry but I've seen this before
A few thousand people occupying parks in major cities isn't going to bring down the old order.
I am sympathetic to the many of the objectives but I think you are naive and have no sense of history.
http://broadspeculations.com/2011/05/17/interesting-times/
Jim Cross
http://www.broadspeculations.com
I have to agree...
I agree with jimcross.
When we start seeing demonstrations and reactions like you're seeing in Greece, then you can claim something big is happening.
Until then, what we're seeing is a lot of privileged white kids who regret getting degrees in useless subjects and are now upset that they're $200,000 in debt.
Besides them I'm seeing a lot of the same curmudgeons and cranks I've seen at every demonstration in Manhattan for the last 25 years.
Sorry Daniel, you're grasping very desperately at straws.At least insofar as you believe any of this signals some sort of species wide transformation of consciousness.
If you folks could only take a big step back and look at yourselves and the headspace you occupy you might realize how naive, at best, and deluded, at worst, this all looks.
There are more than 1 billion Muslims on Earth. Let me break the news to you, they have never heard anything about this transformation in consciousness you're all longing for. There are 1 billion Han on Earth. The overwhelming majority have not only not heard about this but would think this talk is all unbelievably goofy.
I know, you folks have all bathed deep in the ocean of psychedelia, and you know so much more than all of us nearly 7 billion Earth bound fools.
I know all of you mean well, and there is no denying there is a lot wrong with our modern civilization, but stop fooling yourselves into believing you represent some sort of vanguard that has seen the TRUTH and will now lead the rest of us mere mortals to the next stage of enlightenment.
Talk about delusions of grandeur. Folks, get a grip on yourselves and realize most of humanity is not behind you or with you, and their desires for a better society stand in direct opposition to your ideas.
Daniel, explain to me how you would convince any population of Orthodox Muslims that your vision for an equitable society based on a post modern libertine lifestyle will benefit them. Are you ready to convert to Islam first? Because otherwise none of them will listen to you.
You folks need to come back down to Earth before anyone grounded in everyday reality will take you seriously.
we are the egos we have been waiting for
I concur with these sentiments, mostly, and I'd like to hear Daniel's response to them.
There is a circular logic in the ra-ra-ra idealism of psychic revolutionaries/advocates of a global shift which is hermetically sealed, self-sustaining wishful thinking that tends towards delusion, IMO. Because we are becoming informed/"turned on" to "higher" meaning and purpose, we are the spear-head of a global shift; and because we perceive/experience a global shift happening, we must be turned on to what's really going on.
There's a value judgment there that's rooted in the same value system that is supposedly being overturned. Revolutionaries are fighting for their rights to have a better life - not to transcend their identities. Spiritual seekers are doing the same. It's all we know how to do....
Carpe diem
All I know
My 1st General Assembly
I attended my 1st general assembly this past Sat. It was a beautiful experience. There were 2 news articles on it, one positive, one negative. Both articles received both supportive and negative comments. The negative comments made me aware of how far apart we are in our beliefs.
One second I'm touched by how much people are willing to give of themselves, the next second, I'm disheartened by how far we have to go. I wish we had more uplifting comments. What a whirlwind of a time we live in. Here's the negative article.
http://www.redbankgreen.com/2011/10/occupiers-occupied-with-organizing.html
communication is the way
The Only Obstacle
missing the key needed ingredient
"The new paradigm that is opening before us demands that we take care of the human family as a whole, redistributing wealth and resources equitably."
Yes, and the source of true wealth and resources is the Earth, therefore what is necessary is a REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND. So many people are talking about the need for living more simple natural lives, but somehow miss the reality that we need tax/cost free land in order to do that! Without our fair-share to our birthright as humans we remain in the money-matrix of artificial scarcity, dependency and exploitation. This is so crucial, and simple, yet for some reason (techno-industrial/social-system indoctrination/conditioning would be my guess), many people don't get this yet.
It is really great to see Occupy Wall St. and all the other Occupy groups/activism that have sprung up in the States and World-wide, and the idea of occupying some land is very on-target, but to do so only to petition for politicians/bankers/corporations to stop being greedy and destructive, is not. That doesn't work, as history shows. The ruling class actually can't help but be that way, they are just symptoms of a deeper disease; the social-system they operate within (like any social-system) is inherently unjust and unprincipled in many ways, most importantly by forcibly disconnecting us from the Earth through land control/taxation.
Representative democracy is a lie, it can only exist at the most localized of levels, in which you are not subordinate to any false authority. The answer is to occupy land and claim it as a human right, to claim sovereignty on your fair share of the Earth that you and your family can live self/community-sufficiently and sustainably on. We can't, and shouldn't even try (which would just legitimize their false authority) to change this system of human farming into something truly principled; we should choose to live in harmony with Nature and each other instead by establishing sovereign homesteads making up voluntary communities. I believe this movement will not produce lasting and comprehensive positive change unless it incorporates the crucial truth that all social systems are inherently unnatural and unprincipled and therefore will always cause destruction. If you can't end your monetary slavery, if you cant live freely and naturally, then you are just petitioning for better jail cells. Occupy Wall St. groups should join in solidarity with groups like The Land & Freedom Camp (http://landandfreedom.squat.net/), The Land is Ours and Tir Na Saor, that are talking about our (dis)connection to the Earth being fundamental, then there would actually be real potential for positive change.
Peace
Colin D.
Yes Daniel!; Ahriman's Reception in Our Time
Redistribution of Land
Hasta la victoria siempre!
Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges at OccupyWallStreet Oct 15
A MESSAGE TO THE OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT
don't be hooligans
American Pie and Back to Reality
global movement fighting for global change
http://alganabi.blogg.se/?tmp=22104212
Deal with the real matrix
'The revolution will be
'The revolution will be spiritual in essence -- or it is doomed to repeat the horrific mistakes of the past, and fail.'
I think this from Bruce Lipman is relevant and helps articulate the kind of change needed/ is taking place.
He talks of how rather than allow ourselves to habitually fall back into behaviours arising from the default programs of our subconscious mind, drilled into us as children, which if I understand correctly account for 95% of our thoughts and actions, we should learn through mindfullness (akin to the state of being in love) to direct our lives from the conscious mind. I was thinking the 99% refered to by the movent could be analogous to the 95% of our mind which is subconscious and automated and badly programmed (by society) but is becoming aware of it's tremendous power to consciously direct.
Bruce Lipton, Ph.D - Revolution of the Evolution & Emergence of Cultural Creatives -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y46XtnZTFAU&feature=player_embedded
This is exactly what I
This is exactly what I thought when Occupy Wall ST began...well in obviously many more articulate words than I can think of....it reminds me of this quote from this book I read years ago, 2012: Crossing the Bridge to the Future by Mark Borax:
"Humanity's going to get very confused in the coming years and will need help as the new clashes with the old. Priestesses and yogis and shamans must rise from the ranks of secretaries and salesmen. Mundane life must split open its sacred core. We can no longer pretend to be normal. We're entering crisis, and everybody's recruited to dig for something deeper."
It is my hope to accomplish what Daniel talks about here to with my own website www.spiritofspider.com, to which I oddly enough began on September 17, same say as Occupy Wall ST. I guess the stars must have aligned that day! Thank you Daniel for articulating all the hopes, wishes, and emotions I have been feeling for very long as well.
a light shines brightest in the dark
Thanks for the articulation.
PS
I am the 1%
2012 documentary
Stay-Pufted Marshmellowman Nightmare
Something Is Happening Here
As an aging hippie who participated in Lou Gottlieb's Digger Farm/Morningstar Ranch communal experiment in the Sixties, I warmly embrace the Occupy Movement as"Morning Star Faith" going viral. For a look at the Morning Star Faith document, go here: http://badabamama.com/manifesto2/AM-32.html
"That which is not present in deep dreamless sleep is not real." Ramana Maharshi
"The resonant, sounding breath is the self-arising (relaxed) manifestation of deep, dreamless sleep. Relax into it while awake and -
Microsoft System Center