Many of the ideas promulgated via TED erode the foundation of what people consider normal or unchangeable. But as the recent contretemps reveals, TED is still wedded to the old narrative in some important ways. (more)

Humanity plays a key role in the repair and restoration of the world. The purpose of evil is to provide a context for humanity's redemption, which puts evil, humanity, and God himself in their proper places within the cosmos. (more)

The five people identified as problematic by TED work in different fields. The one subject they all have in common is a shared interest in the non-locality of consciousness, the possibility that consciousness extends beyond the brain. TED appears to be marking this as forbidden territory.  (more)

The new documentary Aya: Awakenings is about journalist Rak Razam's experiences with ayahuasca and DMT and how the use of these substances in appropriate traditional contexts can help us to heal ourselves and our connection to the planet.  (more)

Reality Sandwich asked two of our leading occult scholars, Richard Smoley and Mitch Horowitz, to share their observations about the current state of mysticism in America, and where they see the field heading in the future. (more)

If I can convince enough people to join me in accepting a new consensus, we can easily override powerful, negative realities. Their machinations will fail. Since most reactionary forces are grounded in a subjective, somewhat capitalist weaving, they will be ill-prepared to avoid this outcome, since they do not believe in hocus-pocus new age metaphysics. (more)

Society benefits from intellectual work. If chemicals make that work more efficient, insightful, and creative, isn't it a professional duty for intellectuals to work as well as they can by using chemical cognitive enhancers? (more)

Psychedelics expose us to a particular set of metaphysical assumptions. But even the most vivid visions are just passing symbols. However "true" the psychedelic experience is, it's a reality as full of risk as any other. The largest risk is that of religious delusion (more)

I watched the incense smoke wander around the room like weightless leaves in the breeze. Then Fernando asked me to close my eyes. I had no idea that my "self" was about to shatter into a million pieces like broken glass. (more)

Following popular outcry in response to TED’s censorship of recent TEDx talks by Rupert Sheldrake and me, TED is forced to retract its position and put the talks back online in a “reserved” area of their site. (more)

Many analysts paint a bleak picture of our future: we don't have enough energy or capital to sustain our civilization. But if we shift perspective, we might see this as an internal, fear-based collective projection rather than the truth. (more)

Along with being a vocation that is incredibly harsh the moment you get past the point where it is "cool" to say you're an artist, being an artist can actually be incredibly dangerous. But there is no danger that can or should put you off your goal. (more)

After a very long initiation, I've come to the conclusion that initiation is overrated. The problem with any initiatic journey is initiation itself: Why, after all, is it necessary? Why are we never content in our own skin? (more)

Grandfather spoke of Einstein's concept of the Space-Time Continuum as Mahakaal or Shiva, the ‘Lord of Time' whose dance drives the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. Einstein himself was drawn to Hindu philosophy. (more)

Our connections are real, and they are life-affirming. Our connections are not optional; they are obligatory and intrinsic. This implies that we cannot secede from the web of life, even if we try. On this realization our future may depend. (more)