His music stuff is more interesting than I had initially expected, and in a whole different way. Thanks again for the heads up!

I think it would be interesting if you could somehow swing an interview with Lanier, btw. I don't know if he really fits the salon, or if the salon really fits what he's into, but maybe something along the lines of VR worlds and the imagination, I don't know… I think he's recognized something that a lot of people have had trouble articulating. Perhaps (?) an antidote or medicine to counter or control what Terence was referring to in that quote at the end of podcast 29, "It transforms us, even as we overrun it."
http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=136

Looking over the latest Wikipedia page for Teilhard, I noticed a suggestion that Teilhard felt that unity of consciousness in the noosphere would be voluntary. I had never actually heard mention of that before (I have only been exposed to Teilhard indirectly), and I wonder how it would be possible in the context of an unconscious entity (unconscious to us, at least, like the collective unconscious). Perhaps there's some subtlety going on, or it's just a sentiment taken on faith?

One thing I've noticed in web-communities interested in psychedelics is that Teilhard's ideas have become pretty popular. I think the nature of the setting (people interested in consciousness and doing networking) has led to a bias towards this sort of vision maybe, and I often read comments in forums that almost sound as if they were written by the same person, often with no pointing back to Teilhard, Lorenzo, or McKenna, etc. as inspiration. I'm not sure if this might be a case of self-fulfilling prophecy or an example of the microcosm in the macrocosm, or what. Or maybe it's just regular old meme propagation.

One thing that troubles me, however, is that I've seen in online forums/comments, and heard on a podcast or two (not a salon podcast, but a different psychedelic site interested in McKenna, shamanism, etc.), urges to "surrender" and make a leap of faith, and lectures that we are all tools, and that we are not the source of our creativity. If what we are doing is simply spreading memes, then I think these are not great ones to rally around, or let pass without objection or alternatives being offered. If there is no Omega Point, and we–as individuals–really are contributing to our future (noosphere or otherwise), then I think it might be worth considering perspectives in which the collective unconscious (whether it undergoes some change, or remains the same as it always has been, for shamans and common dreamers alike) is a resource that we might be more or less aware of, and not a dominant force shunting aside our reason, creativity, and will.

I think that there definitely IS something like a collective unconscious, but I wonder if Teilhard's vision might be doing something akin to perhaps countless past calls for submission or service to a hidden or incomprehensible higher power. The results haven't always gone badly, but they haven't always been great, either. And, fortunately, some individuals have always been able to resist, and be guided by reason. Let me parrot Terence and his "shit from shinola" here

Let me say I am honored to be in a little back and forth with Lorenzo here, despite my embarrassingly mistaken usage of "Omega Point" earlier, and any stupidity that might have transpired in this particular comment. I've been bumping against this stuff in my head for quite a while now, but let me also mention that I've been energized by Jaron Lanier's new book, and I've undoubtedly done some parroting (to some degree or another) from that direction.

Really: Is it a beautiful place, the Omega Point, if it really means we'd just become more and more part of some vast singular entity that values our compliance and ready-compatibility over our creativity and uniqueness? I know it's possible to say that we'd still be unique parts of the noosphere, but I think there would be extreme pressure to align oneself with a certain mindset. And I think that, if there are any surprises at all in the noosphere, they would be, more and more, the result of our submission to the "zeitgeist-thingy" rather than to our own effort and creative vision.

The Omega point looks a lot like hive-mind coordination, rather than the creative and surprising mix of individual inspiration and unique vantages that make life interesting and varied and beautiful (and messy). The hive will want efficiency and compatibility. The hive will make the individual less and less important according to his/her uniqueness, and his/her difference–all of this in opposition to the course of human history, and the liberation of the individual, and our increasing respect for human rights.

Not to say that community and coordination, and increased capacities for communication don't have their place. But let's step back, and acknowledge that there is more to life than this submission to efficiency and "trendy" or "hip" systemic imperatives.

http://www.matrixmasters.com/spirit/html/2a/2a.ht...

I will savor this one like all others, and much thanks to Lorenzo and the people with dem tapes. Keep it up until there is not one left except the one on the answering machine.

For your information, a real pro wrote up a brief description of the Timewave, and you will find it most thrilling, and in a real nutshell. Fits right into your walnut.

Sorry Lorenzo, but I declare hereby that you will be eventually plonked with/by/through the reality of T's discovery. This, in my book, makes him the culmination of the human endeavour to figure out stuff for real, not so-so. With reason. Which is all there is between the genuine article and hyperventilating shience. Shience as defined in that the shientists shine their asses, polish their shit (see Climategate and so much more). No good for nothings.

Also, check out the other superior mind, Nassim Haramein, who has figured out the rest, which T had not time to get around to. Also based on 64.

Now if THAT does not raise en eyebrow, nothing will. Check it out here:

http://www.mondovista.com/timewave.html

Most forceful best wishes to all,

idiot savant

This post was mentioned on Twitter by PsychedelicLozo: just posted podcast #211 … Terence McKenna, “Empowering Hope in Dark Times”
http://bit.ly/bC4SMN...