Wonderful post. I read it just after I read Jessica Bohme's post called the Timeless Terror of Transformation, where she described that it took the USA over 50 years for 80% of drivers to use seat belts, even though from day one the evidence was completely clear that such a simple thing could save 70% of drivers lives. 50 years to clip a seat belt!!!! Her point however, was that because we are so human, so marvellously human, it is necessary for us to move slowly, to build from the ground up, to help create a new reality for our time on and with the earth. Which is exactly the same as what I read into your post - the power we all have to affect what is around us, and how in time (not linear, of course!) a new reality will be created. And my experience is that exactly that is happening, and growing, and developing, glimpses of it everywhere, amidst all the other stuff that fills our screens and lives. That fills me with love, as did your post. Thank you.
Absolutely love this, particularly the hell/damnation cyclical appropriation by Christianity as a form of dismantling cultural practices of return to the earth and the hidden. Wow. Appreciate. Love knowing that in that way.
I like your self-awareness of how some of this piece can come across, and the underlying urgency or enthusiasm to inspire and point toward a better way to be together. Our world is our home, and you are calling for our attentive and considerate care of it; treat it with dignity, respect, and the commitment to honor our relationships, all of them.
Inscendence, what a term! I wrote a futuristic fantasy novel called, Witch 6, where the protagonist goes through this process, although I didn't have a word at the time. At the conclusion, the character creates a device/instrument/tool that allows people to experience their own version of inscendence, not so different than the Telesterion you described. But I didn't get into what that might look like in practice because could people actually do this without it immediately going off the rails?
This idea has re-emeged In my newest novel, The Maze House, that is unfolding as a Substack serial, a fantasy satire. The "Telesterion" exists and planetary transformation is underway, so avoidance is no longer an option. Humor seems to be the way to tackle this concept, otherwise it tends to become heavy and overhanded. A light touch. A smile and a wink rather than a sermon and a pointing finger.
Anyway, while I'm playing with fiction you and others are dabbling with practical applications. Mindbending stuff! I'm curious to see how this develops.
Such a great read, and such foundational themes! Reminds me of the novel Orbital - while insufficient on its own, what that piece of literature evokes goes some distance to creating the types of consciousness-shifting experience I think you're suggesting.
Loved this one, Julian. You really took me for a ride into the imaginal, and then brought me back down into the slow, mycelial, rooted everyday practice of becoming one that has the capacity to inhabit such an integral existence.
Question: what makes you believe that Switzerland, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Colorado or tribal domains could be suitable locations? Geography, governance, or already existing cultural hubs of transformation?
As always, thankful for your insights in these times.
Thanks Forrest! You just described my own experience writing it as well!
I didn't put a huge amount of thought into jurisdiction...I was mostly thinking about places that might be open to such a notion where the use of entheogenic sacraments (should they end up being a feature or option) are also legally protected.
Beautifully articulated. I would suggest connecting with Larissa Belcic of Nocturnal Medicine. Larissa is a graduate of Harvard School of Landscape Design. She teaches on the design of the types of transformative architecture you speak of. I recently collaborated with Larissa by co-teaching a class for her course at UPenn. Our one day guest lecture was titled “An Integrative Ecopsychospiritual Framework for Change in the Polycrisis: Designing Vessels for Land, Emotion, and the Collective.
Wonderful post. I read it just after I read Jessica Bohme's post called the Timeless Terror of Transformation, where she described that it took the USA over 50 years for 80% of drivers to use seat belts, even though from day one the evidence was completely clear that such a simple thing could save 70% of drivers lives. 50 years to clip a seat belt!!!! Her point however, was that because we are so human, so marvellously human, it is necessary for us to move slowly, to build from the ground up, to help create a new reality for our time on and with the earth. Which is exactly the same as what I read into your post - the power we all have to affect what is around us, and how in time (not linear, of course!) a new reality will be created. And my experience is that exactly that is happening, and growing, and developing, glimpses of it everywhere, amidst all the other stuff that fills our screens and lives. That fills me with love, as did your post. Thank you.
Absolutely love this, particularly the hell/damnation cyclical appropriation by Christianity as a form of dismantling cultural practices of return to the earth and the hidden. Wow. Appreciate. Love knowing that in that way.
I like your self-awareness of how some of this piece can come across, and the underlying urgency or enthusiasm to inspire and point toward a better way to be together. Our world is our home, and you are calling for our attentive and considerate care of it; treat it with dignity, respect, and the commitment to honor our relationships, all of them.
Inscendence, what a term! I wrote a futuristic fantasy novel called, Witch 6, where the protagonist goes through this process, although I didn't have a word at the time. At the conclusion, the character creates a device/instrument/tool that allows people to experience their own version of inscendence, not so different than the Telesterion you described. But I didn't get into what that might look like in practice because could people actually do this without it immediately going off the rails?
This idea has re-emeged In my newest novel, The Maze House, that is unfolding as a Substack serial, a fantasy satire. The "Telesterion" exists and planetary transformation is underway, so avoidance is no longer an option. Humor seems to be the way to tackle this concept, otherwise it tends to become heavy and overhanded. A light touch. A smile and a wink rather than a sermon and a pointing finger.
Anyway, while I'm playing with fiction you and others are dabbling with practical applications. Mindbending stuff! I'm curious to see how this develops.
Such a great read, and such foundational themes! Reminds me of the novel Orbital - while insufficient on its own, what that piece of literature evokes goes some distance to creating the types of consciousness-shifting experience I think you're suggesting.
Thanks Ana - hadn't heard of Orbital....it sounds wonderful and I just ordered a copy!
Loved this one, Julian. You really took me for a ride into the imaginal, and then brought me back down into the slow, mycelial, rooted everyday practice of becoming one that has the capacity to inhabit such an integral existence.
Question: what makes you believe that Switzerland, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Colorado or tribal domains could be suitable locations? Geography, governance, or already existing cultural hubs of transformation?
As always, thankful for your insights in these times.
Thanks Forrest! You just described my own experience writing it as well!
I didn't put a huge amount of thought into jurisdiction...I was mostly thinking about places that might be open to such a notion where the use of entheogenic sacraments (should they end up being a feature or option) are also legally protected.
Beautifully articulated. I would suggest connecting with Larissa Belcic of Nocturnal Medicine. Larissa is a graduate of Harvard School of Landscape Design. She teaches on the design of the types of transformative architecture you speak of. I recently collaborated with Larissa by co-teaching a class for her course at UPenn. Our one day guest lecture was titled “An Integrative Ecopsychospiritual Framework for Change in the Polycrisis: Designing Vessels for Land, Emotion, and the Collective.
Thanks Merritt! Love the title of your guest lecture....and I'll definitely take a look at both Larissa's work and yours!